Bill Samii

Also by Bill Samii

• April 06, 2006

  A Doctrine Of 'Area Denial'

  Iran's week of military maneuvers gave the world some insight into the role of naval power in Iran's military doctrine. "One of the strategies of the Defense Ministry is to promote our operations and combat-forces' capabilities in the sea," Iran's defense minister said.

• April 06, 2006

  Iran: Drug Control Emphasized As New 'Crack' Gains Popularity

  A 50-ton cache of drugs is burned in Iran (file photo) (epa) As the neighbor of Afghanistan, the world's biggest producer of opium, Iran for years has had to contend with high levels of drug smuggling and drug abuse. Tehran has applied different strategies to contend with drug-related problems, and in recent months it has tried new ones. Yet the drug-abuse problem continues, and the drug of choice is increasingly compressed heroin (crack), rather than opium or normal heroin. Meanwhile, Tehran is very active in multilateral drug control initiatives, and it also engages Afghanistan on a bilateral level in its effort to confront narcotics.

• March 30, 2006

  U.S. Talks Unlikely To End Use Of 'Soft Power' In Iraq

  The much-heralded Iran-U.S. talks on Iraq may result in an end to direct Iranian involvement in Iraqi affairs. But Tehran's use of indirect means, or "soft power," to influence Iraqi affairs seems likely to continue.

• March 18, 2006

  Iran: Politicians Seek Unity Amidst Nuclear Standoff

  President Ahmadinejad (center) with the Iranian national soccer team earlier this month in Tehran (Fars) As pressure over Iran's nuclear policy intensifies, there have been warnings -- often veiled -- inside Iran by influential moderates about the importance of maintaining national unity. Despite repeated statements by President Mahmud Ahmadinejad that there is complete unity in Iran over the necessity of continuing with nuclear research for peaceful purposes, the comments from more moderate clerics reflect the extent of concern inside Iran that the issue needs to be handled carefully.

• March 07, 2006

  Iran: Former Nuclear Negotiator Remains Committed To National Ambitions

  Iran's Hassan Rohani (file photo) (AFP) In an unusually revealing speech to state officials, Hassan Rohani -- formerly Iran's top nuclear negotiator and secretary of the Supreme National Security Council for 16 years -- has spoken about every aspect of the country's nuclear negotiations. His revelations -- including concerns of referral to the UN Security Council and skepticism about Russia's intentions -- were recently published in "Rahbord," the journal of the Strategic Research Center affiliated with the country's Expediency Council. This speech does not mark a change in Iran's stance or in Rohani's, but it is highly significant ahead of the March 6 meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors.

• March 06, 2006

  Iran: As Nuclear Crisis Escalates, Are Direct U.S. Contacts Becoming An Option?

  As the Iranian nuclear issue reaches crisis proportions and the country faces international isolation, some voices in Iran are suggesting that it is time to engage directly with the United States. Such prodding is in direct contrast with leading state officials' open hostility toward the United States and hint at possible divisions. Indeed, contact with Washington has always been a sensitive issue in Iranian politics and has been used as a weapon in domestic power struggles. The United States, meanwhile, appears to have elicited a negative response with the adoption of a more active approach toward Iran. The developments reveal the difficulties the two sides will have in establishing direct relations and reaching a modus vivendi.

• February 22, 2006

  No Welcome For President's New Elite

  Iranian parliamentarians are accusing President Mahmud Ahmadinejad of replacing government officials with individuals from the security and intelligence community. Lawmakers have been particularly critical of Ahmadinejad's selection of provincial governors-general.

• February 22, 2006

  Iran: Budget Row Reflects Deputies' Domestic, Foreign Concerns

  The Iranian parliament in session in November 2005 (AFP) Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad is facing his second crisis in the Iranian parliament. His budget for the Iranian calendar year 1385 (March 2006-March 2007) is being criticized by both right- and left-wing deputies. Much of the criticism is focused on the attention given to religious institutions that fit the president's conservative preferences. Another concern relates to excessive dependence on oil as the only source of revenue -- something that they say could have an inflationary effect. Some also argue that the government is basing its figures on an unreasonably high price for oil. Debates in the parliament suggest that Ahmadinejad's sloganeering and populist approach could meet its match in the realities of running the country.

• February 21, 2006

  Ahmadinejad's Domestic Woes

  President Mahmud Ahmadinejad is trying to clean up what he and his supporters see as the country's permissive social atmosphere. But not all conservatives agree with the way he's doing it so far.

• February 10, 2006

  Iran Spins Nuclear Crisis As Elites Question Tehran's Efforts

  With the 27th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution and the furor over cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad, it's a good time for the Iranian government to appeal to nationalist sentiments.

• February 05, 2006

  Who Will Finance A Hamas-Led Government?

  With Hamas refusing to renounce violence and recognize the state of Israel, the Palestinian Authority will find it hard to gain funds from traditional donors.

• January 30, 2006

  Nuclear Crisis Features In European Gatherings

  A flurry of meetings is aimed at influencing an emergency meeting this week of the International Atomic Energy Agency's governing board.

• January 27, 2006

  Tehran Unlikely To Prod Hamas Toward Moderation

  Tehran has reacted enthusiastically to the victory of Hamas -- the Harakat al-Muqawamma al-Islamiya, or Islamic Resistance Movement -- in the 25 January Palestinian elections.

• January 25, 2006

  Distrustful Of Russia, Legislators Want Nuclear Diplomacy

  Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Larijani has been in Moscow to discuss the nuclear issue and a Russian proposal that Iran enrich uranium on Russian territory.

• January 23, 2006

  Iran: President Meets Terror Group Heads In Damascus

  Syrian President al-Assad and Iranian President Ahmadinejad on 19 January in Damascus (epa) On the final day of his visit to Damascus, Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad reportedly met on 20 January with the heads of four organizations designated by the United States as terrorist groups.

• January 20, 2006

  Iran: Hard-Line Media In Lockstep On Relations With Syria

  Before leaving Tehran for Damascus on 19 December, President Mahmud Ahmadinejad announced that "Tehran and Damascus have a common stance on Islamic and regional issues," IRNA reported. Ahmadinejad and his Syrian counterpart, Bashar al-Assad, demonstrated their common views on the nuclear issue, on Lebanon, on Iraq, and on Palestine during a press conference later the same day.

• January 19, 2006

  Ahmadinejad Meets With Syrian Leadership

  The Iranian president's visit to Syria comes as both Tehran and Damascus are facing international censure. One Lebanese leader predicts the two countries will sign a defense pact during the two-day visit.

• December 26, 2005

  'Pioneers' Of Human Rights?

  Tehran has reacted to international criticism of its rights record dismissively and with counteraccusations. Indeed, Hojatoleslam Ahmad Khatami has told the faithful at Tehran Friday prayers that "we consider ourselves pioneers of human rights."

• December 23, 2005

  Lebanon: Drug Abuse Increasing Among Country's Youth

  Despite lower production of opium and cannabis crops -- and a national anti-drug campaign on mobile phones, television, and in schoolbooks -- narcotic abuse among Lebanon's youth is a big, and growing, problem.

• December 15, 2005

  Al-Qaeda Promotion Of Religious Divisions Angers Shi'a

  In interviews with RFE/RL, two leading Shi'ite clerics condemned Abu Mus'ab al-Zarqawi, Al-Qaeda leader in Iraq, for declaring war on the Shi'ite Muslim community.

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