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Vahid Sepehri

Also by Vahid Sepehri

February 13, 2007
Visit Seen As Strengthening Relations

An adviser to Iran's supreme leader went to Moscow recently for talks on his country's controversial nuclear program.
February 08, 2007
Ex-President Comes Under Attack

Pragmatic-conservative former Iranian President Hashemi-Rafsanjani is coming under increasing criticism, leaving some convinced there is a bid afoot to undermine him.
February 06, 2007
Iran | Politicians in favor of gas cartel

February 6, 2007 (RFE/RL) -- Iranian politicians are welcoming proposals to form an international natural-gas producers' organization -- similar to oil's OPEC -- allowing members to exercise greater control over natural-gas prices. Several politicians believe such an organization would improve and stabilize the price of gas as well as enhance Iran's political power through greater finances and closer ties with Russia, a gas producer seen as a strategic ally against unfriendly Western countries.
February 02, 2007
Legislators Warn Gas And Oil Profits Are Gone

The government got approval to spend hundreds of millions of dollars from Iran's foreign-exchange reserves -- its surplus cash from sales of petroleum.
January 30, 2007
Politics | Does Iran need political parties?

January 30, 2007 (RFE/RL) -- The populist ideas of President Mahmud Ahamdinejad's government were made evident recently in remarks by Culture Minister Hussein Saffar-Herandi, who has been skeptical about the usefulness of political parties.
January 30, 2007
On Shaky Ground?

There are increasing reports that Iran's influential clerics are growing dissatisfied with President Mahmud Ahmadinejad.
January 24, 2007
New Wave Of HIV Infections Feared

Iranian officials frequently maintain that most HIV infections there are the result of intravenous drug abuse -- often in prison.
January 22, 2007
Budget | Parliament unhappy with president's budget plan

January 22, 2007 (RFE/RL) -- President Mahmud Ahmadinejad has repeated past claims that those responsible for price volatility in Iran are speculating based on privileged connections to previous governments. But the reaction this time to his remarks suggests his critics want government action, not finger-pointing.
January 18, 2007
Tehran Suspects A Divide-And-Conquer Policy

Iran's supreme leader has denounced what he sees as attempts by the United States to divide Shi'a and Sunnis in the Middle East.
January 16, 2007
Activist Students Expelled, Professors Fired

Reports indicate that the Iranian government is upping its repression of activist university students, a charged dismissed by Iranian officials.
January 15, 2007
Reformists Insist Right Is Destined To Split

Could the right-wing electoral defeat in December divide conservatives once and for all?
January 10, 2007
Power Cuts In An Energy-Rich Land

Some lawmakers are urging the central government to pay more attention to the needs of average citizens and less to the country's nuclear program.
February 28, 2006
Consensus That Russia, West Are Not Tehran's Friends

Iran's response to concern over its nuclear program has revealed a deep distrust and dislike of all things Western, including opinions. Diplomats must take this into account as negotiations proceed.
November 09, 2005
EU: Macedonia A Candidate For Membership

The EU surprised many when it declared that Macedonia is now a union candidate for membership, though they have not earned the right to begin talks.
October 29, 2005
Officials Say No Bird Flu Yet

With no confirmed reports of an outbreak of bird flu in Iran, Iranian officials believe the country is free of the virus. But they fear it may arrive soon, brought in by migratory birds.
October 21, 2005
Conservatives, Reformers Talk Of Coalitions

A conservative umbrella group will reportedly be forged into a political party to support President Ahmadinejad. Iran's ranking nuclear diplomat Ali Larijani is tabbed to head the new entity.
August 22, 2005
Iran: Politicians Skeptical Of President's Obscure Cabinet Choices

President Ahmadinejad (file photo) The Iranian legislature on 21 August began to debate the cabinet presented on 14 August by the conservative President Mahmud Ahmadinejad. However, many politicians have been unsure what to make of proposed ministers, mainly because the names are unfamiliar. Fears have been voiced about the prospects of a government of novices in senior positions, although a politically sympathetic parliament is expected ultimately to vote in most, if not all, the nominees. The most outspoken critics have been reformers who now have little influence over the approval process.
August 15, 2005
Iran: Oil Ministry Is The Focus Of Anticorruption Bid

An oil refinery at Lavan Isl (file photo) Iranian conservatives often denounce corruption and cronyism in the state, and newly inaugurated President Mahmud Ahmadinezhad believes he won many votes in June --> http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2005/6/38249EA4-282B-4AC1-9A33-E4A4E69EA5F5.html because of his pledge to fight corruption. But this vice is difficult to pinpoint in Iran's extensive and secretive governing system, and corruption allegations are often vague. The oil sector, which handles the bulk of Iran's revenues, has faced it's share corruption charges, notably those made by Guardian Council Secretary Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati, --> http://www.rferl.org/features/2001/08/09082001120855.asp who threatened in 2001 to reveal the alleged beneficiaries of suspect fortunes.
June 28, 2005
Iran: Technocrats And Reformists Square Off Against Conservatives And Labor Over WTO Membership

A woman picks beans in the southwest of Golestan Province 28 June 2005 (RFE/RL) -- The United States recently dropped its objections to Iran's accession negotiations with the World Trade Organization (WTO), and a nine-year-old membership application was approved by WTO members on 26 May. Iran's ambassador in Geneva, Mohammad Reza Alborzi, may now attend WTO meetings, representing Iran pursuant to observer status that could last for years before full membership is granted.
June 23, 2005
Iran: Alarmed Politicians Urge Voters To Choose Hashemi-Rafsanjani

Ahmadinejad (pictured) is considered more hard-line than Rafsanjani In the second round of Iran's presidential election on 24 June, voters must choose between the very right-wing Mahmud Ahmadinejad --> http://www.rferl.org/specials/iranelections/bios/Ahmadinejad.asp and the more cautious former President Ayatollah Ali-Akbar Hashemi-Rafsanjani, --> http://www.rferl.org/specials/iranelections/bios/Hashemi-Rafsanjani.asp who heads the Expediency Council, a key arbitrating body.

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