Iran

By Teymoor Nabili in Americas, Middle East on May 19th, 2010

It didn't take too long for Washington to put Lula firmly in his place.


Brazil's President thought he had scored a diplomatic coup last weekend, by persuading Iran to ship 12 tonnes of partially-enriched uranium out of the country.

In many ways he had.

By Hashem Ahelbarra in Middle East on November 14th, 2009
Photo by Reuters

Driving to northern Yemen is never boring, the car keeps snaking through the new road carved out of a mountainous area that links Sanaa with Amran, Haja and Saada. Yemen is a beautiful country with its villages built on top of hills and mountain ridges, where tribes are still attached to old customs and traditions.

The whole of these mountains are inhabited by Zaidis, an offshoot of Shia Islam. They are a minority in Yemen but they have successfully managed to subdue the Sunni majority over many decades.

The journey takes up to six hours but is often delayed by long intervals at the many checkpoint manned by the army to make sure only those with permit can go.

Since the start of a conflict that pits the army against a Shia rebellion, the area  has been sealed off and international media denied access.

By Teymoor Nabili in Americas, Middle East on October 21st, 2009
Photo by Getty Images

When President Ahmadinejad of Iran spoke to students at Columbia University in September 2007, the students, the faculty and the media were all given front row seats to condemn and to vilify.

Even the President of the University, Lee Bollinger, took the opportunty to get a dig in, telling Ahmadinejad:

"“Mr. President, you exhibit all the signs of a petty and cruel dictator”

The New York Times reported:

"Mr. Bollinger praised himself and Columbia for showing they believed in freedom of speech by inviting the Iranian president, then continued his attack."

The entire event generated reams of press coverage.

Contrast this with the experience faced by Ehud Olmert when he spoke to students at Chicago University this week.

By Nazanine Moshiri in Middle East on October 19th, 2009

Iran says it can't talk directly with the French in Vienna because they can't be trusted. A source close to Iran's atomic agency has told us the French are sabotaging the talks. So if the French are out of the picture who is left?

Well there are the Americans and the Russians. Iran already has good relations with the Russians - they talk on a regular basis - so does this mean the next round of talks will only be with the Americans?

By Alireza Ronaghi in Middle East on August 23rd, 2009

The presiding board of Iran's parliament announced on Sunday that it had received the letter from President Ahmadinejad introducing 21 ministers of his next cabinet.

The official announcement marks the beginning of a week-long period of analysis, lobbying and debates in parliament halls over the credentials and qualifications of the ministerial nominees.

For the time being, some MPs are confident that at least four nominees will not win parliament's vote of confidence. Others believe that Ahmadinejad's choices of female ministers will face serious opposition among orthodox conservatives. 

Most popular nominees, as far as their relevant parliament committees are concerned, seem to be the ministers of foreign affairs, interior, intelligence and defense, despite the fact tha the nominated defense minister is on Interpol's wanted list.

Al Jazeera Live

What's Hot


Recent Comments

This work is licensed under Creative Commons. Please read our attribution policy.