Photos: Memories of Shah's Secret Service SAVAK at Tehran's Ebrat Museum - Iran's Ebrat Museum was once a prison of the shah's secret police, SAVAK. The museum displays and exhibits the documented atrocities of SAVAK including prison cells, interrogation rooms and torture chambers. -Armin Karami 02/8/12
Newsha Tavakolian At British Museum's Exhibition "Hajj: Journey To The Heart Of Islam" - Journey to the heart of Islam will be the first major exhibition dedicated to the Hajj. Coinciding with the exhibition, "The Fifth Pillar", a book showcasing photography of Newsha Tavakolian, published by Gilgamesh Publishing U.K will be launched worldwide. 02/8/12
Iranian Intelligence Minister: "Enemy seeking to stoke election tension" - "According to credible information which has been gained the enemy is trying to create tension and dispute in process of elections and this requires extra vigilance of security bodies and the brave and revolutionary nation," Moslehi explained. 02/8/12
Ahmadinejad prepared for questioning - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has announced that he is prepared to be questioned by Parliament in advance of the March 2 parliamentary elections. 02/8/12
Turkey Debates Role in Possible Syria Intervention - Turkey is hardening its stance against the Syrian leadership and its Western allies are increasingly looking to Ankara for efforts to help unseat Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. There is debate in Turkey over whether international sanctions and diplomatic pressure on Syria could lead to military intervention and what role Ankara should play. -Dorian Jones, VOA 02/8/12
The Economic Crisis in Iran - During the 10 years that the U.S. Army positioned itself next door to Iran, in neighboring Iraq, and Afghanistan, the people of Iran never seriously feared an attack...These days however, with the U.S. military evacuating Iraq amid plans for a withdrawal from Afghanistan, there is palpable fear of a possible attack. -Masih Alinejad, Huffington Post 02/8/12
Islamic Unity International Conference kicks off in Tehran - The 25th Islamic Unity International Conference kicked off in Tehran Wednesday as attended by 271 members of World Assembly of the Islamic Faiths Approximation and Islamic scholars. 02/8/12
Iran, IAEA to meet in Tehran on Feb. 20-21 - Iranian and International Atomic Energy Agency officials will hold a meeting in Tehran from February 20 to 21, the IAEA said in a press release on February 7. 02/8/12
Iran feels sanctions pinch as Asia traders cut ties - Malaysia has halted palm oil exports to Iran because of payments problems and Asian oil buyers have cut crude purchases as Western sanctions tighten a financial noose around Iran. -Reuters 02/8/12
US Urges Iranian Dissidents in Iraq to Move to Transit Center - The Obama administration is urging a group of Iranian dissidents living in northeastern Iraq to make a decision about moving to a new transit center near Baghdad as part of a U.N.-backed process of resettling them in third countries. 02/8/12
Is The Past The Future? The News Dissector Reports From and on Iran - The TV series House of Lies is about business but it could as easily be about government and foreign policy. In a recent episode, one of the management consultants pitches a company about the need to launch a new product. She recounts the story of the Polaroid Company known as the Apple of its day, widely admired for the cool design of its instant cameras. -Danny Schechter, Common Dreams 02/8/12
Abducted Iranian pilgrims released in Syria - The 11 Iranian pilgrims recently kidnapped by Syrian opposition forces have been released. Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast says the pilgrims were released "with the aid of friendly countries." 02/8/12
Obama's Super-Bowl Fumble on Iran - Before President Barack Obama's interview with NBC's Matt Lauer, aired before the Super Bowl on Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu probably hoped that, if Obama discussed Iran, he would give him the strong backing that Israeli leaders crave, freeing them to lash out at Iran -- militarily, if they so choose. -Ray McGovern, Common Dreams 02/8/12
Sanctioned and isolated, Iran boldly bans the Simpsons - Following a ban on Barbies, Iran's ban on the Simpsons is part of a soft culture war that can mean only one thing. We're just not sure what it is. -Scott Baldauf, CSM 02/8/12
Photos: Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute - Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute is known as one of the oldest and most reputable scientific centers in Iran. This Institute began its activities in the 1925 with producing vaccine against Rinderpest under the supervision of Ministry of Agriculture. Rinderpest at the time had caused large casualties in the cattle population of the country -Mohsen Saeidi 02/7/12
Iran: Call for Protests on February 14 - "Silent Protest" Returns to Streets - As the anniversary of the 25 Bahman (February 14) protests approaches, several social media outlets have called on people to take to the streets. Meanwhile, the coordination council of the Rahe Sabz Omid ("Green Path of Hope") has issued a statement calling on people to participate in a "silent protest" on the February 14 anniversary. 02/7/12
Iran's 'Cardboard Khomeini' Faces Criticism, Condemnation - Iran's "Cardboard Khomeini" is fueling a firestorm of criticism in the Middle Eastern country after cutouts of the Islamic republic's founder appeared at a number of events, and photos mocking the mock-up went viral. -Golnaz Esfandiari, RFE 02/7/12
Exhibition at MGMoA in Oklahoma: Persian Pictorial Rugs - A rare assemblage of pictorial rugs from the Middle East, this exhibit features several rugs from private collections in the United States, primarily from that of M. Mehdy Douraghy, and two rugs from the museum's collections. 02/7/12
Zanyar and Loqman's Execution Imminent: Key in the Hands of Friday Prayer Leader - Marivan's Friday prayer leader, Mamusta Mostafa Shirzadi, who is a main player in the twisted case of Loqman and Zanyar Moradi, is not willing to make any public comments about the case of the two young men who have been sentenced to death. Shirzadi tells Rooz, "I don't think it wise to speak to the media; not now, not ever." -Kaveh Ghoreishi 02/7/12
Iran Dismisses New US Sanctions - Iran has dismissed new U.S. sanctions targeting its government and central bank, calling the measures "psychological war." The White House said Monday the sanctions have had a "significant impact" on the Iranian economy and have helped worsen tensions among Iranian leaders. 02/7/12
Photos: Iran launches biggest Mid East water channel lab - Defense Minister Vahidi stressed the laboratory dubbed "Kowsar" has been designed and manufactured by scientists of Malik Ashtar University of Technology affiliated with Defense Ministry and is among the 5th top laboratories in the world. 02/7/12
The Deaf And The Mutes: Scupltures of Reza Hosseini Eshlaghi at Aaran Gallery - At age of 25, Reza Eshalghi is among the most promising sculptors of his generation. His latest series is a depiction of Court of Naser al-Din Shah Qajar ( 1831-1896 ). A fresh look at ugliness and beauty, a parody to show repetition of history. Raising the question: Is anything new under this ancient Blue sky. 02/7/12
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Iran's ninja army is made up of 3,500 women - Somewhere in the eastern hemisphere, thousands of female ninjas are being trained for battle. And no, it's not in Japan - or in a new Quentin Tarantino project. -Washington Post 02/7/12
World's 2nd factor VII factory launched in Iran - President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad launched the production line of antibody products at AryoGen factory on Monday which produces biotechnological medicines and is the second factory in the world producing blood factor VII, IRIB News Agency reported. 02/7/12
Blunt Instrument: Sanctions Don't Promote Democratic Change - Some scholars have found in sanctions limited success. A widely cited study by Gary Clyde Hufbauer, Jeffrey J. Schott, and Kimberly Ann Elliot holds that of 116 cases of sanctions since 1914, only 34 percent have been successful.1 Scrutiny of those cases, however, suggests an even lower rate. -Natasha Bahrami and Trita Parsi, Boston Review 02/7/12
Iran starts oil production at Yadavaran field - The field is projected to produce 30,000 barrels of crude per day. The oilfield is estimated to hold around 12 billion barrels of in-situ crude oil, some 12.5 trillion cubic feet of associated gases, as well as nearly 1.9 billion barrels of condensates. 02/7/12
Iran's Middle Class on Edge as World Presses In - One measure of the profound anxiety now coursing through Iranian society can be seen on Manouchehri Street, a winding lane at the heart of this city where furtive crowds of men gather every day like drug dealers to buy and sell American dollars. -Robert F. Worth, NY Times 02/7/12
Am I Being Naive? - In the face of this well-orchestrated, nonstop, media frenzy, is it any surprise that over 50% of Americans, as the surveys show, would support a preemptive attack on Iran. -Kam Zarrabi 02/6/12
Pacific Symphony to Celebrate the Iranian New Year, Nowruz - Pacific Symphony, in its ongoing quest to discover new musical landscapes through its acclaimed American Composers Festival (ACF), this year celebrates the Iranian New Year festival of Nowruz, which marks the arrival of spring and has been celebrated since ancient times. 02/6/12
Photos: Skydiving from Tehran's Milad Tower - A group of skydivers did jumps from Milad Tower in the capital city Tehran on Monday. The divers were wearing T-shirts with the picture of Iranian scientist Mostafa Ahmadi-Roshan who was recently assassinated in Tehran. 02/6/12
Will Women Participate in Iran's Parliamentary Elections? - The ninth parliamentary elections are scheduled to take place in the week leading up to International Women's Day, March 8. Iranian women, especially young women who are the majority of Iran's female population and the main protagonists in the arena of struggle for equal rights, will keep protesting against discriminatory laws, knowing full well that they have a long struggle ahead of them on the path to equality. -Khadijeh Moghaddam 02/6/12
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Iranian dissident sentenced to 14 years in jail - Iranian dissident Mehdi Khazali has been sentenced to 14 years in jail, 10 years in exile and 90 lashes. The director of Hayan Publications as well as a dissident blogger, Khazali received this sentence after more than 27 days on a hunger strike and he is in critically poor health. 02/6/12
Iranian activists call for release of their peer - A group of 52 Iranian student activists has issued a statement calling for the release of Saeed Razavi Faqih. The former student activist was arrested in December upon his return to Iran. He is reportedly being held in an undetermined state and is probably being subjected to high-pressure interrogations. 02/6/12
Israeli Cabinet Mulls Response to Iran Threat - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu opened the Cabinet meeting by referring to a statement last week by Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who described Israel as "a cancerous tumor that must be cut off." -Robert Berger, VOA 02/6/12
Patriot of Persia: Muhammad Mossadegh and a very British Coup - Public Lecture and Book Launch in London - On August 19, 1953, the government of Muhammad Mossadegh, Iran's nationalist prime minister, succumbed to an Anglo-American coup in favour of the Shah. How did this happen? What combination of forces worked against the septuagenarian prime minister as his dream of a truly independent Iran collapsed around him? 02/6/12
Widespread arrests in southwestern Iran - Iranian security forces have arrested 50 people over the past two weeks in the Arab neighbourhoods of the southwestern province of Khuseztan. Two of the detainees were killed while in custody, writer and human rights activist Yousef Azizi Banitaraf told Zamaneh. 02/6/12
Iranian-built drone equipped with co-pilot, GPS Tracking - The manager of the project, carried out in International Imam Khomeini University in central city of Qazvin, Ali Farzan told ISNA the drone which is equipped with 55cc two-stroke engine is 220cm long and enjoys wings that are 260cm long. 02/6/12
Photos: Mass Wedding at Shahid Beheshti University in Tehran - A mass wedding ceremony for students was held at Tehran's Shahid Beheshti University on Friday, 300 couples tied the knots. This was the 15th time such a program was being held. -Hemmat Khahi 02/5/12
Iran: More Arrests Ahead of Elections - While the condition of recently detained journalists remains unknown, more journalists are arrested ahead of the upcoming parliamentary elections. In the latest instance, Reza Jelodarzadeh, editor-in-chief of the recently banned "Sobh-e Azadi" magazine was arrested. -Fereshteh Ghazi, Rooz Online 02/5/12
It's time for a regional security framework for the Middle East - "Peace cannot be kept by force, it can only be achieved by understanding," Einstein once said. A sober assessment reveals that the policies adopted to date towards the Middle East, by and large, are not conducive to regional stability, or capable of resolving some of the region's most thorny issues, from the Syrian crisis and the Arab-Israeli conflict to Iran's nuclear program. -Sam Sasan Shoamanesh 02/5/12
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Iranian scientist's method protects immature cancer boys' fertility - An Iranian scientist managed to develop a new method to propagate human spermatogonial stem cells from small testicular biopsies to obtain adequate number of cells for successful transplantation for 18000-fold in vitro, leading to protection of the fertility of immature boys suffering from cancer. 02/5/12
Persepolis Tablets Threatened By Senate Sanctions Bill - New Iran sanctions are targeting Persian artifacts in U.S. museums and universities, making it easier for lawyers to seize and auction off priceless Persian antiquities. Send a letter below to tell your Senators to protect our cultural heritage! 02/4/12
Iran's Navid (Promise) Satellite Orbiting the Earth - Director of Iran Space Agency Hamid Fazeli told IRNA on Saturday that using the upgraded Safir satellite carrier rocket to launch the Navid (Promise) research satellite into orbit was a great scientific achievement for the Islamic Republic. 02/4/12
Rights groups urge international community to press Iran to end violations - Reporters Without Borders, the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), and the Iranian League for the Defence of Human Rights urge the international community to take a much firmer stance on respect for human rights in Iran by raising this essential issue in the talks currently under way with the country's authorities. 02/4/12
Photos: A Snow White Ardebil - Heavy snow fall continues in Ardebil province of Iran, with some areas receiving over 50cm of snow. These photos by Vahid Moghaddam show the snow-covered Ardebil city. 02/4/12
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Photos: Iran's Zafar Naval Cruise Missiles - In a ceremony on Saturday, the production line of a new domestically manufactured naval missile system, named the Zafar (Victory), was officially launched and the first batch of the missile system was delivered to the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps Naval Force. 02/4/12
China refuses to join the sanctions bandwagon - China has announced once more that it will not join with the West in imposing sanctions on Iran, emphasizing that talks and cooperation are the only correct and effective path to resolving nuclear disputes with the Islamic Republic. 02/4/12
Photos: Miankaleh Wetland in Iran's Caspian Region - There are several national and international wetlands in Iran in which Miankaleh is on of the most important one and is considered as a wild life sanctuary and was listed as a preserved area in 1969. Furthermore, regarding its ecological characteristics, this wetland has been chosen as a maternity site by many endangered animal and herbaceous species, specifically aquatic migrant birds. 02/3/12
Iran launches newest satellite into space - Iran successfully launched a new domestically manufactured satellite into orbit on Friday morning. The research satellite, called Navid-e Elm and San'at (Promise of Science and Technology), has been manufactured by Iran University of Science and Technology. It was sent into space aboard the Safir rocket. 02/3/12
Iran: Stop Holding Reporters' Relatives Hostage - "Detaining a BBC reporter's relative seems to be part of a wider campaign to harass Iranian journalists by putting pressure on them and their families," said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East director at Human Rights Watch. 02/3/12
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2nd Annual National Iranian American Day of Service - In the spirit of the Iranian New Year, Norooz, we will be organizing teams of volunteers in cities throughout the U.S. to participate in a variety of service projects. This is our chance to give back to those communities in which we live and work, while also sharing a piece of our rich culture and philanthropic spirit. 02/3/12
Iran's Baha'i community targeted with more arrests - The Human Rights Reporters Committee announced on Friday that several Baha'is were arrested at their homes today in Shiraz. Details of the arrests have not yet been released, except that the arrests were carried out during sudden and simultaneous raids on the homes of the targeted people. 02/3/12
Passing the Torch of Success Rocks San Diego - Billed as an event which would educate, inspire, and empower, the PTT in San Diego more than delivered. As one audience member noted: "What an incredible panel of speakers....so inspiring...everyone left empowered with an amazing sense of pride as Iranian Americans." 02/3/12
Scrappage scheme, subsidy cuts slash gasoline consumption in Iran - A scheme launched in 2005 to dispose of old and inefficient vehicles has contributed to the reduction of gasoline consumption in Iran by around 3.4 million liters per day, an official with the Fuel and Transportation Management Organization said. 02/3/12
Iran: Wave of arrests in run up to parliamentary elections - Amnesty International is concerned that an ongoing wave of arrests of media workers and bloggers is intended to limit freedom of expression in the run up to parliamentary elections in Iran scheduled for 2 March 2012. 02/2/12
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Photos: Zoroastrians Celebrate Sadeh Festival in Kerman - Sadeh festival was celebrated by the Iranian Zoroastrians in Kerman on Monday night. Sadeh is an ancient Iranian tradition celebrated 50 days before Persian New Year Norouz. 02/2/12
Iran: Political Prisoners's Ward at Evin Prison Raided by Security Forces - Following this illegal act that took place in the presence of the special prosecutor's assistant, the prisoners broke out in slogans such as "Ya Hossein... Mir Hossein" , "Mahmoud the Traitor" and "Death to the Dictator" and sang the national anthem "Ey Iran" and other songs such as "Yareh Dabestani". 02/2/12
Death penalty announced for "disruptive" currency traders - The head of Iran's judiciary announced on Wednesday that the courts will readily "issue death penalties" to the "disruptors" of the country's foreign currency market. In recent weeks, Iran's foreign currency and gold markets have experienced sharp fluctuations, which many analysts have linked to the intensification of international sanctions against Iran. 02/2/12
Revoke Execution Sentence of Iranian Web Programmer - Iran should immediately suspend the death sentence for web programmer and Canadian resident Saeed Malekpour and investigate allegations of his torture, the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran said today. 02/2/12
Actress Katayoun Riahi assigned Iran charity ambassador - The award-winning Iranian actress Katayoun Riahi has been assigned as the new ambassador of the country's Mehrafarin Charity Society. Mehrafarin Charity Society also introduced Tehran Wind Instruments Orchestra as the Co-Ambassador at the event. 02/1/12
EU denounces clampdown on Iranian journalists - The European Union has added its voice to the international chorus denouncing the Islamic Republic's crackdown on Iranian journalists. 02/1/12
Iran's Cyberpolice Detain Facebook Group Administrators - Iran's cyberpolice say they have arrested four administrators of a Facebook group called "Daaf and Paaf," which had launched an online beauty competition. -Golnaz Esfandiari, RFE 01/31/12
Iran's Film Community Demands Ban On House Of Cinema Be Lifted - Close to 2,000 members of Iran's film community have voiced their protest against the Iranian government's decision to ban the House of Cinema, an independently run organisation that promotes the film industry. 01/31/12
Photos: Shemshak Ski Resort North of Tehran - With the beginning of ski season, Shemshak ski resort north of Tehran is welcoming ski lovers! Shemshak is situated to the northeast of Tehran in the Alborz mountain range. -Armin Karami 01/30/12
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A Question of Methodology: Feminist Studies of Gender and the State in Contemporary Iran - Program at Bernard Center for Research on Women in New York City -- Most feminist studies of post-1979 Iran focus on the legal setbacks that women encountered and their collective strategies for regaining the formal grounds they lost with the establishment of an Islamic Republic in Iran. 01/30/12
Breaking bread, delivering dreams: The art of hospitality in Iran - If Iranians are known for the excellence of their hospitality the world over, it is not as surprising as they have a long practice and history of guest culture. Ancient Iranian calendars marked numerous festivals and meaningful occasions of merriment in which Iranians had the opportunity to play the good host and the blessed guest. -Maryam Ala Amjadi 01/29/12
Sharif University calls arrest of Iranian professor by U.S. "hideous" and "childish" action - Sharif University of Technology in a statement on Saturday lashed out at the US for detaining a prominent Iranian university professor, Seyed Mojtaba Atarodi, for buying laboratory equipment, and said the move proves Washington's monopolistic attempts to prevent the spread and growth of science. 01/28/12
Susa, the eternal city of the East - Some six or seven thousand years ago a tribe, whose name is still unknown, speaking a language of which we have no definite record, and coming from a region which has not yet been identified, wandered through the mountains with women and children until they came to an extensive plain not far from the head of the Persian Gulf. -H. G. Spearing 01/27/12
With the Verve of Words: Learning Foreign Languages in Iran - Dr. Azita Afrashi is an Iranian linguist who is an assistant professor at the Linguistics Department, Center for Humanities and Cultural Studies. She has three books on language and semantics and many research articles in national and international journals to her credit. 01/27/12
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IAAB Counselor Spotlight: Mazyar Kahali - With the deadline for Camp 2012 counselor applications less than a month away, IAAB's camp planning committee member Sara Mokhtari-Fox spoke with a returning counselor about what the Ayandeh experience means to him. 01/26/12
Photos: Historic Hajij Village Facing A Grim Future - The historic village Hajij is the last village of the border town of Nosoud in the western Iranian province of Kermanshah. 180 families live in the village. But now the village is faced with a grim future. As the construction of the Darian dam which started three years ago is completed, some of the houses in the village will be consumed by water. -Armin Karami 01/25/12
Photos: First Snow Of The Season In Tehran - The first snow of the winter season gave a white cover to Tehran on Saturady. While the snow slowed the traffic and caused some headaches, some people were outdoors to take advantage of the fresh powder 01/21/12
And they saw Golshifteh without a cover! - I love Golshifteh Farahani. When I opened my email in the morning, I saw a message from a kind and thoughtful friend who had sent me a link to the French magazine's website Madame Le Figaro featuring a nude photo by Golshifteh. She was as beautiful as ever, if not more! -M. Bibak 01/19/12
Farhang Foundation's 2012 Nowruz Banner Design Unveiled - Navid Ghaem Maghami, a San Francisco-based graphic designer, has been selected as the winner of Farhang Foundation's 2012 Nowruz Banner Contest. His winning design, unveiled today for the first time, will be featured on light pole banners on various major streets across Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley 01/14/12
