Podcasts about Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

Hooman Majd comes from a family that reads like a parable about modern Iran: a grandfather who was an ayatollah, an uncle who worked for the Shah, and a folk-singing aunt. Everyone's family has a version of this, right?-Iran is a tragedy-the sense of triumph has already faded-is Hooman happy the Supreme Leader was killed?-Trump's motive: regime change, or only regime adjustment?-a ring of fire around Israel-hijab mandates, strict social rules, and the morality police using facial recognition-did the 1979 Islamic Revolution fail on its own terms?-MEK is a cult-is there room for a homegrown anti-regime revolution, or does war smother it?-who ends up in the IRGC?-the girls' school bombing, and the propaganda machine-internet shutdowns, VPN life, and tweeting through a war-if you want to be an authoritarian, you cannot tolerate a free press-how to consume war info without getting played-outlets reporting on the new Ayatollah-sanctions: efficacy, blowback, and who they actually punish-Can Iran function like a normal state, and can it have workable relations with Israel?-Oct. 7 and Iran's role-concerns about civil war-the mullah stereotype-“translating” for Mahmoud Ahmadinejad-death threats, anonymous phone calls, and “don't ever come back”-defending against charges of being a regime apologistBuy Minister Without Portfolio: Memoir of a Reluctant Exile (Bookshop | Amazon)Prefer to watch & chat live with other members of the Fifdom? This episode premieres over on our YouTube channel at 12PM EST.The Fifth Column is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Follow The Fifth ColumnYouTube: @wethefifthInstagram: @we.the.fifthX: @wethefifthTikTok: @wethefifthFacebook: @thefifthcolumn This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.wethefifth.com/subscribe

In this high-energy, provocative episode, the guest host (filling in for Derek Hunter) delivers a raw, uncompromising breakdown of the reported deaths of the Iranian Ayatollah, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, and dozens of high-ranking regime leaders. Drawing on his years working for Rush Limbaugh, the host argues that the "mystery" of how to handle tyrants has finally been solved through a return to the "Sunday Punch" philosophy of Theodore Roosevelt and Ronald Reagan. The episode dismantles common foreign policy "myths," specifically the idea that "you can't kill an idea." With a blend of dark humor and historical grit, the host posits that ideas live in heads—and when those heads are removed, the idea dies with them. He contrasts the current administration's forceful military action against decades of "mealy-mouthed" diplomacy, specifically calling out the failures of the Carter and Biden eras. Infused with pop-culture references—from Animal House and Pulp Fiction to Shaka Zulu—this episode is a victory lap for American strength, arguing that the only way to ensure peace is to make the price of "Death to America" slogans too high to pay.

Today's Headlines: The U.S. and Israel launched Operation EPIC FURY, striking more than 1,000 targets across Iran. Iran retaliated widely, aiming at U.S. bases in the Gulf but also hitting civilian sites in Dubai, including the airport, the Burj Al Arab, and the Fairmont Palm Hotel. President Donald Trump said the U.S. sank nine Iranian warships, warned Americans to expect casualties and by Sunday, three U.S. service members were dead. In a major escalation, Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad were reported killed, along with dozens of senior officials. Iran then closed the Strait of Hormuz, which carries about 20% of global oil supply. Oil prices are projected to jump roughly 9% as markets reopen. Members of Congress from both parties are now pushing for a War Powers Act vote, noting they were not consulted before the strikes began. At the Pentagon, AI drama escalated. After asking how its model was used in a prior operation, Anthropic lost a $200 million federal contract and was labeled a “supply chain risk” by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Within a day, the Pentagon reached a deal with OpenAI, which says it maintains similar guardrails. Separately, reporting from The Washington Post and ProPublica details a draft executive order circulated by Trump allies that claims China interfered in 2020 and could declare a national emergency affecting election administration ahead of the midterms. Former national security adviser Michael Flynn reportedly convened allies to discuss the plan. Speaker Mike Johnson warned losing the midterms would effectively end Trump's presidency. And in Austin, Texas, two people were killed and 14 wounded in a bar shooting now being investigated by the FBI as a potential act of terrorism. Resources/Articles mentioned in this episode: WSJ: Trump Warns More U.S. Deaths Possible as Blasts Rock Mideast for Second Day The Guardian: Oil price expected to surge after Iran strikes and strait of Hormuz closure CNN: Congress to vote on Trump's war powers in aftermath of Iran strikes NYT: At the Pentagon, OpenAI is In and Anthropic Is Out WaPo: Trump, seeking executive power over elections, is urged to declare emergency ProPublica: Trump Officials Attended a Summit of Election Deniers Who Want the President to Take Over the Midterms WaPo: ‘It would be the end of the Trump presidency' AP News: FBI probes Texas bar shooting that killed 2 and wounded 14 as possible terrorist act Subscribe to the Betches News Room and join the Morning Announcements group chat. Go to: ⁠⁠⁠betchesnews.substack.com Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Monday's A.M. Update recaps one of the most extraordinary geopolitical weekends in recent memory: President Trump announces Operation Epic Fury, a massive U.S.-led (with heavy Israeli involvement) campaign of precision strikes dismantling Iran's nuclear sites, missile capabilities, air defenses, naval forces, and proxy networks after Tehran rejects zero-enrichment demands and attempts rebuilding. Initial volleys eliminate Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, and dozens of top IRGC and political leaders—enabled by CIA intel and executed by Israel—sparking nationwide celebrations in Iran. Iran's command structure fractures, with foreign minister admitting isolated, independent military actions; retaliatory strikes hit Gulf neighbors and bases, uniting regional powers against Tehran. Three U.S. service members killed in early action; domestic terror incident in Austin probed for links. Big-picture reflections on frightening allied military/intel capabilities, shifting Middle East dynamics, China's oil vulnerabilities, and lessons on decisive force versus endless nation-building.   A.M. Update, Aaron McIntire, Operation Epic Fury, Iran strikes, Ayatollah Khamenei dead, Israel US alliance, nuclear program dismantled, IRGC leaders eliminated, Gulf states response, Tom Homan, Austin terror shooting

With Iran’s supreme leader killed and retaliation unfolding, the US and Israel appear to be testing the durability of the Islamic Republic. But Iran’s political system was designed to survive leadership loss and outside pressure. What does Washington misunderstand about Tehran’s structure, and how far is Iran prepared to go? In this episode: Ali Hashem, Al Jazeera Correspondent Episode credits: This episode was produced by Marcos Bartolomé, Sarí el-Khalili, David Enders, and Tamara Khandaker, with Spencer Cline, Catherine Nouhan, Tuleen Barakat, Maya Hamadah, Noor Wazwaz, and our host, Malika Bilal. It was edited by Alexandra Locke. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our video editors are Hisham Abu Salah and Mohannad al-Melhemm. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

The United States is now in open conflict with Iran after a joint U.S.–Israeli operation killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in the opening hours of what the White House has dubbed Operation Epic Fury. The geopolitical aftershocks are already reshaping the Middle East, and could upend the fate of the midterms come November.Over the weekend, American and Israeli forces launched a coordinated campaign targeting Iranian military infrastructure and senior leadership. The United States focused on equipment and strategic assets. Israel targeted personnel. Among the dead: Ali Khamenei, former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, and multiple layers of senior command.What we saw was the clearest expression yet of what I would describe as Trump's second-term regime change playbook. First, engage in extended negotiations, regardless of whether the other side is stalling. Second, quietly position overwhelming military force within striking distance. Third, execute a rapid, highly choreographed strike that immediately removes the head of state.Politics Politics Politics is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.It is ruthlessly efficient. It is high risk. And unlike Iraq in 2003, the primary target was eliminated in the opening salvo. There will be no years of grainy bunker videos from Tehran. The symbolic center of power is gone.But speed does not guarantee stability. The immediate question is not whether the operation succeeded militarily. It did. The question is what comes next.Regional Realignment and the Oil ChessboardOne of the most striking developments has been the reaction across the region. Missiles were fired from Iran into the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Both countries then moved rhetorically closer to the American position. Even the Palestinian Authority condemned the Iranian strikes.If Saudi Arabia was quietly supportive of regime change, as some reporting suggests, then the long arc of the Abraham Accords may be bending toward a new regional bloc: Israel, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Qatar acting as economic and security anchors. Iran, long positioned as the ideological counterweight, now faces a vacuum.Then there's China. Iran exports roughly 90 percent of its oil to Beijing at discounted rates. If a post-Khamenei Iran stabilizes and reenters broader markets, China's leverage shrinks. Add to that Venezuela's instability and potential changes to Russian oil flows, and Beijing's energy calculus becomes far more complicated.Energy is not just economics. It's military capacity. Constrain oil, and you constrain strategic freedom of movement. That dynamic remains very much in play.Washington DividesDomestically, the political fallout is already taking shape. Republicans argue the strike was legal and necessary, pointing to congressional briefings and framing the action as a decisive blow against a long-standing adversary. Democrats are coalescing around a familiar and potent message: anti-war restraint. Senators like Chris Murphy and Chris Coons have questioned both the legality and the long-term strategy, warning of destabilization and regional blowback.This is where the midterm implications become real. The MAGA coalition includes a significant anti-war faction shaped by Iraq and Afghanistan. Many of those voters supported Trump precisely because he promised to avoid prolonged Middle Eastern entanglements. A swift strike is one thing. A sustained conflict is another.Three American service members are already confirmed dead, with five seriously wounded. That fact alone changes the tone. Nothing shifts public opinion faster than a body count.Democrats are often most effective when opposing war. Republicans, meanwhile, are betting that decisive action will project strength. But without an appetite for prolonged conflict in the Middle East, any success in November for Trump very much remains up in the air.The Off-Ramp QuestionThe key variable to when this all wraps up is time. If the United States transitions operational control to regional partners quickly and avoids prolonged occupation, Trump can argue this was a targeted regime decapitation, not a nation-building project. If American forces remain engaged beyond a short window, the political calculus shifts dramatically.Iran is not Venezuela. There was no extraction of a leader for prosecution. There was a killing. What fills the vacuum matters enormously.I have said before that a regime collapse in Iran would be the most consequential geopolitical event since the fall of the Soviet Union. We may now be living through that moment. Whether it becomes a strategic triumph or a prolonged quagmire will depend on decisions made in the coming days, not the strikes already executed.For now, the clock is ticking. And both the Middle East and American voters are watching.Chapters00:00 - Intro02:26 - Justin's Thought on Iran14:52 - What's Happened So Far19:14 - Republican Response30:03 - Democrat Response35:59: Abandoned Diplomacy46:53: What Happens Next?53:45: Wrap-up This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.politicspoliticspolitics.com/subscribe

Welcome to The Daily Wrap Up, an in-depth investigatory show dedicated to bringing you the most relevant independent news, as we see it, from the last 24 hours (3/1/26). As always, take the information discussed in the video below and research it for yourself, and come to your own conclusions. Anyone telling you what the truth is, or claiming they have the answer, is likely leading you astray, for one reason or another. Stay Vigilant. !function(r,u,m,b,l,e){r._Rumble=b,r[b]||(r[b]=function(){(r[b]._=r[b]._||[]).push(arguments);if(r[b]._.length==1){l=u.createElement(m),e=u.getElementsByTagName(m)[0],l.async=1,l.src="https://rumble.com/embedJS/u2q643"+(arguments[1].video?'.'+arguments[1].video:'')+"/?url="+encodeURIComponent(location.href)+"&args="+encodeURIComponent(JSON.stringify([].slice.apply(arguments))),e.parentNode.insertBefore(l,e)}})}(window, document, "script", "Rumble");   Rumble("play", {"video":"v74ao6y","div":"rumble_v74ao6y"}); Video Source Links (In Chronological Order): (8) Herd of Justice on X: "A thread of today's Settlers attacks on the Palestinian town of Duma: Around 11:00, settlers invaded a Bedouin community with their goats, all the while Iranian missile are flying overhead. They were armed with guns, batons and pepper spray. https://t.co/1YWfEiDWW2" / X (12) Breaking the Silence on X: "Yesterday morning, we woke up to rocket alerts. Israel began bombing Iran. As often happens when the media attention shifts, Israel seized the moment to intensify its attacks against Palestinians. Here's what happened while the world was looking the other way

In a series of Air Strikes by the US and Israel, the now former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei and former radical President (from 2005-2013) Mahmoud Ahmadinejad are dead. What happens next?Please give F.O.T. a five star rating on Apple Podcasts or any other Pod Catching app that allows you to do so.Support The Show: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/freedom-of-thought/supportUse my referral link for the Crypto.com App:https://crypto.com/app/mt4ysj25P7 to sign up for Crypto.com and we both get $25!facebook.com/freedomofthought1776https://www.youtube.com/@freedomofthought1776Instagram: freedom_of_thought1776Gettr: @FreeThought7679X: @freedomofthou76paladinolive@yahoo.com

The head of an Iranian secret service unit set up to target Mossad agents working in the Islamic Republic turned out to be an Israeli agent himself, according to former Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.   October 2nd 2024   ---  Please Like, Comment and Follow 'The Ray Appleton Show' on all platforms:   ---    'The Ray Appleton Show' is available on the KMJNOW app, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever else you listen to podcasts.    ---  'The Ray Appleton Show'   Weekdays 11 AM -2 PM Pacific on News/Talk 580 AM & 105.9 KMJ    | Website  | Facebook | Podcast |   -  Everything KMJ   KMJNOW App | Podcasts | Facebook | X | Instagram   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of The President's Daily Brief: Putin's latest gamble seems to have failed. Russia's offensive in the Kharkiv region has stalled amidst heavy casualties and the arrival of western weapons. We'll examine a new report that suggests the White House is considering unilateral negotiations for the release of five Americans that are currently being held hostage in Gaza. According to a leaked memo, agents in California have been advised to release migrants from over 100 countries into the US, despite the Biden administration's new “crackdown.” In today's Back of the Brief, we'll have the latest in the Iranian Presidential elections, where America's old nemesis Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has been barred from seeking office. To listen to the show ad-free, become a premium member of The President's Daily Brief by visiting PDBPremium.com. Please remember to subscribe if you enjoyed this episode of The President's Daily Brief. Email: PDB@TheFirstTV.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

¿Cómo quedaron los resultados de las elecciones en el país? Corre a nuestro episodio especial, ahí te dejamos toooodos los detalles. Spoiler alert! México tiene su primera presidenta. El presidente de los Estados Unidos, Joe Biden, compartió un nuevo plan de Israel para lograr un alto el fuego y la tregua permanente en la Franja de Gaza. Este contaría con tres etapas para liberar a los rehenes del grupo islamistas, la retirada del ejército hebreo de la Franja además de la reconstrucción de esta parte de Palestina. El primer ministro Benjamín Netanyahu está encontrando resistencia del sector más conservador de su gobierno.Además… El partido del Congreso Nacional Africano perdió su mayoría en la asamblea nacional de Sudáfrica, por primera vez en 30 años; Hunter Biden, el hijo del presidente estadounidense, se enfrenta a una serie de juicios por falsificar una solicitud para obtener una licencia de portación de armas; El expresidente iraní Mahmoud Ahmadinejad buscará postularse para reemplazar a Ebrahim Raisi; Y el Real Madrid consiguió alzar su Orejona número quince tras vencer al Borussia Dortmund con un 2-0.Y para #ElVasoMedioLleno… Tras una prueba exitosa, Jordan Marotta, un niño de cinco años que nació sin un brazo, consiguió una prótesis biónica de la empresa Open Bionics.Para enterarte de más noticias como estas, síguenos en nuestras redes sociales. Estamos en todas las plataformas como @telokwento. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matangazo ya nusu saa kuhusu habari za mapema asubuhi pamoja na habari za michezo.

In June 2009, millions of Iranians took to the streets to protest against what they considered a rigged presidential election.The hardline incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad won 62% of the vote. All three defeated candidates disputed the results.The protests gave rise to the 'Green Movement', named after its signature colour, which opposed Ahmadinejad.Journalist Maziar Bahari was accused of being a Western spy and spent 118 days being interrogated in Iran's Evin Prison. He tells Dan Hardoon about the torture he endured.(Photo: Maziar Bahari in 2015. Credit: Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images)

EL ISLAM ESPERA VOLVER A SU MESÍAS   En 2005, el presidente iraní Mahmoud Ahmadinejad fue llamado ante el Consejo de Seguridad de las Naciones Unidas para explicar su determinación de desarrollar armas nucleares. Terminó su discurso con esta oración a Alá: “Te ruego que aceleres el surgimiento de tu último depositario, el prometido, ese ser humano perfecto y puro, el que llenará este mundo de justicia y paz”. El “prometido” en la oración de Ahmadinejad era una referencia al Duodécimo Imam, una figura en la enseñanza chiíta que es paralela a la figura de Al-Mahdi en la enseñanza sunita. En esencia, ambos títulos se refieren al mesías islámico que aún está por llegar. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/xos-french-diguez/message

A viagem de Lula à China cumpre a meta inicial de seu governo no campo da diplomacia: demonstrar uma equidistância dos EUA e da China, a fim de buscar se beneficiar das relações com os dois países. Essa foi a postura dos dois primeiros governos de Lula e, obviamente, faz muito sentido, dado o posicionamento histórico brasileiro de neutralidade no que é possível. Thiago de Aragão, analista políticoPor mais que a lógica na cabeça de Celso Amorim, assessor-chefe da Assessoria Especial do presidente Lula, seja baseada na noção de equidistância, o que muda desde quando Lula encerrou seu segundo governo é a situação geopolítica global. Lula conversou com Joe Biden em sua ida aos EUA e deixou claro ao presidente americano que não tomará parte em ações de contenção da influência chinesa na América Latina. Não era o que Biden queria ouvir, mas tampouco foi uma surpresa para o governo americano. Xi Jinping certamente não pedirá para o Brasil tomar uma posição pública de aliança com a China e antagonismo em relação aos EUA, pois a diplomacia chinesa não funciona assim. No entanto, muita coisa mudou nesses últimos anos. O mundo está mais polarizado do que nunca e Lula, mesmo com o seu alto interesse em política externa, precisa estar atento a detalhes que normalmente não são levados em conta por assessores próximos. Em primeiro lugar, as tensões entre China e EUA são crescentes e dinâmicas. Os nervos estão à flor da pele, e o governo brasileiro deve tomar muito cuidado com o que o presidente Lula dirá em Pequim. Um posicionamento a favor da China contra Taiwan cairia muito mal na comunidade internacional. Assim como Lula minou a possibilidade de mediar um cessar-fogo entre Ucrânia e Rússia a partir do momento que dividiu, irmãmente, a culpa pela guerra entre os dois países. Em relação a Taiwan, o ideal é ficar quieto e não mencionar nada nessa linha. Um segundo ponto importante é que certamente Lula e seus assessores mais próximos sabem que a “tecnologia” é o ponto central das tensões entre EUA e China. A Huawei é vista como um grande risco por americanos e europeus, enquanto o governo Lula não vê a empresa chinesa dessa forma. Um eventual anúncio de cooperação e/ou de comercialização de produtos tecnológicos ligados às listas de sanções impostas pelos americanos contra a China poderá prejudicar e muito a ampliação de empresas americanas e europeias operando no Brasil. No campo das telecomunicações, por exemplo, poderia surgir uma crise de confiança no fluxo de dados entre empresas no Brasil que trabalham com operadoras que utilizam os kits de 5G da Huawei. Terceiro ponto: o posicionamento chinês a favor da Rússia na guerra da Ucrânia é público e notório. Um comunicado conjunto entre Lula e Xi nessa linha, independentemente da mensagem que saia dos dois, não seria bem recebido e seria visto como um erro diplomático. Dada a posição de Xi em relação à guerra, qualquer coisa que saia da boca de Xi sobre esse tema, com Lula em pé ao seu lado, seria prejudicial. Apesar desses riscos “operacionais”, a viagem não deixa de ser extremamente importante para o país. A China, como principal parceira econômica do Brasil, inevitavelmente estimula a ida de uma enorme comitiva brasileira. Enquanto os acordos que serão discutidos e assinados no campo do agronegócio e comércio serão indubitavelmente positivos, os que poderão surgir nas áreas de cooperação em ciências e tecnologia merecem uma atenção maior aos riscos. A diplomacia brasileira está acostumada a missões presidenciais repletas de alegrias, oba-oba e boas notícias. A ida de Lula à China conterá tudo isso, dado o perfil do presidente brasileiro. No entanto, desde a ida de Lula ao Irã em 2010 para tentar, ao lado de Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, fechar um acordo nuclear, o Brasil não tem um presidente visitando um país onde riscos silenciosos podem se tornar custosos, seja por uma frase mal colocada ou um sorriso fora de hora. O ponto de interrogação permanece em relação à esdrúxula ideia da diplomacia brasileira de mediar uma solução para a guerra na Ucrânia. Obviamente, China e Rússia se colocarão a favor do plano brasileiro, pois beneficia claramente a Rússia ao tentar equiparar os atos russos aos ucranianos. Lula é um presidente ativo na política externa e benquisto em vários países do mundo. Isso não quer dizer, no entanto, que entenda dos detalhes e nuances dos temas complexos da geopolítica global. O projeto de mediar o fim da guerra, apresentando tudo que a Rússia sonha em ter, prejudica e muito a imagem do Brasil no mundo, mesmo em um momento em que praticamente qualquer coisa que Lula faça gere resultados melhores do que a bizarra política externa de Ernesto Araújo e Jair Bolsonaro. Na China, Lula terá em Xi Jinping um aliado para esse plano de mediação, justamente por ser inatingível e benéfico apenas para a Rússia e, consequentemente, para a China.

Every minority—every ethnic or religious subgroup—has its own internal conversations. Often, in the modern age, that's resulted in specialized journalistic outlets. Jewish newspapers; Christian TV stations; Muslims journals. But just as fascinating are journalists who take their particular identity, and use it as a lens through which to help general audiences view the world. What, indeed, does it mean for a reporter who is Jewish—or Christian, or Muslim, or Buddhist—to write for The Atlantic, or Business Insider? To do original reporting in Ukraine, or Somalia or Syria? On today's episode, Rabbi Lamm spoke to Tablet Magazin's Armin Rosen about what it means to learn and write about the wide world Biblically and Jewishly. They talked world travel; music festivals; the connection between death and joy in popular culture; the intertextuality of hip hop; what makes Orthodox Jews different from and similar to other Jews; Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's 2007 address at Columbia University; the importance of 1st century Rome and Jerusalem for understanding contemporary politics; novels about Brazil; and much more! Good Faith Effort is a production of Bnai Zion and SoulShop.

Guests featured in this episode:Azadeh Moaveni, the Iranian-American writer and journalist who has been covering the Middle East for more than two decades. A renowned expert on Iran, the Islamic State, as well as Middle East Politics and Islamic society in general, she has focused her work on how women are impacted by political conflicts, and how their social and political rights are affected by militarism and Islamism.  In 2005, she published the international bestseller Lipstick Jihad, a memoir recounting her experience of the Iranian reform and women's rights movements. The following year saw the publication of Iran Awakening: A Memoir of Revolution and Hope, co-authored with the Nobel Peace Laureate Shirin Ebadi.  GLOSSARY:What are Iran's morality police?(02:33 or p.1 in the transcript)"Gasht-e-Ershad," which translates as "guidance patrols," and is widely known as the "morality police," is a unit of Iran's police force established under former hardline president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Wearing the hijab became mandatory in Iran in 1983. It was not until 2006 that the unit began patrolling the streets, tasked with enforcing the laws on Islamic dress code in public. According to Iranian law, all women above the age of puberty must wear a head covering and loose clothing in public, although the exact age is not clearly defined. In school, girls typically have to wear the hijab from the age of seven, but that does not mean they need to necessarily wear it in other public places. A major part of Iran's social regulations are based on the state's interpretation of Islamic Sharia law, which requires both men and women to dress modestly. However, in practice, the "morality police" have in the past primarily targeted women. There are no clear guidelines or details on what types of clothing qualify as inappropriate, leaving a lot of room for interpretation and sparking accusations that the "morality" enforcers arbitrarily detain women.  Morality police squads have in the past been made up of men wearing green uniforms and women in black chadors, garments which cover the head and upper body. Those detained by the "morality police" are given a notice or, in some cases, are taken to a so-called education and advice center or a police station, where they are required to attend a mandatory lecture on the hijab and Islamic values. They then have to call someone to bring them "appropriate clothes" in order to be released. source What is the Iran nuclear deal?(20:06 or p.5 in the transcript)The Iran nuclear agreement, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, is a landmark accord reached between Iran and several world powers, including the United States, in July 2015. Under its terms, Iran agreed to dismantle much of its nuclear program and open its facilities to more extensive international inspections in exchange for billions of dollars' worth of sanctions relief. Proponents of the deal said that it would help prevent a revival of Iran's nuclear weapons program and thereby reduce the prospects for conflict between Iran and its regional rivals, including Israel and Saudi Arabia. However, the deal has been in jeopardy since President Donald Trump withdrew the United States from it in 2018. In retaliation for the U.S. departure and for deadly attacks on prominent Iranians in 2020, including one by the United States, Iran has resumed some of its nuclear activities. In 2021, President Joe Biden said the United States would return to the deal if Iran came back into compliance. Renewed diplomacy initially seemed promising, but after stop-and-go talks, it remains unclear if the parties can come to an agreement. source Democracy in Question? is brought to you by:• Central European University: CEU• The Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy in Geneva: AHCD• The Podcast Company: Novel Follow us on social media!• Central European University: @CEU• Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy in Geneva: @AHDCentreSubscribe to the show. If you enjoyed what you listened to, you can support us by leaving a review and sharing our podcast in your networks! 

Featuring Eskandar Sadeghi-Boroujerdi and Golnar Nikpour on the history of modern Iran. This is the fifth and final episode in what is now a FIVE-part series. We begin this episode in 1997, with reformist cleric Mohammad Khatami's surprise landslide election to the presidency. Then we cover the reformists running into hardliner repression and George W. Bush's War on Terror, the 2005 election of hardliner Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, his 2009 reelection and Green Movement protests, Hassan Rouhani and the nuclear accord that Trump then tore up, the 2019 mass working-class protests, and the election (but really more coronation) of right-winger Ebrahim Raisi. We end with the death of Zhina Mahsa Amini in the custody of morality police and the current mass protest movement that erupted in response.Support The Dig at Patreon.com/TheDigCheck out our vast archives and the rest of this series at thedigradio.comBuy Daring to Struggle, Daring to Win by Helen Shiller haymarketbooks.org/books/1952-daring-to-struggle-daring-to-win Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Featuring Eskandar Sadeghi-Boroujerdi and Golnar Nikpour on the history of modern Iran. This is the fifth and final episode in what is now a FIVE-part series. We begin this episode in 1997, with reformist cleric Mohammad Khatami's surprise landslide election to the presidency. Then we cover the reformists running into hardliner repression and George W. Bush's War on Terror, the 2005 election of hardliner Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, his 2009 reelection and Green Movement protests, Hassan Rouhani and the nuclear accord that Trump then tore up, the 2019 mass working-class protests, and the election (but really more coronation) of right-winger Ebrahim Raisi. We end with the death of Zhina Mahsa Amini in the custody of morality police and the current mass protest movement that erupted in response. Support The Dig at Patreon.com/TheDig Check out our vast archives and the rest of this series at thedigradio.com Buy Daring to Struggle, Daring to Win by Helen Shiller haymarketbooks.org/books/1952-daring-to-struggle-daring-to-win

Ali Khamenei has been the Supreme Leader of Iran since 1989, and previously served as President in the 1980s. This podcast is released at what appears to be a moment of mounting crisis for the Islamic regime, with protests across the country going into their seventh consecutive week. Domestically, Khamenei's time as leader has been characterised on the one hand by consolidation of the regime after the Iran-Iraq War, but also by passionate disagreements in civil society over how puritanical Iranian religious doctrine should be. The presidency has changed hands from stalwart conservatives like Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, to reformer Hassan Rouhani, and back again in 2021 to hardliner Ebrahim Raisi. With each change has come a greater fracturing of Iranian society, and a slow drip-drip of protests. Khamenei, at 83, is still at the helm, and has recently spoken out against the protests and reaffirmed his support for President Raisi. The question of these protests is: will they be different to former demonstrations, lasting the course, and perhaps precipitating a change of regime? I generally believe that those who have knowledge don't predict, and those who predict have no knowledge, but it's nonetheless interesting to speculate on Iran's future. Joining me to discuss Khamenei and Iran is Borzou Daragahi (@borzou), an Iranian-American journalist who works as an international correspondent for the Independent. Borzou is a member of Iran's Gen Xers, who came of age in the Ayatollah's tumultuous first decade in power. His comparisons of his generation and the current generation, who are much less squeamish about protesting against the regime, were great to listen to. 

Au menu ce midi ! 1. On parle du passage de Duhaime à l'émission « Le monde à l'envers» de Stephane Bureau, mais plus particulièrement d'une déclaration de Sophie Durocher à propos du Web. 2. Les gens ont-ils encore confiance aux médias ? Selon un sondage effectué auprès de 5000 répondants, seulement 30 % des gens ont encore confiance. Ça rejoint d'autres enquêtes du même type comme celle du Devoir qui révélaient en mars 2022 qu'une personne sur deux croit que les journalistes cherchent délibérément à tromper (sondage du cabinet Edelman). 3. 2 textes complètement capotés : Patrick Lagacé et Denise Bombardier sur le dos de Danielle Smith et d'Elon Musk. Un grossier mélange de Buzzwords et des concepts boiteux. On comprend mieux, avec ces exemples, les chiffres du sondage. 4. Un mot sur le Brésil qui remet au pouvoir un ancien président de gauche fan de l'Iran de Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. La Boutique du Podcast : https://ian-senechal.myspreadshop.ca/all?lang=fr Ian & Frank : https://open.spotify.com/show/6FX9rKclX7qdlegxVFhO3B?si=afe46619f7034884 Le Trio Économique : https://open.spotify.com/show/0NsJzBXa8bNv73swrIAKby?si=85446e698c744124 Le Dédômiseur : https://open.spotify.com/show/0fWNcURLK6TkBuYUXJC63T?si=6578eeedb24545c2 Ian Sénéchal Patreon.com/isenechal --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ian-snchal/message

On September 16, a squad of Iranian police officers arrested a twenty-two year old Iranian woman named Mahsa Amini. Charged with improperly wearing a hijab, Amini died in police custody. Since then, suspicion that she was beaten by Iranian forces, combined with the widespread public view that she was accosted unjustly to begin with, have catalyzed widespread protests across Iran.  On this week's podcast, the writer Shay Khatiri—who grew up in Iran and participated in protests against Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's election in 2009—joins us to explain how the current protests in Iran relate to those in 2009 and 2017. In conversation with Mosaic editor Jonathan Silver, he also thinks about where these demonstrations might lead and whether they hold promise of reform inside Iran.  Musical selections in this podcast are drawn from the Quintet for Clarinet and Strings, op. 31a, composed by Paul Ben-Haim and performed by the ARC Ensemble.

“The Curious Case of Ahmadinejad” - Part 30 of the Roqe Media series, The Contemporary History of Iran. Is there are more mercurial figure in the modern history of Iran than Mahmoud Ahmadinejad - the man who served as the president of the Islamic Republic from 2005 to 2013? The conservative politician is either seen as a supervillain, or a superstar, depending on your perspective, ideology, and maybe even your place in the world. But his tenure was undeniably controversial and chaotic. So, how do we explain Ahmadinejad, and how will he be treated in history books? Professor of Iranian History and Founding Director of the Institute for Iranian Studies at the University of St. Andrews, Dr. Ali Ansari, author of the book, “Iran under Ahmadinejad: The Politics of Confrontation,” joins Jian Ghomeshi from Fife, Scotland, to try to untangle the ascendance and legacy of the one of the more colourful and odd figures in Iranian politics.

This week, we take you back to the year of Hurricane Katrina, the election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in Iran, and Israel's disengagement from Gaza. Ouch...did anything GOOD happen in 2005? Well actually, yes. In the world of Israeli music, some incredible songs came out that very same year. Take a trip back with us to 2005 in Israeli music, and sing along to some old favorites we know you'll love! (Original Air Date: February 27, 2022) Full playlist at https://www.myisraelimusic.com/episode1114 Love the show? Help us grow by becoming a member of MyIsraeliMusic.com: https://myisraelimusic.com/membership Join the Israeli Music Community on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/groups/IsraelHourRadioFans/

Best Friday Ever For 2-4-22 Seatbelts for Our Brains: Why Is Skepticism Under Attack-Tom Cruise, Joe Rogan, Saddam Hussein, David Duke and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

Ben Shares honest & powerful perspectives on what it takes to shoot the president of the united states, not once, over and over again!With a camera, of course, in the oval office with some of the most powerful humans in the world!How chance plays a part in our lives, but not at the expense of hard work, finding your voice and stamping your footprint on the planet, regardless of how big or seemingly far away that world might be. Ben is a beacon of hope for all of us. He represents anything is possible, how to keep looking forward, make good decisions, and the chips will, more often than not, land exactly where you need them to. In Bens case, in the White House or on the front cover of Rolling Stone or The New Yorker!On his way to an assisting in the UK Ben stopped by New York City where he was offered a position as an assistant to the legendary Annie Leibovitz. His first project with Annie and Vanity Fair magazine was the 1998 Hollywood cover with Cate Blanchett, Joaquin Phoenix, Vince Vaughn, Toby Maguire, Natalie Portman, Christina Ricci and others.After time with Leibovitz, he went to on to assist legendary photographers Mary Ellen Mark, Harry Benson and Mark Seliger and Martin Schoeller on projects for Rolling Stone, The New Yorker, Time, and Life magazines.His shooting career began with assignments from New York Magazine, Newsweek, Esquire and Time. He then went on to shooting projects for Fortune, AARP, Forbes and Oprah Magazine amongst many others.His most notable subjects to date have been, President Barack Obama, President Donald Trump, President Bush, President Bill Clinton, Vice President Joe Biden, First Lady Michelle Obama, Warren Buffett, Michael Bloomberg, Oprah Winfrey Tony Bennett, Lady Gaga, Ralph Lauren, Jay -Z, Rupert Murdoch, Hosni Mubarak of Pakistan, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran, Hamid Karzi of Afghanistan.He has shot advertising campaigns for MasterCard, IBM, Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, Bloomberg, USAA and Charles Schwab.

Ben Shares honest & powerful perspectives on what it takes to shoot the president of the united states, not once, over and over again!With a camera, of course, in the oval office with some of the most powerful humans in the world!How chance plays a part in our lives, but not at the expense of hard work, finding your voice and stamping your footprint on the planet, regardless of how big or seemingly far away that world might be. Ben is a beacon of hope for all of us. He represents anything is possible, how to keep looking forward, make good decisions, and the chips will, more often than not, land exactly where you need them to. In Bens case, in the White House or on the front cover of Rolling Stone or The New Yorker!On his way to an assisting in the UK Ben stopped by New York City where he was offered a position as an assistant to the legendary Annie Leibovitz. His first project with Annie and Vanity Fair magazine was the 1998 Hollywood cover with Cate Blanchett, Joaquin Phoenix, Vince Vaughn, Toby Maguire, Natalie Portman, Christina Ricci and others.After time with Leibovitz, he went to on to assist legendary photographers Mary Ellen Mark, Harry Benson and Mark Seliger and Martin Schoeller on projects for Rolling Stone, The New Yorker, Time, and Life magazines.His shooting career began with assignments from New York Magazine, Newsweek, Esquire and Time. He then went on to shooting projects for Fortune, AARP, Forbes and Oprah Magazine amongst many others.His most notable subjects to date have been, President Barack Obama, President Donald Trump, President Bush, President Bill Clinton, Vice President Joe Biden, First Lady Michelle Obama, Warren Buffett, Michael Bloomberg, Oprah Winfrey Tony Bennett, Lady Gaga, Ralph Lauren, Jay -Z, Rupert Murdoch, Hosni Mubarak of Pakistan, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran, Hamid Karzi of Afghanistan.He has shot advertising campaigns for MasterCard, IBM, Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, Bloomberg, USAA and Charles Schwab.

On this edition of Parallax Views, we take a break from our "Reflections on Afghanistan" series and turn our attention to Iran. Dr. Pouya Alimagham, author of Contesting the Iranian Revolution: The Green Uprisings, joins us to discuss the 2009 Green Uprisings, Islam, and Iran and its history more generally. At the beginning of our conversation deals alot with Dr. Pouya's own journey as an Iranian-American, the problem, of Islamophobia in the United States (we debunk fears of Sharia Law coming to the U.S.A., for example), and American misunderstandings and misperceptions about Islamic people and Iran. Later in the conversation we shift to the topic of the 2009 Green Uprisings against then President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and understanding Iran politically. We discuss how the Green Uprisings went well beyond the political figure of Mir Hossein Mousavi. We also discuss the issue of the JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) aka the Iran nuclear deal, the continuity of foreign policy between Presidencies (ie: from Trump to Biden). protests within Iran, elections in Iran, and the issue of sanctions against Iran and how they impact the Iranian people. All that and more on this fascinating edition of Parallax Views.

Au sommaire: entretien avec Mahmoud Ahmadinejad sur l'élection présidentielle en Iran; Karim Khan est le nouveau procureur général de la Cour pénale internationale; et l'Angleterre veut instaurer une forme d'amnistie sur le conflit nord-irlandais.

Interview de Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, ancient président de l'Iran.

Lungo viaggio nella Repubblica islamica. Diretta con Antonello Sacchetti

Gerald Horne, professor of history at the University of Houston, author, historian, and researcher, joins us to discuss the Pentagon's secret army. Civil libertarians are greatly concerned over reports that the Pentagon is mobilizing a secret army to carry out both foreign and domestic operations. Dr. Horne brings his extensive historical knowledge to the show to review this issue. Robert Fantina, journalist and Palestine activist, joins us to discuss Israel. Israeli airstrikes have damaged Gaza's only covid testing lab. Also, President Biden has approved $735 million in weaponry to restock Israeli military stores, and faces withering attacks from the left flank of his party. Journalist and author Caleb Maupin joins us to discuss Iran. The recent leak of embarrassing audio from Iran may indicate that hardliners are on the ascendency. Also, former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad registers to run for president. Both Caleb and host Dr. Wilmer Leon have met the former president, and they get together to discuss this new development. Ray McGovern, former CIA analyst and co-founder of Veteran Intelligence, joins us to discuss Pentagon policy. The Biden administration is weighing the benefits of keeping the previous administration's policy regarding psychological operations. These operations, which include activities such as distributing leaflets and propaganda, can now be approved by the military without civilian approval. The Biden team is deciding whether to return this authority to civilian control.Nicholas Davies, peace activist and author of "Blood on Our Hands: The American Invasion of Iraq," joins us to discuss his latest article on Israel. Nick argues that "U.S. policy has perpetuated the crisis and atrocities of the Israeli occupation by unconditionally supporting Israel in three distinct ways: militarily, diplomatically and politically." He then reviews in detail the history of US participation in Israeli oppression of the Palestinians. Patricio Zamorano, political analyst and director of the Council on Hemispheric Affairs, joins us to discuss the Global South. This past weekend, Chilean voters elected "a progressive slate of delegates to the constituent assembly tasked with rewriting the country's right-wing constitution." Also, Patricio talks about the history of neoliberal colonial intervention in the Global South and the wave of democratic movements that are beginning to grow. Scott Ritter, former UN weapon inspector in Iraq, joins us to discuss US foreign policy. President Biden is calling for a "summit of democracies" this summer, as part of his plan to allegedly lead democracies in the world on a crusade against non-democratic nations. Ritter discusses how Biden will attempt to square his support for oppressive monarchs and autocrats with his democratic rhetoric. Dan Lazare, investigative journalist and author of "America's Undeclared War," joins us to discuss US drone wars. A new report called “A New Agenda for US Drone Policy and the Use of Lethal Force,” reviews the US drone war and sets forth a plan for moving away from the failed strategy of counter-terrorism as a basis for foreign policy.

*) Death toll rises to 67 from Israeli attacks against Palestinians Israeli forces continue to bomb the Gaza enclave, killing at least 67 people, including 17 children, since the start of recent hostilities. Israel's attacks on Gaza follow weeks of violence during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan against Palestinians in occupied East Jerusalem. One of the major catalysts behind Palestinian protests in recent weeks were the threatened expulsions in the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood of occupied East Jerusalem, which Israeli settlers are trying to take over via a court case. *) Afghan forces launch operation to recapture Taliban-held district Afghan security forces have mounted an operation to recapture a key district that the Taliban seized just before a three-day ceasefire. Taliban insurgents killed and captured Afghan soldiers, forcing troops to retreat from Nerkh district, which is close to the capital Kabul. Violence has intensified in the country since Washington missed a May 1 deadline, agreed with the Taliban last year, to withdraw all of its troops. *) Largest US fuel pipeline begins reopening after cyber attack US largest fuel pipeline has restarted operations days after it was forced to shut down by a gang of hackers. The disruption of Colonial Pipeline caused panic-buying and long lines at petrol stations in the Southeast, draining supplies at thousands of stations. Colonial Pipeline said that it would take several days for deliveries to return to normal *) Iran’s former president Ahmadinejad to run again in June election Iran's former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has registered to run again for the presidency. President from 2005 to 2013, Ahmadinejad had to stand down at the end of two consecutive terms as per Iran's constitution. Ahmadinejad's tenure was marked by fiery rhetoric against Israel and deep tensions with the West, most notably over Iran's nuclear programme. And finally ... *) Nadal opens bid for 10th Italian Title with victory over Sinner Rafael Nadal has opened his attempt to win a 10th Italian Open title with a straight-sets victory over teenager Jannik Sinner to advance to the third round. Nadal won through 7-5, 6-4 in just over two hours to bring his record to 16-1 in his opening matches in Foro Italico. The 20-time Grand Slam winner next plays 13th seeder Canadian Denis Shapovalov for a place in the quarter-final.

Journalist Séamus Malekafzali joins me to try to get a head start on assessing the state of Iran’s June presidential election, a task that I acknowledge is a bit of a sucker’s game since the Guardian Council hasn’t started rejecting candidates yet. At this point the only thing we know for sure is that term-limited incumbent Hassan Rouhani won’t be sticking around.The lame duck himself at a military event last year (Fars news agency via Wikimedia Commons)But along the way we discuss the current direction of Iranian politics, the increasing politicization of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, and check in with a couple of prominent presidential candidates from years past, including once and would-be future President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.Check out Séamus’s writing on Iranian politics and other stories about the Middle East at his Substack newsletter, and also check out his podcast, The Greatest Sin, here or at Spotify and Apple Podcasts.(The episode title refers to the current year on the Iranian calendar, if that wasn’t clear.) This is a public episode. Get access to private episodes at fx.substack.com/subscribe

Iranians will head to the polls in June to elect a new leader, and the lead-up features a familiar face. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's two presidential terms were marred by sanctions in response to his country's nuclear program. We sit down with Iran's former hardline president and ask him if he is hopeful a new page can be turned with an old foe.

Dans JINS, vous le savez maintenant, j’essaie de représenter autant d’identités que possible. Aujourd'hui, on va parler d’une autre minorité dans la minorité ; celle des musulmans chiites ou plus précisément encore, des musulmans Français d’origine iranienne originairement d’obédience chiite. L’Iran est non seulement une République islamique, mais aussi une des seules théocraties du monde, gouvernée par un ayatollah et un clergé de mollahs. Mais est-ce que se réfugier en France pour les personnes musulmanes chiites iraniennes a été synonyme d’une renaissance ou d’un nouveau rejet ? Parlons-en à l’heure d’un MeToo à l’iranienne où les femmes protestent en retirant leur tchador dans la rue et où les homosexuels se font encore pendre en place publique, alors que l’ex-président iranien Mahmoud Ahmadinejad déclarait dans une conférence à New York en 2007 qu’« il n’y avait aucun homosexuel en Iran ». Mouais, personne n’est dupe. Qu’en est-il de celleux qui y trouvent refuge du fait de leur identité de genre ou de leur orientation sexuelle ?  Aujourd'hui dans JINS, j’accueille une femme très engagée dans la lutte pour l’égalité homme-femme, c’est Chahla Chafiq-Beski. Chahla est une sociologue des religions et écrivaine iranienne vivant en France depuis 1981, après avoir fui le régime Khomeini. Elle a écrit de nombreux essais sur la femme en islam, la question du voile, des articles de recherches universitaires mais aussi un roman, intitulé Demande au miroir, en 2015, aux éditions L’Âge d’Homme. Elle a été décorée Chevalière de la Légion d’Honneur en 2016 pour toutes ces actions en faveur des relations inter-culturelles pour la citoyenneté ainsi que dans son combat contre le fondamentalisme islamiste.  Si vous voulez bouquiner

We speak to the former president of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. He discusses the assassination of Iranian nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, the possibility of a military attack by the United States in the last days of the Trump presidency, his hopes for reconciliation and friendship with Middle Eastern rival Saudi Arabia, the worsening humanitarian catastrophe in Yemen, the 2021 Iranian presidential election and much more!

Today in history: President Clinton impeached. Washington leads his men to Valley Forge. A Christmas Carol first published. BBC broadcasts to Australia. The Music Man opens. NHL holds first season. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad bans western music in Iran.     See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, I speak with Dr. Eskandar Sadeghi, a political and intellectual historian of modern Iran and the Middle East. My conversation with him mostly revolves around Iran's post-revolutionary reform movement. We further discuss the ascent of Ayatollah Khamenei to become Iran's Supreme Leader after the death of Ayatollah Khomeini, the presidency of Mohammad Khatami, the obstacles to reform within the Iranian system, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the 2009 Green Movement, current events and Donald Trump's maximum pressure policy towards Iran, the various opposition groups in exile and other topics. 

In June 2009 after the presidential elections in Iran, millions took to the streets to dispute Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's victory. A young woman, Neda Agha Soltan, became a symbol of the protest movement after she was shot dead at a demonstration in Tehran. Her death was captured on a mobile phone and uploaded on to the internet. That footage was seen around the world within hours. Farhana Haider has been speaking to Arash Hejazi who tried to save Neda's life as she bled on the streets.(Photo: Supporters of then-defeated Iranian presidential candidate, Mir-Hossein Mousavi, attend a rally in Tehran on June 18th 2009. Credit: Reuters)

Join our live chat and listen A ground-breaking, unique internet radio station.  Anything and Everything against the New World order FreedomizerRadio.com Call in and join us - 347.324.3704   Eccentric Perspective It's a red pill, blue pill, going down the rabbit hole kind of show featuring: outside the box politics, philosophy, and Gonzo journalism. Covering the current events with Blake "the Eccentric." Gadsen Rising   Merlin Miller is the founder of Americana-Pictures.com. In 2007/8, he was active in Ron Paul's Presidential campaign. In 2012, he was recruited by the American Third Position Party (A3P) to be their Presidential candidate. He appeared in radio, TV, & print interviews, wrote "Our Vision for America", & visited Iran, meeting President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. MerlinMiller2012.com.

When Iran makes the news it is often that country's flamboyant and provocative president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad who finds himself under the spotlight. But the man who wields real power in Iran is not Ahmadinejad, nor was it any of his predecessors as president. Instead it is the man who has served as the head of the country's religious structure since 1989, the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.The Ayatollah owes his rise to power to two men - his predecessor as Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini and the previous president, Hashemi Rafsanjani. Ayatollah Khamenei has been a cleric for most of his life, beginning as a religious scholar in the city of Mashhad at the tender age of 11. He served several terms in jail as a result of his religious convictions during the secular dictatorship of the Shah. His rise to power began with the revolution of 1979 that turned Iran into the Islamic Republic. Khamenei became, first president, a post with relatively little power, and his election as Supreme Leader after the death of Khomenei was a surprise to all. Many believe this was engineered by Rafsanjani to allow Rafsanjani himself to remain in control.But Khamenei has gradually made himself the most powerful man in Iran - and he's done so by recruiting the Revolutionary Guard to his side. There are those who say that far from a religious dictatorship, Iran is in fact a military dictatorship. But Ali Khamenei is 72 and with 70 per cent of the Iranian population having been born since the revolution, it's not clear that the post of Supreme Leader will survive his death.Producer TIM MANSEL Presenter JAMES REYNOLDS.

President Obama delivered an emotional tribute last night to the victims of Saturday's shooting in Tucson. Will he succeed in changing the tone of America's public discourse? Also, the rising foreclosure rate, and a new look at Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Good arguments often go unused because poor arguments like ad hominems are so much easier.

In this week's program, we take you to Tehran and Paris to get a sense of the unfolding political situation in Iran in the aftermath of the presidential election in that country. Following an official announcement by Iran's interior ministry declaring incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad the winner of the presidential election, millions of disaffected Iranians spontaneously poured into the streets of Tehran and other major Iranian cities to protest the result of this election. Since Saturday, June 13, these protests have gone on unabated. Malihe Razazan speaks to Sohrab. He is one of those hundreds of thousands of Iranians who participated in a historic march on June 15.  He talks about his observations and his reactions to the contested election results. Later in the program, Shahram Aghamir will be in conversation Paris-based long-term activist and journalist Nasser Mohajer who will offer his understanding of these events. Also, in the program, Khalil Bendib will talk with SC Mocha about the music and activism of his France-based musical band Checkpoint 303, which will be coming to the Bay Area this week for a couple of concerts. Make sure that you visit our updated blog vomena.org/blog and share you thoughts with us. We look forward to reading your comments.   The post Voices of the Middle East and North Africa – Iran: Defiance and Unrest following the election; Musical Band Checkpoint 303 appeared first on KPFA.

In Iran, recent weeks have seen a surprisingly hard fought election campaign. President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad faces a strong challenge from reformist Mir-Hossein Mousavi, who's broken with convention by campaigning with his outspoken wife at his side. Will urban women and youth tip the scales towards Mousavi, or will hardliners and the rural poor help re-elect Ahmadinejad? How will the outcome affect politics in the region and relationships with the West? Also, President Obama calls Green Bay a model for healthcare reform, and evidence emerges about what went wrong for Air France Flight 447 over the Atlantic more than a week ago. Sara Terry guest hosts.

Lagom till iranska revolutionens 30-årsjubileum har USA fått en president som vill tala med den islamiska republiken. Om Iran och USA - ett känslosamt förhållande där båda parter ser sig som offer. Och om triangeldramat USA-Israel-Iran - ett drama fyllt av hemligheter dolda bakom retoriska kulisser. Lyssna på alla avsnitt i Sveriges Radio Play. Den 1 februari inleder Iran 30-årigt revolutionsfirande. När ayatollah Khomeini återvände efter 15 år i exil hälsades han av miljoner landsmän. Men det som började som en folklig revolution kom snart att kapas av prästerskapet. Och kollisionen med den störtade shah-regimens allierade och beskyddare USA blev total när iranska studenter höll amerikansk ambassadpersonal som gisslan i 444 dagar. Gisslankrisen kom också att stå Iran dyrt. När Saddam Hussein 1980 gick till anfallskrig mot Iran hade den islamiska republiken få vänner i världen medan angriparen Irak kunde åtnjuta USA:s och stora delar av västvärldens stöd. Den hätska retoriken mellan fienderna Iran, Israel och USA hindrade dem inte från att ingå en ohelig allians där Israel, som USA:s mellanhand, sålde vapen till Iran i utbyte mot frigivning av amerikansk gisslan i Libanon. Pengar från försäljningen slussades sedan vidare till Contrasgerillan i Nicaragua. Nu stundar möjligen en ny era i relationen mellan det land som George Bush kallade en av ondskans axelmakter och Washington. När Barack Obama installerades på president-posten var det första gången en tillträdande amerikansk president vände sig direkt till den muslimska världen i sitt installationstal. Därefter har han också specifikt vänt sig till Iran och förklarat att det finns en utsträckt hand från USA om Iran är berett att öppna sin knutna näve. I Washington lär det skrivas på ett brev till Teheran, formellt ett svar på det gratulationsbrev Irans president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad skickade till Obama efter valsegern i november. Men också ett försonligt brev avsett att kunna bereda vägen för en dialog. Samtalsgäst i programmet är Trita Parsi, expert på amerikansk-iranska relationer och ordförande för det nationella iransk-amerikanska rådet. Han var själv med när Iran 2003, efter Saddam Husseins fall, skickade en försoningsgest till USA:s förre president George Bush - ett brev där Iran förklarade sig villigt att gå med på de flesta krav som omvärlden ställde på landet i utbyte mot normaliserade förbindelser och säkerhetsgarantier för Iran. Men Bush brydde sig inte ens om att svara på brevet.Denna erfarenhet har bara ytterligare bidragit till att undergräva Irans tilltro till USA. För att Obamas försonliga hållning ska tas på allvar i Teheran måste hans ord också följas upp av handling, säger Trita Parsi. I sin uppmärksammade och prisbelönta bok The Treacherous Alliance beskriver Trita Parsi triangeldramat Iran-Israel-USA; hemlighetsfulla och nära relationer dolda bakom retoriska kulisser. En utsträckt hand - eller olivkvist - kommer att välkomnas i Teheran, säger den iranske statsvetarprofessorn Sadegh Zibakalam, som intervjuas av Daniela Marquardt. Från iransk sida är man framför allt angelägen om att bli respekterad som den stormakt Iran är i regionen - en ställning som dessutom har förstärkts av att just USA har undanröjt ärkefienderna Saddam Hussein och Talibanregimen i Afghanistan. Relationen mellan Iran och USA känne-tecknas av en lång rad missade möjligheter. Det säger en av veteranerna på området, Gary Sick. Han var ledande rådgivare i Vita Huset under flera av de stora kriserna länderna emellan. President Obamas nya tonläge är det bästa tillfället för en förändring på 30 år säger han när Marie Liljedahl ringer upp honon på Columbia University i New York där han är chef för Mellanösterninstitutet. Artiklar av Gary Sick: Iran och USA är egentligen mer beroende av varandra än de, åtminstone hittills, har velat ge intryck av. De borde temporärt lägga den stora konfliktfrågan om Irans kärnenergi-program åt sidan för att istället fokusera på frågor där de har gemensamma intressen, sånt som exempelvis rör utvecklingen i Irak och Afghanistan. Det anser den tyske Iranexperten, Volker Perthes, chef för det tyska utrikespolitiska institutet, Stiftung Politik und Wissenschaft i Berlin. Han intervjuas av Daniela Marquardt. Artiklar av Volker Perthes: Israel har på senare år inte försummat ett tillfälle att säga till omvärlden att Iran är ett stort hot inte bara mot Israel utan mot hela världen. I samband med Gazakrisen har man också anklagat Iran för att stå bakom allt hamas gör. Vid det ekonomiska toppmötet i Davos förklarade Likudledaren Benyamin Netanyahu, som tippas bli Israels näste premiärminister, att hotet från Iran är mycket allvarligare än den globala finanskrisen. Finanskrisen kan man göra nåt åt men inte kärnvapen i händerna på fanatiker. Den israeliska Mellanösternanalytikern Zvi Bar’el, på tidningen Haaretz, är övertygad om att om Irans och Israels relation nånsin ska kunna förbättras så måste det gå via USA. Zvi Bar’el om Iran i Haaretz: Programledare: Agneta RambergProducent: Daniela Marquardt

At the UN, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez called George Bush "the devil."  He's reached out to Fidel Castro and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. On Sunday, voters may given him new powers and extend his influence for a long time to come.  Also, protests in Sudan call for execution of a British teacher, and America's hurricane season goes out with a whimper.

Dave analyzes Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's UN speech and Iranian reaction and tries to find the hidden meaning

The marines and sailors are back home in England as the rest of the world measures the winners and losers. The crisis is personified by Tony Blair and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.  We'll hear how perceptions differ from the Middle East to the Western world.  Also, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's "clarification" on yesterday's peace offering and, on Reporter's Notebook, between both parties, the presidential campaigns may top a billion dollars by November of next year.  Beyond the money, what will it take to win?