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Friday, May 24, 2013

Latest Iran News

Ex-President Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani (center, with white turban) arrived at Iran's Interior Ministry within minutes of the official close of registration for would-be candidates on May 11.

Banned Rafsanjani Blasts Iran's Leadership

Former Iranian President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani has harshly criticized the country's leadership, accusing it of "ignorance" and incompetence, according to reports on opposition websites. More

Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad delivers a speech to Iran's Atomic Energy Organization (file photo)

IAEA: Iran Expanding Enrichment

A new report by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) says Iran has improved its capacity to rapidly refine uranium by installing hundreds more centrifuges. More

The daughter of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini is urging Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (center) to reinstate the candidacy of former President Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani.

Khomeini's Daughter Calls On Supreme Leader To Reinstate Rafsanjani

The daughter of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder of Iran's Islamic republic, has emerged among those stunned and angered by the exclusion of former Iranian President Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani from next month's presidential race. More

Britain Says Iran, Hizballah Increasing Support For Assad

British Foreign Secretary William Hague says Iran and the militant Shi'ite group Hizballah are giving Syrian President Bashar al-Assad increasing support. More

Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad (left) with his top aide Esfandiar Rahim Mashaie (file photo)

U.S. Criticizes Iran Election List

Outgoing Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad has vowed to reverse a decision to disqualify his top aide from the June 14 presidential election. More

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Latest Blog Posts

Former Iranian President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani

'Great Shock' Over Rafsanjani's Disqualification

The front page of Iran's "Ebtekar" daily is a good indication of how many Iranians felt when they heard the news that former President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani -- one of the pillars of the Islamic establishment -- had been banned from running in next month's vote. More

Smarter to walk? The head of the powerful Guardians Council, Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati (pictured), launched a broadside on ex-President Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani

Lawmaker Fires Back In 'Car Wars' Ahead Of Iranian Presidential Vote

Conservative lawmaker Ali Motahari has criticized recent comments by hard-line cleric Ahmad Jannati suggesting what kind of car Iran's next president should -- or shouldn't -- drive. More

Blog Archive

Features & Commentary

People in the capital, Tehran, reading newspapers the day the shortlist of presidential candidates for the June 14 election was announced.

What's A Disqualified Iranian Candidate To Do?

This week Iran's electoral watchdog, the Guardians Council, approved the candidacies of just eight of the nearly 700 people who applied to run in next month's presidential election. Those disqualified included two prominent nominees -- former President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani and Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei, a close ally of current President Mahmud Ahmadinejad. So what recourse, if any, do disqualified candidates have to overturn the decision?

Amnesty International says abusive governments can no longer use the issue of sovereignty to justify their actions.

Amnesty Report Notes Worldwide Abuses, As Well As Courage Of Activists

In a new report, the global rights group Amnesty International documents abuses in 159 countries and territories that it says were "inflicted by those in power on those who stand in the way of their vested interests."

A man reads a campaign pamphlet in central Tehran ahead of Iran

Vox Pop: Iranians React To Dismissal Of Presidential Hopefuls

RFE/RL's Radio Farda received a flood of comments via e-mail, Facebook, telephone calls, and SMS messages from its audience in Iran that overwhelmingly express disappointment and anger at the Guardians Council's final list of candidates for Iran's June 14 presidential election.

Iran's Shortlisted Presidential Candidates

Iran's Interior Ministry has announced the official shortlist of candidates that will be vying to succeed President Mahmud Ahmadinejad in that country's June 14 election.

The chairman of the Guardians Council, Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati

Explainer: Iran's Process For Vetting Presidential Candidates

Millions of Iranians will flock to the polls on June 14 to vote for a successor to President Mahmud Ahmadinejad. RFE/RL looks at the vetting process that determines the final list of presidential candidates.

Ex-President Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani is flanked by current President Mahmud Ahmadinejad (left) and parliament speaker Ali Larijani (right).

Will Iran’s Former President Rafsanjani Be Allowed To Run?

The spokesman for Iran's Guardians Council -- the oversight body that vets all the country's election candidates -- has said that physically weak candidates will not be allowed to run. The comments appear to be a reference to the age of 78-year-old presidential hopeful Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, who is considered a challenge to Iran’s establishment.

Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf waves after registering his candidacy for the June presidential election.

Iranian Candidate Appears To Offer Starkly Contrasting Accounts Of Crackdown

Two starkly different accounts by one of Iran’s leading presidential hopefuls of his role in state crackdowns have emerged online. So is Tehran Mayor Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf a hard-liner or a moderate?

Sharif Seen As Trying To Reorient Pakistan's Foreign Policy

Pakistan's neighbors and global powers have welcomed Nawaz Sharif's victory in the country's May 11 general elections, in the hope that he will stabilize the country and change its external outlook. RFE/RL looks at Sharif's potential foreign policy moves.

Analysts say the candidacy of Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani creates problems for the plan to have a peaceful vote that would elect a president obedient to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (above).

Surprise Candidacy Challenges Plans Of Iranian Establishment

Former Iranian President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani has entered the race for the country’s presidency. The move challenges plans by the Iranian establishment to ensure a loyalist wins next month's polls.

Former Iranian President Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani among supporters in Tehran

Rafsanjani Candidacy Draws Fire From Iran's Hard-Liners

Former Iranian President Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani has come under attack by the country’s hard-liners after his surprise filing to run in the country’s June presidential election.

RFE/RL's Radio Farda is one of the few remaining sources of uncensored news and information for people in Iran. Despite severe censorship, Radio Farda's website receives 10 million page views every month.