Iran Topics

Democracy Now! stories, posts and pages that relate to Iran

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  • Prominent Iranian Dissident and Former Political Prisoner Akbar Ganji on Why He Refused to Meet President Bush and the Dangers of a US Invasion of Iran

    The renowned Iranian investigative journalist Akbar Ganji speaks out against human rights abuses in his home country as well as U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East. Recently released from prison, Ganji discusses his incarceration and says U.S. foreign policy is hurting Iran’s pro-democracy movement. [includes rush transcript]
    Jul 25, 2006 | Story

  • Seymour Hersh: Senior Pentagon Officials Challenging President Bush's Iran War Plans

    Pulitzer prize-winning journalist Seymour Hersh reports that the Defense Department has been drawing up plans, at President Bush’s direction, for a major bombing campaign inside Iran. Hersh says that generals and admirals have told the Bush Administration the bombing campaign will probably not succeed in destroying Iran’s nuclear program and that war planners are not even sure what to target. [includes rush transcript]
    Jul 06, 2006 | Story

  • Part II...Overthrow: America's Century of Regime Change from Hawaii to Iraq

    Author Stephen Kinzer discusses his book, "Overthrow: America’s Century of Regime Change from Hawaii to Iraq." In it, Kinzer writes that over 110 years, the United States has deployed its power to gain access to natural resources, stifle dissent and control the nationalism of newly independent states or political movements. [includes rush transcript]
    May 08, 2006 | Story

  • Retired Colonel Sam Gardiner on Iran War Plans: "The Issue is Not Whether the Military Option Would Be Used But Who Approved the Start of Operations Already"

    Retired Air Force Colonel Sam Gardiner says a military operation has already begun inside Iran. Gardiner says, "It’s a very serious question about the constitutional framework under which we are now conducting military operations in Iran." We also speak with Gardiner about what he calls the "unprecedented" revolt against Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld within the military. [includes rush transcript]
    Apr 17, 2006 | Story

  • Seymour Hersh: Bush Administration Planning Possible Major Air Attack on Iran

    We speak with Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Seymour Hersh about his latest article in the New Yorker that the Bush administration has increased clandestine activities inside Iran and intensified planning for a possible major air attack. [includes rush transcript]
    Apr 12, 2006 | Story

  • Crisis Over Iran's Nuclear Program Intensifies

    Iran threatened to halt snap inspections of its nuclear sites by the United Nations if its nuclear program is referred to the Security Council. The move came after the United States, Britain, France and Germany said Thursday that nuclear talks with Iran were at a dead end and the issue should be brought before the Council. We speak with Middle East and Iran expert Ervand Abrahamian of Baruch College. [includes rush transcript]
    Jan 13, 2006 | Story

  • Conservative Tehran Mayor Wins Upset Victory in Iran Run-Off Presidential Election

    Tehran’s conservative mayor won an upset victory in Iran’s run-off presidential election on Friday. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad garnered 62 percent of 28 million votes, beating reformist former-president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani. We speak with Baruch College professor Ervand Abrahamian and Norman Solomon of the Institute for Public Accuracy. [includes rush transcript]
    Jun 27, 2005 | Story

  • Iran Presidential Race Heads to Unprecedented Runoff in Election Marred by Fraud Allegations

    Allegations of vote rigging and fraud mar presidential elections in Iran that pit a hardline mayor against a former president in an unprecedented run-off election. We speak with veteran Middle East journalist Dilip Hiro and Iranian-American writer Roya Hakakian. Her family supported the 1979 revolution, then fled. [includes rush transcript]
    Jun 20, 2005 | Story

  • Iran Votes in Presidential Election

    Today’s elections in Iran are expected to be the closest presidential election in the country’s history. Former President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani is the leading candidate to succeed President Khatami. We go to Tehran to get a report. [includes rush transcript]
    Jun 17, 2005 | Story

  • Iraq's New President Jalal Talabani: Ally of CIA, Iranian Intelligence and Saddam Hussein

    Kurdish leader Jalal Talabani is named president of Iraq, becoming the first non-Arab president of an Arab country. Veteran Middle East journalist Dilip Hiro talks about Talabani’s ties to the CIA, Iranian intelligence and Saddam Hussein. [includes rush transcript]
    Apr 07, 2005 | Story