The Latest Breaking News from Hassan Rouhani

Iran’s Raisi Vows to Overcome Challenges, Blames Predecessor for Economic ‘Imbalance’

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi pledged to fulfill promises made to his citizens and defended his “balanced” foreign policy, blaming the previous government, which was headed by Hassan Rouhani, for economic instability and “challenges” facing the country. The Iranian government’s website quoted Raisi as saying that the government’s internal policy depended…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Mar 28, 2023

Iran's 'death committee' president unyielding in defence of clerical rule

As a young prosecutor in Tehran, Ebrahim Raisi sat on a "death committee" overseeing the execution of hundreds of political prisoners in the Iranian capital, rights groups say.

Reuters · Jan 17, 2023

The Observer view on averting the west’s collision course with Iran

The regime’s lawlessness combined with its Russia-leaning policies should prompt an urgent rethink by the UK and allies

The Guardian - UK · Jan 8, 2023

Analysis-Iran crackdown may burnish Raisi's credentials for top job

By tightening curbs on women's rights, President Ebrahim Raisi has boosted his hardline credentials and possibly his prospects of becoming Iran's Supreme Leader, even at the cost of provoking mass protests and driving a wedge between many Iranians and the ruling elite, three analysts and a pro-reform official said.

Reuters · Oct 25, 2022

Economists Warn Iran’s Decision-Makers of ‘Fighting a Losing Battle’

Economists are warning decision-makers in Iran against “fighting a losing battle” and demanding acknowledgment of the people’s right to protest. Five top economists in Iran, including Masoud Nili, who was an economic advisor to former President Hassan Rouhani, warned of the worsening situation in the country. In a statement published…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Oct 8, 2022

Iran: 'hijab' protests challenge legitimacy of Islamic Republic

Three weeks after the violent death of 22-year-old Iranian Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini at the hands of Iran’s morality police for the crime of wearing her hijab improperly, protests continue to rage across the country. These demonstrations defy both repression by security forces in the streets of major cities and…

The Conversation · Oct 7, 2022

Commentary: The hope and warning of Iran’s protests

The death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in Iranian police custody last month sparked the country’s biggest protests in years. Under the rallying cry, “Woman, Life, Freedom,” protesters have ground dozens of cities to a halt. The response from Iran’s authoritarian regime has been swift and harsh, with security forces opening…

Chicago Tribune · Oct 7, 2022

Khamenei Makes Public Appearance after Absence, Amid Heated Debate on His Successor

Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei made a public appearance after over a week of absence and participated in a religious ceremony with university students on Saturday. Khamenei's official website published his pictures during the ceremony, and state television showed him standing, addressing the attendees in a steady voice about the…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Sep 18, 2022

A Year on, Iran’s Raisi Faces Economy in Trouble

A year after Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi took power, his government has curbed the Covid pandemic but faces a sharp downturn of the sanctions-hit economy as nuclear talks remain stalled. Having pledged to help especially the poor, the ultraconservative cleric now faces runaway consumer prices that have sparked protests. Raisi…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Aug 2, 2022

Iran nukes: End of the road for an agreement

About six weeks ago Rafael Grossi, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), warned that the attempt to revive the 2015 deal that restricted Iran's ability to enrich uranium was on the brink of collapse. Three or four weeks more without an agreement, he said, would deal the…

Bangkok Post · Jul 19, 2022