President Hassan Rouhani has been severely criticized for not acting forcefully against the epidemic. Now he and the military, newly empowered to intervene, are fighting over control.
Tag: Khamenei, Ali
Iran’s Coronavirus Response: Pride, Paranoia, Secrecy, Chaos
Iranian leaders once predicted the coronavirus epidemic ravaging China would not affect their country. Now Iran has among the most coronavirus deaths outside China, and Iranian medical workers have been told to keep quiet.
U.S. Maintains Pressure on Iran, Stalling Diplomacy While Expecting Attacks
Nearly two months after the death of Iran’s most important general, the Trump administration insists its “maximum pressure” campaign is working. Many allies are skeptical.
Iran’s Stacked Election Is Expected to Produce a Hard-Line Parliament
Iran’s leaders disqualified more than 7,000 candidates, including most moderates and centrists, paving the way for tougher domestic and foreign policies.
Anatomy of a Lie: How Iran Covered Up the Downing of an Airliner
For three days, Iranian military officials knew they had shot down a Ukrainian jetliner while the government issued false statements, denying any responsibility.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Rebukes U.S. in Rare Friday Sermon
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei told thousands of worshipers that God’s backing had allowed Iran to “slap the face” of the United States with a missile attack.
In Iran, Rejoicing Over Retaliation, then Relief at No U.S. Counterstrike
Many Iranians expressed support for the missile attack on American bases in Iraq, then spent a restless night waiting for a military response from Washington that never came.
Iran ‘Concludes’ Attacks, Foreign Minister Says
Iran does not seek “seek escalation or war,” the minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, said in a tweet hours after Iran launched missile strikes against Americans in Iraq.
A Sea of Mourners in Iran, and New Threats From Both Sides
Vast crowds thronged the streets of Tehran as a funeral was held for Maj. Gen. Qassim Suleimani, who was killed in an American drone strike on Friday.
Khamenei Wants to Put Iran’s Stamp on Reprisal for U.S. Killing of Top General
In a departure from Iran’s usual tactics of hiding behind proxies, the country’s supreme leader wants any retaliation for the killing of a top military commander to be carried out openly by Iranian forces.