President Obama s Nowruz Message to the Iranian People 2014

President Obama sends best wishes to everyone celebrating Nowruz.

Born in the U.S., Playing for Iran

Steven Beitashour Will Represent His Parents’ Homeland at the 2014 World Cup

U.S. Secretary of State with his daughter and Iranian son-in-law Brian Nahed

Happy Nowruz to all Iranian Friends and Colleagues

Italian luxury car Maserati holds exhibit in Iran on its 100th birthday.

The Crimean Crisis and the Middle East: Will Syria & Iran be the Winners?

A commentary by Professor Juan Cole, University of Michigan.

Netanyahu: From AIPAC to Hollywood

After repeating his warnings about Iran and  the “terrifying escalation of world peace with Iran,”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu departed Washington for a visit to Hollywood to promote

 tourism to Israel.  

The Battle for Higher Education In Iran

The Middle East Research and Information Project (MERIP)

Iranian President gives mix messages on artistic freedom

The Iranian cultural and artistic community was excited about Rouhani’s election in 2013 and had hoped for a relaxation of restrictions imposed during Ahmadinejad’s presidency.  But Rouhani’s record so far is a mixed one.  The minister of culture has proposed removing filters on Facebook,  but the Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is opposed to any cultural relaxation.

American sociologist Immanuel Wallerstein in Iran for lecture series

In a sign of more openness in Iranian academic environment,  a prominent American sociologist Immanuel Wallerstein has gone to Iran to give lectures for Iranian universities and students. In an Interview in Iran,   Wallerstein  said he is not “ not sure what attracts people to my work. Maybe it’s that I’m an American, I say things that Americans don’t usually say and I have an analysis which seems to resonate in a lot of countries,” the 84-year-old Wallerstein said in an interview Monday.