Mehdi Khalaji
Mehdi Khalaji is a senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.
Hassan Rowhani’s election as Iran’s next president has inspired hope of reform in his country, and of a more pragmatic relationship between Iran and the world. But the hard-liners who control the Isla… read more
The disqualification of two leading candidates for Iran's presidency sends a strong message from Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Hosseini Khamenei. Simply put, Khamenei is determined to avoid the type of… read more
The Muslim Brotherhood’s ascent to power in the aftermath of Egypt revolution in 2011 initially inspired hope of renewed diplomatic relations with Iran. But, despite shared ideological principles, sig… read more
Negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program have again hit a wall, but the country’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, appears unconcerned. Indeed, Khamenei seems convinced that neither the US nor … read more
The recent nuclear talks in Istanbul between the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, plus Germany, and Iran have shifted the world's focus to the possible terms of a deal when the sides… read more
As the West ratchets up its economic pressure on Iran to halt its drive to develop nuclear weapons, the Islamic Republic’s rulers are not sitting idly by. Since Iran lacks the soft power and the econo… read more
Though Saudi Ambassador Adel al-Jubeir is alive and well in Washington, the plot to assassinate him may have succeeded – if its aim was not to kill al-Jubeir, but rather President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’… read more
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has now made the mistake that all Iranian presidents make. He has challenged the authority of the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and he is bound to fail.
Iran's dysfunctionalforeign and nuclear policies reflect the tension between Iran's president and its Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, which is built into the Islamic Republic’s core. Consumed … read more
