Essay

The Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz, and the surrounding islands have long been at the center of global attention, serving as a focal point for international scrutiny and regional disputes for centuries. This critical maritime corridor is among the world’s most vital commercial waterways, with over 100 large oil and supply tankers passing through…

For half a century, the IRGC and the Islamic Republic of Iran have loudly proclaimed “Death to America.” Recently, Akhond Hossein Taeb—long notorious for his role in suppressing dissent—was appointed commander of the Basij, the regime’s paramilitary force infamous for killing Iranians and violently crushing protests. In a televised statement, Taeb declared that America would…

The early 20th century, particularly in the aftermath of World War I, was a time of profound transformation marked by a mix of nostalgia, optimism, and upheaval. Europe, still basking in the intellectual legacies of the Renaissance and Enlightenment, was grappling with reconstruction amid economic volatility. Meanwhile, the United States emerged as a burgeoning superpower,…

Throughout history, authoritarian regimes facing crisis or decline have consistently turned to art, music, celebrities, and curated symbols of “normal life” to mask brutality and project an image of vitality. From Hitler’s grandiose rallies and Franco’s folkloric tourism campaigns to Ceaușescu’s orchestrated festivals—and in contemporary times, the spectacle-driven propaganda of North Korea, Russia, and China—dictators…

In the aftermath of the past six months—marked by the devastating 12-day war between Israel and Iran, the extensive American air campaign against Iran, and the horrific massacre of 42,000 innocent Iranian protestors by the Islamic Republic in December 2025 and January 2026—recent developments have only deepened the sense of injustice. The recent Memorandum of…

On the evening of July 16, 2026, President Donald Trump delivered a primetime address from the White House focused on the security and legitimacy of the American election process. He announced the declassification and release of intelligence documents that, according to the administration, revealed significant vulnerabilities: the largest known compromise of U.S. voter data by…

In the ancient Greek myth, Orpheus descends into the underworld to retrieve his beloved Eurydice. His music softens even Hades. The rulers of the dead grant her return on one condition: he must walk ahead and never look back until they reach the light. Overcome by doubt, longing, or the unbearable silence behind him, Orpheus…

President Donald Trump’s arrival in Ankara for the July 7–8, 2026, NATO Summit unfolded amid acute regional instability. The Strait of Hormuz remained a volatile flashpoint, with Iranian forces having attacked multiple cargo vessels in recent weeks—one sustaining extensive damage, another reportedly at risk of explosion. The Islamic Republic persisted in its daily executions of…

Manifesto and Roadmap for a Free, Secular, Democratic Iran Celebration of the long Persian tradition of resistance and agency (from early opposition to conquest through the Constitutional Revolution to today’s uprisings). “We the People Rise: Breaking LUI Chains for Secular Democracy and National Dignity.” By Ali R. Rahimi, MD, FACP, AGSF Preamble: The Epic We…

In the past 72 hours, three developments have crystallized a dramatic shift in the US approach to the Islamic Republic of Iran. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif confirmed that Iran’s ballistic missile program was never part of the US-Iran Memorandum of Understanding. The US Senate joined the House in passing a War Powers Resolution directing…