Rather Than Addressing Poverty, Iran Cracks Down on Dissent
The rise of economic hardships, widespread poverty, and increasing use of violence by the Islamic Republic are major grievances dominating state-citizen relations.
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Iran’s Post-Sanctions Weapon Purchases: Ambition Collides With Reality
Iran will do as it always has – seek to quietly develop asymmetric capabilities, ideally built domestically, and only purchase the few items that it cannot make hoping to counter key U.S. military capabilities.
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Deepening Poverty Threatens the Social Contract in Iran
“Public welfare” and “social justice” have been key slogans of the Islamic Republic’s political narrative. However, sanctions, corruption, and inadequate government policies have accelerated the rate of poverty in Iran.
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After the Embargo: Iran’s Weapons Agenda
The lifting of the arms embargo is not likely to result in an Iranian buying spree. But, the Islamic Republic’s arms exports in the post-embargo era may prove as significant as its potential procurements.
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As Iran’s Elite Fall Victim to Coronavirus, Succession Questions Arise
None of Iran’s leadership hopefuls can seize power without IRGC support, and any future leader of the Islamic Republic will be beholden to the IRGC.
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Iran Chooses a Harsher Tone as it Reacts to the Bahrain-Israel Rapprochement
The normalization of relations with Israel provides another grievance Tehran can use to mobilize Bahrain’s Shias against their rulers.
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IRGC Academic Journals Acknowledge Protests Often Driven by Regime Missteps
Authors of articles published by Imam Hussein University of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps see the real challenges the regime is facing from the unprivileged slumdwellers and the politicized middle class and its grievances.
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Iran Reacts Angrily to the UAE-Israel Landmark Agreement
The Islamic Republic has yet to realize taking such a posture toward its Arab neighbors further encourages them to align with Iran’s adversaries.
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Frustration With the Regime Spurs New Protests in Iran
Despite Iranians’ contempt for the U.S. “maximum pressure” campaign, many see the regime as the main source of the country’s economic and social problems.
China’s Balancing Act in the Gulf Relies on Ties to Iran and Arab States
The China-Iran deal may be a stepping stone to increased ties between Tehran and Beijing, but the Gulf Arab states remain integral to Beijing’s economic projection in the Middle East.
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Through its careful examination of the forces shaping the evolution of Gulf societies and the new generation of emerging leaders, AGSIW facilitates a richer understanding of the role the countries in this key geostrategic region can be expected to play in the 21st century.
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