Most oil-rich Third World economies have had difficulty in evolving into true economically liberal societies. By owning or con-trolling twenties generated by oil, the state is able to dominate society snaking all classes and groups economically dependent on their ‘Black Gold’. Oil tends to centralize state power in the Middle East, as this commodity contributes […]
A former Durham University professor has alleged that a research project was used by America to gather intelligence on an enemy country.
Most oil-rich Third World economies have had difficulty in evolving into true economically liberal s
A former Durham University professor has alleged that a research project was used by America to gath
February 14, 2011 in Journals / Articles
by Daniel Johnson
Dr. Reza Molavi, former director of the Centre for Iranian Studies (CIS), is believed to have been released from Iranian jail roughly a month ago, but there remains confusion about his arrest.
February 9, 2011 in Journals / Articles
2120 GMT: Not Worried at All (cont. — 0925 GMT). Revolutionary Guards commander Hossein Hamedani has commented on the proposed march for 25 Bahman (11 February), “The seditionists (opposition leaders) are nothing but a dead corpse and we will strongly confront any of their movements. We definitely consider them as anti-revolutionary and spies, and we will strongly confront them.”
November 14, 2010 in Journals / Articles
Iranian Ambitions
by Reza Molavi and K. Luisa Gandolfo
Middle East Quarterly
Winter 2010, pp. 61-68
In the 30-year reign of Iran’s Islamic Republic, there have been few controversies as serious as the one surrounding the 2009 elections. The votes that brought Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to power for a second term have been challenged, not just on paper, but by citizens taking to the streets in angry protests that have only been quelled by brute force on the part of the establishment.
October 1, 2010 in Media
OIL AND NATURAL GAS PIPELINES TO EUROPE
ALI EMAMI MEIBODI (PH.D.)1 – SYED SHABBER ALI2
Europe’s growing and seemingly insatiable need for a study supply of fuel to maintain its industrialized status including the so-called European standard of living’ requires a flow of oil/gas from diversified sources without putting all eggs in one basket in order not to jeopardize its economic independence. At the same time, member states of the European Union need reasonable prices so as not to incur a heavy and unfeasible cost on their development projects.
The following paper is an attempt to pinpoint the various oil/gas pipelines flowing into Europe from Russia, Turkey and the Caucasus/Caspian Region, North Africa, and the potential of Iran, which has the world’s 2nd largest natural gas reserves. The study also focuses on problems in this regard including geopolitical issues.
June 5, 2010 in Journals / Articles
The government of Mr. Ahmadinejad remains unwilling to acknowledge any culpability in the destruction of any property or the killing of more than ten or so protestors in the last few days of mourning processions, including the shooting of one of the opposition leader’s nephew. “The killing of Musavi’s nephew in the Ashura incidents is being investigated and the result will be announced soon,” Tehran police chief Azizollah Rajabzadeh told the ILNA news agency. The official line is that anti-regime terrorists carried out the killings in order to discredit the regime.
February 10, 2010 in Journals / Articles
It’s a long way from Iran to north-east England, but anger about the crushing of opposition protests by the Islamic regime has generated a furious row at Durham University, where one academic has condemned the British government for turning “the slaughter of innocent teenagers in Iraq and Afghanistan into an art form”.
December 21, 2009 in Journals / Articles
UK Border Agency: The Qashqai website, accessed on 1 December 2009, noted that the Qashqai are also known as the Qashqaai, Qashqa’i or Ghashghai. Information on the website stated:
July 28, 2009 in Media
Written by Reza Molavi and K. Luisa Gandolfo on July 28, 2009 – 19:34
The impact of oil scarcity in relation to the global economy and power balance: peak oil and energy policy
June 29, 2009 in Media
As the 30th anniversary of the Iranian Revolution (Sunday, February 1), approaches Dr Reza Molavi, said Iran needed to “be part of the solution”, particularly in relation to meeting the world’s energy needs. February 1, 1979, saw the return of the exiled Ayatollah Khomeini to Iran, sparking the revolution that established the current Islamic Republic. Dr Molavi, Executive Director of the Centre for Iranian Studies, at Durham University, said: “Although the Iranian Revolution happened 30 years ago its effects are still being felt today as Iran becomes of increasing strategic importance on both the Middle East and World stage.
June 25, 2009 in Journals / Articles
The Western-backed Shah, who grandly styled himself as the “King of Kings”, was overthrown by the people power when they took to the streets to call for his removal. The Islamic Republic of Iran was born 30 years ago when every man, woman, young and old expressed their dismay in unison, in their total and utter disgust with the social, economic, and political situation under the Shah. They came from all walks of life: those from the fringes of urban areas to the rural population joined hands with the technocratic, academic, industrialists, students, women and children to shout out that the Shah must go. What they had not thought about was who should replace the one they wanted to see the back of. Read the rest of this entry →
