For much of the past 10 days (in fact, for much of the past 20 years) the prevailing wisdom among Iran watchers has been that it is Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani who holds all the cards in Iranian politics -- and it's easy to understand why. Head of the powerful...

So is it 1979 all over again?

It is certainly tempting to compare this week's events in Iran with the street protests and violent confrontations that brought down the Shah's regime thirty years ago. But for a whole host of reasons (lack of inspirational leadership; a bedrock of support for...

President Obama has pledged to take a new approach to America's decades-old animosity with Iran. He has offered to extend a hand if Iran 'unclenches its fist', and the Iranians have signaled that they welcome a dialogue based on 'mutual respect'. The signs are hopeful and the tone is promising,...