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Sivan 3, 5773
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The Times of Israel

The one-stop news site
covering Israel, the region and
the Jewish people worldwide

Founding editor:
David Horovitz

Fair, fresh and fast

The Jewish world's
fastest-growing
news site

Writer: Brian Murphy

May 12, 2013
11:16 pm

Former Iranian President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, waves to media, as he registers his candidacy for the upcoming presidential election, May 11, 2013 (photo credit: AP/Ebrahim Noroozi)

Iran’s cunning Rafsanjani seeks one more shot

With reformist backing, the elder statesman may yet prove to be a strong outside contender in the race to succeed Ahmadinehed

May 10, 2013
3:53 am

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (photo credit: AP/Hasan Sarbakhshian)

Iran president still a force even as his era ends

Though the power elites have begun ridiculing his reign, Ahmadinejad retains political capital in cities like Birjand

May 6, 2013
4:30 am

Israeli strike exposes Syrian challenge for Arabs

Most regional leaders want Western intervention to bring down Assad; what they don’t want is Israeli intervention

By Brian Murphy and Sarah El Deeb

May 4, 2013
8:43 pm

Iranian presidential hopeful, Ali Akbar Velayati, adviser to the Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, left, talks with President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, (photo credit: AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

Next Iranian president likely to have gentler touch

An anti-Ahmadinejad referendum is shaping up in Tehran as election date approaches

By ALI AKBAR DAREINI and Brian Murphy

April 24, 2013
12:06 pm

Anti-Syrian regime protesters hold up a banner in Arabic reading: "Thank you Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait," during a demonstration, in Idlib province, northern Syria, in March 2012. (photo credit: AP/Local Coordination Committees in Syria)

Qatar faces backlash among rebel groups in Syria

Oil-rich gulf state accused of favoring Islamists over moderates in its funding of the Syrian opposition

By Brian Murphy and Zeina Karam

April 15, 2013
8:42 pm

Iran's former reformist president Mohammad Khatami attends a ceremony organized by his party, a group of pro-reform clerics, in Tehran, Iran, to announce he'll challenge hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in the country's 2009 presidential elections. Many reformists are expected to sit out the 2013 elections in a silent protest over the crackdowns that have left them leaderless and demoralized. Others unwilling to boycott the election are rallying around a last-ditch call for help to Khatami, who is seen increasingly as their only credible hope at the ballot box. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi, file)

Iran’s reformists stake long-shot hopes in Khatami

Can the country’s opposition factions shake off years of punishment and house arrest and nominate a more moderate candidate?

By ALI AKBAR DAREINI and Brian Murphy

March 27, 2013
9:45 am

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad speaks during a ceremony at the nuclear enrichment facility in Natanz. (photo credit: AP/Hasan Sarbakhshian/File)

Ahmadinejad hits the road to pitch his political heir

Outgoing president’s campaign to boost his controversial in-law and adviser is seen as a challenge to Iran’s ayatollahs

By ALI AKBAR DAREINI and Brian Murphy

March 26, 2013
8:59 pm

Emir of Qatar Sheik Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, center, attends the opening session of the Arab League Summit in Doha, Qatar on Tuesday (photo credit: AP/Ghiath Mohamad)

Qatar makes Syria, Palestinians priority at summit

Using checkbook diplomacy, hyper-wealthy host nation positioning to take leadership role among Arab League states

By Brian Murphy

March 14, 2013
4:43 am

Pope Francis waves to the crowd from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Wednesday, March 13, 2013. Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio who chose the name of Francis is the 266th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church (photo credit: AP/Gregorio Borgia)

Pope Francis: Simple image, complex past

In Argentina, new pontiff still faces questions over church’s perceived inaction during military dictatorship of 70s and 80s

By Brian Murphy and Michael Warren

February 18, 2013
2:49 am

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks at a public gathering in the northeastern city of Bojnurd, Iran, in October. (photo credit: AP/Office of the Supreme Leader)

Iran’s leader steps deeper into the political fray

Khamenei gets his hands dirty in effort to tamp down rising political spats that could signal weakness to the West

By Brian Murphy

February 5, 2013
3:45 am

Demonstrators protest against Iranian Foreign Minister, Ali Akbar Salehi prior to his speech at the German Council Of Foreign Relations, a think tank for foreign policy, in Berlin, Germany, Monday, Feb. 4, 2013. The German phrase on the poster reads: 'Comprehensive and immediate UN-Sanctions against the Mullahs in iran.' (photo credit: AP/Markus Schreiber)

Iran’s nuclear standoff reaching tipping point

Ahead of another round of talks, neither Tehran nor world powers show any sign of backing down

By Brian Murphy and George Jahn

January 20, 2013
12:53 am

Iran's Arak heavy water nuclear facilities (photo credit: AP/Fars News Agency, Mehdi Marizad)

Tehran sending mixed signals on nuke talks

In an effort to ease sanctions, Iran seeks to restart meetings with world powers, but meanwhile leaves UN inspectors empty-handed

By Brian Murphy

January 13, 2013
9:50 pm

Iranian men line up as they wait to vote for presidential election, while they stand in front of a picture of the supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, at a polling station, in downtown in Tehran in 2009. (photo credit: AP/Vahid Salemi)

Loose lips sink Ayatollahs, Iran warns ahead of vote

Leaders in Tehran, hoping to avoid repeat of unrest from 2009 elections, tell those calling for free elections to keep quiet

By ALI AKBAR DAREINI and Brian Murphy

November 23, 2012
7:44 pm

Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, left, and Gaza's Hamas prime minister Ismail Haniyeh, right, arrive for a cornerstone laying ceremony for Hamad, a new residential neighborhood in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, October 23 (photo credit: AP/Mohammed Salem)

Gaza’s mideast suitors

Hamas’s big brothers, Qatar and Iran, are pulling the Strip’s rulers in opposite directions

By Brian Murphy

November 13, 2012
10:06 am

In this file photo from October 2012, Syrian rebel fighters belonging to the Liwa al-Tawhid unit pose after several days of intense clashes in Aleppo (photo credit: AP Photo/Narciso Contreras, File)

Newly unified, Syrian rebels seek arms while government forces have ‘more than enough weapons’

‘As long as Bashar Assad has the money to pay his military, it will keep fighting,’ says analyst

By Brian Murphy and Elizabeth A. Kennedy

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The Times of Israel

The one-stop news site
covering Israel, the region and
the Jewish people worldwide

Founding editor:
David Horovitz

Fair, fresh and fast

The Jewish world's
fastest-growing
news site

Writer: Brian Murphy

Iran’s cunning Rafsanjani seeks one more shot

With reformist backing, the elder statesman may yet prove to be a strong outside contender in the race to succeed Ahmadinehed

Iran president still a force even as his era ends

Though the power elites have begun ridiculing his reign, Ahmadinejad retains political capital in cities like Birjand

Israeli strike exposes Syrian challenge for Arabs

Most regional leaders want Western intervention to bring down Assad; what they don’t want is Israeli intervention

Next Iranian president likely to have gentler touch

An anti-Ahmadinejad referendum is shaping up in Tehran as election date approaches

Qatar faces backlash among rebel groups in Syria

Oil-rich gulf state accused of favoring Islamists over moderates in its funding of the Syrian opposition

Iran’s reformists stake long-shot hopes in Khatami

Can the country’s opposition factions shake off years of punishment and house arrest and nominate a more moderate candidate?

Ahmadinejad hits the road to pitch his political heir

Outgoing president’s campaign to boost his controversial in-law and adviser is seen as a challenge to Iran’s ayatollahs

Qatar makes Syria, Palestinians priority at summit

Using checkbook diplomacy, hyper-wealthy host nation positioning to take leadership role among Arab League states

Pope Francis: Simple image, complex past

In Argentina, new pontiff still faces questions over church’s perceived inaction during military dictatorship of 70s and 80s

Iran’s leader steps deeper into the political fray

Khamenei gets his hands dirty in effort to tamp down rising political spats that could signal weakness to the West

Iran’s nuclear standoff reaching tipping point

Ahead of another round of talks, neither Tehran nor world powers show any sign of backing down

Tehran sending mixed signals on nuke talks

In an effort to ease sanctions, Iran seeks to restart meetings with world powers, but meanwhile leaves UN inspectors empty-handed

Loose lips sink Ayatollahs, Iran warns ahead of vote

Leaders in Tehran, hoping to avoid repeat of unrest from 2009 elections, tell those calling for free elections to keep quiet

Gaza’s mideast suitors

Hamas’s big brothers, Qatar and Iran, are pulling the Strip’s rulers in opposite directions

Newly unified, Syrian rebels seek arms while government forces have ‘more than enough weapons’

‘As long as Bashar Assad has the money to pay his military, it will keep fighting,’ says analyst

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