The Fire Next Time

A quiet space in the noise — drifting thoughts,
small truths, and everything in between.

Siyavash Shahabi

Tag: Iran

  • The Story of a Nation? A Country? A People?

    The Story of a Nation? A Country? A People?

    I struggle to find the right title, perhaps because these words—nation, country, people—have lost their weight, their truth. For many of us, they are no longer symbols of pride or belonging. This isn’t just because I’ve wandered for over 12 years, moving from one place to another, but because the idea of a “nation” itself…

  • The Geopolitical Implications of Ismail Haniyeh’s Assassination

    The Geopolitical Implications of Ismail Haniyeh’s Assassination

    It is undeniable that the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh involved cooperation from high-ranking security officials of the Islamic Republic. The assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, while aiding Netanyahu’s agenda, has broader implications for the Middle East. It underscores the fragile nature of political alliances and the continuous struggle for power in the region. This act serves…

  • The Book of Fate: Heartbeats of Resistance and Sacrifice

    The Book of Fate: Heartbeats of Resistance and Sacrifice

    A friend’s request for English translations of Persian literature led to a search highlighting Iranian women writers, focusing on themes of resistance and struggle. A notable work is “The Book of Fate” by Parinoush Saniee, a novel depicting Iran’s social history from the 1970s to present. It follows Massoumeh, a Tehran teenager forced into marriage,…

  • Understanding Iran’s Election Engineering and its Global Ramifications

    Understanding Iran’s Election Engineering and its Global Ramifications

    The post discusses the intricate political dynamics in Iran involving its relationships with Russia, the West, and China. It highlights Interior Minister’s statement on a “new era” and Vladimir Putin’s concern about Iran-Russia relations amid presidential elections. The narrative points to Iran’s need to engage with the West to ease sanctions and stabilize economically, with…

  • Strikes and Struggles: The Plight of Iran’s Oil Workers

    Strikes and Struggles: The Plight of Iran’s Oil Workers

    The new wave of strikes, called the “14-14” campaign, began on June 19. Contract workers in various oil and gas companies went on strike demanding higher wages and a 14-day work, 14-day rest schedule. Earlier, these workers had warned that if their demands were not met by the end of June, they would strike. One…

  • The Complex Dynamics of Voting in Iran: Aspirations, Realities, and Repression

    The Complex Dynamics of Voting in Iran: Aspirations, Realities, and Repression

    The political situation in Iran is like a patient with 80% of their body affected by leukemia or AIDS. Those who still have hope in this sick and paralyzed democracy ask what should be done with this patient. They don’t abandon the patient but use their energy to keep him alive, hoping for a miracle…

  • Wallet and Gender: Understanding Women’s Economic Marginalization in Iran

    Wallet and Gender: Understanding Women’s Economic Marginalization in Iran

    The Iranian centrist newspaper, Ham Mihan, has highlighted the issue of women’s employment in a recent report. Despite Iran having one of the highest numbers of female university students and graduates in the region, their participation in the labor market and economy remains lower than in most neighboring countries. The core issue revolves around women’s…

  • From Faith to Secularism: Shifting Attitudes in Iran

    From Faith to Secularism: Shifting Attitudes in Iran

    A nationwide government survey conducted in the 2024 winter shows a significant shift among Iranians away from the ruling ideology and towards a secular system. According to the national survey “Values and Attitudes of Iranians,” which is classified and has not been made public, an overwhelming majority of participants support the separation of religion and…

  • Street Power: The Islamic Regime’s Worst Nightmare

    Street Power: The Islamic Regime’s Worst Nightmare

    Once, Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, said that he would not “surrender to street challenges.” This was during the days of the Green Movement when the streets were filled with protesters, and the government’s response was an iron fist and the killing of protesters in the streets. Although people in various regions,…

  • Islamic regime’s Chessboard: Potential Presidential Candidates

    Islamic regime’s Chessboard:
    Potential Presidential Candidates

    The Islamic Republic of Iran is preparing for a presidential election on June 28, 2024, following the untimely death of President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash. The governments of Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi and the Islamic Republic are both theocratic regimes. However, contrary to common perceptions, in certain aspects of power structure, the Islamic…

  • Iran’s Youth vs. Theocracy: Iran After death of Raisi

    Iran’s Youth vs. Theocracy:
    Iran After death of Raisi

    Raisi is dead. A killer of thousands of innocent people who were executed with just a few questions. Some of these questions were: Is the prisoner willing to condemn the Mojahedin organization and its leader? Is the prisoner loyal to the ideals of the Mojahedin organization? And for the leftist and communists, the questions were:…

  • How Iran’s Political Prisoners Are Driven to Suicide

    How Iran’s Political Prisoners Are Driven to Suicide

    Dalia Andam, a 15-year-old Kurdish protester from Sanandaj, tragically ended her life after rejoining protests and receiving threats from law enforcement. On November 17, 2022, Dalia was shot with 25 pellets during a protest, further attacked later, and her family avoided hospitals for fear of arrest. She rejoined protests but, beaten again, endured harassment and…