Michael Lipin

Baghdad has gone a week without reports of American restaurants being damaged by apparent Iran-backed mobs, an indication that the Iraqi government is curbing a recent wave of assaults that have dented its projected image as welcoming to Western investment. Analysis by Atlantic Council's Anthony Pfaff in my Voice of America report:

Iraq sees lull in American restaurant attacks after apparent Iranian-backed assailants arrested Baghdad goes one week without mobs damaging American restaurants, but U.S. researcher tells VOA’s Flashpoint Global Crises show that damage to Iraq’s image endures

Honored to accept a First Place Award for Best Podcast of 2023 in the Chesapeake AP Broadcasters Association Contest (for DC, Maryland and Delaware-based news organizations) for my "Flashpoint Iran" podcast Nov. 14, 2023 episode "Why Iran’s Proxies Seek to ‘Drag Out’ Low-Level Conflict with Israel" (which you can listen to, here: https://www.voanews.com/a/7355480.html)
My thanks to Steve Miller for the final audio editing on this episode.

Ten days after Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi died in a helicopter crash in northern Iran, authorities have not explained why his was the only helicopter that crashed in dense cloud out of three that were flying officials back to Iran from a visit to the Azerbaijani border; or how one passenger on the ill-fated helicopter apparently was able to survive for several hours and answer several mobile phone calls. The Washington Institute for Near East Policy's Farzin Nadimi shares his views on those mysteries with Voice of America:

Iran helicopter crash that killed president leaves mysteries unresolved 10 days later Iranian authorities' latest assessment of May 19 crash provided no answers as to why Raisi’s helicopter crashed in dense clouds while two other helicopters in his convoy did not.

With a month to go before Iran’s snap presidential election to replace ultraconservative Ebrahim Raisi following his death in a May 19 helicopter crash, a clearer picture is emerging of other conservatives who may become the only approved candidates in the race. United Against Nuclear Iran's Jason Brodsky has a preview:

The main contenders to replace Raisi in Iran’s snap presidential election In interview for VOA’s Flashpoint Global Crises show, Iranian politics observer Jason Brodsky says state media have identified several officials as contenders for June 28 vote

Iran’s Islamist rulers are cracking down on expressions of happiness by their opponents over President Ebrahim Raisi’s death: Dadban, an Iran-based group of lawyers who defend dissidents, said it received messages from citizens who were ordered by security agencies to remove celebratory online posts. Dadban also said Iranian security officers took punitive action against political prisoners who rejoiced over Raisi’s death in ward 15 of the city of Karaj’s central penitentiary, transferring them to an unknown location. See examples of celebratory activity inside Iran in this Voice of America report, with commentary from Atlantic Council's Gissou Nia:

Iran’s rulers crack down on expressions of joy at Raisi’s death Iran-based legal group defending dissidents says security agencies have started ordering citizens to remove celebratory online content.

As Iran’s Islamist rulers observe five days of mourning for the death of President Ebrahim Raisi in a Sunday helicopter crash, many Iranians who oppose the Islamic republic have been celebrating Raisi’s demise at home, abroad and on social media with sweets, music, dancing and creating posts with / #هلیکتلت.

Iran’s rulers mourn Raisi, as opponents celebrate his death in helicopter crash Videos received by VOA’s Persian service Monday appear to show people in different regions of Iran sharing sweets and chocolates to celebrate Raisi’s death.

Supporters of two U.S. nationals seen as unjustly jailed in Iran and Russia, Shahab Dalili and Alsu Kurmasheva, are asking why those U.S. nationals have been waiting years/months for a U.S. Department of State decision on designating them as 'wrongfully detained', after other Americans detained in Iran and Russia got much quicker designations.
CC: HAW - Hostage Aid Worldwide James W. Foley Legacy Foundation

Mystery shrouds process of designating US nationals as wrongfully detained abroad Hostage rights advocates and relatives of US nationals seen as unjustly held in Iran and Russia question why some people get the US designation quickly while others wait months or years

Iran's handing of a death sentence this week to dissident rapper Toomaj Salehi has drawn outrage from the Islamic republic's domestic and international critics, including German lawmaker Ye-One Rhie who tells Voice of America that Tehran risks fueling the backlash if it moves toward executing the artist.

Iran Risks Further Backlash for Death Sentence of Dissident Rapper, Says German MP In VOA interview, German lawmaker Ye-One Rhie says Iran is 'testing' domestic, international reaction to its latest judicial move against Iranian singer Toomaj Salehi

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Tuesday that Iran’s threats won't deter his nation from responding to Sunday’s unprecedented aerial attack; former Israeli intelligence official
Avi Melamed of Inside The Middle East tells Voice of America it's likely there will be a series of covert Israeli actions against Iranian assets in response.

Israeli defense minister: Iran's threats will not deter response to Iranian aerial assault Yoav Gallant spoke on Tuesday as Israeli government continued debate on potential retaliation for Iran’s first-ever launch of drones and missiles from Iranian territory toward Israel

A UN Human Rights Council-appointed fact-finding mission that investigated Iran’s suppression of protests that erupted in September 2022 is appealing for more time to do its work, but objections from Iran's allies could terminate the mission next month, as UN Watch executive director Hillel Neuer tells this week's edition of Voice of America's podcast.

UN Fact-Finding Mission Seeks Extension, But Tehran’s Allies Could Force Termination Speaking to VOA’s Flashpoint Iran podcast, UN Watch’s Hillel Neuer says Human Rights Council’s composition may thwart US-backed resolution to prolong fact-finding mission

On the final edition of my Voice of America podcast this week: UN Watch Executive Director Hillel Neuer on whether the UN Human Rights Council will extend the mandate of the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Iran when the mission’s term expires next month; rights activist and VOA Farsi ‘Tablet’ program host Masih Alinejad on the significance of recent online videos showing women in Iran confronting clerics who berate them for showing their hair in public; Iranian dissident academic Farshid Nowrouzi Roshnavand, a former professor at the University of Mazandaran, on his ideas for bringing accountability to those purging Iran’s universities of dissent.

FLASHPOINT IRAN: Iran Fact-Finding Mission Seeks More Time from UN Human Rights Council but Faces Obstacles United Nations Watch Executive Director Hillel Neuer on whether the United Nations Human Rights Council will extend the mandate of the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Iran when the mission’s term expires next month.

In my Voice of America podcast this week: VOA Pentagon correspondent Carla Babb on U.S. military highlighting importance of interdicting Iranian weapons supplies to Yemen’s Houthis. German Institute for Global and Area Studies - GIGA' researcher Sara Bazoobandi on why many Iranians are resorting to desperate methods to obtain food as inflation soars; Former University of Mazandaran professor Farshid Nowrouzi Roshnavand on how he was pushed out of his job last year as part of Iran’s purge of dissent in academia and forced into exile in France; FRANCE 24 journalist Ershad Alijani on Iran escalating a crackdown on Instagram users who sell goods and services deemed un-Islamic.

Why US is Emphasizing Need to Interdict Iran’s Weapon Supplies to Yemen’s Houthis VOA Pentagon correspondent Carla Babb on U.S. military highlighting importance of interdicting Iranian weapons supplies to Yemen’s Houthis. German Institute for Global and Area Studies researcher Sara Bazoobandi on why Iranians are resorting to desperate methods to obtain food as inflation soars.

Iran’s claimed 41% turnout for its March 1 elections, while a record low, is typical of figures used by authoritarian regimes to legitimize uncompetitive votes, according a Voice of America interview with GAMAAN Research's Ammar Maleki, who surveys Iranian public opinion and serves as a professor at Tilburg University.

Iran’s Claimed 41% Election Turnout ‘Golden’ for Authoritarian Uncompetitive Votes Official turnout ‘should be a number that you can sell,’ says director of Iran-focused European polling agency, in interview for VOA’s Flashpoint Iran podcast

In my Voice of America podcast this week: GAMAAN (the Group for Analyzing and Measuring Attitudes in Iran) director Ammar Maleki on why the Islamic republic is asserting its uncompetitive March 1 elections drew a 41% turnout that opposition activists say is inflated; German Institute for Global and Area Studies - GIGA researcher Sara Bazoobandi on how she tracks Iran’s inflation crisis; U.S. Department of State's Deputy Assistant Secretary Victoria Taylor speaks to Alhurra قناة الحرة about how Washington visit of Iraqi Kurdish leader Masrour Barzani helps U.S. to counter Iran’s proxy militias; VOA Farsi executive editor Niusha Boghrati on his recent documentary featuring insights into Iran’s supply of drones for Russia’s two-year invasion of Ukraine.

FLASHPOINT IRAN: How Iran Settled on 41% Election Turnout Figure That Opposition Activists Say is Inflated GAMAAN director Ammar Maleki on why the Islamic republic is asserting that its uncompetitive March 1 elections drew a 41% turnout that opposition activists say is greatly inflated. German Institute for Global and Area Studies researcher Sara Bazoobandi on how she tracks Iran’s inflation crisis.

In my Voice of America podcast this week: Independent Persian chief editor Camelia Entekhabifard on why many voters in Iran were apathetic ahead of March 1 parliamentary elections; VOA Farsi managing editor Arash Sigarchi on Tehran’s Revolutionary Court convicting him and 10 other VOA Persian journalists in absentia for alleged propaganda crimes after a secret trial; U.N. Special Rapporteur for the situation of human rights in Iran Javaid Rehman on why he is optimistic as he prepares to end his six-year mandate in a few months; Iranian American entrepreneur and attorney Rumi Parsa on why U.S. social media giants Meta and X penalized Iranian government accounts this month, one year after he sued them in U.S. federal court to take such action.

Flashpoint Iran: Many Iranians, Struggling with Inflation, Show Apathy Ahead of Uncompetitive Parliamentary Election Independent Persian chief editor Camelia Entekhabifard on why many voters in Iran were apathetic ahead of March 1 parliamentary elections. VOA Persian managing editor Arash Sigarchi on Tehran’s Revolutionary Court convicting him and 10 other VOA Persian journalists in absentia.

Iran is seeing an uptick in labor protests coinciding with annual deliberations on raising the minimum wage to keep up with higher living costs, yet there has been no violent government crackdown such as the one that crushed a women’s rights movement one year ago. American University sociologist Jessica Emami, PhD discusses the reasons why with Voice of America's podcast. Read her comments here:

Iran Labor Protest Uptick Coincides With Annual Minimum Wage Deliberations Online reports and images reviewed by VOA Persian show Iranian steel workers, telecom company retirees gathering across Iran to protest working conditions

In my Voice of America podcast this week: Center for Middle East and Global Order - CMEG security analyst Shahin Modarres on how saboteurs were able to strike major gas pipelines in western Iran on Feb. 14; U.S. Special Envoy for Yemen Tim Lenderking talks to VOA Farsi's Guita A***n about Iran’s connection to Red Sea shipping attacks by Yemen’s Houthis; Swedish-Israeli-American activist Saskia Pantell on what she wants Sweden to do about an alleged Iranian plot to assassinate her and two other Swedish Jews; American University sociologist Jessica Emami on why Iran’s disgruntled workers and retirees have been able to stage frequent small-scale protests across the country in recent days.

FLASHPOINT IRAN: Gas Pipeline Sabotage Reveals Weakness in Iran’s Ability to Protect Critical Infrastructure Center for Middle East and Global Order security analyst Shahin Modarres on how saboteurs were able to strike major gas pipelines in western Iran on Feb. 14. U.S. Special Envoy for Yemen Tim Lenderking on Iran’s connection to Red Sea shipping attacks by Yemen’s Houthis.

In my Voice of America podcast this week: Atlantic Council senior fellow Holly Dagres on the Islamic republic’s veneer of victory as it marks the 45th anniversary of its seizure of power; VOA Farsi executive editor Niusha Boghrati on how VOA secured discreet on-camera interviews with young adults inside Iran about the Islamic revolution anniversary; former Israeli national security adviser and Foundation for Defense of Democracies senior fellow Eyal Hulata on whether Iran is ready to rein in its proxy Hezbollah as Western powers try to mediate a truce in Israel-Lebanon border clashes.

FLASHPOINT IRAN: Islamic Republic’s Triumphalist Revolution Anniversary Event Masks Public Regret Over Iran’s Regression Atlantic Council fellow Holly Dagres on the Islamic republic’s veneer of victory as it marks the 45th anniversary of seizing power. VOA Persian executive editor Niusha Boghrati on how VOA secured discreet on-camera interviews with young adults inside Iran about the Islamic revolution anniversary.

In my Voice of America podcast this week: VOA Pentagon correspondent Carla Babb on why the U.S. has not released details of casualties from its Feb. 2 strikes on Iranian and Iranian proxy targets in Iraq and Syria four days later; The Brookings Institution foreign policy research director Michael E. O'Hanlon on the effectiveness of the latest U.S. strikes in Iraq, Syria and Yemen; United for Iran managing director Kevin Schumacher on the controversial visit of U.N. Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights Nada Al Nashif to Iran last weekend; International Women’s Media Foundation IWMF executive director Elisa Lees Muñoz on lingering concerns about the fate of Iranian journalists Niloofar Hamedi and Elahe Mohammadi after their Jan. 14 release from prison on bail.

FLASHPOINT IRAN: US Strikes on Iraq and Syria Reveal Pros, Cons of Strategy Against Iran VOA Pentagon correspondent Carla Babb on why the U.S. has not released details of casualties from its Feb. 2 strikes on Iranian and Iranian proxy targets in Iraq and Syria. Brookings Institution research director Michael O’Hanlon on the effectiveness of U.S. strikes in Iraq, Syria and Yemen.

Exclusive: United Nations Human Rights office breaks silence on
Deputy High Commissioner Nada Al Nashif's Iran visit, telling Voice of America it is aware of rights groups’ concerns that Iran will exploit her visit for propaganda but saying U.N. work won't be undermined; United for Iran group responds to U.N. statement by saying a U.N. fact finding visit to Iran would have been better than a political one by Al-Nashif.

Exclusive: UN Rights Commissioner Meets Officials in Iran, Despite Activists Warning Her of Propaganda Risk UN human rights office tells VOA that Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights Nada Al-Nashif met Iranian judicial and other officials; no word on any meetings with dissidents.

Iranian civil society organizations and professionals say su***de rates have reached crisis levels among school students and recent medical school graduates in the past month, with no sign of solutions from the government. Marjan Keypour of Alliance for Rights of All Minorities-ARAM discussed the factors behind Iran's su***de problem on the latest edition of Voice of America's podcast, and you can read the highlights here:
***de

Iran’s Civil Society Groups Say Su***de Rates at Crisis Levels Among Students, Doctors Labor unions for Iranian teachers, medical workers report alarming rises in su***de rates for school students, resident doctors last month

In my Voice of America podcast this week: former U.S. Army attaché to Jordan Lt. Col. (Ret.) Adam Clements on why that country appears to be trying to avoid antagonizing Iran in response to Iranian proxies’ deadly Jan. 28 attack on U.S. troops at a Jordanian base; Atlantic Council analyst Ömer Özkizilcik on how Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi’s Jan. 24 visit to Turkey and meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will affect the long-running tensions between the two regional powers; Marjan Keypour, founder of Iran-focused group Alliance for Rights of All Minorities-ARAM, on what is behind Iran’s growing su***de rate.
***de

FLASHPOINT IRAN: Jordan Signals Desire to Avoid Aggravating Iran After Deadly Proxy Strike on US Base A former U.S. Army attaché to Jordan on why Jordan is trying to avoid angering Iran in response to Iranian proxies’ deadly attack on U.S. troops at a Jordanian base. An Atlantic Council analyst on how the Iranian president’s visit to Turkey will affect tensions between the two regional powers.

In this week's Voice of America podcast: my interview with Iranian American filmmaker & actress Mary Apick
about why Iran appears to be silencing Iranian directors Maryam Moghadam & Behtash Sanaeeha by stopping them from flying to France last September to finish their latest movie and confiscating their passports.

FLASHPOINT IRAN: Iran Carries Out Early Morning Ex*****on Iran carries out the ex*****on of a man for the alleged 2022 killing of a police officer. A group of international film organizations and filmmakers is raising the alarm about Iran’s treatment of two prominent directors barred from leaving the country.

In my Voice of America podcast this week: Eurasia Group’s Gregory Brew on the effectiveness of U.S. and British strikes on Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen; Campaign to Free Political Prisoners in Iran/I am her-his voice - من صدای او هستم’s Shiva Mahboubi on how four Kurdish political prisoners whose death sentences were upheld by Iran’s Supreme Court could win a reprieve; Iran International ايران اينترنشنال’s Maryam Sinaiee how northern Iran fishmonger Sadegh Bagheri, who charmed Instagram users with a song and dance routine, overcame government efforts to silence him.

FLASHPOINT IRAN: Yemen’s Houthis Maintain Capability to Target Ships After US, British Strikes Iran unleashes aerial strikes on enemy targets in Pakistan, Iraq and Syria. Eurasia Group’s Gregory Brew on the effectiveness of U.S. and British strikes on Houthis. Campaign to Free Political Prisoners in Iran’s Shiva Mahboubi on how four Kurdish dissidents facing ex*****on could win a reprieve...

8 days after the Islamic Republic of Iran experienced its deadliest terror attack, its rulers rulers publicly identified Afghanistan for the first time as a source of the Islamic State terror group's Jan. 3 su***de bombings in the Iranian city of Kerman. But Iran's options for retaliating in Afghan territory are limited, as The Washington Institute for Near East Policy's Aaron Zelin told Voice of America's podcast.

Iran Reveals Afghan Origin of Islamic State Kerman Attack; Retaliation Options Limited One of the su***de bombers trained in Afghanistan’s Badakhshan province, Iran’s intelligence ministry said Thursday, marking first time Tehran identified its neighbor as a source of January 3 attack

In my Voice of America podcast this week: The Washington Institute for Near East Policy’s Aaron Zelin on how the Islamic State terror group managed to stage Jan. 3 Kerman su***de bomb attack that was Iran’s worst since its 1979 Islamic Revolution; Israel Law Center שורת הדין - Shurat HaDin president and attorney Nitsana Darshan-Leitner ניצנה דרשן-לייטנר speaks to VOA 한국어's Jiha Ham on considering to sue Iran and North Korea in the U.S. court system for colluding to arm Hamas terrorists that attacked Israel in October; Iran International - English correspondent Maryam Sinaiee on how Sadegh Bagheri, a 73-year-old fishmonger in the northern Iranian city of Rasht, went from obscurity in November to become an international Instagram influencer with his viral song and dance.

FLASHPOINT IRAN: Islamic State Exploits Iran’s Focus on Israel Proxy Wars in Kerman Attack Washington Institute for Near East Policy’s Aaron Zelin on how Islamic State terror group staged Jan. 3 su***de bomb attack that was Iran’s worst since its 1979 Islamic Revolution. Israeli attorney Nitsana Darshan-Leitner on her plan to sue Iran and North Korea for colluding to arm Hamas terrori...

In my Voice of America podcast this week: Former U.S. National Intelligence Manager for Iran & United Against Nuclear Iran senior adviser Norman Roule on U.S. and Britain toughening their responses to attacks by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis on Red Sea shipping; Check Point Software Technologies’ Gil Messing on last month’s escalation in cyber attacks on infrastructure in Iran and Israel with each side blaming the other; independent environmental journalist Sanam Mahoozi on how December’s dangerous air pollution levels in Iran’s big cities affect health, livelihoods of Iranians.

FLASHPOINT IRAN: US, Britain Get Tougher on Yemen’s Houthis by Sinking Boats, Issuing Warning Former U.S. National Intelligence Manager for Iran Norman Roule on U.S., Britain toughening their responses to attacks by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis on Red Sea shipping. Check Point Software Technologies’ Gil Messing on last month’s escalation in cyber attacks on infrastructure in Iran and Is...

Britain-based Iran analyst & Iranian diaspora journalist Sima Sabet has spoken to Voice of America's podcast about her horrified and defiant reaction to learning from ITV News' Rohit Kachroo on Dec. 21 that she was a target of an alleged IRGC assassination plot in London a year ago, when she worked for Iran International ايران اينترنشنال.

Iranian Diaspora Journalist on Plot to Assassinate Her: I Am More Motivated Former Iran International presenter Sima Sabet reveals her reaction to an alleged Iranian plot reported by ITV News in an interview with VOA’s Flashpoint Iran podcast

In my Voice of America podcast this week: U.S. military responds to Iranian proxy attacks in Iraq and the Red Sea on Dec. 26; The Washington Institute for Near East Policy’s Noam Raydan on the commercial shipping impact of the Houthis’ Red Sea strikes; Iran analyst and former Iran International ايران اينترنشنال host Sima Sabet on the ITV News report uncovering an alleged IRCG plot to assassinate her; National Council of Resistance of Iran - شورای ملی مقاومت ایران’s Ali Safavi on whether more Iranian officials will face justice after Sweden upholds a life sentence against Hamid Noury for Iran’s 1988 mass killings of political prisoners.
*****on

FLASHPOINT IRAN: Houthis’ Red Sea Attacks Drive Away More Container Ships Than Oil Tankers U.S. military responds to Iranian proxy attacks in Iraq and Red Sea. Washington Institute for Near East Policy’s Noam Raydan on the commercial shipping impact of the Houthis’ Red Sea strikes. Former Iran International host Sima Sabet on ITV report uncovering an alleged IRCG plot to assassinate h...