Iran

Explore our coverage of Iran’s politics, economics, business and culture, in articles, charts, podcasts and video


Middle East and Africa

Iran’s supreme leader is terrified of people power

A zealot and a reformer will contest a second-round poll on July 5th

Middle East and Africa

The job of Iran’s president is a study in humiliation

Yet people stand for it in their droves

Middle East and Africa

Who are the main contenders to be Iran’s next president?

After the death of the puritanical president, Iran’s reformists hope to win a slice of power

Middle East and Africa

The children of Iran’s revolution still want to go West

Some go to undermine the Islamic Republic; others to boost it

Middle East and Africa

A death, an illness, and an uncertain Middle East

The region could be on the cusp of real change

Leaders

A president’s death gives Iran’s regime a choice

It will probably choose to keep alienating voters and antagonising the West

Obituary

Ebrahim Raisi was obsessed with the security of the people

The hardline president of Iran died in a helicopter crash on May 19th, aged 63

Middle East and Africa

The death of the president changes the power dynamic in Iran

The supreme leader’s son may be the beneficiary 

International

Iran’s new leaders stand at a nuclear precipice

The world’s atomic watchdog fears a terrifying regional arms race

Middle East and Africa

The death of Iran’s president will spark a high-stakes power struggle

Amid a regional war, a fight at home between the clerics and military looms

Culture

A new graphic novel takes aim at Iran’s oppressive government

The author of “Persepolis” returns with a riveting collection of illustrated stories

International

Beware, global jihadists are back on the march

They are using the war in Gaza to radicalise a new generation

Middle East and Africa

Why Iranian dissidents love Cyrus, an ancient Persian king

The British Museum is sending one of Iran’s adored antiquities to Israel

China

Why China is unlikely to restrain Iran

Officials in Beijing are looking out for China’s interests, not anyone else’s

Middle East and Africa

How Iran covered up the damage from Israel’s strikes

New images shared with The Economist show how a swap helped calm a crisis

Middle East and Africa

Israel responds to Iran’s barrage with a symbolic strike

Both sides have a chance to de-escalate their conflict, at least for now

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