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Looking A Tyrant In the Eye: Iran’s Long Struggle for Freedom and Justice

March 16, 2026 by Alex Shams

Originally published in TIME magazine on March 14, 2026. I knew he was watching. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s portrait is everywhere in Iran. His head is usually turned slightly away, while

Featured Iran Israel

Iran After Khamenei

March 14, 2026 by Alex Shams

Originally published in the Boston Review on March 3, 2026. An interview with sociologist Asef Bayat on the U.S.-Israeli war, democratic opposition to the Islamic Republic, and the country’s uncertain

Iran Opinion

Iran’s Protesters Are Caught Between State Repression and Foreign Intervention

February 17, 2026 by Alex Shams

Published on Truthout on January 15, 2026. Iran has been under a government-imposed internet blackout for the last week, and very little information has emerged. What we do know is

Iran Israel Reporting

Quiet Solidarity: The Underground Networks that Defied Israel’s War on Iran

August 14, 2025 by Alex Shams

Originally published on The Public Source on August 14, 2025. On the morning of Thursday, June 12, Tehran moved to its familiar rhythms. Students crammed for finals in packed cafés and

Iran Israel Reporting

Our Man For Tehran

August 5, 2025 by Alex Shams

Originally published in The Boston Review on August 6, 2025. Translated to Persian for Political and Economic Critique and Spanish for Nexos. When Israel launched a surprise attack on Iran

Iran Israel Reporting

Israel’s Bombs Have Stopped Falling, But Iranians Still Face an Uncertain Future

July 2, 2025 by Alex Shams

Originally published on Truthout on July 2, 2025. Translated to Spanish for Nexos. Iranians are waking up from what feels like a nightmare. For 12 days, Israel bombarded their country

Iran

The Take: How can Iranians rebuild while crackdowns intensify?

June 30, 2025 by Alex Shams

Originally broadcast on Al Jazeera’s The Talk on June 30, 2025. Israel’s bombs have stopped, but grief and fear linger in Iran. As families search the rubble for loved ones,

Iran Israel

CBS Interview: Reaction in Middle East to Israel-Iran ceasefire

June 25, 2025 by Alex Shams

Alex Shams was interviewed live on CBS news to talk about how Iranians reacted to the ceasefire with Israel. Aired on June 25, 2025.

Iran Israel Opinion

Iranians Put Faith in Diplomacy. Israel and Trump Shattered Their Hopes

June 20, 2025 by Alex Shams

Originally published in Newsweek on June 20, 2025. Every night for the last week, my family in Tehran wakes up to the Earth shaking as missiles strike and children scream.

Iran Israel

CBS Interview: How Iranians Experienced Israel’s Surprise Assault

June 20, 2025 by Alex Shams

Alex Shams was interviewed live on CBS news to talk about how Iranians experienced Israel’s surprise assault. Aired on June 20, 2025.

Looking A Tyrant In the Eye: Iran’s Long Struggle for Freedom and Justice

Iran After Khamenei

Iran’s Protesters Are Caught Between State Repression and Foreign Intervention

Quiet Solidarity: The Underground Networks that Defied Israel’s War on Iran

Our Man For Tehran

Israel’s Bombs Have Stopped Falling, But Iranians Still Face an Uncertain Future

The Take: How can Iranians rebuild while crackdowns intensify?

CBS Interview: Reaction in Middle East to Israel-Iran ceasefire

Iranians Put Faith in Diplomacy. Israel and Trump Shattered Their Hopes

CBS Interview: How Iranians Experienced Israel’s Surprise Assault

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