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Part
1: Sea of peace or lake of
trouble?
Of all the
claims and counterclaims among the five littoral
states of the Caspian Sea, those between Iran
and Azerbaijan are probably the most
problematical as they are underpinned by deep
suspicions in Tehran of United States
interference. (May 22)
Part
2: Knocking on heaven's door
Qom, the second holiest city in Iran, means
"uprising", appropriate for the heartland of the
Islamic revolution that swept the country 23
years ago. The city is also home to Grand
Ayatollah Saanei, a leading theologian and
scholar, who shares some insights into Islam.
George W Bush, take note. (May 23)
Part
3: Knocking on democracy's door
As never before, the curious political
mixture of religious and secular rule in Iran is
under scrutiny, with a growing clamor for an
enlightened "Islamic democracy". These calls
need to be heard, especially those coming from
the under-25s, who make up 60 percent of the
population. (May 24)
Part
4: Follow the leader
There is
no doubting that Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah
Ali Hoseini Khamenei wields vast powers, but
this is no reason for the Western media not to
attempt to understand him, and the particular
form of democracy that the country practices.
(May
28)
Part
5: The guardian
In the
first-ever interview given by a member of Iran's
all-powerful Council of Guardians to a foreign
publication, lawyer Mohsen Ismaili locks horns
with Pepe Escobar over press freedom in the
country, and issues a plea to leaders in the
United States to stop meddling as Iran moves
toward its goal of a religious democracy. (May
29)
Part
6: Golden domes and mean streets
The town of Mashhad houses one of the
most dazzling religious complexes in the world.
It is also home to a ghetto for thousands of
Afghan refugees, alienated and largely despised
by their Iranian hosts. There is talk of sending
the refugees home, but there's little guarantee
that they will find conditions any better there.
(May
30)
Part
7: It's the economy, Ayatollah
As long as Iran bases its economy on a
system that favors privileged business
conglomerates, a plethora of subsidies and
limited access to foreign currency - the country
will not be able to develop the private sector
or spread the country's oil wealth. Unless, that
is, political reforms are introduced. (Jun 4)
Part
8: Stop press
There is a lot to
talk about in Iran, especially when it comes to
the fundamental issue of exactly how - and what
- reform should be introduced. Unfortunately,
debate is not being helped by overzealous and
oversensitive muffling of the media. (Jun 6)
Part
9: Girls in black
Behind the
all-enveloping black veils and scarfs that
Iranian women are required to wear, something of
a revolution is taking place - make-up, jeans,
flashy sunglasses and imported perfume. But
beyond these physical manifestations of Western
culture, a far more profound struggle is under
way among the women of Iran. (Jun 7)
Part
10: Encircled
Having labeled
Iran as a part of an axis of evil, Washington
continues to propagate the notion that Tehran is
a danger to American national security. This is
simply nonsense: the US should be trying to
embrace Iran, not exclude it. (Jun 12)
Part
11: The magic mountains
Come
Friday prayers, when the more devout head for
the mosques, young Iranians of a more frivolous
nature head for the mountains surrounding
Tehran, where they indulge in pursuits that can
only be described, in the Muslim context, as
sinful. The mountain excursions are a symptom of
the cultural dilemma that engulfs Iran. (Jun
15)
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