Archive - Mar 1, 2010 - Article

Europe's Role

Against the backdrop of the Iranian government's continuing crackdown on its critics, Western powers are preparing for a fourth round of multilateral sanctions and other measures in the hopes of persuading Tehran to alter course on its controversial uranium enrichment policy. But even with Russia now apparently on board, will more sanctions work? And is there a specifically European role to be played in such a strategy? There is convincing new evidence that the Islamic Republic has continued pursuing a secret nuclear weapons programme in defiance of the IAEA and UN Security Council resolutions>>>

Dog and Pony Show

With relentless pressure from the right and deterioration of once powerful green movement, Mousavi and Karroubi have been forced to outline their strategy. Finding themselves in a tough position, both men have made it clear that reform is the path they endorse and regime change is not on the agenda of the green movement. This is a tricky balancing act as it forces the duo to reaffirm their alliance to Islamic revolution while trying to keep the coalition of green movement motivated and together>>>

سعی و خطا

آفتاب کم جان زمستان تهران افتاد تو چشم های بسته امیر. یک آن مثل آدم های برق گرفته از جا پرید و از اینکه پسرلندهوری در کارتنش خوابیده کلی تعجب کرد. چندین بار چشمانش را مالید. دیشب خودش تنهائی رفته بود داخل کارتن خالی یخچال. داشت فکر میکرد که این گنده بگ از کجا پیدایش شده. راستش از هیکل پسره ترسیده بود. اصلاً فکر نمیکرد اگر دعوائی در بگیرد، حریفش شود. از وقتی شش ماه قبل از خانه خود در رشت فرار کرده بود، یک شب آرام و قرار نداشت. تازه فکر میکرد تو پارک المهدی در ضلع جنوب شرقی میدان آزادی تهران دارد آرام میگیرد و سری تو سرها در می آورد>>>

در چارشنبه بازار سانتامونیکا

این لهجه را می شناسم
با "نون"های گِردش
که چون تورتیای خشکی
زیر دندان خرد می شوند.
در چارشنبه بازار سانتا مونیکا
با عطر ریحان ایران
لوبیا سبز چین
و فلفل سرخ مکزیک >>>

Santa Monica Farmers' Market

I hear this dialect
With its silent "J"
Singing everywhere.
It is Wednesday's market
Near Santa Monica beach
With the scent of Persian basil >>>

The firefly

Omid joined the crowd.
A firefly followed
through the iron gate
and into the night.

He wondered aloud,
what he did by himself,
inside his head,
was it wrong or right?
>>>