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Taqiyya is not a license for hypocrisy; it neither condones lying nor relieves Muslims of the obligation to live up to their commitments, in contracts, treaties, or otherwise. It certainly does not justify a religious leader lying to his fellow Muslims about matters on which he is offering moral guidance and instruction—which is what one has to think in order to argue that Ayatollah Khamenei’s multiple statements over several years about the immorality of nuclear weapons are an exercise in taqiyya. ››read more

Elements in Israel and the West intent on attacking the Islamic Republic of Iran are creating the appearance that war is inevitable. ››read more

High oil prices are insulating Iran from the full impact of US and European sanctions on the sale of its crude, providing Tehran with breathing space as it prepares for a new round of nuclear talks with western nations next month. ››read more

Given the depth of mutual distrust, it is a significant achievement for Iran and the Six countries negotiating with them to have launched a serious dialogue on a peaceful negotiated solution. ››read more

The economic cost “is borne by Turkey,” not just by Iran, Caglayan told reporters today in Washington, when asked whether sanctions on Iran’s trade are the best way to rein in the nuclear ambitions of Turkey’s eastern neighbor. “Other countries pay the price of sanctions, too.” ››read more

Missing from the Times article was any reference to Iran's refusal to retaliate with chemical weapons for Iraq's repeated chemical weapons attacks on Iranian cities, based on U.S. intelligence on Iranian troop concentrations, killing 7,000 immediately and severely injuring at least 100,000. ››read more