My Iran

Nuclear Power

2003-08-15T16:26:00.000-04:00

Iran's official news agency IRNA reported that Iran’s Atomic Energy High Council has authorized the completion of the second phase of 1,000 MW Bushehr Nuclear Power with new contracts. The council also ordered suitable sites be studied for the construction of further reactors to generate an extra 5,000 MW from nuclear power.
Meanwhile, Al Hayat (a Saudi based newspaper) reported on possible Israeli strike at Iran's nuclear plants. Israel believes Iran would need two to three years at the most before succeeding in producing nuclear weapons.

War on Terrorism

2003-08-13T14:47:00.000-04:00

There is an old joke that a drunk is searching under a street lamp for a set of keys. A passer-by offers to help. In vain, they search and search. Finally the passer-by asks where the keys fell. The drunk points to the other side of the street. "Why are you looking on this side when you dropped them over there?" the incredulous passer-by asks. "Because," the drunk says, "the light's much better here."
Don’t you think this is what’s happening to the war on terrorism?

Even

2003-07-26T22:48:00.000-04:00

This Iranian tumult for the death of an Iranian immigrant seems more funny than serious. For god sake! Do they really think they can cover the mess of killing a journalist with this ridiculous propaganda against the police of Canada? The funniest part is that the family of the victim is also astonished with the points and accusations of the Iranian government against Canada. You know what it seems to me?
I kill; you kill; now we are even!!

Terrorism

2003-07-20T09:27:00.000-04:00

"Iran and all Muslim nations are a threat to America's survival"
Although there are some non-Muslim nations which are presumed as threats to America's survival, but even if we count Muslims it would be a sad fact that between every four to five human being in the world at least one is a threat to America's survival. If that is the truth (which I don’t think it is) Americans should really look at themselves and think about what they have done to the world that has caused them so many enemies.
What I see in Muslim countries is a young generation seeking liberty and justice. They are soon or late coming to the point that there is no other way than going towards democracy. It’s obvious that the despotic political systems do not want to lose power and they are and will try to stop the democratization process by any means possible. The hard-liners and terrorist groups emerge from this desperate need to preserve the falling dictatorships. They are definitely not all Muslims but a small group which are not only a threat to your survival but an active threat to ours’.
Their hands are on our throat, pushing. Believe me. It’s hard for people watching you support and help them (as you did with Saddam, Taliban, Al-Qaeda, etc.) while they are under so much pressure. That’s why some of them don’t trust you even when you are really trying to help.

Persian Poetry

2003-07-18T16:11:00.000-04:00

It’s a tough generalization to say every Iranian has the soul of a poet but I believe it somehow has a sense of reality. Almost every Iranian I have seen in my life loves and admires poetry and uses it in daily life. Poetry is beyond just an artistic part of the Persian literature. It has found its way through people’s beliefs and life.
Just to show how deep poetry goes into the Iranian culture, before modern schools were established in Iran (history), the traditional education system used to teach a poetry book from the 13th century named “Golestan” (The Rose Garden) in primary schools. That’s why you can still find many people in Iran who do not have a proper ability to read or write but have memorized many poems and use them in daily life and speech.
Even after modern schools were established a major part of the literature books taught in every grade is poems from past and recent poets. Students usually have to memorize some poems as a part of their grade mark.
Most of the common used proverbs in Persian come from poems. Iranians read poems when they are happy and when they are sad. They read poems in the middle of a political struggle or articles, in funerals, in weddings, in national holidays, in religious events and almost everywhere. So it’s not a big surprise that you see this much poetry in their weblogs.
For more information on Persian literature you can take a look at this website.

Super powers

2003-07-16T15:08:00.000-04:00

Unfortunately, what is happening to the United States seems to me to be what has happened all over the history. Super powers always begin with a better understanding of the new world and the needs of the new era. They start growing based on this knowledge. The sad fact is that they lose their superior knowledge in this growing process.
I’m not sure whether this loss is a necessity of the growth or it just happens because they are too busy with growing. When a system becomes too big simplification is needed in order for it to be understandable and manageable. That’s why simplification and over simplification may be a necessity of growth or at least a rapid growth.
I can not say that United States is a stronger super power, militarily and economically, than the British Empire in their golden era or the Roman and Persian Empire a long time ago. What happened to all of them was trespassing their principles in the growth process which has been a start for their decline.
I believe that Americans have been the most philanthropic super power in the history of mankind (at least in what I know of it) and have respected human qualities and values more than all past super powers. Is it possible for them not to follow the path that has been followed by all past super powers?

Mutual understanding

2003-07-14T21:00:00.000-04:00

“It seems to me to be less important that Americans know more about Iran, than that Iranians know more about America and the West.”
There is an important point in this statement which I think might be disregarded or misunderstood if you just look at the style or tone of it. A fact in the recent centuries is that the west has studied the east far more that what the east has done to know the west. You can find many valuable research works from western scholars on topics about the eastern countries. There are many departments and divisions in the western universities and research centers on the east but you can not find this in the eastern countries.
It is true that eastern countries should do much more than they have done to know the west and its culture and values, but it’s a big mistake to think that this mutual understanding is less important for one side. Especially if that side is the source of power and motion in the world.

2003-07-13T09:59:00.000-04:00

An interesting question in Dave’s comments was to “write down 5 reasons why you love the Jews”. I know many admirable Jews but to write about the Jews as a community is harder than to write about them individually. Although the things I will name may not apply to all Jews, but let’s try. I love Jews because:

1. They are really hard-working people.
2. Supporting each other is important for them.
3. They have kept their unity despite all different opinions they have.
4. They have great thinkers and strategists (in past and present).
5. They are really religious when they accept their religion.
6. They have somehow found a way to be religious and modern.
7. They have a great history.
8. They have always been good businessmen.
9. Their achievements are a good example of how team work is effective.

2003-07-11T17:32:00.000-04:00

I was reading hoder’s note on “Five things to help non-Iranians know more about Iran” when I came to some interesting notes from Dave G. I couldn’t understand why everyone was trying to condemn him for how he thinks instead of trying to understand what he is saying. Well no one is perfect. In fact you can leave any one thinks he/she is, to be their own little perfect. A gratulant point in Dave’s comments is stating clearly that he is not an expert and he is just expressing his thoughts. I think I should also state clearly that I am not an expert in this field and I am just expressing my thoughts and understandings.
I am going to answer some of his questions and comment on some of his writings from my point of view. It would be great if you add your points to this discussion.

2003-07-09T00:07:00.000-04:00

Well it seems I've been away for a long time. It's time to start comming back.

2003-05-23T22:41:00.000-04:00

Modern Age Iran

Islamic Revolution

There are so many things to say about the “Islamic Revolution” that I don’t know were to start from. The best thing I can do is to refer you to another site which has a page about the Islamic revolution.
There are many notes that I want to add to what you can find in that web site. To start with:

The so called Islamic revolution was supported by all major social and political groups such as the Nationalists, Communists, University graduates and students, non-political intellectual groups and finally organizations and religious groups and organizations. The reason why it is called the Islamic revolution is that the religious groups (Ayatollah Khomeini in particular) had the most powerful influence among the ordinary people which gave them the leadership position in the revolution.

2003-05-19T17:54:00.000-04:00

Modern Age Iran

Pahlavi Dynasty 2

Mohammad Reza Shah replaced his father on the throne on September 16, 1941. Iran's political system became increasingly open. Political parties were developed, and in 1944 parliament elections were the first genuinely competitive elections in more than 20 years. In the beginning of 1930s some Iranians began to support the nationalization of the country's oil fields (owned by Britain at that time). After 1946 this caused a major common movement lead by a professional politician, the nationalistic Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddeq.

Despite his vow to act as a constitutional monarch who would defer to the power of the parliamentary government, Mohammad Reza Shah increasingly involved himself in governmental affairs and on reviving the army and ensuring that it would remain under royal control as the monarchy's main power base especially after overthrowing Mosaddeq with a US lead coup.

By the mid-1970s the Shah reigned amidst widespread discontent caused by the continuing repressiveness of his regime, socioeconomic changes that benefited some classes at the expense of others, and the increasing gap between the ruling elite and the disaffected populace. Islamic leaders were able to focus this discontent to Islamic principles and call for the overthrow of the shah. The Shah's government collapsed following widespread uprisings in 1978 and 1979.

The Pahlavi royal crown

2003-05-16T15:52:00.000-04:00

Modern Age Iran

Pahlavi Dynasty 1

In 1921 Reza Khan (later Reza Shah Pahlavi), an officer in Iran's only military force (Cossack Brigade) used his troops to support a coup against the government of Qajar Dynasty. Within four years he had established himself as the most powerful person in the country by suppressing rebellions and establishing order. In 1925 a specially convened assembly deposed Ahmad Shah, the last ruler of the Qajar dynasty, and named Reza Khan, who earlier had adopted the surname Pahlavi, as the new shah.

Reza Shah had ambitious plans for modernizing of Iran. These plans included developing large-scale industries, implementing major infrastructure projects, building a cross-country railroad system, establishing a national public education system, reforming the judiciary, and improving health care. He believed a strong, centralized government managed by educated personnel could carry out his plans.

He sent hundreds of Iranians including his son to Europe for training. During 16 years from 1925 and 1941, Reza Shah's numerous development projects transformed Iran to industrial, urbanized country. Public education progressed rapidly, and new social classes-a professional middle class and an industrial working class â€“emerged but his dictatorial style of rule caused dissatisfaction.

Although Iran proclaimed as a neutral country in World War II, Britain and the USSR invaded Iran because of German engineers working in Iran. They arrested Reza Shah and sent him into exile. They also limited the constitutional government interfaces and permitted Reza Shah's son, Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi to succeed to the throne.

Reza Shah Pahlavi

2003-05-13T12:26:00.000-04:00

Modern Age Iran

The Qajar Dynasty

The modern age starts in Iran with the Qajar dynasty (1794-1925). Although it was called the modern age but it was actually an age of poverty and misery in Iran. This long period saw Iran fall under the increasing pressure of European nations and steadily lose territory by the force of foreign countries. Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan and Afghanistan were all parts of the Iranian territory which was lost in this period.

Although the Qajars succeeded in reuniting the country, they were generally weak and corrupt rulers. The economic and military gap between Iran and the West widened considerably under their reign especially in light of the Industrial Revolution that was taking place in the West. However, the Qajar period also enjoyed a high degree of artistic excellence, producing some of Iran's finest paintings, tile works and architectural monuments. An important event in this era is the rise of the constitutional movements in Iran. A constitution establishing a parliament was accepted by the shah in 1906.

The ceiling of Zinatolmolk Residence, Shiraz (Qajar era)

The Qajar royal crown

2003-05-09T19:01:00.000-04:00

Although there are still much more to write about Iran’s geography (like tourist attractions, ancient sites, cities and much more) I will go on to Iran’s history for a while so that it doesn’t get boring. I will return to geography in the near future.

Ancient and middle age Iran

Iranians are descendants of Indo-Europeans who came from the Indian subcontinent about 2000 BC, although archaeological evidence indicates human habitation as early as 18,000 years ago in the plateau of Iran. In 549 BC, Cyrus the Great began to make Persia (as Iran was then known) into a great empire that encompassed parts of Eastern Europe, Egypt and India. In succeeding centuries, Persia first fell to Alexander the Great (333 BC) and later to Arabs, Turks and Mongols. In 1501, the country regained its political independence. The most lasting influence was from Arabs, who introduced Islam.

For a more detailed history of this era you can take a look at this website.

Portrait of a persian soldier engraved to stone in Perspolis (Takht-e-Jamshid) build about 500 B.C.

2003-05-06T13:07:00.000-04:00

The Caspian Sea

The Caspian Sea, which is the largest landlocked body of water in the world (424,240 sq. km.), lies some 85 feet below the sea level. It is comparatively shallow, and for some centuries has been slowly shrinking in size. Its salt content is considerably less than that of the oceans and though it abounds with fish, its shelly coasts do not offer any good natural harbors, and sudden and violent storms make it dangerous for small boats. The important ports on the Caspian coast are: Bandar Anzali, Noshahr, and Bandar Turkman.

The high Alborz Mountains, which seal off the narrow Caspian Plain, wring moisture from the clouds, trap humidity from the air, and create a fertile densely populated semitropical region with forests, swamps, and rice paddies. Temperatures may soar to 100 F (39 oC), the humidity to 98 per cent. Frost is rare.

2003-05-05T13:19:00.000-04:00

The Persian Gulf

The Persian Gulf is the shallow marginal part of the Indian Ocean that lies between the Arabian Peninsula and south-east Iran. The sea has an area of 240,000 square kilometers. It is bordered on the north, north-east and east by Iran, on the north-west by Iraq and Kuwait, on the west and south-west by Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Qatar, and on the south and south-east by the United Arab Emirates and partly Oman.

The most important islands of the Persian Gulf on the Iranian side are Kish and Qeshm. The notable ports on the Persian Gulf coast are: Abadan, Khorramshahr, Bandar Iman Khomeini, Mahshahr, Bushehr, Bandar Lengeh and Bandar Abbas.

The Persian Gulf has a notoriously bad climate. Temperatures are high, though winters may be quite cool at the north-western extremities. Humidity is high. The little cloud cover is more prevalent in winter than in summer. Thunderstorms and fog are rare, but dust storms and haze occur frequently in summer.
Until the discovery of oil in Iran in 1908, the Persian Gulf area was important mainly for fishing, pearling, the building of dhows, sailcloth making, camel breeding, reed mat making, date cultivating, and the production of other minor products, such as red ochre from the islands in the south. Today these traditional industries have declined, and the economy of the region is dominated by the production of oil.

The Persian Gulf and the surrounding countries produce approximately 31 per cent of the world's total oil production and have 63 per cent of the world's proven reserves. The Persian Gulf area will probably remain and important source of world oil for a long period.

2003-05-03T16:19:00.000-04:00

Q&A

How much Arabic can you understand if you know Farsi?

How much French can you understand if you know English? Arabic is a totally different language but it has influenced Persian (Farsi) much after Islam came to Iran. Nowadays you can find many Arabic words in Persian but you can not understand Arabic well if you only understand Persian although you may understand some of the words. One of the courses that all Iranian students have in their middle and high school is Arabic.

How much do the different dialects differ?

There are so many different dialects spoken in Iran that I can not even count them. Some of them are so different from the common Persian that they seem to be a different language with different vocabulary and grammar (I am not an expert in linguistics). For example, Arabic is spoken in south-west, Azari (Turkish) is spoken in north-west, Kurdish is spoken in west, Gilaki is spoken in north and Balouchi is spoken in south-east.
There are many other dialects which are not so different from common Persian. The differences of these dialects are in some words and mainly in their strokes and stresses similar to the difference between the British and American accent. Main parts of central Iran speak in this kind of dialects.

Can an Iranian understand the Farsi spoken in Afghanistan?

The Persian spoken in Afghanistan is called “Dari Persian” which is a more ancient Persian than what is spoken n Iran. Although some of that vocabulary is forgotten in the common Persian spoken in Iran, but we can still understand it if they don’t speak too fast.

2003-05-02T15:55:00.000-04:00

Deserts

The vast deserts of Iran stretch across the plateau from the north-west, close to Tehran and Qom, for a distance of about 400 miles to the south-east and beyond the frontier. Approximately one-sixth of the total area of Iran is barren desert. The two largest desert areas are known as the Kavir-e-Lut and the Dasht-e-Kavir.
Dasht-e-Kavir covered by loose stones and sand, gradually merging into fertile soil on the hillsides. Where fresh water can be held, oases have existed from time immemorial, marking the ancient caravan routes.
Kavir-e-Lut is a salty land 200 miles long and half as wide. It remains unexplored, since its crust has been formed by large, sharp-edged salt masses which cover mud. Cut by deep ravines, it is virtually impenetrable.

The Arg-e Bam, An ancient citadel and ruined town near Kerman

2003-04-29T19:20:00.000-04:00

Mountains

The Zagros range stretches from the border with the Republic of Armenia in the north-west to the Persian Gulf, and then eastward into Baluchistan. As it moves southward, it broadens into a 125-mile-wide band of parallel, alternating mountains lying between the plains of Mesopotamia and the great central plateau of Iran. It is drained on the west by streams that cut deep, narrow gorges and water fertile valleys. The land is extremely hard, difficult to access, and populated largely by pastoral nomads.

The Alborz mountain range, narrower than the Zagros but equally forbidding, runs along the Zagros but equally forbidding, runs along the southern shore of the Caspian to meet the border ranges of Khorassan to the east. The highest of its volcanic peaks is 18,600-foot, snow-covered Mt. Damavand(shown in picture bellow). On the border of Afghanistan, the mountains fall away, to be replaced by barren sand dunes.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Q&A
Was there a post-Iraq war baby boom in Iran?

There was a baby boom in Iran after the revolution in 1979. This baby boom went until the late years of war with Iraq when finally the government started the population control programs. There were several reasons for this baby boom such as:
1. In the first years after the revolution the government started some social services for poor people. For example they started giving them home appliances with a cheap price. The amount of these social services were limited so they first offered it to the families with more children because they were thought to be in more need for it and other families were offered if there was still something left. This policy somehow encouraged people to have more children.
2. The post revolution government gave people many promises to solve the problem of poverty. These promises gave the poor people a sense of wealth and being able to afford more children.
3. There were and are some political and religious groups who oppose the population control programs. They have many reasons for their opposition ranging from religious issues to the need for young people if we have another war.

2003-04-25T17:44:00.000-04:00

Area
Iran?s total area is about 1.648 million sq. km. which is about 7 times the area of United Kingdom, 3 times France or one fifth of the United States. This makes Iran the second largest country in the Middle East (after Saudi Arabia).

Population
Iran?s Population is about 67.5 million (July 1997 estimate) which again makes Iran second in the Middle East (after Pakistan) and the Population growth rate is 2.2%. What is interesting about Iran?s population is its population pyramid which is different from other countries as you can see bellow:

Having a rather large young population could have many advantages and disadvantages for Iran.

2003-04-23T16:47:00.000-04:00

Location

Iran is situated in south-western Asia and borders the three CIS states, the Republic of Armenia, the Republic of Azerbaijan, and the Republic of Turkmenistan, as well as the Caspian Seas to the north, Turkey and Iraq to the west, the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman to the south and Pakistan and Afghanistan to the east.

Landscape

A series of massive, heavily eroded mountain ranges surround Iran's high interior basin. Most of the country is above 1,500 feet, one-sixth of it over 6,500 high. In sharp contrast are the coastal regions outside the mountain ring. In the north, the 400-mile strip along the Caspian Sea, never more than 70 miles wide and frequently narrowing to 10, falls sharply from the 10,000-foot summit to 90 feet below sea level. In the south, the land drops away from a 2,000 foot plateau to meet the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.

2003-04-19T15:50:00.000-04:00

I started writing in English first of all to satisfy my curiosity. I have another weblog which I write in it in Persian but English was a new challenge. For a while I was wondering what to write here.
The best idea I came up with was to start on writing about Iran. I have seen many people in Canada which think of Iran as one of the Arab countries in the Middle East. When you ask them what their first imagination is on Iran, they usually think about people riding camels in a desert.
Although there is an Arabs population living in Iran, There are major geographical and political differences between Iran and the Arab countries in the Middle East. A goegraphical introduction of Iran and its major parts and cities seems nice for a start. What do you think?

2003-04-09T16:25:00.000-04:00

The end of another dictator...

2003-04-02T23:03:00.000-05:00

Some pictures don't need any words to describe them.Check this for more.

2003-04-01T14:40:00.000-05:00

Is this an invasion or liberation?
"The Guardian" reports:
The US is secretly planning a new government in Kuwait to rule Iraq in the immediate aftermath of the overthrow of Saddam Hussein. Under the plan, the government will consist of 23 ministries, each headed by an American. Every ministry will also have four Iraqi advisers appointed by the Americans, the Guardian has learned.
The government will take over Iraq city by city. Areas declared "liberated" by General Tommy Franks will be transferred to the temporary government under the overall control of Jay Garner, the former US general appointed to head a military occupation of Iraq.
In anticipation of the Baghdad regime's fall, members of this interim government have begun arriving in Kuwait.
The position of even friendly Iraqi groups is that no Americans should run Iraqi ministries or have direct rule.

2003-03-31T19:21:00.000-05:00

Gift

I speak out of the deep of night
out of the deep of darkness
and out of the deep of night I speak.

if you come to my house, friend
bring me a lamp and a window I can look through
at the crowd in the happy alley.

Persian Modern Poetry by Forugh Farrokhzad

2003-03-30T17:07:00.000-05:00

For a long time I was thinking of writing in English but it was always too hard for me. Finally, I decided to give it a try and here I am.
Please hope me luck.
Thanks.