Alex Vatanka
@AlexVatanka
Followers
6,921
Following
873
Media
1,786
Statuses
6,795
Director of Iran Program @MiddleEastInst Tehran-born Washingtonian. الکس وطن خواه Middle East, US ME Policy Books: and
Washington D.C.
Joined September 2015
Don't wanna be here?
Send us removal request.
Explore trending content on Musk Viewer
#T20WorldCup
• 892110 Tweets
#INDvSA
• 455241 Tweets
#TeamIndia
• 308861 Tweets
Bumrah
• 250145 Tweets
South Africa
• 218909 Tweets
Italy
• 160743 Tweets
Switzerland
• 88732 Tweets
#SvizzeraItalia
• 80259 Tweets
Miller
• 74750 Tweets
#ViratKohli𓃵
• 73876 Tweets
#RohitSharma𓃵
• 70019 Tweets
Denmark
• 57709 Tweets
Jai Hind
• 52442 Tweets
ايطاليا
• 48295 Tweets
Arshdeep
• 48162 Tweets
भारतीय टीम
• 47538 Tweets
टीम इंडिया
• 44088 Tweets
Alemania
• 42803 Tweets
Thala
• 40886 Tweets
Spalletti
• 40069 Tweets
Suiza
• 35895 Tweets
भारतीय क्रिकेट टीम
• 34399 Tweets
#GERDEN
• 34169 Tweets
#SUIITA
• 33530 Tweets
#ネーションズリーグ
• 32870 Tweets
سويسرا
• 32866 Tweets
#HardikPandya
• 32786 Tweets
المانيا
• 31751 Tweets
Swiss
• 31739 Tweets
イタリア
• 31658 Tweets
#SuryakumarYadav
• 31562 Tweets
Dinamarca
• 25933 Tweets
Donnarumma
• 24643 Tweets
Dortmund
• 23523 Tweets
Xhaka
• 22821 Tweets
スロベニア
• 22624 Tweets
Klassen
• 20896 Tweets
#Champions
• 16771 Tweets
#RahulDravid
• 16573 Tweets
#RishabhPant
• 14653 Tweets
Havertz
• 13523 Tweets
#indiawins
• 13416 Tweets
決勝進出
• 10141 Tweets
Abolfazl - another 16 year old killed by the Khamenei regime
33
471
1K
The son of Mohammad Khatami, former Iranian president, also leaves Iran to live outside the Islamic Republic. Maybe to join his sister who is already in the US?
The kids of the men who made "Islamic Republic" flee the very system their fathers made
@AmirTaheri4
48
256
727
Massive protests in Esfahan
Khamenei is proud of nuclear, missiles programs and his determination to spend big on various regional ambitions - from Lebanon to Yemen
Khamenei ignores the pain and anger of the Iranian people at his own peril. No one can be proud of this legacy
6
67
233
"A Qatari website has reported that Iran, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Oman are to form a joint naval force under China's auspices towards enhancing maritime security in the Persian Gulf"
11
94
227
Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul rail link is up and running
Potential for trade is great (market of some 400 million people) + transit possibilities it offers others like China
8
83
224
Ali Khamenei is said to be God's chosen one
And yet, he worries that alleged Saudi money for one single Diaspora television channel can bring his rule down
The Supreme Leadership is on shaky grounds indeed
17
49
205
My book "The Battle of the Ayatollahs in Iran" was just released
Rival factions fighting over the "American question" in Tehran since 1979 is big part of it
Available on Kindle, Apple books, Amazon, in paperback and hardcover
In case of interest:
16
56
205
Iran's Interior Minister: following entities had a hand in Shiraz shrine terror attack:
- USA
- Israel
- [Iranian] monarchists
- MEK (Mojahedeen Khalq]
- ISIS
- Western governments
Tehran not kidding when it said it faces a "multi-layered threat" (If you believe this stuff)
67
42
176
Not everyday you see Iran and UAE security officials meet
10
77
165
Saudi consulate in Iranian city of Mashhad is open again
7
59
175
The irony of it. Shah came up with the idea of this gorgeous moment; a Bahai architect - Hossein Amanat - designed it
And Qassem Soleimani is superimposed on it
Seculars like the Shah, religious minorities and so many other types of Iranians were no-good Iranians to Soleimani
Images of
#QasemSoleimani
are projected on
#Tehran
's iconic Azadi Tower to commemorate his life and martyrdom.
#Iran
16
27
79
17
57
160
Turns out Revolutionary Guards counter-intelligence department has spent too much money on making fantasy series about how good they are instead of actually doing their day jobs
We all remember "Gando," and how agents of Rev Guards were nothing short of demigods...
8
5
161
End of "Iran," the country, or end of the "Islamic Republic," the regime?
You will find your ability to mobilize support, or not, will greatly depend on this rather huge detail
If Iran wants to fight, that will be the official end of Iran. Never threaten the United States again!
45K
46K
169K
20
32
140
The days when Iran and Israel worked jointly to produce advanced missiles - Project Flower (1977)
4
36
136
Thanks much to all the good friends and colleagues
@MiddleEastInst
while I worked on this book
Check out the brand new book “The Battle of the Ayatollahs in Iran” from MEI’s Iran Program Director
@AlexVatanka
, analyzing regime politics between Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani.
2
12
38
17
15
129
Iran state TV releases new footage of IRGCN and US navy in v. close proximity
The presence of a cleric is not accidental. It shows Iran is after a win in the propaganda war; but not war itself.
You don't send a mullah to fight the US navy. Not if you are serious
15
55
108
Notice Iran's reluctance to say anything about Qatar as US B-52s arrive in Qatar
9
46
98
Revolutions in Iran used to start and end in Tehran
In recent years, smaller towns have been leading the way in confronting the Khomeinist system
Smaller towns used to give Khomeinist the benefit of the doubt but evidently that's no more true
فریادهای زن معترض: ما رو از داعش می ترسونید؟! همتون داعشی اید! زن و بچه مردم رو میزنید، حقوق هم می گیرید؟! حقوقتون حرامه! حرام!
.
#بنزین
#گرانی_بنزین
#بنزین۳۰۰۰تومانی
#بنزین_۳۰۰۰_تومانی
#IranProtests
15
118
481
4
27
104
Cruel zealots from the Stone Age
Iranian police confirmed that "morality police" is back on the streets, nearly a year after
#Mahsa_Amini
's death in their custody sparked nationwide protests.
Picture: Yalda Moaieri
14
117
206
2
30
99
Ali Khamenei's Islamic Republic is hugely proud of (probably around) few hundreds of Africans who have embraced Shia Islam in recent years
Yet, based on official Iranian accounts, 75,000 mosques stand empty in Iran as Iranians have turned their backs on political Islam
6
17
93
Iranian officials are lining up to defend China
"The Muslims of China have no problems..."
6
26
83
42 years ago...The Shah soon left and militant leftists and militant Islamists, in an unholy alliance, left to hijack a nation's destiny
2
23
84
Can't remember a top Khamenei advisor this candid:
"No point in a new nuke deal with US as Biden admin is a lame duck; can't deliver even if it wants, as Republicans are about to win in coming US elections"
Still, good luck wit Putin delivering economic rescue
4
34
85
Let Airbus sell new planes to Iran. Ordinary Iranians should be able to travel safely. Don't punish them. Punish the regime. There must be ways IRGC's deadly air cargoes can be targeted without a blanket aviation sales ban. Let's be smart.
3
37
82
The 80-year Ayatollah Khamenei, Iran's ruler, does not get the young of his country. And he has no desire to change.
Iran’s top chess player refuses to play for his country over ban on Israelis
Alireza Firouzja may opt instead to represent France or US
1
29
81
States that have so far given aid to Iran are: China, Turkey, UAE, Kuwait, Oman, Germany, France, UK, Japan, Qatar, Azerbaijan, and Russia.
The Iranian people have good neighbors. All GCC countries — maybe except Bahrain — have offered badly-needed help during the
#CoronavirusOutbreak
8
18
64
4
36
80
The idea of political reform in Islamic Republic has been dead for a long time
7
22
79
Don't look for some foreign plot in Iran's Baluchistan - it's too obvious who is responsible, and it is a dangerous game Khamenei is playing
13
32
68
China wants Taliban's help to deal with Muslim militants inside China
Iran says its Afghan proxy [Fatimiyoun] has no desire to fight Taliban
Russia sees Taliban military wins as a "boost" for its security
Talk about a Taliban revival - India next to show it love?
5
28
76
Looks like 2017/2018, but its much more
Then, it began as a regime insider job and got out of hand
This time, no regime faction appears to have instigated it
Protests are deep, nationwide and right off went after Khamenei's rule
The use of deadly force so early on is telling
I’d like to hear more about the
#IranProtests
from people who follow this closely… Is the regime in trouble?
@mdubowitz
@MaloneySuzanne
@mrubin1971
@Alfoneh
@ksadjadpour
@memarsadeghi
@RoyaBoroumand
@JarrettBlanc
@ilangoldenberg
@AlexVatanka
@Katulis
(feel free to add in others)
21
15
32
3
34
73
Iran’s clerics have had 38 years to win the people’s hearts
But only the gun and the goons keep in power
0
53
69
What a shame, and what a waste of an opportunity by NIAC to act in the defense of all Iranian-Americans and not just the views of a small minority that pretty much backs the Islamic Republic no matter what this regime does in the name of Iran
@ksadjadpour
No ethnic lobby in America spends more time gratuitously attacking/trolling its own constituents than the National Iranian American Council (
@NIACouncil
). They attack Iranian-Americans far more than they do the Iranian regime. It's totally unprofessional/unnecessary. Grow up.
69
180
549
2
22
70
This pipe dream of "breaking" Iran into "ethnic states" is so ignorant of Iranian history, and of Iran as a nation-state
This argument only makes sense if you want to empower Ali Khamenei and Revolutionary Guards, otherwise nothing but a foolish idea
13
26
80
1943 vs. 2021
What to make of that empty chair?
Doubt the Russians want to see U.S. back in Iran
New UK amb has been in Tehran for about a day; ordered a chelo kabob and created a "scandal" with this photo
5
20
73
Shah of Iran had many differences with the Saudis: from oil policy to the future of Bahrain, etc.
But he made sure to engage in highest level of diplomacy to avert permanent crisis
Khamenei's policy has been one of permanent crisis versus the Saudis, and it has cost Iran much
2
8
76
In a time of crisis, the elected Iranian president proves to be of no value or significance
5
23
71
Tomorrow is the anniversary of the Islamists taking the US embassy in Tehran on 4 Nov 1979
Expect to hear some very old tired slogans from Tehran
And expect to hear that all that goes wrong in Iran is still America's fault. Evidently, 43 years later, US is still the boss
3
26
73
Iranian regime says Shah wasted $17 mill. for party celebrating Persian Empire
but itself spends $100s mills. meddling in Arab countries
10
43
68
Iran's June 2021 presidential election is engineered political theater
But it might tell us a bit about post-Khamenei Iran to come
@MiddleEastInst
2
29
68
Iran has the geography to be a key regional hub for East-West and South-North trade
But Khomeinist militant Islamism has never really cared about the economy, job creation, etc
Latest events in Caucasus might give Azerbaijan even more reasons to play a bigger transit role
2
17
65
This man was the first commander of the Revolutionary Guards in 1979
He says something here that many Iranians have known for a long time, That Khomeini and his people prolonged the Iran-Iraq War for the sake of consolidating power at home
Some 250,000 Iranians died in that war
4
45
62
Khamenei's military advisor, Hossein Dehghan, is on shortlist from Rev Guard camp as presidential candidate for June 2021
Not a household name even in Iran, but Dehghan was a militant revolutionary in Lebanon in 70s when Qassem Soleimani was only a construction worker in Kerman
15
20
60
Oh my God, it was the Germans all along..
Thank you Tehran Times for your unapologetic disinformation
18
14
66
Over the last 30 yrs, Khamenei's stubbornness has cost the Iranian nation dearly
Remember his message to Abe in June: "I have nothing for you to pass on to Trump"
Now, Khamenei is in a rush to send Rouhani to Tokyo to figure out a way to talk to the Trump admin
10
25
61
Emir of Qatar is after Trump: “There is no wisdom in harboring hostility towards Iran”
7
33
62
Interesting and totally irresponsible for a man who claims to be a moderate voice
In this interview, Javad Zarif divides Iranians into "Real Iranians" and "Not Real Iranians."
You guessed it. "Real Iranians" are those who put up with regime; rest are "Not Real Iranians"
محمد جواد #ظریف در گفتگو با پایگاه اطلاع رسانی دولت در پاسخ به سوالی که مربوط میشد به بحث فیلترینگ توییتر و تاثیر کاربران ایرانی در دفاع از منافع ملی در فضای مجازی، گفت: "بیشتر ایرانیهای حاضر در توییتر با ما رابطه خوبی ندارند"
262
32
643
5
36
61
One of Ayatollah Khamenei's top darlings holds 38 positions in the Islamic Republic
Keep power in the hands of the very few, that is the basic rule in Iran
1
36
56
Qatar announces it will increase gas production from field it shares with Iran
2nd increase by Qataris since it came under embargo by other GCC states a yr ago
Qatar needs the money & sanctioned Iran can't develop its side of field anyway
A form of Iranian subsidy for Qatar
2
64
55
Tehran mayor Qalibaf says he is “moderate” but hangs out with very bad people like the fellow who led the attack against Saudi embassy
5
26
53
Iran first helped US (in 2001) against Taliban
Later Iran helped Taliban against US in Afghanistan
Iran then welcomed US withdrawal but already seem to miss US military in Afghanistan
Now Iran sees a US-Taliban conspiracy against it
If Taliban and Iran go to war, what irony
3
25
55
Here we go again:
"Bahrain is part of Iran" (says Ali Khamenei's man)
7
36
51
Some say Pakistan has become a "client state" of Saudi Arabia
They have not paid attention to history of last 40 years
Pakistan has mastered art of milking Iranian-Saudi rivalry, but its mind is still set only one issue: India
Nothing Imran Khan can do to change that fact
5
25
53
A very long time ago, Ali Khamenei visited China and told its Muslims he cared about them - that's all ancient history
2
24
53
Iran. 2020. Public humiliation to deter criminality
The cars might be newer models and all, but was "public humiliation" not a favorite of ISIS also?
No excuses for criminality but when a political system fails its people economically on this scale, what does it expect?
7
13
55
Kavkaz-2020 war games involve Russia, China, Iran, Pakistan and a few other states. India withdrew
Takes place in Russia's Astrakhan region, Black Sea, Caspian Sea. "Not against US but for regional security"
80,000 personnel involved - Putin will visit games
3
22
52
After 13 years of waiting, Russia and China said finally to let Iran become a full member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)..
Why now, after 13 years. What changed?
6
25
55
Revolutionary Guards media claim about Iranian people:
"We are a "martyrdom-seeking nation"
"We"? Rev. Guards might have a "martyrdom" complex. But average Iranian seeks life and happiness. And let's not even mention liberty. Rev. Guards are clearly in the way on all counts
30
13
48
Just a few weeks ago, Iran welcomed the Americans leaving Afghanistan
Now, Taliban reality hits Tehran hard. Iran wish the Americans had stayed
This is what happens when you [Iran] put anti-US ideology over your country's national interest
4
10
52
Iran claims $100bn in foreign trade - while Iran security forces prepare for mass protests over rising price of basic goods like bread, rice and spaghetti..
Where is all the billions in export income money going?
4
16
48
Lavrov calls "Islamic Republic" the "Islamic State"
They notice in Tehran. They don't like the gaffe. But what can they do. Russia is the boss
4
9
54
Top Iran official:
"The Iranian diaspora should bring their foreign currency to Iran"
...so we can confiscate it all and put you in jail after that.
10
19
50
Revolutionary Guards media keep repeating two thing:
* GCC States will be hit if the US hits back at Iran
* Israel will be hit by Hezbollah/Iran if US hits back at Iran
Hope is obviously that GCC States and Israel are on the phone now telling Trump not escalate at this point
1
17
48
Ouch. Russia's deputy amb. at UN on US call for return of int. sanctions on Iran:
"It's very painful to see how a great country humiliates itself like this, opposes in its obstinate delirium other members of UN Security Council"
3
21
47
Tehran will continue to attack UAE's decision re Israel
But analysts in Tehran know that UAE is looking after its national interests and it should be applauded for it
After 41 years, Islamic Rep. is still not looking after Iran's national interests but militant Islamism
4
8
43
In 2009, IRGC boss had protestors killed to keep Ahmadinejad as president. Now, the same Ahmadinejad has to be silenced. What a mad regime
8
39
41
The old ruling mullahs of Iran have nothing to offer the young except misery or death
2
19
48
Islamic Republic. Clerics. Raisi. Governance
A picture worth a thousand of words
1
11
44
The most ruthless of men in Iran openly wants to ban all non-Shia from running for office in Iran. And regime says it is not “sectarian”
5
57
35
Is China sticking it to Trump or is Iran offering massive discounts on its oil to Beijing? It's both
China imports record oil from Iran at 874,000 bpd in August
That's more than all EU imported from Iran (740,000) before Trump walked out of JCPOA (Now EU imports half of that)
6
40
40
Revolutionary Guards media outlets are again referring to Raisi as an "ayatollah" (a rank he has never achieved)
He is short-listed to take over from Khamenei
His solution to Iranians' cry for political change: Severe punishment for protesters; the protest is a foreign plot
6
26
39
Just a week ago, Javad Zarif and Sheikh Abdullah held talks on regional affairs
Zarif: "How are things? Anything new? Any plans?
Sheikh Abdullah: "No, no biggies to worry about"
2
8
41
As Tehran is about to sign a 25-year deal with China (turning Iran into Beijing's gas station and perhaps a military outpost too), the man of south Beirut has this to say:
0
20
40
Ebrahim Raisi is said to want be president. 2nd shot.
A profile for
@ForeignPolicy
last time the man ran for the job
He has a much better shot this time - Think a silver platter
1
21
42
Javad Zarif comes to the US and says Trump admin acts like a gangster.
Meanwhile, back in Iran, a lawyer working a major corruption scandal is gunned down in a very much gangsterish fashion.
But in Iran only regime entities have guns so who is the gangster, Mr. Zarif?
4
15
33
Zarif in Pakistan signals possible big news about the future of India's role in Iran's Chabahar port. If true, China is the big winner
4
16
37
Iran has a monumental water crisis to figure out
As it increasingly looks to desalinated water from the Persian Gulf, it has an important moment of opportunity to cooperate with the Gulf states. It's a win-win, and US should support it
@MiddleEastInst
0
20
42
Now Iran says Trump could not have been behind the drone intrusion
Rogue US generals did this without Trump's approval, says IRGC boss
Is this the beginning of the Iranian regime painting Trump as a victim to hawks in his administration?
4
21
38
First Israeli killed in this weekend's conflict
Moshe Agadi: born in Iran and moved to Israel
@MeirJa
@SoliShahvar
6
24
38
If nothing else, Iran's Islamist rulers are masters in hypocrisy: They invented the idea of attacking foreign embassies and now complain when it happens to them
2
14
35
Delighted to have
@JasonMBrodsky
join MEI's team of non-resident scholars working on Iranian affairs. A warm welcome to you, Jason!
Personal news: I'm excited to announce that in addition to my work
@UANI
, I have joined
@MiddleEastInst
as a non-resident scholar in its
#Iran
Program. I look forward to working with
@AlexVatanka
and the rest of the team.
40
36
305
0
4
38
Middle East Institute - the first American think-tank founded to solely focus on Middle Eastern affairs - turns 75
Happy birthday
@MiddleEastInst
Marking 75 Years of Excellence | This year marks the Middle East Institute’s 75th anniversary. As a leading American think tank focused on the
#MiddleEast
, MEI is leveraging its history and legacy by launching MEI
@75
. Click here to learn more:
13
23
91
0
3
39
Bravo to this Iranian hero. Its her time. Shows up; without forced Hijab. Her personal choice but also a source of inspiration for so many other Iranian women
در اقدامی تاریخی و در حالی که بسیاری از زنان و دختران در خیابانهای ایران برای رسیدن به آزادی میجنگند، الناز رکابی، نماینده ایران در فینال سنگنوردی آسیا بدون حجاب اجباری شرکت کرد.
#womanlifefreedom
#mahsaamini
#مهسا_امینی
#زن_زندگى_آزادى
1K
9K
36K
2
5
39
Tehran is watching to see who will shape Biden's Iran policy
A shortlist of names here..
10
7
38
3 reasons for Iran’s growing alliance with China, Russia
- Refusal to capitulate to or make vast concessions to the US
- Valuing of security concerns over economic development needs
- Desire to see continuity of political system
2
17
36
Map of maritime traffic in Persian Gulf shows that a lot of care is needed to avoid incidents/misunderstandings
1
84
36
Some people in West get offended when you call the "Islamic Republic of Iran" a repressive fascist regime. Is it not anti-freedom?
"FASCISM: a political philosophy characterized by authoritarian views and a strong central government—and no tolerance for opposing opinions."
5
12
33
He really said that:
Qassem Soleimani: “You saw that how Bashar Assad hugged the Leader with love like a son who has been departed from his father"
9
24
34
The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict could spill over to Iran’s Azeri minority, setting off a battle the government can’t contain.
4
15
34
24 security forces killed
2000 security forces injured
No figures for killed protestors!
2
11
32
Never mind MBS calling Khamenei "Hitler"
It is the issue of more rights for Saudi women that has left Iran's Islamist regime baffled
In Tehran, being overtaken by the Saudis on gender rights was not on the cards
1
18
32
Sadeq “63 bank accounts” Larijani has been sanctioned
Head of Iran’s judiciary is a man with many corruption allegations against him
2
27
29
