Golnaz Esfandiari

Managing Editor at Radio Free Europe

Managing Editor, RFE/RL's Radio Farda. Retweets NOT Endorsement. Views my own. Expect typos. Email: esfandiarig at https://t.co/bwTwQ5G1eG Mastodon: @[email protected]

Articles

Iran Shows Off Military Might In Footage Of 'Missile City'

4 weeks ago | rferl.org | Kian Sharifi |Rikard Jozwiak |Golnaz Esfandiari |Parisa Sohbati

Iran has released video showing a massive underground missile facility filled with a cache of high-powered weaponry. The footage, shared on March 25, showed Iranian Armed Forces Chief of Staff General Mohammad Baqeri and Amir Ali Hajizadeh, the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps Aerospace Force commander, showing off what Iranian media said was an "underground missile city."Some of Iran’s most advanced weapons are seen mounted on vehicles in the underground tunnels.
Undocumented Afghans In Iran Face Uncertain Future Amid New Restrictions

1 month ago | rferl.org | Rikard Jozwiak |Kian Sharifi |Golnaz Esfandiari |Parisa Sohbati

Millions of Afghans in Iran face an uncertain future as Tehran prepares to implement sweeping restrictions that will cut off access to health care, education, housing, and other essential services for undocumented immigrants. The new policy, set to take effect on March 21, has left many Afghans grappling with impossible choices between a hostile host country and an unstable homeland. For Rasheed, an Afghan immigrant living in Iran, the consequences of these policies have already hit home.
US Strikes On Yemen's Houthis A Message To Iran

1 month ago | rferl.org | Kian Sharifi |Golnaz Esfandiari |Parisa Sohbati |Babak Ghafooriazar

The United States has launched extensive air strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen, aiming to curb their threat to shipping while also signaling a warning to Iran. In a statement announcinghis directive on March 15, US President Donald Trump also warned Iran to “immediately” end its support for the Houthis and vowed to hold Tehran “fully accountable” if it threatened Americans or shipping lanes.
Iran Steps Up Crackdown On Female Singers

1 month ago | rferl.org | Golnaz Esfandiari |Kian Sharifi |Parisa Sohbati |Babak Ghafooriazar

Iran has escalated its crackdown on female singers in an effort to silence them. In past weeks, several women have been detained or summoned by authorities, while their Instagram pages have been shut down. Since the 1979 revolution, women in Iran have been banned from singing solo in public. But despite the restrictions, many female artists have turned to social media to share their voices—often defying both the singing ban and the country’s strict hijab laws.
Why Did Russian Weapons Experts Visit Iran?

1 month ago | rferl.org | Kian Sharifi |Babak Ghafooriazar |Reid Standish |Golnaz Esfandiari

Senior Russian missile and air-defense specialists traveled to Iran last year as the Islamic republic expanded its military cooperation with Moscow. Reuters, which first reported the story, said seven Russian experts visited Iran on April 24 and September 17, 2024. The visits came at a critical time for Iran, as it was embroiled in a conflict with archfoe Israel, with the two sides launching military attacks against one another in April and October.
Trump Pauses Military Aid To Ukraine After Heated Clash With Zelenskyy -- Reports

1 month ago | rferl.org | Chris Rickleton |Todd Prince |Ray Furlong |Golnaz Esfandiari

U.S. President Donald Trump has paused all military aid to Ukraine following his clash with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office last week, according to media reports on March 3.
Oscars 2025: Iranian Hopefuls Wanted A 'Miracle.' They Got it.

1 month ago | rferl.org | Babak Ghafooriazar |Kian Sharifi |Reid Standish |Golnaz Esfandiari

Iranian filmmakers Hossein Molayemi and Shirin Sohani needed a miracle just to get to the 97th Academy Awards, let alone a second to win an Oscar for Best Animated Short Film. They got both. A last minute visa allowed them to travel to Los Angeles for the awards on March 2, with the pair arriving just three hours before the start of the ceremonies. Not too long afterward, their animated film "In the Shadow Of The Cypress" won.
Iran Vice President Zarif Resigns Amid Government Turmoil In Tehran

1 month ago | rferl.org | Kian Sharifi |Reid Standish |Golnaz Esfandiari |Hannah Kaviani

Iranian Vice President for Strategic Affairs Mohammad Javad Zarif has stepped down on the "advice" of the country's judiciary chief, Gholam Hossein Mohseni-Ejei.
Trump To Bolster Security At Mexican Border With 3,000 Additional Troops

1 month ago | rferl.org | Todd Prince |Ray Furlong |Golnaz Esfandiari |Rikard Jozwiak

The U.S. military on March 1 said it will deploy almost 3,000 additional troops to the country’s southern border with Mexico, bolstering the force there to some 9,000, as part of President Donald Trump’s efforts to combat illegal immigration.
Zelenskyy In London To Meet U.K. Prime Minister Starmer

1 month ago | rferl.org | Todd Prince |Ray Furlong |Golnaz Esfandiari |Rikard Jozwiak

Volodymyr Zelenskyy is in London for talks with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, one day after the Ukrainian president had an acrimonious exchange with the U.S. president and vice president in the Oval Office. The blowup between Zelenskyy and U.S. President Donald Trump and U.S. Vice President JD Vance, which was broadcast around the world, concerned U.S. support for Ukraine in its war with Russia and a potential peace deal.