R. Bruce McColm

May 24, 2024 | issuesinsights.com | R. Bruce McColm |John Merline

On Sunday, May 19, the Iranian regime was dealt a significant blow when President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Amir Hossein Abdollahian died in a helicopter crash. While Raisi’s role was largely symbolic in a system where Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei holds ultimate authority, his death exacerbates the regime’s existing crises and exposes Khamenei’s vulnerabilities. Raisi’s ascension to the presidency was no accident.

Jun 14, 2023 | stripes.com | R. Bruce McColm

On July 1, tens of thousands of Iranians and their international supporters are expected to converge on Paris from all across the world. There, they will stage demonstrations criticizing traditional Western policies toward the Iranian regime and expressing solidarity with the ongoing Iranian protest movement. There continue to be tons of videos and pictures emerging on social media platforms, showing that last year’s nationwide uprising could expand.

Mar 5, 2023 | ibtimes.com | R. Bruce McColm

As someone whose political career began with the fall of the Shah, I can't help but shake my head at the recent claims of political relevance by Reza Pahlavi, the son of the deposed dictator Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. The Pahlavi regime was ruthless, corrupt, and repressive, and its legacy still haunts the Iranian people to this day. It's not just that the Shah's son has no real experience or qualifications to lead a movement for change in Iran.