More than 100 noted writers joined PEN America and @pensydney.bsky.social in urging the Iranian government to immediately release poet and translator Ali Asadollahi, including Margaret Atwood, J.M. Coetzee, Ariel Dorfman, Jonathan Franzen, Khaled Hosseini, Azar Nafisi, Elif Shafak, and Colm Tóibín.

I told the Dutch Higher Ed Press about the recent protests of Iranian students and why it is important for students and faculty outside of Iran to organize solidarity with their colleagues

For Belgian followers, my comments in De Morgen www.demorgen.be/nieuws/wat-a...

Mijn commentaar: ‘Ik denk dat we nu echt op een kantelmoment staan‘ en 'dat de kloof tussen de elite en de samenleving onoverbrugbaar is geworden. Dus in tegenstelling tot eerder kan ik me niet één scenario voorstellen, zelfs als deze protesten worden neergeslagen, dat het bij het oude kan blijven.’

Good discussion by someone tracking social movements in Iran for years, Kadivar. “once a contentious episode begins, diffusion dynamics can accelerate participation beyond what structural conditions alone would predict—through inspiration, shared emotions, & the rapid spread of information.”

History in Action: #IranProtests As a scholar of revolutions, I have long emphasized their inherent unpredictability. When protests reach a critical mass, they can crystallize into a revolutionary movement in what often feels like a sudden, almost “magical” moment:

This BBC analysis, in which I am quoted, provides a good overview of the trajectory of the recent protests in Iran www.bbc.com/news/article...

Mijn commentaar, samen met Kaveh Madani, over de watercrisis in Iran www.rtl.nl/nieuws/buite...

I am shocked and abhorred by the arrest of Parviz Sedaghat and the interrogation of Mohammad Maljoo by the Iranian authorities. They are two of Iran's finest independent scholars who have relentlessly analyzed and criticized the repressive politics of akhbar-rooz.com/1404/08/12/3...

Honored to join a timely roundtable organized by @nraz.bsky.social for Security in Context alongside great scholars @peymanjafari.bsky.social, @niki-akhavan.bsky.social, and @danieltavana.bsky.social. Among other themes, we unpacked #Iran’s post-12-day war strategy & its long-term FP goals.

Over de hetze tegen Afghaanse migranten en vluchtelingen die in Iran de schuld vd slechte economie en onveiligheid krijgen - helaas een bekend narratief in andere delen vd wereld nos.nl/artikel/2573...

Harriet Tubman #quilt by my Mom, Vera P. Hall, who makes quilts celebrating Black people who fought for their own freedom. This seems to be the crowd favorite of the “We Didn’t Wait for Freedom” series. Happy #Juneteenth #quilting

Mijn commentaar in NRC www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2025/...

Again, Israel's military operation is about regime change and not eliminating the nuclear program. It's called "Rising Lion" not "Counterproliferation Gazelle." If the regime falls, then it will be an enormous success.

Mijn commentaar in De Volkskrant www.volkskrant.nl/buitenland/i...

Mijn commentaar in Trouw www.trouw.nl/buitenland/a...

Vanavond in #terzake: Wat is er beslist over de begroting? Rik Van Cauwelaert. Waar is de vredesbeweging? Mazelen in opmars, Steven Callens. En VS en Iran gaan rond tafel zitten, @peymanjafari.bsky.social. Om 20u met @anneliesbeck.bsky.social

Advance copies are out! Get yours now while UNC Press still has its American History sale, with a 30% discount! uncpress.org/american-his...

President Trump dreigt met bombardementen op Teheran als Iran niet akkoord gaat met een nucleaire deal. Iran reageert afwijzend en beschuldigt de VS van chantage. Historicus en Iran-kenner @peymanjafari.bsky.social over de oplopende spanningen. Luister de hele uitzending: bit.ly/m/Bureau-Bui...

Students interested in the intersections of energy, infrastructures and environment should apply to this new MA program at the University of Exeter, UK, designed and convened by a brilliant scholar of energy - Laleh Khalili

Excited to co-organize the GLOBAL MIDDLE EAST Tyler Lectures Symposium, hosted by the Harrison Ruffin Tyler Department of History at William & Mary

Stand Up For Science!

Reflecting William & Mary’s commitment to advancing knowledge through high-level, cutting-edge research, the university has been designated an “R1” research institution by the Carnegie Classification system.

Congratulations to Julie Greene (@greeneland.bsky.social) on her new and timely book, *Box 25: Archival Secrets, Caribbean Workers, and the Panama Canal* (published by @uncpress.bsky.social) -- and warm thanks for her for sending me a copy! uncpress.org/book/9781469...