Writings

Published by the Atlantic Lynda Ben-Menashe, the president of the National Council of Jewish Women Australia, expressed an apt sentiment after yesterday’s terror attack at Bondi Beach: She said that she was “horrified and devastated” but, she added, “not shocked.” Indeed, how could anyone be shocked? The act of terrorism, in which a father-and-son duo…

Published by the Atlantic Crystal Wilsey, a cashier at a Cinnabon franchise in Ashwaubenon, Wisconsin, said some unforgivable things to a Somali couple who had the temerity to request more caramel on a pecan cinnamon roll. But I don’t think she should have been summarily fired. Wilsey’s is just the latest high-profile tale of an…

Published by the Atlantic Publicity material for Googoosh: A Sinful Voice, a new memoir by the Iranian singer in exile, calls her a predecessor to Beyoncé and Madonna—a comparison that might seem over-the-top to American readers but in fact sells her short. Googoosh, born Faegheh Atashin, is indeed the greatest pop star in Iranian history, but for…

Published by the Atlantic On a busy sidewalk outside a café, a group of young people, many of them women, bob their heads to the beat of “Seven Nation Army,”by the White Stripes. Huddled around a live band, some shake their hair while others rhythmically swing. The scene wouldn’t raise an eyebrow in most cities. But a…

Co-written with Graeme Wood for the Atlantic Four months ago, Israel bombed Iran for 12 days, in a campaign whose grand finale was the apparent destruction of three Iranian nuclear facilities in strikes by the United States. Last week, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany decided that bombing was not enough. They triggered the United…

Published by the Atlantic One summer in Brooklyn, a controversy broke out in my dog-park group chat. Dedicated to the upkeep of the park and welfare of our canines, our chat had never indulged in politics before. But someone was now complaining that a dog-insurance company was “Zionist,” and a passionate debate ensued. This American-based…

Published by the Atlantic Australia is not known for picking fights. It prioritizes trade and has diplomatic relations with almost every country in the world—even the reclusive North Korea. But on Tuesday, it did something it hadn’t done since World War II: It expelled an ambassador. Shutting down the Iranian embassy, the Australian government declared…

Published by the Atlantic If Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic candidate for mayor of New York City, wins this fall’s election, he will occupy the most powerful executive position of any American socialist. At the moment, the closest contenders are two mayors in California and a county executive in Maryland. No wonder, then, that American socialists…

Published by the Atlantic A bright line runs through Iran’s domestic movement for democratic change: on one side, frank opponents of the regime, and on the other, proponents of incremental reform. One figure stands out for bridging that divide, making him one of Iran’s most promising political prospects. Mostafa Tajzadeh, a former deputy interior minister, is…

Published by the Atlantic The Islamic Republic of Iran is a constant source of anguish for its own people, its neighbors, and the broader world. The government likely executes more people than any state except China. It imposes bizarre restrictions on its citizens, especially women (who are barred from singing solo, cycling, or smoking a…

Published by the Atlantic Last month’s war with Israel and the United States lasted only 12 days, but Iran is likely to feel its consequences for years. The country’s intelligence services failed to prevent Israel from assassinating many top military officials, and now the Iranian regime is lashing out in all directions. It has handed…

Co-written with Alexis Grennel for the Atlantic An emphatic advocate of Palestinian rights has won the Democratic primary for New York City mayor by 12 points—a shocking margin that he owes, in part, to the support of an outspoken Zionist. The partnership between Zohran Mamdani and New York City Comptroller Brad Lander doesn’t just showcase…

Published by the Atlantic America’s Saturday-night attacks on Iran have amplified an ever more open debate in Tehran over the future of the country and whether Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei should remain in power. In the days leading up to the American intervention, a group of Iranian businessmen, political and military figures, and relatives of…

Published by the Atlantic Sepideh Qolian, a 30-year-old Iranian labor activist, spent two years in Tehran’s Evin Prison, where she wrote two books, one of them a celebrated prison memoir in the form of a baking cookbook. Just last week, Qolian was released—and three days later, Israeli missiles and drones began striking targets inside Iran.…

Published in the Atlantic News of the Israeli attacks on Iran reached me in the United States just before 5 a.m. Tehran time. The city had been hit in multiple places, and strikes meant for Iran’s military commanders and nuclear scientists had brought down residential buildings across the city. So I figured my friends and…

Published by the Atlantic Having once described Donald Trump as Israel’s “greatest friend ever,” Benjamin Netanyahu must be watching with some consternation as the American president enthusiastically pursues a nuclear deal with Iran. After all, the Israeli prime minister made every effort to stop the Obama administration’s Iran deal in 2015. Trump exited that deal in 2018,…