Women are increasingly appearing in public without headscarves across Tehran and other Iranian cities, turning everyday streets, cafés and shopping districts into the frontline of a renewed confrontation between society and the Islamic Republic’s conservative establishment. Although compulsory veiling remains legally required, the morality patrols that once dominated public spaces have largely disappeared from routine street life. Residents report that women now walk unveiled—and sometimes in short sleeves—in Tehran, Isfahan, Rasht and even traditionally conservative Mashhad. The change, accelerated during Iran’s recent war, is widely viewed as an extension of the “Woman, Life, Freedom” uprising triggered by Mahsa Amini’s death in police custody in 2022. RFE/RL reported in June that enforcement had visibly weakened across major cities, although restrictions continued inside government institutions. The growing defiance is now provoking increasingly alarming warnings. Major General Ba...
Iran is closely monitoring developments across neighboring countries, with particular attention focused on Azerbaijan, Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and Syria, Iranian sources familiar with Tehran’s regional security assessments told The Levant Files. The sources said the Islamic Republic is increasingly concerned that its neighbors could provide the United States and Israel with military, logistical or intelligence opportunities that might be used against Iranian territory. Although Tehran continues to convey many of its concerns through diplomatic and security channels, the sources warned that further hostile activity originating from neighboring states could prompt a severe response. Iranian frustration appears particularly pronounced toward Azerbaijan, whose expanding relations and cooperation with Washington and Israel are being scrutinised closely in Tehran. “This is a situation that we constantly monitor,” one source said. “We have already delivered the necessary precautionar...