Sign in

Golnaz Esfandiari

@gesfandiari.bsky.social
447 followers 74 following 89 posts

Journalist with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio Farda. Iran watcher, foreign affairs, Middle East, dogs and books.

PostsRepliesMedia
Golnaz Esfandiari @gesfandiari.bsky.social · 09/02/2026
Ali Karami is one of the victims who died during Iran's violent crackdown on protests. The image of his dog at his graveside has gained lots of attention on social media.Before his death, the 26-year-old auto body repairman left a touching testament for his beloved pet. www.rferl.org/a/if-i-die-l...
rferl.org
'If I Die': Loyal Dog Mourns At Iranian Protester's Graveside
Alireza Karami is one of the victims who died during Iran's violent crackdown on anti-regime protests. The image of his loyal dog at his graveside, has gained widespread attention on social media. Bef...
000
Golnaz Esfandiari @gesfandiari.bsky.social · 09/02/2026
Thousands of Iranians lost their lives after taking to the streets. These are the people behind the statistics. www.rferl.org/a/iran-prote...
rferl.org
Faces Behind The Numbers: People Killed In Iran’s Protests
Thousands of Iranians lost their lives after taking to the streets. These are the people behind the statistics.
010
Golnaz Esfandiari @gesfandiari.bsky.social · 19/09/2025
Thirty-one journalists and media workers were killed in Israeli airstrikes on a newspaper complex in Yemen last week, according to a report released Friday by the Committee to Protect Journalists. www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/0...
washingtonpost.com
Israel killed 31 journalists in Yemen strike, press freedom group says
Last week’s attack was “the deadliest strike on journalists in the Middle East” ever documented by the Committee to Protect Journalists.
010
Golnaz Esfandiari @gesfandiari.bsky.social · 04/07/2025
Horrifying footage of an Israeli attack on Tehran’s Tajrish neighborhood. A number of civilians were killed.
111
Golnaz Esfandiari @gesfandiari.bsky.social · 01/07/2025
Great read by Assef Bayat on the resilience of the Iranian people amid the deadly Israeli attacks newlinesmag.com/first-person...
newlinesmag.com
The Spirit of Tehran
While Israel’s bombings have shaken the Iranian capital and killed hundreds of civilians, its people have displayed care, resilience and quiet determination to carry on
010
Golnaz Esfandiari @gesfandiari.bsky.social · 28/06/2025
Iran’s Hammihan daily reports 5 social workers were killed in Israel’s strike on Evin prison in Tehran. Prisoners have been transferred to other prisons following the strike, causing worries among their families. Israel said it targeted a symbol of state repression.
010
Reposted by Golnaz Esfandiari
Politico @politico.com · 27/06/2025
Trump said on Friday he would bomb Iran again “without question” if intelligence suggests Iran continues to have the ability to enrich uranium. www.politico.com/news/2025/06...
politico.com
Trump says he would bomb Iran again ‘without question’ over uranium enrichment
The president has continued to maintain that last weekend’s strikes devastated the program.
314826
Reposted by Golnaz Esfandiari
Mike Eckel @mikeeckel.bsky.social · 27/06/2025
The Iranians "probably thought it was safe in the tunnels,” a retired Israeli brigadier general said. www.rferl.org/a/iran-urani...
rferl.org
Where’s Iran’s Uranium? In Wake Of US Bombing, A Mystery And An Anxious Hunt
Iran is known to have enriched around 400 kilograms of its uranium stock to around 60 percent. It’s a relatively easy step to bring that up to weapons-grade if Tehran wanted. For now, however, the que...
101
Golnaz Esfandiari @gesfandiari.bsky.social · 27/06/2025
An aid worker and her 5-year-old son are among those killed in Israel's attack on Tehran's Evin prison where political prisoners are held. A prominent painter who was in the neighborhood was also killed in the attack.The IDF said it targeted the prison, as a "symbol of oppression for Iranian ppl."
041
Golnaz Esfandiari @gesfandiari.bsky.social · 12/03/2025
President Trump's letter to Iran's clerical establishment was delivered by Anwar Gargash, diplomatic advisor to the president of the United Arab Emirates.
000
Golnaz Esfandiari @gesfandiari.bsky.social · 07/03/2025
Trump says he sent letter to Khamenei to negotiate deal www.jpost.com/breaking-new...
jpost.com
Trump says he sent letter to Iranian leader to negotiate deal
US President Donald Trump said he wants to negotiate a nuclear weapons program deal with Iran and sent a lette
121
Golnaz Esfandiari @gesfandiari.bsky.social · 05/03/2025
Prominent Iranian singer Mehdi Yarrahi has been reportedly flogged over a song he released against the compulsory hijab rule.Yarrahi had dedicated the song to “the noble women of my homeland, who bravely shine in the front line of the ‘Woman, Life, Freedom’ movement.” www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ChZ...
youtube.com
Mehdi Yarrahi - Roosarito… | مهدی یراحی - روسریتو…
YouTube video by Mehdi Yarrahi
030
Golnaz Esfandiari @gesfandiari.bsky.social · 04/03/2025
Russia has agreed to assist President Trump’s administration in communicating with Iran on various issues, including on Tehran's nuclear program , Bloomberg reports. www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
000
Golnaz Esfandiari @gesfandiari.bsky.social · 28/02/2025
Secret negotiations lead to release of Dutch citizen held in Iran for five years nltimes.nl/2025/02/27/s...
nltimes.nl
Secret negotiations lead to release of Dutch citizen held in Iran for five years
A Dutch citizen has been released from Iran’s notorious Evin prison after five years of imprisonment. His release was secured through high-level negotiations, which also involved the Netherlands allow...
010
Golnaz Esfandiari @gesfandiari.bsky.social · 25/02/2025
Hope And Fear In Iran As Russia's Lavrov Visits Tehran with insight by @nicolegrajewski.bsky.social www.rferl.org/a/iran-russi...
rferl.org
Hope And Fear In Iran As Russia's Lavrov Visits Tehran
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, after a meeting with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, said would not bow to pressure from the United States, a day after Washington imposed new sanctions ...
125
Golnaz Esfandiari @gesfandiari.bsky.social · 16/02/2025
Saudi Arabia is open to mediating between the Trump administration and Iran in pursuit of a new deal to limit Tehran’s nuclear program edition.cnn.com/2025/02/16/m...
edition.cnn.com
Saudi Arabia seeks to mediate between Trump and Iran on new nuclear deal | CNN
Riyadh is concerned that Iran may be more inclined to pursue a nuclear weapon and hopes to leverage its close ties with Trump to provide Iran with a diplomatic bridge to the White House.
000
Golnaz Esfandiari @gesfandiari.bsky.social · 14/02/2025
" Maman is one of 39 Israelis arrested in the past year on suspicion of spying for Iran. One of their officials told me that the Iranians had turned hundreds of Israelis since the end of 2022. " www.economist.com/1843/2025/02...
000
Golnaz Esfandiari @gesfandiari.bsky.social · 12/02/2025
"Saudi Arabia has launched a scathing state media campaign against Benjamin Netanyahu, pointing to growing frustration in the key Gulf state’s royal court with the Israeli prime minister and the war in Gaza." www.ft.com/content/be85...
ft.com
Saudi Arabia launches ferocious state media attack on Netanyahu
Onslaught points to growing frustration in Gulf state’s royal court with Israeli prime minister and war in Gaza
110
Golnaz Esfandiari @gesfandiari.bsky.social · 11/02/2025
Iranian journalist Niloufar Hamedi and Elahe Mohammadi who helped break Mahsa Amini's story were granted "amnesty". They shouldn't have been jailed in the first place.
020
Reposted by Golnaz Esfandiari
The New York Times @nytimes.com · 09/02/2025
A Georgia man who the authorities said kept more than 100 dogs in cruel conditions at his home has been sentenced to 475 years in prison after being found guilty last month of dogfighting and cruelty to animals, prosecutors said.
nytimes.com
Georgia Man Sentenced to 475 Years for Dogfighting
Vincent Lemark Burrell was found guilty last month of more than 100 counts of dogfighting and animal cruelty after dozens of dogs were found in poor condition at his home.
641098104
Golnaz Esfandiari @gesfandiari.bsky.social · 07/02/2025
"Analysts in Tehran argued that Khamenei’s comments could be intended to make clear that the Islamic republic does not want to be seen to negotiate from a position of weakness." www.ft.com/content/1ac0...
ft.com
Iran’s supreme leader rules out talks with Donald Trump
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei says negotiations with US administration ‘neither wise, nor prudent, nor dignified’
000
Golnaz Esfandiari @gesfandiari.bsky.social · 06/02/2025
"This is a reproduction of a memory I have from my childhood during the Iran-Iraq war. I went to a wedding and could hear bombs and alarms going off" www.theguardian.com/artanddesign...
theguardian.com
A wedding in a desert full of war props: Gohar Dashti’s best photograph
‘This is a reproduction of a memory I have from my childhood during the Iran-Iraq war. I went to a wedding and could hear bombs and alarms going off’
000
Golnaz Esfandiari @gesfandiari.bsky.social · 05/02/2025
President Trump says he wants Iran to be a successful country “but one that doesn’t have nuclear weapons.” Earlier today, Iran’s FM Araghchi said if the main US concern is that Iran does not seek nuclear weapons, then that is achievable.
000
Golnaz Esfandiari @gesfandiari.bsky.social · 04/02/2025
US President Donald Trump is expected to sign a presidential memorandum on Tuesday that restores his "maximum pressure" campaign on Iran and aims to deny Iran all paths to a nuclear weapon, a US official told Reuters.
100
Golnaz Esfandiari @gesfandiari.bsky.social · 04/02/2025
“New intelligence about Iran’s nuclear program has convinced American officials that a secret team of the country’s scientists is exploring a faster, if cruder, approach to developing an atomic weapon if Tehran’s leadership decides to race for a bomb” www.nytimes.com/2025/02/03/u...
nytimes.com
Iran Is Developing Plans for Faster, Cruder Weapon, U.S. Concludes
As Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel prepares to meet with President Trump, the question of whether to strike Iran’s facilities or negotiate with Tehran appears certain to be under debate.
010
Golnaz Esfandiari @gesfandiari.bsky.social · 02/02/2025
Israel is building outposts in Syria, raising local fears of occupation www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/0...
washingtonpost.com
Israel is building outposts in Syria, raising local fears of occupation
The new construction, visible in satellite imagery, suggests an extended presence. Israel says its forces will stay as long as needed to protect its citizens.
010
Golnaz Esfandiari @gesfandiari.bsky.social · 29/01/2025
An Iranian court has upheld a 10-year prison sentence for former Radio Farda journalist Reza Valizadeh, his lawyer said. Valizadeh, a dual U.S.-Iranian citizen, resigned from Radio Farda in Nov 2022 after a decade of work. He returned to Iran in 2024 to visit his family but was arrested in Sept.
001
Golnaz Esfandiari @gesfandiari.bsky.social · 28/01/2025
“While we resist US pressure, we will also signal a willingness to negotiate,” said a relative of Khamenei. “Iran is working to minimize actions that might provoke Washington, even if no agreement is eventually reached.” www.ft.com/content/b541...
010
Golnaz Esfandiari @gesfandiari.bsky.social · 26/01/2025
C.I.A. now favors lab leak theory to explain Covid’s origins. There is no new intelligence behind the agency’s shift, officials said. Rather it is based on the same evidence it has been chewing over for months. www.nytimes.com/2025/01/25/u...
nytimes.com
C.I.A. Now Favors Lab Leak Theory to Explain Covid’s Origins
A new analysis that began under the Biden administration is released by the C.I.A.’s new director, John Ratcliffe, who wants the agency to get “off the sidelines” in the debate.
000
Golnaz Esfandiari @gesfandiari.bsky.social · 25/01/2025
Forecasting Trump 2.0’s Middle East approach: Cloudy with a strong chance of more uncertainty ahead mei.edu/publications...
mei.edu
Forecasting Trump 2.0’s Middle East approach: Cloudy with a strong chance of more uncertainty ahead
The opening act of US President Donald Trump’s second administration had very little to do with Middle East policy issues. It is too soon to predict what approach Trump might take on that front or eve...
020
Golnaz Esfandiari @gesfandiari.bsky.social · 24/01/2025
Trump Says He Hopes To Avoid Strikes On Iran Nuclear Sites www.barrons.com/news/trump-h...
barrons.com
Trump Hopes To Avoid Strikes On Iran Nuclear Sites
US President Donald Trump said Thursday he hoped to avoid military strikes on Iran's nuclear program, an option long mulled by Israel.
000
Golnaz Esfandiari @gesfandiari.bsky.social · 23/01/2025
The Seed of the Sacred Fig by dissident Iranian filmmaker Mohammad Rasoulof has been nominated for an Oscar. Rasoulof recently fled Iran after being sentenced to prison.
010
Golnaz Esfandiari @gesfandiari.bsky.social · 21/01/2025
Prominent French dailies, Le Monde and Liberation have abandoned X.
001
Golnaz Esfandiari @gesfandiari.bsky.social · 18/01/2025
A U.S. flag painted on the ground of the courtyard of Iranian president's office under the Raisi administration has been reportedly removed. Visitors had to walk on it. The move comes amid signals for potential talks by the Iranian government to the Trump 2.0 administration.
000
Golnaz Esfandiari @gesfandiari.bsky.social · 18/01/2025
Two prominent Iranian judges accused of serious human rights violations were killed in an an attack in Tehran today. Ali Razini and Mohammad Moghiseh were known for cruelty and harsh sentences. www.rferl.org/a/ran-suprem...
rferl.org
2 Iranian Supreme Court Judges Killed In Tehran
Two prominent Iranian Supreme Court judges have been killed in an attack at the court's headquarters in Tehran, according to Iran's judiciary.
154
Golnaz Esfandiari @gesfandiari.bsky.social · 17/01/2025
A Weakened Iran's New Russia Pact Comes In Shadow Of Distrust www.rferl.org/a/iran-russi...
rferl.org
Analysis: A Weakened Iran's New Russia Pact Comes In Shadow Of Distrust
Analysis: Tehran’s ties with Russia have strengthened its pariah-state image. Its new strategic partnership with Moscow is likely to make a potential detente with the West even more difficult.
010
Golnaz Esfandiari @gesfandiari.bsky.social · 16/01/2025
"There’s a general consensus among Trump's key advisers to return to a full maximum pressure strategy targeting Tehran, starting with a big sanctions package that hits major players in the oil industry, which could come as early as February," www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
bloomberg.com
Trump Team Readies Oil Sanctions Plan for Russia Deal, Iran Squeeze
Advisers to President-elect Donald Trump are crafting a wide-ranging sanctions strategy to facilitate a Russia-Ukraine diplomatic accord in the coming months while at the same time squeezing Iran and ...
002
Golnaz Esfandiari @gesfandiari.bsky.social · 15/01/2025
Prominent Iranian dissident satirist Ebrahim Nabavi has died in Maryland after committing suicide, his family said in a statement. His family said Nabavi suffered from depression & missed Iran. "The impossibility of living in his homeland weighed heavily on him,"the family said.
010
Golnaz Esfandiari @gesfandiari.bsky.social · 15/01/2025
Marco Rubio noted that the Islamic republic is at its weakest point while adding "My view of it is that we should be open to any arrangement that allows us to have safety and stability in the region but one that is clear-eyed.” www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5F0...
youtube.com
WATCH: Rubio says weakened Iranian regime cannot have nuclear weapons | Trump confirmation hearing
YouTube video by PBS NewsHour
100
Reposted by Golnaz Esfandiari
Nicole Grajewski @nicolegrajewski.bsky.social · 12/01/2025
The Pasadena Humane Society needs donations for its efforts to save animals from the Eaton Fire, please consider donating. My family adopted all of our cats from the Pasadena Humane Society when I was a kid, it’s such an amazing organization. give.pasadenahumane.org/give/654134/...
give.pasadenahumane.org
Eaton Fire Emergency
{{MetaTags.description}}
02610
Golnaz Esfandiari @gesfandiari.bsky.social · 12/01/2025
"Iran’s armed forces have nearly doubled the number of annual winter exercises this year as the Islamic republic seeks to project strength following a series of regional military blows by Israel and the election of Donald Trump in the US." www.ft.com/content/a027...
ft.com
Iran doubles number of military drills as it prepares for Donald Trump
Islamic republic seeks to project strength in winter exercises following repeated strategic blows in Middle East
010
Golnaz Esfandiari @gesfandiari.bsky.social · 11/01/2025
Iran VP extended condolences to the families of the victims of widespread wildfires in southern California. en.irna.ir/news/8571706...
en.irna.ir
Iran VP condoles with survivors of California wildfires
000
Golnaz Esfandiari @gesfandiari.bsky.social · 11/01/2025
The head of Iran’s Red Crescent Society expressed solidarity with the victims of the Los Angeles wildfires while also announcing readiness to send humanitarian aid. en.irna.ir/news/8571692...
en.irna.ir
IRCS expresses sympathy with American Red Cross over deadly wildfire
000
Golnaz Esfandiari @gesfandiari.bsky.social · 08/01/2025
Italian journalist Cecilia Sala, who had been arrested and imprisoned in Iran, has been freed and is on a plane taking her back home, the office of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said in a statement.
021
Golnaz Esfandiari @gesfandiari.bsky.social · 07/01/2025
"Asked if the Iranians were completely out of Syria, the State Department’s top Middle East official, Barbara Leaf, said Monday, “Pretty much, yes…It’s extraordinary.” www.wsj.com/world/middle...
wsj.com
Iran Pulls Most Forces From Syria, in Blow to Tehran’s Regional Ambitions
The withdrawal marks the demise of a yearslong effort in which Tehran used Syria as a hub in its regional strategy to spread influence and wage proxy war against the U.S. and Israel.
010
Golnaz Esfandiari @gesfandiari.bsky.social · 06/01/2025
Some close to Trump expect that he'll seek a deal with Iran before considering a strike. But a military option is a real possibility. www.axios.com/2025/01/06/t...
axios.com
Iran 2025: Nuclear crisis awaits Trump
Some Trump advisers are pondering the military option.
010
Golnaz Esfandiari @gesfandiari.bsky.social · 03/01/2025
The changes in Syria's school curriculum include changing the phrases “path of goodness” to “Islamic path,” and “those who have are damned and have gone astray” to “Jews and Christians." www.bbc.com/news/article...
bbc.com
Syria: New government's school curriculum changes spark concern
The curriculum will take on a more Islamic slant, with evolution and Big Bang theory dropped from science.
000
Golnaz Esfandiari @gesfandiari.bsky.social · 02/01/2025
White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan presented President Biden with options for a potential U.S. attack on Iran's nuclear facilities if the Iranians move towards a nuclear weapon before Jan. 20, Axios reports. www.axios.com/2025/01/02/i...
axios.com
Scoop: Biden discussed plans to strike Iran nuclear sites if Tehran speeds toward bomb
Some top advisers believe the U.S. has an imperative and an opportunity to strike Iran now.
063
Golnaz Esfandiari @gesfandiari.bsky.social · 02/01/2025
Prominent Iranian translator& literary scholar Goli Emami recently appeared in a literary ceremony in Tehran without the compulsory hijab. Since the 2022 protests, an increasing number of Iranian women have been appearing in public without the hijab in a direct challenge to authorities.
051