As Colombia approaches presidential elections next year, the US decision to decertify the country in the war on drugs plays into the hands of its allies on the political right, writes NICK MacWILLIAM

THERE are reasons to believe that the polling stations in Iran will remain quiet today. Almost all independent, progressive, reform-minded forces in Iran — essentially those to the left of centre — have confirmed that they will refuse to participate in today’s parliamentary show.
More than a year since the massive protests of women and youth against the killing of Mahsa Amini (a young Iranian woman, murdered in the headquarters of the “morality police”) shook Iran, people are set to take the world by surprise.
International media agencies have dispatched their journalists to Tehran ahead of the anticipated showdown.

In the second of two articles, STEVE BISHOP looks at how the 1979 revolution’s aims are obfuscated to create a picture where the monarchists are the opposition to the theocracy, not the burgeoning workers’ and women’s movement on the streets of Iran

The Islamic Republic’s suddenly weakened regional position exposes the nation to grave threats from US imperialism

