The imprisonment of Mahmoud Salehi marks acceleration in the Iranian government's fight against independent labor.

Several events in recent days indicate deepening ties between Iran and Russia. To this end, Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov announced last month in Washington, D.C., Moscow's "step-by-step" proposal for restarting negotiations with Iran.

Sanctions against Iran are proving effective at weakening the regime, and there is no reason to relieve the pressure right now by rushing out to engage the regime.

How has the president managed to build such a formidable power base? Who are the key members of his coterie, and will they enable their benefactor to outsmart the supreme leader to become Iran's effective ruler?

The Obama administration is attempting to affect the Iranian regime's behavior through sanctions, but Iranian officials' responses to the recent U.S. Nuclear Posture Review suggest they will not change their behavior.

Solidarity with Iranians.

Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's cabinet picks demonstrate his intention to broaden the role of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps in Iranian society.