Shivan Mahendrarajah
@mahendrarajah.com
Historian • Fellow, Royal Historical Society • Islamic Middle East & Central Asia | Columbia Univ & Cambridge Univ | NY Mets ⚾ | NY Giants 🏈 | I ❤️ 🐕
☆ I write on Middle East (Iran focus), Islam, Central Asia & Russia 👇
☆ Web: https://mahendrarajah.com
☆ I write on Middle East (Iran focus), Islam, Central Asia & Russia 👇
☆ Web: https://mahendrarajah.com
Pinned
Shivan Mahendrarajah
@mahendrarajah.com
· Nov 16
▪︎ The Sufi Saint of Jam: History, Religion, and Politics of a Sunni Shrine in Shi`i Iran
▪︎ A History of Herat, from Chingiz Khan to Tamerlane
#History #Iran #Afghanistan #Islam #MiddleEast #Mongols #IslamicArt #Islamic #Architecture #Sunni #Shia
▪︎ A History of Herat, from Chingiz Khan to Tamerlane
#History #Iran #Afghanistan #Islam #MiddleEast #Mongols #IslamicArt #Islamic #Architecture #Sunni #Shia
#Iran now treats hostile rhetoric as casus belli—preemption is on the table. As nuclear and missile programs recover, could Tehran launch blitz to shatter Israel’s OODA loop and paralyze its inner rings before Tel Aviv can move? First mover seizes initiative…
mahendrarajah.com/2026/01/07/p...
mahendrarajah.com/2026/01/07/p...
IRAN & PREEMPTIVE WAR: THEORY
Iran now treats hostile rhetoric as casus belli—preemption is on the table. As nuclear and missile programs recover, could Tehran launch blitz to shatter Israel’s OODA loop and paralyze its inner r…
mahendrarajah.com
January 7, 2026 at 6:09 PM
#Iran now treats hostile rhetoric as casus belli—preemption is on the table. As nuclear and missile programs recover, could Tehran launch blitz to shatter Israel’s OODA loop and paralyze its inner rings before Tel Aviv can move? First mover seizes initiative…
mahendrarajah.com/2026/01/07/p...
mahendrarajah.com/2026/01/07/p...
Democracy in Iran
Today, the west yaps about democracy, freedom, and civil liberties in #Iran, but never did so when their sock puppet shah was in charge. UK/US took violent actions to thwart democratic reforms in Iran, from 1905 to 1979.
mahendrarajah.com/2026/01/05/d...
Today, the west yaps about democracy, freedom, and civil liberties in #Iran, but never did so when their sock puppet shah was in charge. UK/US took violent actions to thwart democratic reforms in Iran, from 1905 to 1979.
mahendrarajah.com/2026/01/05/d...
DEMOCRACY IN IRAN
The “collective west” pontificates about democracy, freedom, civil rights, and civil liberties in Iran, but Iran’s experiences (ca. 1860s to 1979) with foreign powers are of political domination an…
mahendrarajah.com
January 5, 2026 at 1:51 PM
Democracy in Iran
Today, the west yaps about democracy, freedom, and civil liberties in #Iran, but never did so when their sock puppet shah was in charge. UK/US took violent actions to thwart democratic reforms in Iran, from 1905 to 1979.
mahendrarajah.com/2026/01/05/d...
Today, the west yaps about democracy, freedom, and civil liberties in #Iran, but never did so when their sock puppet shah was in charge. UK/US took violent actions to thwart democratic reforms in Iran, from 1905 to 1979.
mahendrarajah.com/2026/01/05/d...
Bush-Putin Meeting Memos
Declassified memoranda reveal Putin’s views of Iran: “rogue state,” “they’re quite nuts,” “they are not primitive people: it was quite a surprise to me.”
#Putin plots with Bush to curtail Iran’s uranium enrichment. #Russia #Iran
mahendrarajah.com/2025/12/29/b...
Declassified memoranda reveal Putin’s views of Iran: “rogue state,” “they’re quite nuts,” “they are not primitive people: it was quite a surprise to me.”
#Putin plots with Bush to curtail Iran’s uranium enrichment. #Russia #Iran
mahendrarajah.com/2025/12/29/b...
Iran-Russia Relations: The Declassified Putin-Bush Meeting Memos
Recently-declassified meeting memoranda reveal Putin’s worrisome opinions of Iran: “rogue state,” “they’re quite nuts,” “they are not primitive people: it was quite a surprise to me.” Putin plots w…
mahendrarajah.com
December 29, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Bush-Putin Meeting Memos
Declassified memoranda reveal Putin’s views of Iran: “rogue state,” “they’re quite nuts,” “they are not primitive people: it was quite a surprise to me.”
#Putin plots with Bush to curtail Iran’s uranium enrichment. #Russia #Iran
mahendrarajah.com/2025/12/29/b...
Declassified memoranda reveal Putin’s views of Iran: “rogue state,” “they’re quite nuts,” “they are not primitive people: it was quite a surprise to me.”
#Putin plots with Bush to curtail Iran’s uranium enrichment. #Russia #Iran
mahendrarajah.com/2025/12/29/b...
Tochal Ski Resort, Iran
After 5 year drought in many areas and low precipitation in others, all of #Iran is enjoying tons & tons of snow & rain 🙏
Reservoirs filling up; spring thaws will replenish aquifers and reservoirs 👏
NB: Mt. Tochal is in Alborz Mtn range, north of #Tehran, #Iran
After 5 year drought in many areas and low precipitation in others, all of #Iran is enjoying tons & tons of snow & rain 🙏
Reservoirs filling up; spring thaws will replenish aquifers and reservoirs 👏
NB: Mt. Tochal is in Alborz Mtn range, north of #Tehran, #Iran
December 28, 2025 at 6:22 PM
#Iran Places 3 #satellites in orbit
Three #Iranian satellites were among the "passengers" on board a Soyuz rocket launched from a Russian cosmodrome today. Soyuz deployed other sats. All safely in orbit 🫡
Three #Iranian satellites were among the "passengers" on board a Soyuz rocket launched from a Russian cosmodrome today. Soyuz deployed other sats. All safely in orbit 🫡
December 28, 2025 at 6:13 PM
#Iran Places 3 #satellites in orbit
Three #Iranian satellites were among the "passengers" on board a Soyuz rocket launched from a Russian cosmodrome today. Soyuz deployed other sats. All safely in orbit 🫡
Three #Iranian satellites were among the "passengers" on board a Soyuz rocket launched from a Russian cosmodrome today. Soyuz deployed other sats. All safely in orbit 🫡
Holy Mary Metro Station, Tehran
Opened Oct 2025, artworks honor the Virgin Mary, integral to both #Islam & #Christianity.
Yes, #Iranian cities have superb & clean subways, unlike in my hometown, NYC
#Tehran #Iran
Opened Oct 2025, artworks honor the Virgin Mary, integral to both #Islam & #Christianity.
Yes, #Iranian cities have superb & clean subways, unlike in my hometown, NYC
#Tehran #Iran
December 26, 2025 at 8:12 AM
Holy Mary Metro Station, Tehran
Opened Oct 2025, artworks honor the Virgin Mary, integral to both #Islam & #Christianity.
Yes, #Iranian cities have superb & clean subways, unlike in my hometown, NYC
#Tehran #Iran
Opened Oct 2025, artworks honor the Virgin Mary, integral to both #Islam & #Christianity.
Yes, #Iranian cities have superb & clean subways, unlike in my hometown, NYC
#Tehran #Iran
Zoroastrian Magi, Christian Messiah:
St. Matthew writes of Jesus receiving visitors from the east. This reflects a Zoroastrian prophecy. The “Wise Men” who came to Bethlehem were Zoroastrian priests (magi) from Iran
#Christmas #Iran #Bible #Jesus
mahendrarajah.com/2025/12/24/m...
St. Matthew writes of Jesus receiving visitors from the east. This reflects a Zoroastrian prophecy. The “Wise Men” who came to Bethlehem were Zoroastrian priests (magi) from Iran
#Christmas #Iran #Bible #Jesus
mahendrarajah.com/2025/12/24/m...
Zoroastrian Prophecy, Christian Messiah: The Iranian Origins of St. Matthew’s Magi
St. Matthew writes of men from the east visiting Jesus. His narrative reflects a Zoroastrian prophecy. The “Wise Men” who came to Bethlehem from Iran were Zoroastrian priests (magi) who had seen th…
mahendrarajah.com
December 24, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Zoroastrian Magi, Christian Messiah:
St. Matthew writes of Jesus receiving visitors from the east. This reflects a Zoroastrian prophecy. The “Wise Men” who came to Bethlehem were Zoroastrian priests (magi) from Iran
#Christmas #Iran #Bible #Jesus
mahendrarajah.com/2025/12/24/m...
St. Matthew writes of Jesus receiving visitors from the east. This reflects a Zoroastrian prophecy. The “Wise Men” who came to Bethlehem were Zoroastrian priests (magi) from Iran
#Christmas #Iran #Bible #Jesus
mahendrarajah.com/2025/12/24/m...
Emigre Leaders: Tools of Empire
The DC Uniparty ( #Democrats & #Republicans) use emigre politicians to advance wars & regime change. Bush used Chalabi for the Iraq War; Obama used Rajavi/MEK for #Iran. #Trump is using Machado for Venezuela
mahendrarajah.com/2025/12/17/e...
The DC Uniparty ( #Democrats & #Republicans) use emigre politicians to advance wars & regime change. Bush used Chalabi for the Iraq War; Obama used Rajavi/MEK for #Iran. #Trump is using Machado for Venezuela
mahendrarajah.com/2025/12/17/e...
Émigré ‘Leaders’ & Regime Change: Caveat Emptor
Reza Shah Pahlavi, Maryam Rajavi (Mujahideen-e Khalq), and María Corina Machado have sold “regime change” to their U.S. and Israeli patrons, but sales pitches of troops being “greeted as liberators…
mahendrarajah.com
December 18, 2025 at 6:52 PM
Emigre Leaders: Tools of Empire
The DC Uniparty ( #Democrats & #Republicans) use emigre politicians to advance wars & regime change. Bush used Chalabi for the Iraq War; Obama used Rajavi/MEK for #Iran. #Trump is using Machado for Venezuela
mahendrarajah.com/2025/12/17/e...
The DC Uniparty ( #Democrats & #Republicans) use emigre politicians to advance wars & regime change. Bush used Chalabi for the Iraq War; Obama used Rajavi/MEK for #Iran. #Trump is using Machado for Venezuela
mahendrarajah.com/2025/12/17/e...
Archie Bunker's racial ranking system
YouTube video by Martin Caidin
youtu.be
December 15, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Kashan, Iran: City of #Architecture
Home to 1,700 historical buildings, 330 of which are in #Iran's national register. #Kashan also renowned for #IslamicArt, ceramics (Kashan ware), silk & cotton rugs & carpets 👇
mahendrarajah.com/2025/11/05/k...
Home to 1,700 historical buildings, 330 of which are in #Iran's national register. #Kashan also renowned for #IslamicArt, ceramics (Kashan ware), silk & cotton rugs & carpets 👇
mahendrarajah.com/2025/11/05/k...
Kashan: UNESCO’s Creative City of Architecture
On UNESCO World Cities Day 2025, Kashan was recognized by UNESCO as a “creative city of architecture,” joining cities like Rome, Paris, and Barcelona. Kashan is “celebrated for its sustainable arch…
mahendrarajah.com
November 6, 2025 at 6:31 PM
Kashan, Iran: City of #Architecture
Home to 1,700 historical buildings, 330 of which are in #Iran's national register. #Kashan also renowned for #IslamicArt, ceramics (Kashan ware), silk & cotton rugs & carpets 👇
mahendrarajah.com/2025/11/05/k...
Home to 1,700 historical buildings, 330 of which are in #Iran's national register. #Kashan also renowned for #IslamicArt, ceramics (Kashan ware), silk & cotton rugs & carpets 👇
mahendrarajah.com/2025/11/05/k...
Congratulations, Zohran Mamdani. May you prosper & drive the haters nuttier & nuttier!
City Hall Station was my stop as a pup. One day, walking across City Hall Park, we met Mayor Ed Koch, who greeted students, and uttered his trademark "How am I doing?" Good times.
#NewYorkCity #Mayor #Mamdani
City Hall Station was my stop as a pup. One day, walking across City Hall Park, we met Mayor Ed Koch, who greeted students, and uttered his trademark "How am I doing?" Good times.
#NewYorkCity #Mayor #Mamdani
November 5, 2025 at 6:23 AM
Congratulations, Zohran Mamdani. May you prosper & drive the haters nuttier & nuttier!
City Hall Station was my stop as a pup. One day, walking across City Hall Park, we met Mayor Ed Koch, who greeted students, and uttered his trademark "How am I doing?" Good times.
#NewYorkCity #Mayor #Mamdani
City Hall Station was my stop as a pup. One day, walking across City Hall Park, we met Mayor Ed Koch, who greeted students, and uttered his trademark "How am I doing?" Good times.
#NewYorkCity #Mayor #Mamdani
#Zohran #Mamdani ad in Arabic. It's brilliant. He's trolling Islamophobes!
I'm enjoying the meltdown by haters.
Proud of my city, NYC 🗽for being a bastion of ethnolinguistic and cultural diversity. I ❤️ NY
#NewYorkCity #Mayor
I'm enjoying the meltdown by haters.
Proud of my city, NYC 🗽for being a bastion of ethnolinguistic and cultural diversity. I ❤️ NY
#NewYorkCity #Mayor
November 4, 2025 at 8:38 PM
#Zohran #Mamdani ad in Arabic. It's brilliant. He's trolling Islamophobes!
I'm enjoying the meltdown by haters.
Proud of my city, NYC 🗽for being a bastion of ethnolinguistic and cultural diversity. I ❤️ NY
#NewYorkCity #Mayor
I'm enjoying the meltdown by haters.
Proud of my city, NYC 🗽for being a bastion of ethnolinguistic and cultural diversity. I ❤️ NY
#NewYorkCity #Mayor
IRANIAN 🇮🇷 GENERALSHIP
⚡️ #Iranian generals lead from front: ≈100 KIA, Iran-Iraq War (1980–88); 15–25 KIA in Syria & Iraq vs ISIS (2014–18)
⚡️ When 30 generals were assassinated, #Iran’s Armed Forces initiated succession protocols and retaliated quickly
mahendrarajah.com/2025/10/13/i...
⚡️ #Iranian generals lead from front: ≈100 KIA, Iran-Iraq War (1980–88); 15–25 KIA in Syria & Iraq vs ISIS (2014–18)
⚡️ When 30 generals were assassinated, #Iran’s Armed Forces initiated succession protocols and retaliated quickly
mahendrarajah.com/2025/10/13/i...
Iranian Generalship: Leading from the Front
Deaths of Iranian generals in the Iran-Iraq War (1980–88) and war against ISIS (2014–18) prove that Iranian Army and IRGC generals lead from the front. Whereas U.S. generals lead from behind: Vietn…
mahendrarajah.com
October 13, 2025 at 5:05 PM
IRANIAN 🇮🇷 GENERALSHIP
⚡️ #Iranian generals lead from front: ≈100 KIA, Iran-Iraq War (1980–88); 15–25 KIA in Syria & Iraq vs ISIS (2014–18)
⚡️ When 30 generals were assassinated, #Iran’s Armed Forces initiated succession protocols and retaliated quickly
mahendrarajah.com/2025/10/13/i...
⚡️ #Iranian generals lead from front: ≈100 KIA, Iran-Iraq War (1980–88); 15–25 KIA in Syria & Iraq vs ISIS (2014–18)
⚡️ When 30 generals were assassinated, #Iran’s Armed Forces initiated succession protocols and retaliated quickly
mahendrarajah.com/2025/10/13/i...
October 10, 2025 at 4:43 PM
Reposted by Shivan Mahendrarajah
#China’s “Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance” (ISR) satellite 🛰️network powered #Iran during the Twelve Day War
✨Logic & data. No hype. Essay w/5 tables, incl. on PLA sats that helped Iranians close the “kill chain” 👇
#israel #IRGC
mahendrarajah.com/2025/09/15/s...
✨Logic & data. No hype. Essay w/5 tables, incl. on PLA sats that helped Iranians close the “kill chain” 👇
#israel #IRGC
mahendrarajah.com/2025/09/15/s...
China’s Eyes, Iran’s Fist: PLA’s Satellites & IRGC’s “Kill Chain”
China’s satellite network provides Iran with 24/7/365 coverage and real-time updates: SIGINT, terrain mapping, telemetry; radar, optical, and infrared all-weather/day & night imaging, allowing …
mahendrarajah.com
September 15, 2025 at 6:18 PM
#China’s “Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance” (ISR) satellite 🛰️network powered #Iran during the Twelve Day War
✨Logic & data. No hype. Essay w/5 tables, incl. on PLA sats that helped Iranians close the “kill chain” 👇
#israel #IRGC
mahendrarajah.com/2025/09/15/s...
✨Logic & data. No hype. Essay w/5 tables, incl. on PLA sats that helped Iranians close the “kill chain” 👇
#israel #IRGC
mahendrarajah.com/2025/09/15/s...
Peace through superior firepower
#Trump #Netanyahu #Starmer Merz & #Macron have left #Iran with choice of war or surrender
thecradle.co/articles-id/...
#Trump #Netanyahu #Starmer Merz & #Macron have left #Iran with choice of war or surrender
thecradle.co/articles-id/...
To achieve peace, Iran needs True Promise IV
The time for strategic ambiguity is over. Tehran must act decisively to preempt another, more consequential war engineered by Tel Aviv and rubber-stamped by Washington.
thecradle.co
September 24, 2025 at 6:25 PM
Peace through superior firepower
#Trump #Netanyahu #Starmer Merz & #Macron have left #Iran with choice of war or surrender
thecradle.co/articles-id/...
#Trump #Netanyahu #Starmer Merz & #Macron have left #Iran with choice of war or surrender
thecradle.co/articles-id/...
September 22, 2025 at 5:44 PM
Reposted by Shivan Mahendrarajah
Thanks to #Trump & #Netanyahu, #Iran has achieved #nuclear ambiguity.
⁉️ Do they have ☢️💣 or not? ⁉️
⚡️ #Iranian nuke program is literally and metaphorically underground
mahendrarajah.com/2025/09/02/i...
⁉️ Do they have ☢️💣 or not? ⁉️
⚡️ #Iranian nuke program is literally and metaphorically underground
mahendrarajah.com/2025/09/02/i...
Iran’s Nuclear Ambiguity
Iran, courtesy of Trump and Netanyahu, has achieved nuclear ambiguity. Its nuclear sites and 408kg trove of highly-enriched uranium survive. Mossad/CIA spies (“IAEA inspectors”) have no physical ac…
mahendrarajah.com
September 2, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Thanks to #Trump & #Netanyahu, #Iran has achieved #nuclear ambiguity.
⁉️ Do they have ☢️💣 or not? ⁉️
⚡️ #Iranian nuke program is literally and metaphorically underground
mahendrarajah.com/2025/09/02/i...
⁉️ Do they have ☢️💣 or not? ⁉️
⚡️ #Iranian nuke program is literally and metaphorically underground
mahendrarajah.com/2025/09/02/i...
September 17, 2025 at 2:23 PM
🚨 U.S. Congress (Dems & Rep), in a foreign land, under a foreign flag.
⚡️Why not? They don't work for us
#Israel #Democrats #Republicans #AIPAC
⚡️Why not? They don't work for us
#Israel #Democrats #Republicans #AIPAC
September 16, 2025 at 5:06 PM
🚨 U.S. Congress (Dems & Rep), in a foreign land, under a foreign flag.
⚡️Why not? They don't work for us
#Israel #Democrats #Republicans #AIPAC
⚡️Why not? They don't work for us
#Israel #Democrats #Republicans #AIPAC
#China’s “Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance” (ISR) satellite 🛰️network powered #Iran during the Twelve Day War
✨Logic & data. No hype. Essay w/5 tables, incl. on PLA sats that helped Iranians close the “kill chain” 👇
#israel #IRGC
mahendrarajah.com/2025/09/15/s...
✨Logic & data. No hype. Essay w/5 tables, incl. on PLA sats that helped Iranians close the “kill chain” 👇
#israel #IRGC
mahendrarajah.com/2025/09/15/s...
China’s Eyes, Iran’s Fist: PLA’s Satellites & IRGC’s “Kill Chain”
China’s satellite network provides Iran with 24/7/365 coverage and real-time updates: SIGINT, terrain mapping, telemetry; radar, optical, and infrared all-weather/day & night imaging, allowing …
mahendrarajah.com
September 15, 2025 at 6:18 PM
#China’s “Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance” (ISR) satellite 🛰️network powered #Iran during the Twelve Day War
✨Logic & data. No hype. Essay w/5 tables, incl. on PLA sats that helped Iranians close the “kill chain” 👇
#israel #IRGC
mahendrarajah.com/2025/09/15/s...
✨Logic & data. No hype. Essay w/5 tables, incl. on PLA sats that helped Iranians close the “kill chain” 👇
#israel #IRGC
mahendrarajah.com/2025/09/15/s...
The "armed forces of Iran are ready and able to once again pummel Israel into running to “daddy” to be bailed out" 🤣
#Iran #EU #UK #Starmer #Trump
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
#Iran #EU #UK #Starmer #Trump
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
A message from Tehran to Britain, France and Germany: in your own interests, you should change course | Seyyed Abbas Araghchi
Europe is wrong to follow Donald Trump’s strategy. We are open to diplomacy and a new deal over our nuclear programme, but sanctions must go, says Seyyed Abbas Araghchi, foreign minister of Iran
www.theguardian.com
September 7, 2025 at 11:17 AM
Thanks to #Trump & #Netanyahu, #Iran has achieved #nuclear ambiguity.
⁉️ Do they have ☢️💣 or not? ⁉️
⚡️ #Iranian nuke program is literally and metaphorically underground
mahendrarajah.com/2025/09/02/i...
⁉️ Do they have ☢️💣 or not? ⁉️
⚡️ #Iranian nuke program is literally and metaphorically underground
mahendrarajah.com/2025/09/02/i...
Iran’s Nuclear Ambiguity
Iran, courtesy of Trump and Netanyahu, has achieved nuclear ambiguity. Its nuclear sites and 408kg trove of highly-enriched uranium survive. Mossad/CIA spies (“IAEA inspectors”) have no physical ac…
mahendrarajah.com
September 2, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Thanks to #Trump & #Netanyahu, #Iran has achieved #nuclear ambiguity.
⁉️ Do they have ☢️💣 or not? ⁉️
⚡️ #Iranian nuke program is literally and metaphorically underground
mahendrarajah.com/2025/09/02/i...
⁉️ Do they have ☢️💣 or not? ⁉️
⚡️ #Iranian nuke program is literally and metaphorically underground
mahendrarajah.com/2025/09/02/i...