Al-monitor – When US presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump went head to head in their first debate on Sept. 26, Iran took up a significant part of the foreign policy discussion. During the debate, Republican Trump challenged Democrat Clinton’s policies while serving as secretary of state 2009-2013, saying, “You started the Iran deal. That’s another beauty where you …

Al-monitor – When Germany’s Vice Chancellor and Economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel entered Iran Oct. 2, accompanied by more than 100 German businessmen, he probably did not expect that some of his comments would cause a minor diplomatic crisis between the two countries and reactions in every Iranian newspaper. AUTHOR Misha Zand In an interview with the German weekly news magazine …

RFL/RE – Iran and Vietnam have pledged to boost trade during Iranian President Hassan Rohani’s visit to Hanoi. “The two sides agreed to increase bilateral trade turnover to $2 billion,” Rohani told reporters on October 6 after the two sides signed several cooperation agreements. “In economics, cooperation opportunities are still large, but the scale of cooperation and bilateral trade are …

RFL/RE – A wealthy gold trader charged with violating U.S. sanctions against Iran asked a U.S. court to dismiss the charges on October 5, saying U.S. prosecutors overreached in bringing the case. Prosecutors accuse Reza Zarrab, 33, a prominent Turkish-Iranian financier, of using a network of companies in Turkey and the United Arab Emirates to carry out hundreds of millions …

Amnesty – Iranian authorities must immediately repeal the conviction and sentence of Golrokh Ebrahimi Iraee, a writer and human rights activist who is due to begin serving six years in prison on charges including “insulting Islamic sanctities” through the writing of an unpublished story about the horrific practice of stoning, Amnesty International said today. “The charges against Golrokh Ebrahimi Iraee …

Iranhumanrights.org – Hospitalized political prisoner and prominent reformist journalist Issa Saharkhiz began a hunger strike on October 2, 2016, to convince the authorities to grant him conditional release. “My father is legally eligible for conditional release for medical reasons and has served more than half of his prison term. That’s why he has gone on a hunger strike,” his son, …

PayvandNews –  Iran will grant years of tax exemption to both domestic and foreign businesses and individuals as an incentive for ramping up investments in its tourism sector, Deputy Economy Minister Mohammad Khazaei said on Sunday. A UNESCO World Heritage site, the square was constructed between 1598 and 1629 “The tax exemption [strategy] has been envisaged for a period of …

Radiozmaneh – Sadeq Ardeshir Larijani, head of the judicial system of Islamic Republic of Iran: “We have our own reading of human rights.” Cartoon by: Assad Binakhahi

Radiozamaneh – Head of Iran’s Bodybuilding Federation announced that women bodybuilders and their four male coaches who arranged for them to participate in international competitions have been suspended. The federation adds that it will adhere to the ruling of the court in this matter. Mizan Khabar the official website of Iranian judiciary reported last week that a number of what …

RFL/RE – Iran’s state oil producer, National Iranian Oil Co. (NIOC), has signed a new model investment contract with an Iranian firm. The contract with the Persia Oil and Gas Industry Development Company is seen as a template for contracts that Tehran hopes will attract foreign investors back to Iran’s oil and natural gas sectors and boost production after years …