Al-monitor – The diversity of actors on Iran’s political stage has made the political process in the country complex. The “maddahan” (“madah,” singular), religious singers or eulogists, are one group relatively new to the scene. AUTHOR Saeid Jafari A decade ago, maddahan were visible mainly in mosques and during such holidays as the 10-day mourning ceremonies in the month of …

Al-monitor – Finally, after a week of speculation, three members of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani’s Cabinet were replaced Oct. 19. Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Ali Jannati, Education Minister Ali Asghar Fani and Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Mahmoud Goudarzi all resigned on the same day. AUTHOR Rohollah Faghihi Though all three were said to have stepped down …

Amnesty – Iranian spiritual teacher Mohammad Ali Taheri, who started a hunger strike on 28 September, has been held incommunicado since 16 October. The authorities are refusing to provide his family with any information about his fate and whereabouts. To view the report follow below link: https://www.amnesty.org/download/Documents/MDE1350182016ENGLISH.pdf

Iranhumanrights.org – Fifteen Iranian members of Parliament have called on the Judiciary to reverse the 10-year prison sentence of prominent human rights defender Narges Mohammadi, marking the first time since the Iranian revolution in 1979 that lawmakers publicly defended a person convicted of anti-state activities. “We plead with you to show Islamic mercy and nullify the sentence and order a …

Iranhumanrights.org – Imprisoned Azeri rights activist Rasoul Razavi has received emergency medical treatment on several occasions since he started a hunger strike in Tabriz Prison on October 3, 2016, an informed source told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran. Iranian Azerbaijanis, also known as Azeris and Turks, are Iranians of Azerbaijani ethnicity who come from East Azerbaijan Province, …

PayvandNews  – The European Union commissioner for industry and entrepreneurship said on Tuesday that Iran is being turned into a major tourism destination for European travelers. Although some sticking points, such as investment problems, still remain with the EU side, but “The EU in collaboration with the United Nations World Tourism Organization and other global establishments tries to overcome the …

PayvandNews – Iran says it is negotiating with 16 international energy companies over investing in the exploration and development of oil and gas projects that it recently put out on tender. Gholam-Reza Manouchehri, the deputy head of National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) for engineering and development affairs, told reporters that all the projects which were put out on tender earlier …

Ruters – Iran has stepped up weapons transfers to the Houthis, the militia fighting the Saudi-backed government in Yemen, U.S., Western and Iranian officials tell Reuters, a development that threatens to prolong and intensify the 19-month-old war. By Yara Bayoumy and Phil Stewart The increased pace of transfers in recent months, which officials said include missiles and small arms, could …

RFL/RE – Iran says it won’t accept any U.S. “interference” after Washington demanded the release of an Iranian-American businessman and his 80-year-old father. Iranian officials announced on October 18 that Siamak and Baquer Namazi had been jailed for 10 years for “espionage and collaboration with the American government.” The State Department demanded their immediate release, and expressed concern over the …

Al-monitor – Javad Hashemi, a famous Iranian actor who is best known for his blockbuster roles as a compassionate Basij soldier, has caused controversy by saying in a televised interview, “If I were in office in the Islamic Republic and [Golshifteh Farahani] said that she wanted to return, I would say ‘come back.'” AUTHOR Misha Zand Farahani is a well-known …