Iranhumanrights.org – The family of imprisoned spiritual leader Mohammad Ali Taheri has not been informed of his location since October 18, 2016, when he was allegedly hospitalized after falling into a coma due to a three-week hunger strike. “We don’t know if my brother is alive or dead,” Taheri’s sister, Azardokht Taheri, told the International Campaign for Human Rights in …

Iranhumanrights.org – A prominent Iranian political analyst has criticized President Hassan Rouhani for reneging on his pledge to free political prisoners and opposition leaders. The centrist cleric’s record as president will be heavily scrutinized ahead of Iran’s May 2017 presidential election as he vies for a second term. During an interview, Tehran University Political Science Professor Sadegh Zibakalam praised Rouhani …

Iranhumanrights.org – Political prisoner Amir Amirgholi suffered injuries on his face from a knife attack by two non-political prisoners in Evin Prison on November 16, 2016, his father told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran. Despite being imprisoned for his peaceful activism, Amirgholi has been illegally incarcerated in a ward with dangerous offenders. “The incident happened at two …

Iranhumanrights.org – Iran’s Supreme Court has agreed to review the case of political prisoner Rayhaneh Haj Ebrahim Dabbagh, who became eligible for early release after serving half of her 15-year prison sentence, her mother told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran. “During the appeal process we noticed that she was charged with not just one, but several things from …

Al-monitor – Ever since the fall of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein in 2003, Shiites have begun once again openly marking the annual mourning holiday of Arbaeen, with the number of people taking part in the ceremony surging each year. AUTHOR Rohollah Faghihi Arbaeen, described as the world’s largest annual pilgrimage, is a ritual that occurs 40 days after the day …

PayvandNews – The Lut Desert, one of the two deserts dominating the landscape of eastern Iran, has got what it takes to lure travelers considering its geological uniqueness. Inscribed on UNESCO World Heritage List, the scorching Lut, is a mix of sand and salt. Its calming silence is also amazingly attractive. Dasht-e Lut “The Lut Desert provides a suitable prospect …

Reuters – OPEC is moving closer toward finalizing this month its first deal since 2008 to limit oil output, with most members prepared to offer Iran significant flexibility on production volumes, ministers and sources said on Friday. Iran has been the main stumbling block for such a deal because Tehran wants exemptions as it tries to regain oil market share …

VOA – Republicans and other long-time opponents of an international nuclear agreement with Iran have walked back calls to scrap the deal and are now urging the incoming Trump administration to stiffen it rather than unravel what President-elect Donald Trump once termed as “the worst deal ever negotiated.” With Iran and European allies imploring the new administration to honor the …

RFL/RE – U.S. President-elect Donald Trump sought out the advice of former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger on China, Russia, Iran, and Europe, his office said on November 17. Kissinger, 93, who served under former Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford, is best known for opening the door to China after decades of isolating the Asian giant. Kissinger has been …

RFL/RE – U.S. lawmakers have passed legislation that would ban the sale of commercial aircraft to Iran, a move aimed at halting sales by aerospace giants Boeing and Airbus that outgoing President Barack Obama’s administration has already approved. By a vote of 243-175, the Republican-controlled House of Representatives on November 17 passed the bill that would bar the Treasury Department …