Al-Arabia – Organized gangs were able to smuggle hundreds of Iranians to the British territory recently using fake passports, Greek investigators revealed. It is feared that they may be infiltrators coming to carry out acts of terrorism, or that they are coming to spy on Syrian refugees fleeing concentrations of Bashar al-Assad’s regime. The Times reported that the organized smuggling …

Iran Human Rights -At least four prisoners on death row for alleged drug related offenses are in imminent danger of execution after they were were transferred to solitary confinement. At least four prisoners who are on death row on drug related charges in Karaj Central Prison were transferred to solitary confiement on Monday December 12 in preparation for their executions, …

Amnesty – Iranian teacher union activist Esmail Abdi, the Secretary General of the Iranian Teachers’ Trade Association (ITTA), was arrested on 9 November and taken to Tehran’s Evin Prison to begin serving a six-year prison sentence. He is a prisoner of conscience targeted solely for his peaceful trade union activities. View report in English: https://www.amnesty.org/download/Documents/MDE1353322016ENGLISH.pdf

Al-monitor -The Syrian army operation to retake the last opposition-controlled eastern neighborhoods of Aleppo received full coverage by Iranian media in recent days. Most conservative and official outlets in Tehran showed their support of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in covering the news. AUTHOR Changiz M. Varzi Iran’s Press TV reported Dec. 12 that the residents of Aleppo took to the streets to …

PayvandNews – The historical Shazdeh (Prince) Garden is located in the Kerman desert near Mahan.  The Garden is a fine example of Persian gardens that take advantage of suitable natural climate.  This magnificent garden known as “a corner in heaven” has been registered on UNESCO’s World Heritage List as one of the masterpieces of traditional gardens. Photos by Mohsen Rajabpour, Mehr News Agency & Abouzar Ahmadizadeh, Islamic Republic …

PayvandNews  – U.S. sanctions on Iran have carried a significant cost to the U.S. economy, a new report published by the National Iranian American Council today finds. Losing More Billions – The Cost of Iran Sanctions to the U.S. Economy reveals that between 1995 and 2014, the U.S. sacrificed at least $203 billion and as much as $272 billion in …

Al-Arabia – Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on Sunday praised the mainly Shiite government-sanctioned Iraqi Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) as a “national treasure,” his official website said. PMU was formed from mainly militia Shiite groups with the participation of some Sunnis, Christians and Yazidis to lend it some credibility. Khamenei went on to describe PMU as an “asset for the …

RFL/RE – Iran has signed a preliminary agreement with state-controlled Russian energy giant Gazprom Neft to develop two oil fields. The National Iranian Oil Company and Gazprom signed the memorandum of understanding at a December 13 ceremony in Tehran attended by Russian Energy Minister Aleksandr Novak. The deal opens the way for the Russian firm to study the potential of …

Amnesty – In this open letter, human rights and civil society organizations urge UN Member States to vote in favour of the Resolution A/C.3/71/L.25 on the promotion and protection of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran. The resolution sends a vital message to all governments and the people of Iran that the human rights situation in the country …

Iranhumanrights.org – In an interview with the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, Iranian Nobel Laureate Shirin Ebadi held President Hassan Rouhani directly responsible for “every Intelligence Ministry violation” and criticized his failure to uphold the Constitution. “I warn Mr. Rouhani and hold him responsible for the unlawful actions taking place in the Intelligence Ministry because the ministry is …