RFL/RE – The funeral of former Iranian President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani is being held in Tehran. http://www.rferl.org/a/iran-funeral/28223578.html A national holiday has been declared. Rafsanjani, who served as Iran’s president from 1989 to 1997, died of heart failure on January 9 at the age of 82. Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, held prayers over Rafsanjani’s casket. According to state television, …

RFL/RE – Five global powers that are permanent members of the United Nations Security Council will meet on January to review Iranian complaints that the United States has reneged on the sanctions relief promised under the Iran nuclear deal. Iranian officials will meet with representatives of the United States, Russia, China, Britain, France, and Germany in Vienna six days before …

RFL/RE – World oil prices have plummeted over concerns that a deal to curb production reached between OPEC, Russia, and other producers will not hold for much longer. The drop of nearly 4 percent in London premium crude prices to $54.82 a barrel came after Iraq reported that exports from its largest oil fields in the south hit a record …

Al-Arabia – Iran will revoke the citizenship of any national who happens to be holding another foreign citizenship, state-media reported. The announcement was made by the Iranian judiciary and coincides with the controversy over Iranian officials holding dual nationalities who are accused of espionage. The Speaker of the Committee of National Security Affairs in the Iranian Parliament Hussain Naqvi Hussaini …

Iran Human Rights -Two prisoners were hanged in public in the Kermanshah province on Moharebeh charges. Two prisoners were hanged in public in the city of Sarpol-e Zahab (Kermanshah province, western Iran) on Moharebeh charges (enmity against God). According to a report by the Iranian state-run media IRIB, the executions were carried out in public on the morning of Sunday …

Iran Human Rights -More than 20 prisoners are in imminent danger of execution in two prisons in Karaj (Alborz province, northern Iran). According to close sources, more than 20 prisoners at Rajai Shahr and Karaj Central prisons have been transferred to solitary confinement in preparation for their executions. At least eleven prisoners in Rajai Shahr Prison were reportedly transferred to …

Al-monitor – Ever since the rial hit an all-time low against the greenback on Dec. 27, top monetary policymaker Valiollah Seif has been reiterating that the Central Bank of Iran (CBI) will use every tool available to strengthen the national currency. Speaking at an e-banking conference on Jan. 2, Seif vowed that the rial’s recent drop will be reversed, adding that …

Al-monitor – Ayatollah Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, one of the most influential politicians in Iran, died Jan. 8 at the age of 82. AUTHOR Rohollah Faghihi It was around 7 p.m. in Tehran when doctors saw that CPR wasn’t going to bring Rafsanjani, who had suffered a heart attack, back to life. People were shocked as they heard the news, which will shake Iranian …

VOA –  A U.S. Navy ship fired three warnings shots at Iranian boats near the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, a U.S. defense official told VOA. USS Mahan (DDG 72) steaming in the Atlantic Ocean on September 27, 2002 (U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate Airman Rex Nelson) Four Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps vessels were “traveling right at” the USS …

Al-Arabia – The United Nations chief expressed concern to the Security Council that Iran may have violated an arms embargo by supplying weapons and missiles to Lebanese Shiite group Hezbollah, according to a confidential report, seen by Reuters on Sunday. The second bi-annual report, due to be discussed by the 15-member council on Jan. 18, also cites an accusation by …