RFL/RE – A jailed Iranian activist has ended his hunger strike following his wife’s release from jail. Arash Sadeghi had reportedly refused to eat since October 24 to protest the arrest of his wife, Golrokh Ebrahimi. Ebrahimi, a writer and human rights activist, told RFE/RL’s Radio Farda on January 3 that she had been temporarily released from prison on bail. …

RFL/RE – Iran has issued a list of 29 companies from Europe and Asia that have the government’s approval to bid for oil- and gas-development projects in the energy-rich country. The Iranian Oil Ministry said on January 3 that the National Iranian Oil Company will soon hold tenders for energy exploration and production, something made possible due to Tehran’s signing …

Al-Arabia – Ali Akbar Velayati, the senior foreign policy advisor to Iran Supreme Leader, hailed the “liberation” of Aleppo as the “victory of the victories,” during a meeting with Syrian Foreign Minister, Walid al-Muallem in Tehran, according to media sources. The top Syrian diplomat accompanied by special security advisor to Bashar al-Assad, Ali Mamlouk, held a series of meetings with …

Iran Human Rights -Four prisoners on death for drug offenses are in imminent danger of execution. At least four prisoners were reportedly transferred to solitary confinement in Ghezel Hesar Prison in preparation for their executions.The transfer to solitary confinement for the four prisoners, who are on death row for drug related offenses, occurred on Monday January 2. Close sources have …

Amnesty – The Iranian authorities are putting the life of imprisoned human rights defender Arash Sadeghi at grave risk and should release him and his wife, Golrokh Ebrahimi Iraee without further delay, Amnesty International said today. Over two months into his ongoing hunger strike, Arash Sadeghi remains jailed in Tehran’s Evin Prison, with reports indicating that he is vomiting blood …

Al-monitor – After a two-year delay, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani’s administration is preparing to implement its social housing program. The scheme aims to provide 570,000 residential units to households on low incomes or with special needs by the end of Iranian year 1400 (March 20, 2022). The proposal was approved Dec. 11 by the Infrastructure Commission, and it is now …

RFL/RE – Dozens of Iranians have taken part in a rare demonstration outside Tehran’s Evin prison to express their support for a jailed activist on hunger strike, Arash Sadeghi. Arash Sadeghi has reportedly been refusing to eat for more than two months. Sadeghi is protesting the October 24 arrest of his wife, Golrokh Ebrahimi. Sadeghi, a philosophy student who is …

RFL/RE – President Hassan Rohani says that the exchange rates of the rial against foreign currencies “will not remain at current levels.” President Hassan Rohani has told Iranians the government will work to protect the country’s market stability amid a downfall in the Iranian currency to record lows. “I am optimistic about the country’s economic situation and…I want to reassure …

RFL/RE – Turkmenistan has “suddenly” halted gas supplies to Iran in a dispute between the two countries over arrears, the Iranian National Gas Company says. “The gas company of Turkmenistan has cut gas exports to Iran, contrary to the agreement reached, by demanding immediate payment of arrears,” the Iranian National Gas Company said in a January 1 statement. The statement …

RFL/RE – An Iranian official has called for the sterilization of female sex workers and homeless drug addicts in Tehran to prevent “social harm.” Siavash Shahrivar, head of the Social and Cultural Affairs Department in the Tehran Governorate, said those women should be “convinced” to undergo sterilization. “There is a reality, a view, agreed on by many NGOs and the …