CHRI – The head councilman of the city of Yazd, in southeastern Iran, has refused to carry out a court order suspending the membership of a fellow councilman who is a member of the minority Zoroastrian faith. “In my mind and in my religion, I know this ruling is not consistent with religion, freedom or logic,” said chief councilman Gholamali Sefid …

RFL/RE – U.S. President Donald Trump’s call for legislation aimed at toughening the Iran nuclear deal faces an uncertain future in Congress even as leading Republican senators stepped forward to champion the cause.

Al-Arabia – The US military said on Friday it was identifying new areas where it could work with allies to put pressure on Iran in support of President Donald Trump’s new strategy, which promises a far more confrontational approach to Tehran.

Al-Arabia – The US Treasury Department announced on Friday that Iran’s Revolutionary Guard has been placed on the US sanctions list.

VOA — Iran’s president said Friday that the nuclear deal it signed with six world powers in 2015 could not be revoked, after U.S. President Donald Trump announced he would not certify that Iran was in compliance with it.

Amnesty – The Iranian authorities must urgently stop the execution of a 17-year-old boy who was convicted of murder and rape, and commute his death sentence to imprisonment, said Amnesty International.

Al-Monitor – Less than two months into his tenure as the new mayor of Tehran, Mohammad Ali Najafi is already facing serious challenges. The Reformist politician took over the reins from conservative Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who held the post for 12 years (2005-2017). Ghalibaf’s mayorship came to an end in late August, but managers loyal to him at the Tehran Municipality seem …

Al-Monitor – Iran’s official nomination to the 90th Academy Awards in the best foreign language category is the country’s first ever nomination of a female director’s work. “Nafas,” or “Breath,” written and directed by Narges Abyar, examines a tumultuous time in Iran through the eyes of a little girl.

RFL/RE – U.S. President Donald Trump has blasted Iran, calling it a “rogue regime” run by “fanatical” leaders, but stopped short of pulling the United States out of a landmark 2015 nuclear accord signed with global powers.

RFL/RE – U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to call for measures cracking down on what he sees as Iran’s aggression in the Middle East in a widely anticipated speech on October 13, but stop short of pulling out of a nuclear deal between global powers and Tehran, U.S. officials say. In a White House statement outlining elements a new …