ifpnews -While Iran’s mission to the UN earlier said its absence from the UN General Assembly voting on Myanmar was to protest the Third Committee’s politicized approaches, an informed source says the absence was caused by a lack of coordination.

iran-hrm – A prisoner was hanged on December 24, 2017, in Rajaii Shahr Prison of Karaj. The victim who has been identified by the state-media only as Ghadir, has been on death row singe 20 years ago. He was found guilty of murder. According to statistics registered by Iran Human Rights Monitor, the Iranian authorities executed 543 people since the …

AL-Arabia – Saudi Arabia’s interior ministry spokesman has said that the kingdom is currently facing terrorist groups with ties to Iran. Maj. Gen. Mansour al-Turki said on Monday that terrorists involved in the murder of a judge in the Department of Endowments in the eastern province of Qatif province, Mohammed al-Jirani, were tied to Iran. “Terrorism sponsors avoid leaving the …

YWN – Vandals break into the Hadash Synagogue in the Iranian city of Shiraz, destroy Torah scrolls and deface prayer books. Police investigating. Contact Editor Arutz Sheva Staff, 26/12/17 00:06 Iranian Jews pray at a synagogue in Shiraz (archive)Iranian Jews pray at a synagogue in Shiraz (archive)Reuters A synagogue in the Iranian city of Shiraz was vandalized on Sunday night, …

Xinhua – Iranian Deputy Oil Minister Marzieh Shahdaei said foreign companies interested in developing Iran’s oilfields should find an Iranian partner, local media reported Tuesday. “We are in talks with reputable international firms (for developing oilfields), and the most important issue is that we are trying to have them pick up an Iranian partner and build many of their equipment …

foxnews- Christians who have called northern Iraq their homeland since the first century are recovering from ISIS’ carnage only to face an emerging threat that they fear could be just as challenging: the growing influence from Iran.

Reuters – Syrian army forces backed by Iranian-backed militias pushed deeper into the last rebel-held enclave near a strategic border area with Israel and Lebanon in a new expansion of Tehran’s influence in the war-torn country.  

Sun – THE husband of jailed Brit mum Nazanin Zaghari Ratcliffe is still hopeful of being home in time for her Boxing Day birthday.

washingtonpost — Iran’s Supreme Court has approved the death sentence of an Iranian researcher accused of spying for Israel.

CHRI – Prisoner Alireza Golipour, who suffers from epilepsy, has threatened to go on a life-threatening hunger strike again if judicial authorities do not carry out their promise to review his case and release him on medical grounds, the Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI) has learned.