HRW – Iran’s government in 2017 had a dismal record of repression and violations of the rights to free expression, a fair trial, gender equality and religious freedom, Human Rights Watch said today in its World Report 2018. Repressive elements in the security forces, the judiciary, and unelected governing bodies such as the Guardian Council, retained their tight grip on …

Iran Human Rights –  The execution of Abolfazl Chezahi Sharahi, a Juvenile-offender who was in a death-row to be executed this morning at Qom Central Prison, was delayed for unknown reasons. A day before, the IHR and other international organizations called for immediate action of the international community. According to a close source, authorities had informed Abolfazl Chezahi Sharahi’s family …

Al-Monitor – A full appreciation of the root causes of the recent protests in Iran requires deep and concise analysis of the socio-economic and socio-political realities in the country. Notwithstanding, even prior to these protests, there were enough signs to recognize a certain degree of discontent about the level of social and economic injustice in Iran. Besides the income gap, …

Al-Monitor – Amid the recent unrest in Iran, the government decided to block Telegram — the most popular messaging application in the country, with more than 40 million users — to stop the chaos from spreading. As calm returned, President Hassan Rouhani ordered the app unblocked, a decision that was met with harsh criticism by the judiciary and the Islamic …

PayvandNews – When protests broke out in Iran at the end of 2017, most countries maintained a hands-off approach. After all, these countries maintain diplomatic and trade relations with the Iranian government. Even some influential U.S. observers recommended caution. Former Secretary of State John Kerry, for instance, tweeted: “With humility about how little we know about what’s happening inside Iran, …

PayvandNews – Through manufacturing of over 160,000 vehicles in Iran, Renault hit a record high in 2017, according to a report by the Communications Department of Renault Pars (a joint venture established in 2004 between France’s Renault and Iranian car makers Iran Khodro and Saipa). The report said that production of Renault in Iran witnessed a 48-percent growth in 2017 …

washingtontimes – Iran’s rulers have inflicted death by torture and gunfire on citizen protesters in a crackdown since the Dec. 28 street uprising erupted, the main opposition group said. The Europe-based National Council of Resistance of Iran says the Islamic republic’s ubiquitous security apparatus has arrested more than 8,000 citizens and killed at least 50, all while the West has …

RFL/RE – Oil slicks on the water surface around a sunken Iranian tanker in the East China Sea are expanding, Chinese authorities reported, raising environmental concerns. China’s State Oceanic Administration said that it had found an 18-kilometer-long slick east of where the vessel sank, and another slick that was almost 15 kilometers long southwest of the site. Another slick with …

RFL/RE – Iranian President Hassan Rohani has joined Russia, Syria, and Turkey in opposing a new 30,000-strong border guard force inside Syria that the United States says is needed to keep Islamic State extremists out of the country. “The new plan that the Americans have in mind for Syria is a violation of international laws and a plot against the …

VOA —Iran’s supreme leader has accused Saudi Arabia of “treason” against Muslims because of its alleged ties to Israel. Addressing representatives from the Muslim-majority countries in Tehran on Tuesday, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said “governments that help the United States and cooperate with the Zionist regime to fight Muslim brothers are committing treason, like what Saudis are doing.” However, he also …