RFL/RE – Iran has lifted restrictions on the messaging app Telegram, the state news agency IRNA reported on Saturday. The popular service had been blocked during recent public protests, the most serious nationwide unrest in the Islamic republic since 2009. cartoon by Mohammadreza Saghafi, Iranian daily Shargh “An informed source announced that the filtering of the Telegram messenger has been ended …

RFL/RE – A stricken Iranian oil tanker that was burning for more than a week following a collision with a Chinese cargo ship in the East China Sea has sunk after drifting into the waters of Japan’s economic exclusion zone. Chinese state television reports that the ship sank shortly after another portion of its cargo “suddenly ignited” at about noon …

PayvandNews – The 8th edition of Tehran Auction contemporary art sale broke a new record on Friday, January 12, signalling a flourishing market for contemporary Iranian art. The winter sale built on the success of its spring – 14.952 billion tomans to be exact, or over $3 million. Parsian Hotel was host to the 8th edition of Tehran Auction where …

RFL/RE – An Iranian teachers’ organization has blamed the country’s recent outbreak of protests on inflation, poverty, unemployment, and “mismanagement by state officials.”

Al-Arabia – A United Nations panel in a new report has concluded that Iran violated a UN arms embargo by directly or indirectly providing missiles and drones to Shi’ite rebels in Yemen, backing up accusations made repeatedly by the United States.

RFL/RE – An Iranian oil tanker that has been on fire and drifting in the East China Sea since last week has experienced several more explosions, hampering efforts to put out the fire and rescue 31 missing crew members, Chinese state media reported.

Al-Arabia – The United States imposed sanctions on 14 individuals and entities on Friday for human rights abuses in Iran and supporting Iranian weapons programs, including the head of Iran’s judiciary, Ayatollah Sadeq Larijani.

VOA – Iran has warned Washington the nuclear deal between Tehran and major powers “is not renegotiable.”

VOA – United States President Donald Trump approved new sanctions on Iran Friday, while stopping short for a third time of re-imposing harsh sanctions intended to push Tehran to give up nuclear weapons research.

Iran Human Rights – According to Iranian media, the head of the country’s Judiciary system has ordered a Supreme Court’s Uniform Procedure Decision come into effect. The decision halts the execution of drug defendants, to review their cases. However, the Supreme Court’s verdict was issued in November 2017.  Iran Human Rights (IHR) has a few points for clarification.