Al-Monitor — Real interest rates in Iranian money markets have risen to all-time highs under the administration of President Hassan Rouhani. This is due to the sharp reduction in inflation, which the administration boastfully declares as its cornerstone achievement. Nonetheless, the rise in real interest rates has mostly occurred on the back of lackluster growth given macroeconomic fluctuations both at home …

AL-Monitor – More than two-thirds of Iranians are dissatisfied with their country’s economic situation and most blame corruption and mismanagement, according to the first major poll of Iranian public opinion conducted since large-scale demonstrations broke out in late December.

PayvandNews – The Zoroastrians marked Sadeh, an ancient feast celebrating the creation of fire, in Yazd, Iran this week. The feast is marked on the tenth day of the eleventh month of Iranian calendar annually. Sadeh has been observed since the days when Zoroastrianism was the dominant religion in the powerful Persian empire.

unenvironment.org  – There’s growing awareness in the Islamic Republic of Iran that wetlands are valuable and sustain livelihoods. Ramsar, “the gem of northern Iran”, is the town that gives its name to the Ramsar Convention.

PayvandNews – An adviser to Iran’s minister of agriculture reported on Wednesday that the United Stated has lifted the ban on farmed caviar import from Iran, adding that 10 km of the product were exported to the US last year.

RFL/RE – The National Front, one of Iran’s secular political organizations, has called for a permit to hold a public gathering in Tehran on March 5.

AL-Arabia – Protests have erupted once again in scores of Iranian cities and towns on Thursday, according to the network of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (MEK). According to the MEK Young people chanted “death to the dictator” and “death to Khamenei” in Isfahan while people gathered in Enghelab (revolution) Square, and Azadi (freedom) square in the western city …

VOA – Iranian police say they have detained 29 women they described as “deceived” who removed their obligatory Islamic veils in protest. The Thursday report by the private Tasnim news agency, which is close to the government, said the detainees were taking part in an anti-hijab campaign known as “White Wednesdays.” Under the campaign advocated by foreign-based Farsi language satellite …

HRANA News Agency – Mustafa Salimi, death row political prisoner who is serving his 15th year of imprisonment, has returned to Saqez prison from Sanandaj Central Prison more than three months ago. Mr. Salimi, is not allowed to work at the prison workshop which is important for financing his family.

Iran Human Rights –  IHR has identified the prisoner who was executed on Tuesday at Noshahr Prison as Mahbubeh Mofidi. The juvenile-offender was 17 when she committed the crime. Iran Human Rights (IHR) had reported the execution of a woman on Tuesday, January 30. Further research revealed that the executed woman was named Mahbubeh Mofidi who was 17 at the …