Radiofarda -The U.S. government confirmed that Saudi Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih met with U.S. special representative for Iran Brian Hook in Vienna on Wednesday, contradicting a Saudi denial that the talks had taken place.

VOA – A suicide car bomber attacked a police headquarters in the southeastern Iranian port city of Chabahar on Thursday, killing at least three people and wounding several others, state TV reported.

HRNA – The following is an overview of human rights violations in Iran on December 5th, 2018 based on the information compiled and verified by Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRNA).

Al-Monitor – Despite mounting criticisms, member of parliament Mohammad Reza Aref — a one-time presidential candidate — was recently re-elected as the chairman of the Reformists’ Supreme Council for Policymaking, an appointment that may widen the gaps within the Reformist camp and further diminish its social capital.

Al-Monitor – The Iranian government implemented a new retirement law in September intended to abolish a decades-long practice of re-employing public sector managers already past retirement age, making room for young Iranians in the sector.

Al-Monitor – Relations between Iran and Turkey have been on a positive trend ever since Turkey’s Justice and Development Party came to power in 2002. Yet, although the two neighbors have experienced tensions at times, those tensions have never surpassed a certain level.

Radiofarda – A prominent member of the Islamic Republic’s Cultural and Social Council for Women is defending child marriage, arguing it protects girls from a life of prostitution and illegal abortions.

Al-Arabia – After its repeated threats of disrupting other countries’ oil shipment through the Gulf, if Washington presses ahead with efforts to halt Iranian oil export, the US administration responded on Tuesday to Iran, where it dismissed any possibility of disruption in the navigation movement and rejected Tehran’s provocations in the region.

Radiofarda – Despite the ongoing U.S. sanctions on Iran, India continues to be one of the chief importers of Iranian oil. Indeed, the state owned petrochemical corporation Indian Oil is set to import up to 9 million barrels of Iranian oil in December.That is more than 20 percent of current Iranian oil exports.

Radiofarda – The Israeli News Agency (INA) reported on 3 December that The Israeli Defence Force (IDF) was “on highest alert as operation Northern Shield to destroy Hezbollah tunnels was under way.”