Radiofarda – In next Iranian budget $800 million has been set aside to deal with the mess created by unlicensed credit institutions; a considerable burden for a country in the throes of an economic crisis.

Radiofarda  – U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo vowed Monday that the Islamic State group would not be allowed to regroup as he headed to the Middle East following President Donald Trump’s surprise decision to pull US troops from Syria.

Al-Arabia – Ali Motahari, the deputy speaker of Iran’s parliament, called for a nationwide referendum about the compulsory wearing of the hijab (headscarf) on Monday, adding that he was positive the results would be for the hijab.

Iran-HRM – The Intelligence Department has been pressuring a labor activist to withdraw his torture charges, his lawyer said.

Iran-HRM – A man was publicly flogged on January 6, in the country’s southern Sistan-Baluchistan province.

RFL/RE – The European Union has voted to impose sanctions on the Iranian intelligence service and two Iranian citizens following accusations of Iranian attack plots in Denmark and France.

Al-Monitor – In the political sphere, Iran and Russia have interpreted the announced US withdrawal from Syria — be it tactical or strategic — as an American failure and an indication that their own policies have succeeded.

Al-Monitor – Iranian political prisoner and human rights activists Farhad Meysami has written an open letter from inside Iran’s Evin prison, criticizing his treatment at the hands of Iranian courts and rejecting stated US concerns for the human rights situation in Iran and for his own case in particular.

HRANA – The following is an overview of human rights violations in Iran on January 7th, 2019 based on the information compiled and verified by Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA).

Iran-HRM – Revolutionary Court Blocked Hamed Aynehvand From Using Lawyer of His Choice