Radiofarda – The Taliban discussed Afghanistan’s “post-occupation situation” with Iran in their latest meeting, the group said Tuesday, as Tehran makes a more concerted and open push for peace ahead of a possible US drawdown.

Radiofarda – The chairman of Iran’s national security and foreign policy commission has said that his country’s economic balance sheet in Iraq is “negative”, and Turkey and Saudi Arabia have assumed a larger economic role, IRNA reported on January 1.

Radofarda – Iran coach Carlos Queiroz has demanded a high-intensity start from his top-ranked team in next month’s Asian Cup opener against debutants Yemen.

Radiofarda – Days after Iran’s foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said that no Iranian official has ever called for the destruction of Israel, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has said that “The establishment of a Palestinian government will be realized in Tel Aviv”.

Al-Arabia – Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday that Arab countries viewed Israel as an “indispensable ally” fighting Iran and ISIS extremist group.

Al-Arabia – Iran could use its growing clout in Iraq to turn it into a springboard for attacks against Israel, the chief of Israeli military intelligence said on Monday.

Iran-HRM – Executive director for Organizing Jobs in Tehran said that they would use force against Tehran’s street peddlers, the state-run ILNA news agency reported on December 30, 2018.

Iran-HRM – The third day of protests over a deadly campus bus crash in downtown Tehran turned violent today with reports of police firing tear gas and attacking the protesters.

RFL/RE 0 By appointing a conservative ally to head the influential Expediency Council, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei appears to have made a move to strengthen the hard-line camp and weaken the moderates — and also may have cleaned up his line of succession.

HRANA – The following is an overview of human rights violations in Iran on December 31th, 2018 based on the information compiled and verified by Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA).