Al-Monitor – Iranian President Hassan Rouhani concluded his three-day trip to Iraq, departing from Najaf airport on the evening of March 13. On his last day, he met with Iraq’s top Shiite cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani. During the meeting, Sistani highlighted the importance of respecting Iraqi sovereignty. “Iraq faces three important challenges: fighting corruption, improving services and keeping weapons in the hands of the state,” …

PayvandNews – Persian New Year Norooz is around the corner. This is a festive occasion for Iranians and many other countries in the region. There are many local cheerful customs associated with Norooz. One such custom is called “Norooz Khani” which is performed in some of the villages and towns.  Photos by Marjohn Sheikhi, Mehr News Agency On the last Wednesday of the year, people …

Radiofarda – Several powerful organizations including a financial empire and a foundation under the aegis of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, got the go-ahead from the Tehran Municipality to build “garden towers” in the gardens in and around the Iranian capital; a project that would destroy at least one third of Tehran’s rare and precious green areas. The gardens are …

Radiofarda -Those who opt to become organ donors will be entitled to a free burial plot when they die, the Islamic Republic’s Health Ministry has announced. “To promote a culture of organ donation, plot 305 at [Tehran’s main cemetery] Behesht-e Zahra has been allocated to people who volunteer to donate their organs,” Health Ministry transplantation department head Mehdi Shadnoush told …

Radiofarda – Hours after terror attacks against Muslims praying in Mosques in New Zealand, Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has sharply condemned Western countries for “hypocrisy of defending demonization of Muslims as ‘freedom of expression’”. In a tweet, Zarif also included a photo of U.S. President Donald Trump grabbed from a news footage, with printed words, “I think Islam hates …

Radiofarda – Israel’s Shin Bet security service suspects Iran of hacking the mobile phone of Benny Gantz, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s toughest rival in the April 9 election, an Israeli television station reported on Thursday. Gantz, a former chief of Israel’s armed forces, was informed of the hack five weeks ago, Channel 12 said, adding that the Shin Bet believed …

Radiofarda – There are no better treats for Norooz (Iranian New Year, March 21) celebrations than dry nuts and sweets for offering to visiting family and friends, but this year, prices for nuts have gone beyond the reach of most Iranians. A kilo (2.2 pounds) of Grade A local pistachio goes for more than $15, based on free market exchange …

Al-Arabia – Saudi Arabia’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel al-Jubeir said that the resolution of the Syrian crisis will lead to the withdrawal of Iranian forces and militias from the region. He was speaking in Brussels at the conference on “Supporting the future of Syria and the region” at the European Council on Thursday.In his speech, Al-Jubeir said …

RFL/RE — The European Parliament has urged Iran to stop criminalizing the work of women’s rights activists and reiterated its call on the country’s authorities to “immediately and unconditionally” release prominent human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh. In a resolution adopted on March 14, the lawmakers urged Iran to release “all human rights defenders, prisoners of conscience, and journalists detained and …

VOA – Iran’s Supreme Leader ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Thursday told member of the country’s Assembly of Experts “not to be at each other’s throats over this or that convention or agreement.” Khamenei was most probably referring to international anti-money laundering and anti-corruption conventions demanded by the international watchdog, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), a multilateral agency based in …