VOA— Recent comments by a senior Iranian official about the possibility of deporting Afghan refugees living in the country has drawn widespread criticism from governments and rights groups. Seyed Abbas Araghchi, Iran’s deputy foreign minister, said last week that his country would consider asking Afghan refugees to leave Iran if the United States continued to put economic pressure on Tehran. …

VOA — German Chancellor Angela Merkel says that Europe needs to “reposition” itself in a changing world and is welcoming European powers’ unity over Iran, a contrast with their deep divisions over the Iraq war 16 years ago. Merkel said in an interview with Germany’s daily Sueddeutsche Zeitung released Wednesday that Europe needs “forward-looking” arguments and stressed that “simply pointing …

gatestoneinstitute – It was Iran, not the US, that breached international law by carrying out the US Embassy takeover in Tehran…. It was also Iran, not the US, that immediately began using its proxies, such as Hezbollah, to commit terrorism and incite antagonism towards America. Should the mullahs be appeased for killing thousands of Americans? For continually taking Americans as …

CHRI – Citing domestic Islamic religious decrees and common law, Isfahan city prosecutor Ali Isfahani announced on May 14, 2019, a ban on female bicyclists. “Based on fatwas by religious scholars as well as the law, bicycling by women in public spaces is a sinful act,” Isfahani told the state-funded Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA). The prosecutor also announced that an “Office …

Al-Monitor – Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Iran will force the United States to retreat by “resistance,” which he described as the only option against unrelenting US pressure. During a meeting with the country’s top political elites, including President Hassan Rouhani and parliamentary speaker Ali Larijani, Khamenei​ dismissed the possibility that the United States and Iran would go to war, stating that the Americans understand that any such conflict …

PayvandNews – Belgian coach Marc Wilmots has been named as new head coach of Iran national football team, Mehdi Taj, the president of the Football Federation of Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI), said. The 50-year-old coach will take charge of Team Melli until the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Wilmots is reportedly asking for an annual salary of US$ 1.5 million …

Shabtabnews – Yesterday US senate held across party meeting on human rights of violations of the Iranian regime. In particular, in the meeting, that was chaired by Sam Brownback, the United States Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom, there were discussion on human rights violations committed by the Iranian regime against religious minorities in Iran. Sam Brownback, and Hamid Gharagozloo During …

Radiofarda – Several Democrats and Republicans in the U.S. Congress have demanded more information form the administration on current tensions with Iran on May 14. In recent days, the U.S. has dispatched more forces to the Middle East citing possible threats from Iran and its proxies, with concern rising of an inadvertent escalation that could draw the region into a …

Radiofarda – Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei says a war with America is not likely to happen. He also reiterates that Iran is not going to negotiate with the United States over Tehran’s nuclear program. Speaking during a meeting with Iranian state officials in Tehran on Tuesday May 14, Khamenei likened negotiation with America to “poison”. “There will be …

Radiofarda – A prominent Iranian physicist and human rights activists, Nargess Mohammadi, who is a political prisoner, has been taken from prison to hospital to undergo surgery. Ms. Mohammadi’s husband, Taqi Rahmani twitted on Tuesday, May 14, “Lung specialists and gynecologists had suggested a year ago that her wife must immediately undergo surgery for hysterectomy.” Taqi Rahmani, who lives in …