Radiofarda – Pictures released from the Iranian cabinet ministers’ meetings with Khamenei, often also show little-known men in the back rows in a way as if they are watching the cabinet ministers as observers, or rivals of the actual ministers. They are Khamenei’s own ministers. A hidden government rooted in Khamenei’s office, with arms extending to almost every government institution. …

Radiofarda – Mediation efforts between the United States and Iran have received a boost with German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas announcing plans to visit Iran to prevent the country from leaving the nuclear agreement. The German foreign ministry announced June 6 that Maas will meet with the Iranian foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Monday during a Middle East tour. …

Radiofarda – Iran says European countries have failed to fulfil their obligations in the nuclear deal with Tehran, also called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). The Iranian Foreign Ministry has on Friday June 7 reacted to French President Emmanuel Macron’s remarks that were made on Thursday during a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump. Macron said U.S. and France follow the …

Radiofarda – Mehr news agency in Iran reported on Thursday June 6 that Pakistan has released 6 Iranian sailors who were detained in Pakistan. The agency reported that the sailors have returned to Iran. The sailors were arrested on the charges of illegal entry into Pakistan’s waters. However, they claim they were in international waters when they were arrested. According …

Al-Arabia – The United Arab Emirates told United Nations Security Council members on Thursday that attacks on four tankers off its coast on May 12 bore the hallmarks of a “sophisticated and coordinated operation,” most likely by a state actor.In a document on the briefing to Security Council members, the UAE, joined by Norway and Saudi Arabia, did not say …

Al-Arabia – Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is due to visit Iran next week in an apparent mediation mission to ease the tension between Iran and the United States.Following are some of the reasons for Abe’s June 12-14 trip, and what it might accomplish. Why is Abe going to Iran? Japan is in a unique position as a US ally …

VOA – U.S. President Donald Trump has called for U.S.-Iran talks for a second day to resolve mutual tensions — a prospect two U.S. allies hope to promote as they send senior envoys to Tehran for the first time in years. “I understand they want to talk, and we want to talk. That’s fine. We’ll talk,” Trump said Thursday, referring …

VOA — The state-run IRNA news agency is reporting that Iran’s minister of education has resigned to run for a seat in parliament in February 2020. IRNA said Thursday that President Hassan Rouhani approved Mohammad Bathaei’s resignation. Earlier, the semiofficial Tasnim news agency reported that Bathaei handed in his resignation to the president at a Cabinet meeting. The resignation comes after Iranian teachers …

RFL/RE – The top U.S. military commander in the Middle East says Tehran backed off an apparent attack against U.S. forces in the Persian Gulf region after the recent bolstering of American forces there, but he added that the threat from Tehran remains “very real.”General Frank McKenzie said on June 6 that Tehran has chosen to “step back and recalculate” …

Al-Monitor – May 1 is recognized by many governments across the world — including Iran — as International Workers’ Day and is celebrated in various forms. In Iran, May 2 is Teachers’ Day. Therefore, the beginning of May is of great importance for two large groups of Iranian wage earners. Following previous trends, this year witnessed demonstrations, both by teachers and by workers. However, the makeup …