RFL/RE – Iran has started using advanced centrifuges to enrich uranium, the UN’s nuclear watchdog says, in a further breach of its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers.Advanced centrifuges “were accumulating, or had been prepared to accumulate, enriched uranium,” the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said in the report to member states cited by Western news agencies on September …

Sitting back comfortably in what many of his fellow Iranian officials regard as enemy territory, President Hassan Rohani was seen laughing aloud and clapping during a meeting with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. The moment — on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York on September 24 — was captured by photographers and widely shared on social …

VOA – Iranian President Hassan Rouhani urged the United States on Thursday to “cease this policy of maximum pressure” in favor of “dialogue, and logic and reason.” Rouhani’s comments came one day after he accused Washington of engaging in “international piracy” against Iran by re-imposing economic sanctions after the U.S. withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers. Since …

Iran Human Rights (IHR) – At least five prisoners were hanged this morning at Rajai-Shahr prison near the Iranian capital, Tehran.  According to IHR sources, on the morning of Wednesday, September 25, 2019, At least five people were executed at Rajai-Shahr prison near the Iranian capital, Tehran. Four of them were sentenced to death for murder charged and one for …

Iran Human Rights (IHR) – A prisoner was executed on August 4 in Maragheh prison. His family was informed 45 days after the execution. According to IHR sources, on the morning of August 4, 2019, a prisoner was hanged at the central prison of the Iranian city of Maragheh. His identity was revealed by sources as Jafar (Kazem) Seyedhosseini, from …

CHRI – Man Pressured to Make False Confession, Charged With National Security Crimes for Running Peaceful Baha’i Social Media Channels A Baha’i woman started serving a prison sentence and a Baha’i man was charged with national security crimes for his peaceful social media activities amidst the Iranian judiciary’s ongoing persecution campaign against the minority faith. Mitra Badrnejad (Zohdi), 51, reported …

PayvandNews – Iranian weightlifter Reza Dehdar has pulled off a stunning performance to claim a gold and a bronze medal in the 102 kg category at the 2019 World Weightlifting Championships in Thailand. Iranian weightlifter Reza Dehdar Dehdar, who wasn’t actually considered to be a prospect in this division, finished the snatch in 6th place with 175 kilograms to his …

Radiofarda – Following an attack on the pavilion of the Free-Thinking Association of Allameh Tabatabaei University by hardliner students in Iran, the president of the college, Hossein Salimi, has promised to discipline all involved. However, Salimi immediately added that the students should also respect the “red lines” of the regime; a warning to independent students. Last Monday, September 23, members …

Radiofarda – A senior U.S. Treasury Department official has told Radio Farda in an interview September 25 that Iran’s Central Bank was recently sanctioned for “funneling billions of U.S. dollars and euros to finance terror”. Sigal Mandelker, Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence said the United States has exposed the activities of Central Bank of Iran …

Radiofarda – Iran’s central bank chief has said all trade with Russia takes place in national currencies and 30-40 percent of trade with Turkey also is in national currencies, with the rest in euros. U.S sanctions imposed in 2018 bar trade with in using the dollar system, limiting Iran’s ability to conduct imports and exports, slowing its economy further on …