Radiofarda – The United States and Greece have signed an updated defense-cooperation pact, a move Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said was not aimed against any one nation in the region, including Turkey. Nevertheless, Pompeo in remarks during his visit to Athens on October 5 cited “malign” Russian influence on NATO ally Greece and its neighbors and criticized Iran and …

rferl.org – Two travel-blogging Australians detained in Iran on spying allegations have been released by Tehran and all charges have been dropped, the Australian government says. Mark Firkin and Jolie King, who were arrested in July, have been freed following “very sensitive negotiations” with Tehran, Foreign Minister Marise Payne said in Canberra early on October 5. She added that they …

rferl.org – Iran has “guaranteed” that at least 3,500 female fans will be allowed into the stadium for an upcoming soccer match with Cambodia amid the “explicit demand” of the sport’s global governing body. State-run IRNA news agency said on October 4 in “conforming to the promises of the [Iranian] Football Federation and the explicit demand of FIFA, Iranian women …

rferl.org – A hacking group allegedly linked to the Iranian government has targeted a unidentified U.S. presidential campaign, Microsoft says. The high-tech, U.S.-based company said on October 4 that U.S. government officials, media targets, and prominent expatriate Iranians, were targeted as well. There has been no official response from Iran to Microsoft’s statement, which comes amid warnings from U.S. intelligence …

Radiofarda – Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Abbas Mousavi dismissed on Friday, October 4, French remarks about a Franco-Iranian dual national, Fariba Adelkhah, as a blatant “interference” in the Islamic Republic’s internal affairs. France’s foreign ministry on Thursday, October 3, officially demanded Iran release the French-Iranian dual national. Ms. Adelkhah, 60, is a France-educated anthropologist who has been researching director at …

Radiofarda – Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has always given the upper hand in foreign policy to the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) rather than the foreign ministry. However, his speech on Wednesday during a meeting with IRGC commanders was another step toward yet another omission of the foreign ministry and its diplomats from the heart of Iran’s foreign policy; that is the …

Reuters – Iran has improved its cooperation with the U.N. nuclear watchdog, the IAEA’s acting chief said on Friday, as it presses for answers to questions it will not spell out but that diplomats say include how uranium traces were found at an undeclared site.The International Atomic Energy Agency, which polices Iran’s nuclear deal with major powers, told Tehran last …

Radiofarda -In a matter of hours women in Tehran bought 3.500 tickets to watch the upcoming soccer match between their national team and Cambodia, after pressures by FIFA, the world governing body of football. For four decades Iran’s clerical rulers have not allowed women to enter stadiums and watch men’s sports competitions, especially football. But in the last few weeks, …

Radiofarda – As Iraqis defied government curfew and continued widespread protests on Thursday, the death toll climbed to more than 30 and Iran’s ambassador in Baghdad was summoned to the foreign ministry for provocative remarks he made last week. In a local television interview aired last Thursday, the ambassador Iraj Masjedi said Iran will not hesitate to target American forces …

Radiofarda – The representative of Tehran’s Prosecutor has charged the manager of an auto parts manufacturing company in Iran with “corruption on Earth,” punishable by death. Abbas Iravani (L) is a well-known business man and a major sponsor of religious activities in Iran, appearing in court. Undated The man charged is Abbas Iravani, a renowned businessman, a close confidant of …