Radiofarda – Three weeks after the start of anti-government protests in Iran there are still conflicting reports on the number of arrests made by security forces. A member of the Iranian Parliament Hossein Naqavi Hosseini put the number at 7,000 as one of the official accounts. Iranian Judiciary officials have refused to provide any figures. It appears that they will …

Radiofarda – The Iranian President Hassan Rouhani’s call for airing the “confessions of the rioters” on Wednesday means a number of individuals will soon appear on the state-run television (IRIB) to “confess” they were instructed and paid by foreign powers, the former royal family of Iran or Mujahedin-e Khalq Organization (MKO) to try to topple the regime by diverting the …

Radiofarda – In a move reminiscent of mourning days for “martyrs” in the months leading up to the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Iranian activists have declared Thursday and Saturday public mourning days. Several adolescents who were killed in Iran’s November protests. “On Thursday we will gather at the graves of these loved ones, dressed in black, to lay flowers on their …

Radiofarda – The son of Iranian Supreme Leader’s representative in Manchester has been selected by Liberal Democrats as a candidate to run for a seat in the British parliament. Ali Avaei who has been a member of the Liberal Democratic party for more than a decade immigrated to Great Britain in 2001. He is running for Newcastle upon Tyne Central …

Radiofarda – Iran’s currency rial lost more value Wednesday against major currencies reaching a low of 130,100 against the U.S. dollar. One month ago, the rial was trading at around 120,000 to the dollar, but since an increase in gasoline prices and widespread anti-government protests in November, the currency has steadily lost about 8 percent of its value. Each euro …

Radiofarda – An NY-based Iranian anti-compulsory-hijab activist, Masih Alinejad has filed a lawsuit against the Islamic Republic Judiciary and its Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, as well as the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC). Alinejad, who lives in exile in New York, has sued them in a U.S. Federal Court for threatening her mother and arresting her brother in September. Speaking …

Radiofarda – Iran’s president Hassan Rouhani claimed in a speech on Wednesday that some of the protesters who took to the streets across Iran in November had been “organized” by forces outside the country and promised Iranians that their “confessions will be aired” soon. Speaking at a seminar at Tehran’s Milad Tower the Iranian President alleged that these groups had …

Al-Arabia – Iran’s supreme leader has agreed that people killed in nationwide unrest last month who had no role in fomenting it should be treated as “martyrs” with their families compensated. Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was responding to a report on the protests made by Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, his official website said Wednesday. He ordered that its recommendations “be implemented …

Al-Arabia – Iran is using the current upheaval in Iraq to secretly move and stockpile short-range ballistic missiles in its neighboring country, the New York Times reports citing US intelligence and military officials. “Intelligence officials would not discuss the precise model of ballistic missile Iran has sneaked into Iraq. But short-range missiles have a range of just over 600 miles, …

Al-Arabia – Large numbers of protesters have been reported entering Baghdad’s Tahrir Square as protests continue in the country, according to Iraqi TV. Demonstrations which began in early October have continued to engulf much of Baghdad and the south, resulting in the resignation of Prime Minister Adil Abdul Mahdi. Politicians are currently discussing the formation of a new government. According …