Guardian – One of Iran’s most popular female actors has bluntly criticised the government in Tehran in a post on Instagram, telling her almost 6 million followers that “we are not citizens” but “captives”. Taraneh Alidoosti – who has appeared in an Oscar-nominated film and acclaimed TV dramas – made her comments on Sunday, as Iranians took to the streets in a series of …

PayvandNews – An increasing number of Iranian filmmakers, performing artists, and musicians have been boycotting an annual state sponsored festival as Iran is overwhelmed by a new wave of protests during the past days. Meanwhile several presenters and actors have left the state TV in protest to the downing of a civilian passenger aircraft that claimed 176 lives and the …

PayvandNews – Anniversaries are important; they celebrate legacies and signify presence and continuity. This year, 2020, marks the 1000th anniversary of Ferdowsi’s death. This renowned Persian poet died at age 81 in 1020, more than five centuries before Shakespeare was born. Ferdowsi has not only endured for a thousand years but has also defined the very identity and language of his …

Radiofarda – The Foreign and Commonwealth Office of Britain on Monday summoned the Iranian ambassador to explain why the British envoy in Tehran was detained by the police in violation of international conventions. Hamid Baeidinejad was summoned after Rob Macaire was held by police on Saturday after attending a vigil for the victims of the Ukrainian plane shot down last …

Radiofarda – Speaking to his cabinet Sunday January 12, the Israeli Prime Minister referred to the latest developments in Iran, praising the courage of Iranians who are again protesting against the Islamic Republic. “They (Iranians) deserve freedom; they deserve liberty; they deserve the ability to live in security and peace – all of the things that this regime is preventing …

Radiofarda – Iranian legislators have insisted in a statement that “the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) downing of a Ukrainian airliner outside Tehran” was a “family member’s mistake,” and they would not allow “enemies” to “exploit it” in their favor. The statement, signed by 186 members of Majles and read out in the Iranian parliament on Sunday, has praised the …

Al-Arabia – Several people were injured after protests in Iran’s capital city Tehran turned violent on Sunday night, with security forces arresting demonstrators who had taken to the streets to protest against the Iranian regime. Demonstrations erupted across the country after the Iranian regime admitted a civilian airplane was accidentally hit by a missile, killing all 176 people on board. Iran had initially …

Al-Arabia – Donald Trump warned Iran on Sunday against killing protesters who have risen up over the regime’s downing of a civilian airliner as his defense secretary left the door open to talks with Tehran without preconditions. Trump’s salvo came as Iran’s Islamic regime faced a challenge from angry street protests, having come to the brink of war with the …

Al-Arabia – Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, his voice sometimes breaking, on Sunday told a vigil for some of those killed in an Iranian plane disaster that he would “pursue justice and accountability” for what happened. Iran says it mistakenly shot down a Ukrainian airliner on Wednesday, killing 176 people. Fifty-seven Canadians died, most of them of Iranian descent, in …

Al-Arabia – Lebanon’s Hezbollah said on Sunday it was time for Iran’s allies to begin working to retaliate for the killing of Major General Qassem Soleimani though it would be a “long path” to the goal of ejecting US forces from the region. Hassan Nasrallah also denied the Iranian general had been planning to blow up US embassies. US President …