RFL/RE – The United States has called on the European Union to place sanctions on individuals and entities working on Iran’s missile programs after Tehran said it successfully launched a military satellite. Washington also called on all countries to extend the United Nations conventional-arms embargo on Iran, saying the launch was proof the country’s space program was “neither peaceful nor …

gatestoneinstitute.org – Last January, no doubt underestimating the threat to France itself, President Emmanuel Macron made a gift of five million surgical masks to the People’s Republic. When it became clear, just three weeks later, that France itself might urgently need the masks, Beijing came out with a barrage of excuses to avoid restitution. And when the French agreed to …

Radiofarda – A newly elected Iranian lawmaker has denied his university degree is fake, admitting that the electoral commission in his province has expressed “uncertainty” about his diploma. Sina Kamalkhani was elected to parliament in February and will represent Tafresh, in Iran’s Central Province, when the new legislature is sworn in within weeks. Local news website Khabar Online says Kamalkhani …

Radiofarda – Britain says it is concerned over Iran’s launching of a military satellite and urged Tehran to uphold a United Nations resolution on refraining from such activities. “Reports that Iran has carried out a satellite launch using ballistic-missile technology are of significant concern and inconsistent with UN Security Council Resolution 2231,” the Foreign Office said in a statement on April 24. …

Radiofarda – The latest figures released by China’s customs show imports from Iran dropped 52.7 percent in the first quarter of 2020, reaching an all-time low of $1.8 billion. China released its trade figures on Friday April 24, showing its exports to Iran grew by 16 percent reaching over $2.1 billion, in the same quarter compared with 2019. The main …

Radiofarda – Speaking on a live program on Iran’s state-run TV on Thursday the Commander of the Guard’s Aerospace Force claimed the United States was planning to hit Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s residence in January. After the targeted killing of Qods Force Commander Major General Qassem Soleimani on Jnauary 3, President Donald Trump threatened in a tweet that the U.S. …

Radiofarda – Amid concerns about a second wave of the coronavirus outbreak in Iran as a result of an early end to social distancing, officials are considering the re-opening of cinemas and religious centers. Meanwhile, President Hassan Rouhani is under political pressure by influential supporters and opponents of an early end to social distancing. Local officials in the three provinces …

RFL/RE – Millions of Muslims around the world are now abstaining from eating and drinking from dawn until sunset to mark the holy month of Ramadan, which concludes in late May. The Islamic month of fasting is when Muslims believe the Koran was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad and is about togetherness. It is marked by joyful group “iftars,” where …

Iran-HRM – Iranian authorities executed a Baluchi political prisoner today in Zahedan, in Southeast Iran.Abdulvaset Dahani, 30, charged with moharebeh (enmity with God) was hanged today in Zhedan Prison. He had been on death row since four year ago.His family were allowed to go to the prison on Wednesday for a final visit.Abdulvaset Dahani was arrested in June 2016 and was later …

RFL/RE – President Hassan Rohani has called on Iran’s armed forces to seek regional stability while maintaining vigilance against “provocations.” The comments on April 24 came after days of rising tensions between Iran and the United States centered on threats involving the two countries’ ships in the Persian Gulf.Rohani was quoted by state television as telling his defense minister that …