VOA – A U.S. Navy veteran, whose family said his only crime was falling in love, left Iran on Thursday after nearly two years of detention, winning his freedom as part of a deal that spared an American-Iranian physician any more time behind American bars. Michael White flew from Tehran to Zurich, where he was met by diplomat Brian Hook, the U.S. special envoy …

Al-Monitor – By opening two border crossings with Iran and Iraq, Turkey is seeking to boost the economy, and many businesses resume operations in the country this week.  Trucks are seen at the Habur border gate in this still taken from video in Habur, Turkey, Oct. 31, 2017. Photo by REUTERS TV/ via REUTERS. Turkey will reopen two border crossings with Iraq and …

Radiofarda – The Public Relations Department of Tehran Oil Refining and Distribution Company on Wednesday said a fire caused by a gasoline leak at Shahid Tondgouyan Refinery has killed one worker and injured another. A spokesman of the refinery in the south of Tehran on Wednesday told reporters that the fire which was caused by a gasoline leak has been …

Reuters – Iran has signed a two-year contract with Iraq to export electricity to the neighbouring country, Iranian state news agency IRNA on Thursday quoted the country’s Energy Minister Reza Ardakanian as saying. The agreement comes amid sanctions reimposed on Iran since 2018 which forbid countries from purchasing Iranian energy. U.S. President Donald Trump in 2018 exited Iran’s 2015 nuclear …

Radiofarda – President Hassan Rouhani on Wednesday said restrictions will be restored if warnings are not heeded and the coronavirus outbreak peaks again. “People and businesses must take officials’ warnings very seriously that there will be another peak if regulations and social distancing are not observed,” Rouhani said and warned that restrictions will be restored wherever the virus spreads quickly. …

Radiofarda – Iran’s regular Army on Tuesday claimed that “envious and hostile enemies” misrepresented the remarks of its Coordinating Deputy in an interview to damage the unity of the Army and the Revolutionary Guard. Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei decorated Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari with Fath medal on September 9, 2018. FILE PHOTO The statement released by the Army on June …

Radiofarda – In what appears to be candid remarks, Mohammad Qasemi, the head of the Iranian Parliament’s Research Center, has painted a bleak picture of Iran economy. He told parliament that structural flaws and weak management have plagued the Iranian economy during the past 40 years. Qasemi also warned that the potential for economic growth in Iran has been declining …

Al-Arabia – President Hassan Rouhani ordered the transfer of more than $30 billion through “smuggling gangs” to Iraqi Kurdistan in 2017, an Iranian lawmaker claimed on Tuesday. Rouhani oversaw the transfer of $36.1 billion to the city of Sulaymaniyah in Iraqi Kurdistan through “smuggling gangs” in 2017, MP Javad Karimi Ghodoosi said at a parliament session. “During a meeting at the …

Iran-HRM – An Ahwazi Arab prisoner held in solitary confinement in Sheiban Prison, Khuzestan province, has been denied medical treatment despite his critical condition and being placed under torture. Prisoner of conscience Jaber Alboshokeh needs medical care for injuries caused by beatings by security forces during the violent repression of protests that erupted in the prison on 31 March 2020 …

VOA – Israel says it has been considering requests by thousands of Iranians seeking to leave Iran and receive asylum or medical assistance in the Jewish state, a longtime foe of Iran’s Islamist rulers. In recent weeks, Israel’s Foreign Affairs Ministry has told local news outlets that its Persian social media channels have seen a surge in messages from Iranians …