Radiofarda – Public uproar over news that vast lands around Damavand Mountain, a national symbol was handed over to a religious endowment has forced the state to reverse its decision and return the land to government ownership. Hamshahri newspaper in Tehran reported on Sunday, July 26, that an official title deed had been issued to Iran’s Endowment and Charity Organization …

Radiofarda – Iran’s Deputy Health Minister Iraj Harirchi on Tuesday advised those who insist on holding Muharram ceremonies to wait for the Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and other sources of emulation to announce their view but insisted any indoor congregation will be “impossible”. The Supreme Leader himself has been in self-isolation since the breakout in February and has not appeared …

Radiofarda – While the latest customs data from China show no imports of Iranian oil in June, data intelligence firm Kepler told Radio Farda Iran has shipped oil to the Asian economic giant. Senior Kepler expert Homayoon Falakshahi said on July 28 that in early May the tanker Giessel with two million barrels of oil left for China and arrived …

Radiofarda – At the request of the Republic of Azerbaijan Russia handed over an individual accused of receiving “terrorist” training in Iran, TASS and Azerbaijani media reported July 28. Russian Federation Prosecutor General’s Office announced that Mehdi Shukurov, an Azerbaijani citizen sought by Baku was handed over for criminal prosecution. The accusation against Mr. Shukurov is that in 2016 he …

Radiofarda – As the coronavirus crisis in Iran shows no sign of abating, the clerical rulers have to decide what to do with upcoming religious ceremonies that are highly important for the regime both ideologically and in terms of financial interests of hardliners. As the mourning month of Muharram is approaching fast, medical and public health experts in Iran oppose …

RFL/RE – Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) has launched underground ballistic missiles as part of a drill involving a fake U.S. aircraft carrier during military exercises in the Strait of Hormuz, a day after the IRGC fired a missile from a helicopter targeting the same carrier.Drones separately targeted the bridge of the fake carrier, according to state TV on …

VOA – An Iranian internet activist sentenced to prison last year by a U.S.-sanctioned judge known for harsh treatment of dissidents has started serving a five-year jail term recently upheld by an appellate court.   In a Monday phone call with VOA Persian, an Iran-based source familiar with the case said activist Ataollah Rezaei surrendered himself the day before to …

Iran-HRM – The Great Tehran Penitentiary also known as Fashafuyeh Prison was built in 2015 primarily for holding suspects and inmates convicted of drug-related offenses. But the judiciary has unlawfully used it in the past years to incarcerate activists and dissidents. With an official capacity of 15,000 inmates, the prison, located in Tehran Province’s Fashafouyeh district, 20 miles southeast of …

Iran Human Rights (IHR) – Iran authorities have frozen the prominent human rights defender’s bank accounts. According to her family, none of the charges against Nasrin Sotoudeh were finance related. Iran Human Rights warns against the increasing pressure on human rights defenders and their families and calls for a response from Iranian civil society and the international community. Mahmood Amiry …

Al-Monitor – Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is conducting a series of large-scale military drills in Persian Gulf waters west of the Strait of Hormuz, the strategic passageway to some 20% of the global oil trade. According to the IRGC official website, Sepah News, the exercise is meant to evaluate the “operation preparedness and coordination” among different units, including naval …