iranintl.com – Since assuming the position of Supreme Leader of Iran in 1989, Ali Khamenei has steadfastly adhered to his ‘no-talks, no-détente’ policy towards the US, a pivotal element of his strategic approach. This does not mean that the Iranian government refrained from clandestine and overt sporadic negotiations with the United States, undertaken with specific objectives to safeguard its interests. …

voanews.com – Iranian state-backed hackers interrupted TV streaming services in the United Arab Emirates in December to broadcast a deepfake report on the Israel-Hamas war, Microsoft said this week. Hackers led by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps interfered in streaming platforms in the UAE with a news broadcast generated by artificial intelligence. The pseudo news anchor showed unverified photos that …

rferl.org – Like two heavyweight boxers, the United States and Iran circle the ring — flexing their muscles without stepping close enough to actually trade blows. It is clear that neither wants to fight, but they also have no interest in settling their stark differences. That is how experts say Washington and Tehran have dealt with each other for more …

rferl.org – Since Israel launched its war in the Gaza Strip, Iranian-backed militant groups have attacked Israeli and U.S. targets across the Middle East in a show of support for Palestinians. While Iran has flexed its muscles in the region since the war erupted in October, Tehran has avoided taking direct military action against Israel and its key ally, the …

rferl.org – Meta has removed accounts run by the office of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Instagram and Facebook for posts in support of the Palestinian group Hamas, which is designated as a terrorist organization by the United States and the European Union. “We have removed these accounts for repeatedly violating our Dangerous Organizations & Individuals policy,” a …

iranintl – Iran’s Jews and non-Muslims have been forced to attend celebrations of the Islamic revolution as the regime continues to fight for credibility on the eve of upcoming elections. On the Iranian Jewish community’s Telegram channel, the community wrote publicly about its “enthusiastic presence” at the event last month. The event was attended by figures such as the head …

iranintl – Iranian media and observers say the detention of journalists at a liberal-leaning media office might be linked to a recent revelation about Iran’s international clandestine fund transfers. On Monday evening, security forces raided the offices of Farda-ye Eghtesad, an economic website, and detained 30 journalists, including senior editors, holding them incommunicado inside the building overnight. They also confiscated all office …

Iranwire – A young Iranian protester who sustained an eye injury during the 2022 nationwide protests has been kept behind bars for weeks despite experiencing severe pain, his lawyer says.  Payam Derfashan, the legal counsel representing Amir Velayati, said on February 7 that his client is being kept in the general ward of Tehran’s Evin prison.  “This individual continues to suffer …

Iranwire – Iranian authorities have arrested at least 10 Azeri activists over the past three days, IranWire has learned, amid a growing crackdown on ethnic minority rights. No information was immediately available regarding the reasons for the arrests or the charges the activists face.  Those apprehended include Morteza Parvin, Saeed Minaei, Vodod Asadi, Salar Taherafshar, Ayaz Seifkhah, Baqer Hajizadeh, Saeed …

Iranwire – Iranian authorities have reportedly released three suspects jailed in the so-called Ekbatan case related to the death of a security force member during the 2022 nationwide protests. Reza Shafakhah, the lawyer representing one of the accused, Hossein Nemati, announced on February 7 that his client had been released on bail from Karaj’s Ghezelhesar prison, near Tehran. Some reports …