Social and Political

iranintl – Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi visited the homes of four senior clerics in Qom last week to secure their backing for negotiations with the West as the country finds itself ever weaker on the world stage. State-run news outlets, including IRNA and ISNA, framed the visits as briefings on foreign policy and regional developments, highlighting Araghchi’s portrayal of the …

iranintl – Imprisoned critic of Iran’s Islamic government, Mostafa Tajzadeh, has accused Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei of fueling poverty and corruption in a letter written from Tehran’s Evin Prison. “After 35 years of Khamenei’s rule, Iranians enjoy neither development nor prosperity; they have neither freedom nor justice,” he said in his letter shared with several media outlets. Frequently described as …

iranintl – Israel’s internal security service Shin Bet assesses that Iran is behind more than 200 phishing attempts against senior Israeli officials, according to a report in the Times of Israel on Monday. The scope of the targets was not limited to political figures, the newspaper reported citing officials from the agency, it allegedly also included Israeli media personalities, journalists …

iranintl – Iranian president and his Russian counterpart discussed the situation in Syria during a phone call on Monday with both leaders expressing their commitment to supporting the Syrian government amidst escalating rebel offensives. “The focus was on the escalating situation in the Syrian Arab Republic,” the Kremlin said, adding that “unconditional support was expressed for the actions of the …

iranintl – Discussions to lift sanctions on Syria’s long-time president to lure him away from Tehran are underway between the US and UAE, according to Reuters. Leaders from the two nations have been in discussions for several months, according to the report, long before last week’s offensive which saw rebel Islamist groups take control of Syria’s second city, Aleppo. The …

Iranwire – The approval of the “Hijab and Chastity” bill in the Islamic Republic’s Parliament has triggered a wave of public anger and condemnation across the Iran. Citizens, activists, and many social commentators have criticized the law, which enforces strict dress code regulations and imposes severe penalties for non-compliance. The law, which mandates strict dress codes and introduces severe financial and social …

Al-Arabia – The Israeli military said on Monday it had attacked military vehicles operating in the vicinity of military infrastructure belonging to the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon’s Bekaa. Troops also attacked military vehicles used to transfer weapons near the border between Syria and Lebanon in Hermel, the Israeli military said in a statement, acknowledging that a Lebanese soldier was …

iranintl – Iran has cautioned that insecurity in Syria could have far-reaching consequences, intensifying instability across the region if not quashed. In a press briefing in Tehran on Monday, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said external influences in Syria exacerbate the situation, not acknowledging the influence Iran has wielded since the civil war of 2011. “Any insecurity in Syria will …

iranintl – As Syria’s political stability crumbles amid civil war in one of the biggest threats to President Bashar al-Assad since he took power in 2000, Iran-backed militias entered Syria overnight from Iraq. Ready to support Assad’s forces battling Islamist insurgents, they were heading to northern Syria according to Reuters, who spoke to two Syrian army sources. Chris Doyle, director …

iranintl – Iranian citizens warn the country’s new hijab law will tighten restrictions on personal freedoms while also serving as a tool for state-driven financial exploitation. In response to Iran International’s inquiry about how the new “Hijab and Chastity” bill will affect daily life in Iran, hundreds of voice messages from within the country reveal widespread frustration. Many of the …