Social and Political

Radiofarda – The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) commander described the suppression of the mid-November protests in Iran as a victory in an “all-out world war.” Many dismissed the comment as an “overstatement.” Nevertheless, what happened during the four-day deadly protests in Mahshahr County, in the oil-rich province of Khuzestan, southwest Iran, was at least reminiscent of the long and …

Al-Arabia – The Trump administration on Wednesday hit Iran with new sanctions that target several transportation firms as it continues its “maximum pressure campaign” against the regime over its nuclear and ballistic missile programs. https://vid.alarabiya.net/2019/12/11/uspomsdb1211ce921693/uspomsdb1211ce921693___uspomsdb1211ce921693_video.mp4 Washington targeted three general sales agents of Mahan Air over the role the airline has played in weapons of mass destruction proliferation, US Secretary of …

Iran-HRM – As the details of the crackdown on Iran protests are trickling out, we hear of horrific crimes committed against humanity including deaths under torture. At least 1,000 protesters have been killed during the November Iran protests, including several minors. 4,000 others have been injured and 12,000 have been taken to the regime’s prisons. The fate of many of …

RFL/RE – Iran says it has “repelled” a cyberattack on its e-governance infrastructure that was allegedly “state-sponsored,” according to the country’s telecommunications minister, Mohammad Javad Azari Jahromi, as cited by local media.The security attack was “highly organized,” he said, while adding that authorities were investigating its exact dimensions.The minister would not say which country allegedly attempted the attack or go …

VOA – Top American officials say the U.S. is hopeful that the recent prisoner exchange will lead to a broader discussion on consular affairs between the U.S. and Iran. In an interview with VOA on Wednesday, Brian Hook, the U.S. special representative for Iran, recalled some of the emotional moments of witnessing the release of Xiyue Wang, a Chinese American …

CHRI – Fifteen-year-old Mohammad Dastankhah was walking home from high school in the city of Shiraz, Fars Province when he was shot and killed by a bullet while local authorities were repressing street protests in his city. In an interview with the Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI), his sister Ghazal Dastankhah said the authorities had offered to pay …

gatestoneinstitute.org – President Trump has hastened the withdrawal of American forces from Syria, and is actively seeking to reduce America’s military presence elsewhere in the region, with troop withdrawals under active consideration in countries such as Iraq and Afghanistan. “Russia is always on standby to fill power voids. That is how it happened that Russian troops swept in when the …

Al-Monitor – Iranian and Japanese officials are reportedly finalizing the arrangements for a visit by President Hassan Rouhani to Japan. The host, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, has been leading a mediation drive aimed at resolving all-time-high tensions between Washington and Tehran over the Iran nuclear deal, also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). Without specifying a date, Abe said …

Radiofarda – People of Iran are tired of wasting their national wealth in proxy wars, the U.S. State Department Representative for Iran, Brian Hook said on Tuesday, December 10. Speaking at a Town Hall meeting at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) in Washington D.C., Hook insisted that the Maximum Pressure Campaign on Iran (MPCI) corresponds with what people …

AFP -The UN has been unable to confirm Iranian involvement in a dramatic attack on oil facilities in Saudi Arabia earlier this year, secretary-general Antonio Guterres said Tuesday. Drones and cruise missiles were used in the September bombardment, which knocked out half of the kingdom’s crude production and fueled a record surge in prices. Saudi officials, the United States and …