Social and Political

Al-Arabia – The UK is considering sending drones to the Gulf amid an ongoing crisis with Iran, Sky News reportedMonday. The unmanned aircraft would provide surveillance above the Arabian Gulf. The UK’s Royal Air Force (RAF) has a number of Reaper drones based in nearby Kuwait and flying over Iraq and Syria. These could be re-tasked if the decision to deploy …

VOA – Iran is for the first time acknowledging that a rocket explosion took place at its Imam Khomeini Space Center, with an official saying a technical malfunction caused the blast. Government spokesman Ali Rabiei made the statement on Monday in comments broadcast by Iranian state television. He said the explosion caused no fatalities and also that officials had found no sign …

VOA – Iran said Monday it will take a “strong step” away from the 2015 international nuclear deal if European countries do not take steps to help it bypass U.S. sanctions on its oil sales. Government spokesman Ali Rabiei said “Iran’s oil should be bought and its money should be accessible to return to Iran.” Iranian officials have set a …

gatestoneinstitute.org – Both President George W Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair told me at different times that they had identified “men with whom we can work” in Tehran and that the key to success was getting rid of Khamenei and his “hardliners.” [W]hether we like it or not, it is Khamenei, and not Rafsanjani, Khatami or Rouhani, who …

radiofarda – Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that Israel was prepared for any scenario after a cross-border clash with Lebanon’s Hezbollah but neither side seemed eager for another conflict. Israel’s military said anti-tank missiles from Lebanon targeted an army base and vehicles and that it responded with fire into southern Lebanon, after a week of growing tension raised …

radiofarda – Iran’s presidential chief of staff says deputy foreign minister Abbas Araqchi and a delegation will visit Paris on Monday September 2, to deal with “the proposal being discussed between Iran and France”. President Hassan Rouhani’s chief of staff Mahmoud Vaezi without providing further information told state television, “An economic delegation comprised of various departments will take part in …

radiofarda – Tensions are growing between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon, as its leader Hassan Nasrallah said a response to Israeli drones is for certain as Israel heightened troop readiness on its northern border. In a speech on Saturday, Nasrallah insisted a response to an alleged Israeli drone attack a week ago has been decided. It is not clear …

radiofarda – President Hassan Rouhani spoke with French counterpart Emmanuel Macron Saturday, warning him Iran would take the next step in reducing its nuclear commitments unless Europe lives up to its own undertakings. Macron has been leading efforts to de-escalate tensions between Tehran and Washington, aiming at arranging a face-to-face meetings between President Donald Trump and Rouhani. But Rouhani has …

rferl.org – French President Emmanuel Macron has urged Iranian President Hassan Rohani to show restraint amid rising tensions in the region, while the Iranian leader called on Europe to take measures to keep the 2015 nuclear deal alive. Macron’s office on August 31 said the French leader in a phone call asked Iran to “take necessary measures” to encourage negotiations …

In an effort to grasp the extent of human rights violations in Iran, it is almost impossible, not to come across the numerous groups of minorities in the country. With its 80 million people approximately 50-60% comprise of Persians, leaving around 40-50% of the Iranian population belonging to an ethnic minority group. These numbers are to compare with 30% in …