Social and Political

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 …

alarabiya – 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. Tensions have spiked in the Gulf since May last year when President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew the US from a nuclear deal between Iran and world powers …

radiofarda – Chairman of the Iranian Eulogists Basij Organization says security forces have arrested “A number of eulogists trained in Israel to dishonor Shiite Ashura ceremonies.” Eulogists (preachers or maddahs in Persian) sing in religious gathering and ceremonies in Iran. The regime has been using eulogists, usually hardliners with strict faith in the government-approved brand of Shiism to suppress dissent …

radiofarda – In a new report the U.N. nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) announced Friday that the Islamic Republic has remained in violation of limitations set by the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) or Tehran’s 2015 nuclear deal with world powers. “Iran’s stockpile of low-enriched uranium still exceeds the amount allowed by the JCPOA,” the agency …

radiofarda – In a concerted effort, Friday Prayer Imams across Iran in their sermons on Friday condemned any attempt to hold talks with the United States, saying that “Negotiating with America is insane.” According to Mehr News agency, several Friday Prayer Imams including those in the cities of Tehran, Qazvin, Natanz and Kashan have used more or less the same …

radiofarda – An Iranian oil tanker at the center of a confrontation between Washington and Tehran changed course again on Friday and instead of Turkey, was heading to Lebanon, Turkey’s Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Friday. Earlier, tanker-tracking data showed Adrian Darys, formerly Grace 1 was heading to Turkey’s Iskandarun port, but Cavusoglu said, “This tanker is not heading …

rferl.org – An Iranian official has said that a rocket exploded on its launch pad at the Imam Khomeini Space Center ahead of a planned launch, the apparent third failed launch this year by Tehran. An Iranian official quoted by Reuters said the incident was caused by “some technical issues and it exploded but our young scientists are working to …

rferl.org – WASHINGTON — The United States has announced a set of sanctions in Lebanon and Oman targeting the financing of the Iran-backed Hizballah militant group, which opposes Israel.The Treasury Department on August 29 said it was sanctioning the Lebanon-based Jammal Trust Bank “for supporting Hizballah’s illicit financial and banking activities.”The action declared Jammal Trust a Specially Designated Global Terrorist …

radiofarda – DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A rocket at an Iranian space center that was to conduct a satellite launch criticized by the U.S. apparently exploded on its launch pad Thursday, satellite images show, suggesting the Islamic Republic suffered its third failed launch this year alone. State media and officials did not immediately acknowledge the incident at the …

radiofarda – Israel accused Iran on Thursday of stepping up efforts to provide its Hezbollah allies in Lebanon with precision-guided missile production facilities, a veiled warning to Beirut that Israeli counter-strikes could escalate. Israel and Hezbollah, which last fought a war in 2006, are on high alert after Israeli drones were used at the weekend to attack what a security …