Social and Political

Iran Human Rights (IHR)- Iranian civil activists Yasaman Aryani, Monireh Arabshahi and Mojan Keshavarz, have been sentenced to long prison terms by Branch 28 of the Islamic Revolutionary Courts. They are all held in Qarchak (Gharchak) Prison. They were transferred to the court on July 31, 2019, to receive the verdict without the presence of their lawyers.  Each of the …

Al-Monitor – Iran’s Planning and Budget Organization is seeking to reduce the government budget’s direct dependence on oil revenues. Budget deficits, foreign exchange reserve imbalances and extra liquidity were cited in a recent report by the organization as major factors damaging the Iranian economy over the years. The US maximum pressure campaign on Iran’s economy has drastically reduced the country’s foreign exchange earnings from …

Taking part of and reading about the countless women, men and indeed juveniles being imprisoned in Iran for various reasons one cannot help but wonder at the number of prisoners calling out for medical treatment and in many cases for quite serious conditions. Dr Ahmadreza Djalali, dual Swedish-Iranian citizen, imprisoned in Iran since 2016. Concerns grew into suspicions as Ahmadreza …

Radiofarda – During recent weeks Iran’s hardliners dominating the state have been increasingly tightening enforcement of unwritten rules concerning compulsory hijab. As the Islamic Republic is plagued by financial corruption, discriminatory practices and rising crime figures as a result of mismanagement and chaotic clerical rule in its four-decade history, hijab is the only thing that gives the Iranian government its …

Radiofarda – The United States said Wednesday it was extending waivers for three civilian nuclear projects in Iran, despite Washington’s withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear agreement.“This is a short 90 day extension,” said White House National Security Advisor John Bolton, a champion of the hawkish policy towards Tehran.“We are watching those nuclear activities very, very closely, they remain under daily …

Radiofarda – The UN nuclear watchdog said Thursday it had fixed the timetable for the election of a new director general following the death of Yukiya Amano two weeks ago.Member states decided that nominations would be received until September 5, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said following a special meeting of its board of governors in Vienna.“The Board expects …

RFL/RE – The U.S. ambassador to Germany chided Chancellor Angela Merkel’s government for its reluctance to join a U.S.-led maritime patrol mission in the Strait of Hormuz, saying Europe’s biggest economy must take on more responsibility.U.S.-German relations have languished since U.S. President Donald Trump took office over differences on such issues as defense spending, trade tariffs, Iran, and the Russian-led …

VOA – Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Thursday called the move by the United States to sanctions Iran’s foreign minister “childish.” In a televised speech, Rouhani said the United States claims to want to negotiate with Iran without any preconditions, “and then they sanction the foreign minister.” “This is obviously a highly unusual action,” a senior Trump administration official acknowledged …

RFL/RE — The United States on July 31 imposed restrictive measures on Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif, freezing his assets in the United States or controlled by U.S. entities, the U.S. Treasury Department announced. Restrictions on Iran’s nuclear program were also extended, the Secretary of State’s press office said in a statement. “Zarif implements the reckless agenda of Iran’s supreme leader, …

VOA – Germany has rejected the U.S. call to join an international mission to protect maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz. The United States had asked Germany to join France and Britain in a mission to secure shipping through the strait,  the narrow maritime passage through which international tankers transport at least a fifth of the world’s crude oil …