Social and Political

Radiofarda – President Donald Trump denied a desire for regime change in Iran during his recent visit to Japan saying, “I know so many people from Iran, these are great people, it has a chance to be a great country, with the same leadership.” The denial appears to have annoyed Iranian opposition and affected the United States’ perceived reliability. Although …

Al-Arabia – The US special envoy for Iran, Brian Hook, said on Thursday that many feared attacks on US interests did not happen. “We think that Iran did get the message for the time being,” Hook said. Hook said there are doubts Iran will ever be able to set up “mirror image” for Europe’s Instex and that he doesn’t see …

VOA — Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister on Thursday urged Muslim nations to confront recent attacks in the region that the U.S. and its allies have blamed on Iran with “all means of force and firmness.” Ibrahim al-Assaf made the comments at a meeting of foreign ministers of the 57-nation Organization of Islamic Cooperation ahead of a series of summits in …

VOA – A U.S. cybersecurity company says a recently discovered pro-Iran social media network that engaged in deceptive targeting of Americans is more sophisticated than a similar campaign it identified last year. In a report published Tuesday, California-based FireEye said it recently uncovered a network of English-language social media accounts that engaged in “inauthentic behavior and misrepresentation” in support of “Iranian …

VOA – Leading U.S. defense and security officials warn Iran was getting ready to unleash a wave of attacks across the Middle East targeting the United States and its allies when the decision was made to send more troops to the region. Speaking separately, the acting secretary of defense and the country’s top-ranking general Wednesday defended intelligence reports suggesting Tehran …

Al-Monitor – Mitra Ostad, the second wife of former politician Mohammad Ali Najafi, was found dead in her northwest Tehran flat around noon May 28. According to a police report, the 35-year-old victim had been shot in the chest and an arm. As the story flooded news outlets and social media, perhaps few Iranians would have pointed the finger of blame toward a …

Al-Monitor – An oil tanker belonging to China’s state-owned Bank of Kunlun departed on May 16 from the Soroush oil terminal off the coast of Iran. Laden with 2 million barrels of crude, Pacific Bravo is now reportedly heading eastward, with China being the likely destination. If the oil is indeed offloaded in the Asian powerhouse, it would be the first time …

Radiofarda – Following President Donald Trump’s dovish statements on Iran during his recent visit to Japan, the U.S. continues to exhibit its hard and soft approach toward its tough opponent in the oil-rich Persian Gulf. The U.S. State Department made it clear on Tuesday that the Washington still insists on its original demands from Iran, which include renegotiating the nuclear …

Radiofarda – Friday Prayer Imam of the city of Kazeroun, in Fars province, southern Iran, has been stabbed to death, the town’s police announced on Wednesday, May 29. The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC)-run news agency, Fars, cited the provincial deputy police commander for social affairs, IRGC Colonel Kavous Mohammadi, as saying, “Hojat ol Eslam (a mid-ranking cleric title) Mohammad …

Radiofarda – Women’s rights activist Darya Safai (pronounced safa-ee) has become the first Iranian immigrant to enter the Belgian parliament, after winning a seat in the country’s national elections. Following a final count on Sunday, May 27, she was elected to the Chamber of Representatives in Brussels, representing center-right Flemish-separatist party, the N-VA (New Flemish Alliance). Born in Iran in …