Social and Political

Radiofarda – Iran’s first vice president in a speech on Tuesday May 28 expressed hope that the United States will “stop pressuring” Iran, as sanctions have made “conditions worse” in the country. Es’haq Jahangiri’s remarks might be a reaction to President Donald Trump’s latest statements about not wanting regime change and his willingness to negotiate with Iran. “I really believe …

Radiofarda – Reports from Iran’s southeastern Sistan and Baluchistan Province say local people have gathered in front of the governor’s office in the provincial capital Zahedan after police shot dead a young man. Protests in Zahedan after police shot dead a young man for not having a driving license. May 27, 2019 Police has confirmed the man’s death, adding that …

Radiofarda – A member of parliament for Eslamabad-e Gharb in western Iran says the murder of the city’s plainclothes police chief during a shootout on Sunday was possibly a terrorist incident. According to Heshmatollah Falahatpisheh, police officers found a vehicle with manipulated registration plate suspicious and clashed with those on board, assuming they were terrorists. Police says the vehicle was …

Radiofarda – Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has voiced support for Iran’s proposal to conclude a non-aggression pact in the Persian Gulf region. Mohammad Javad Zarif suggested during his visit to Iraq May 25-26 to conclude the pact as a way of reducing tensions in the region. Interfax news agency quoted Lavrov as saying, “Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif’s proposal …

Radiofarda – Iran would block its citizens’ access to social media if war were to break out with the U.S., the head of the country’s Passive Defense Organization has said. In a speech on Sunday, May 26, brigadier-general Gholamreza Jalali of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said, the U.S. “uses social media for media and psychological operations to influence Iranians’ …

Al-Arabia – Amid rising regional tensions, King Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud invited Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and League of Arab States (LAS) leaders for emergency summits in the holy city of Mecca on May 30, to discuss recent “aggressions and their consequences.” Inasmuch as the Kingdom’s policies were first established by King Abdul Aziz bin Abdul Rahman—to coordinate strategies …

Al-Arabia – Iran’s foreign minister appears unimpressed with Japan’s offer to mediate in a crisis between Tehran and Washington, and says President Donald Trump should make his intentions clear about any talks with Iran through actions, not words. Mohammad Javad Zarif said in a late Monday tweet: “Actions—not words—will show whether or not that’s Donald Trump’s intent.” Trump said Monday …

Al-Arabia – US National Security Adviser John Bolton will this week travel to the United Arab Emirates for talks, the US embassy in Abu Dhabi said Monday. The US embassy in the UAE on Monday sent press invitations for a roundtable with Bolton, which would take place “this week”, but no date was given. Bolton’s planned meeting comes as the …

VOA – Russian military police last week reportedly carried out a raid against Iranian-backed militiamen stationed at Syria’s Aleppo international airport, local media reported. In the aftermath, several Iranian militia leaders were arrested in what was seen as the latest episode of tensions between Iranian and Russian forces in Syria. Since the beginning of Syria’s civil war in 2011, Russia and …

gatestoneinstitute.org – As Mr Trump has made clear at his press conference in Japan, where he is currently on a state visit, his main objective is to agree a new deal with Tehran, one that, unlike Mr Obama’s flawed arrangement, addresses all aspects of Iran’s nuclear ambitions, as well as its malign activities in the Middle East. “I really believe …