Social and Political

iranintl – The Islamic Republic’s unwavering support for Hamas has led many Iranians to adopt a contrasting stance, favoring Israel in its military actions, according to pundits. These opposing views, the result of economic hardships, widespread poverty, political impasses, and a negative approach by policy-making institutions toward Iranian culture and lifestyle, are contributing to a broader shift in attitudes among …

iranintl – The gruesome attack by Hamas militants on southern Israeli communities has revived a controversial question about “terrorism” and its sponsors.  Although the Biden administration has been quick to condemn Hamas, declare its unequivocal support for Israel, and condemn the Iranian Ayatollahs as supporters of Hamas, the US curiously calls for restraint vis-à-vis Iran as it claims to be …

iranintl – The gruesome murder of celebrated Iranian director Dariush Mehrjui and his wife at their home near Tehran has caused shock in Iran with speculation abounding about the case. Mehrjui and his wife, Vahideh Mohammadifar, a screenwriter and costume designer, were discovered brutally mutilated in their own home in the Fardis district of Karaj, located approximately 30 kilometers west …

Iranwire – More than a year after the start of the bloody and unprecedented suppression of peaceful protests by the Islamic Republic government, human rights sanctions against the officials and the institutions of the regime have risen to an unprecedented level. The escalation of human rights sanctions started a year ago and continues today. Now it is time to answer …

Iranwire – The Israeli military has accused the Islamic Republic of Iran of having ordered attacks by the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah at Israel’s northern border amid concerns a new front could open in the confrontation between Tel Aviv and its regional foes. “Hezbollah carried out a number of shooting attacks in order to distract from our war efforts in …

Iranwire – Washington says it has held back-channel talks with Tehran in recent days to warn the Islamic Republic against escalating the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian armed group Hamas. While the United States has not had formal diplomatic relations with Tehran since 1980, US national-security adviser Jake Sullivan told US broadcaster CBS News on October 15 that the White House …

VOA – One of Iran’s most prominent filmmakers, Dariush Mehrjui, was stabbed to death Saturday evening alongside his wife at their home near Tehran. A provincial chief justice said Mehrjui and his wife, Vahideh Mohammadifar, “were killed by multiple stab wounds to the neck,” the judiciary’s Mizan Online website said. According to Hossein Fazeli-Harikandi, chief justice of Alborz province near …

VOA – Iran warned Israel of escalation if it failed to end aggressions against Palestinians, with its foreign minister saying other parties in the region were ready to act, the semi-official Fars news agency reported on Sunday. “If the Zionist aggressions do not stop, the hands of all parties in the region are on the trigger,” Hossein Amirabdollahian was quoted …

gatestoneinstitute.org – “We coordinated with Hezbollah and with Iran and the Axis [of Resistance] before, during and after the battle at the highest level.” — Hamas representative Ahmed Abdulhadi, revealing Hamas coordination before and during the massacre, Newsweek, October 11, 2023. Another Hamas official, Ali Baraka, told Russia’s state-run RT outlet that his group had secretly planned the assault for two …

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO) – Three men including two Afghan nationals who were sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for murder, were executed in Qezel Hesar Prison. This brings the number of people executed at the prison that day to four. According to HRANA news agency, three men were executed in Qezel Hear Prison in Karaj on 11 October. Their identities have been established …