Social and Political

Radiofarda – A lawmaker in Iran has revealed that the intelligence and communication ministries joined forces to create and manage diversionary social media apps to woo people away from secure international platforms. Iran banned the popular Telegram messaging app last year after mass protests and later two new apps appeared, labelled Talagram (golden telegram in Persian) and Hotgram, trying to attract users …

Radiofarda – Iran is about to partially resume parts of its nuclear program that were suspended within the frameworks of the 2015 nuclear agreement with the world powers, or the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). Iranian stat TV on Monday May 6 quoted “an official close to the JCPOA Supervisory Board” as having said that although the activities to …

Al-Arabia – US acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan said on Monday he had approved sending a carrier strike group and bombers to the Middle East because of indications of a “credible threat by Iranian regime forces,” but did not provide any details on the underlying intelligence. US national security adviser John Bolton said on Sunday the United States was deploying …

Al-Arabia – US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Monday the United States has seen activity from Iran that indicated a possible “escalation,” one day after the United States said it would send a carrier strike group to the Middle East to counter a “credible threat by Iranian regime forces.” “We have continued to see activity that leads us …

Al-Arabia – Iran’s security body said a US announcement of sending a carrier strike group and bombers to the Middle East to send a message to Tehran amounted to “psychological warfare”, the semi-official Tasnim news agency said on Tuesday.US National Security Adviser John Bolton said on Sunday the United States was deploying the Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group and a …

VOA — An announcement by U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton that Washington is sending an aircraft carrier group and bomber task force to the Middle East is drawing mixed reactions from countries in the region. Iran has condemned the move, while some U.S. allies nod in agreement. Arab media announced the U.S. deployment of the aircraft carrier group USS …

Al-Monitor – Iran will reportedly soon announce reciprocal measures in the face of the Donald Trump administration’s revoking of sanctions waivers allowing nuclear cooperation with Iran. European officials have unofficially been notified of the decision, according to media reports in Iran. May 8, when Iran is reportedly set to make the announcement, will mark the one-year anniversary of the US officially …

Al-Monitor – The relationship between the state and the clerical establishment in Iran has been unsteady over the last four decades. The state has often criticized the Qom seminary for its lackluster support for the Islamic Revolution and for its lack of involvement in everyday matters of government, as it limits itself to religious issues. Against this backdrop, hard-liners have …

Radiofarda – Home-made vodka has killed at least one and poisoned 45 others in Poldasht, in West Azerbaijan Province, northwest Iran. Reports from Iran say so far 11 of those poisoned have been taken to the hospital in serious conditions. Poisoning by bootleg booze has been on the rise in recent month in various parts of Iran. Legal production of …

AP — A White House decision to dispatch an aircraft carrier and other military resources to send a message to Iran followed “clear indications” that Iranian and Iranian proxy forces were preparing to possibly attack U.S. forces in the region, a defense official told the Associated Press. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive information, said …