Social and Political

Radiofarda – The United States announced last week that it would not renew sanctions waivers it has granted countries that import Iranian oil. The current waivers will expire on May 2. Importers that would continue purchasing Iranian oil beyond that day will risk being penalized and lose access to U.S. financial markets. The U.S. would push to bring Iran’s oil …

Radiofarda – Subsidized gasoline in Iran will be rationed from May 3 and each driver will have a right to purchase 60 liters per month, or nearly 16 gallons, at the current price of 7 cents per liter or 20 cents per gallon. Less-subsidized gasoline will be available at prices three times higher, but still one-fifth of the price compared …

Radiofarda – The state-run Iranian Students News Agency ISNA reported an unusual rise in the price of bread in Iran on Tuesday April 30. However, the chairman of the trade union for traditional bakers has told the agency that the rise in the price of bread is “illegal.” Bread has always been the cheapest essential food in Iran and usually …

Radiofarda – The Islamic Republic President Hassan Rouhani accused Washington on, April 30, of indirectly pressuring working class people of Iran through “illegal and pitiless sanctions.” Speaking on the eve of the International Workers Day, May 1, Rouhani called upon the Iranian labor force to “work more.” According to Rouhani’s official website, he maintained that one of the ways to …

Al-Arabia – Iran criticized a US plan to designate the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said in Doha on Wednesday.“The US is not in position to (..) start naming others as terror organizations and we reject by any attempt by the US in this regard,” he told reporters on a sideline of a conference. …

RFL/RE – The U.S. special representative for Iran is traveling to the United Nations to update permanent members of the Security Council on U.S. policy toward Iran, as Washington looks to step up pressure on Tehran.The U.S. State Department said in a statement that Brian Hook would be in New York on April 30 and May 1 for the meetings.“He will underscore …

VOA — Iranian President Hassan Rouhani signed a bill into law on Tuesday declaring all U.S. forces in the Middle East terrorists and calling the U.S. government a sponsor of terrorism. The bill was passed by parliament last week in retaliation for President Donald Trump’s decision this month to designate Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards a foreign terrorist organization. It was …

VOA – A new report released by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute on world military expenditure (SIPRI) on April 29 has assessed Iran’s military spending in 2018 as more than $13 billion. According to its official website, “SIPRI monitors developments in military expenditure worldwide and maintains the most comprehensive, consistent and extensive data source available on military expenditure.”SEE ALSO: …

Radiozamaneh – Last year, workers in Iran organized several outstanding protests and strikes. Major examples include nationwide teachers’ strikes, as well as local protests by Haft-Tappeh Sugarcane Complex Workers and Iranian National Steel Industrial Group in Ahvaz, who gained widespread national attention. It is in such conditions that May Day arrives in Iran. In the first hours of the planned …

Iran Human Rights (IHR) – Two juvenile offenders were among the prisoners executed at Shiraz Central Prison on April 25. Both were 15 at the time of the arrest and hanged at the age of 17. One of them suffered from a mental disability. Iran Human Rights (IHR) urges the international community to react swiftly and decisively to the execution …