Social and Political

CHRI – Imprisoned human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh started a second hunger strike on November 26, 2018, to protest the Iranian authorities’ refusal to allow ailing fellow political prisoner Farhad Meysami to receive hospital treatment, a source informed the Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI).

Al-Monitor – When the administration of President Hassan Rouhani fixed the exchange rate of the Iranian rial against the US dollar back in April — an ultimately failed effort to curb the free fall of Iran’s national currency — it also revived a controversial mandatory currency repatriation policy. The initiative, which obligates exporters to bring home their hard currency revenues through …

Al-Monitor – A group of conservative Iranian lawmakers is facing a backlash for an attempt to impeach Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif. 

Shabtabnews – On Tuesday 27th November, there was special Round table meeting within the US Senate building, on the topic of Religious Freedom in Iran, with the US State Department’s Special Representative on Iran, Brian Hook, and the United States Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom,  Mr Brownback.

Radiofarda – Supreme Leader ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Wednesday asked the commanders of Iran’s navy to increase “power and readiness” so that “enemies will not dare to threaten the Iranian nation”.

Radiofarda – Days after rumors and then action started against Iran’s foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in parliament, now there is a move among hardliner MPs against the well-connected speaker of parliament.

Radiofarda – A prominent and influential conservative ayatollah has come to the defense of Iranian foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, who is facing a call for impeachment by a group of MPs.

Radiofarda – While the fate of the newly elected pro-reform Mayor of Tehran is still in limbo, Majles (Iranian parliament) has stepped in to follow up his case.

Al-Arabia – US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo stressed that the kingdom of Saudi Arabia is a powerful force for stability in the Middle East.

AL-Arabia – European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini met Iranian foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in Geneva on Wednesday and reiterated the bloc’s determination to preserve the multilateral nuclear deal, an EU statement said.