Social and Political

Radiofarda – In an unprecedented move, hardline cleric Ebrahim Raisi, the superintendent of the holy shrine in Mashad, in Northeastern Iran, has set up a special force to protect the shrine and its pilgrims, Iranian news agencies reported on Thursday November 1.

Radiofarda – India’s top refiner Indian Oil Corp Ltd said on Friday the United States might allow the country to keep buying oil from sanctions-hit Iran as removing Iranian supplies from the market would impact global crude prices.

Radiofarda – An Israeli official on Friday called the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Saudi Arabia’s consulate in Istanbul “despicable” but said that cementing ties with Gulf states in the struggle against Iran was Israel’s overriding concern.

Radiofarda – Iranian authorities are sending thousands of buses to the border with Iraq to help stranded pilgrims get back to their hometowns in Iran.

Radiofarda – An Iranian Parliamentary official says financial corruption is widespread “in all of the ministries of the Iranian government.”

Radiofarda – With over 3 million Afghan refugees, Iran has one of the world’s largest refugee populations. They often lead a precarious existence without access to basic health and social services, and inclusion of Afghan refugee children in the Iranian education system is a particular struggle, especially for those who are undocumented.

Al-Arabia – Iran is bracing for the restoration of US sanctions on its vital oil industry next week, as it grapples with an economic crisis that has sparked sporadic protests over rising prices, corruption and unemployment.

Iran-HRM – Prison sentence against the vice-President of the Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company, Ebrahim Madadi was upheld by Tehran’s Appeals Court.

RFL/RE – Acting Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian says he made clear to U.S. national-security adviser John Bolton last week that Armenia will pursue its national interests and maintain “special relations” with its neighbor Iran.

RFL/RE – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calling Iran the “most potent force of militant Islam,” says he has warned Europe of possible Iranian attacks on its soil.