Social and Political

Al-Monitor – Iranian officials and the normally divided Iranian media have uniformly rejected and ridiculed the May 21 speech by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo outlining 12 demands of Iran that in essence would fundamentally transform the Islamic Republic.

CHRI – Three weeks after Iran banned the widely used Telegram messaging app, the telecommunications minister posted a chart online showing that the number of Iranian users had begun rising to pre-ban levels. The posting marks the first time an Iranian official has presented figures implicitly confirming the failure of state censorship policies. cartoon by Taravat Niki, Ghanoon daily On …

Radiofarda – After Russia said that foreign troops should leave Syria when the war ends, Tehran responded by saying no one can force Iran to do anything.

Radiofarda – An Iranian government panel has concluded there is no evidence against environmental activists rounded up on spying charges in recent months, the country’s environment chief says.

Radiofarda – Germany’s government will help German firms with business in Iran where it can, but cannot entirely shield them from the U.S. decision to quit the Iran nuclear deal and reimpose sanctions against Tehran, the economy minister told a newspaper.

RFL/RE – Six Iranian ministers and two lawmakers, all members of the state committee in charge of blocking websites, have issued an open letter to the country’s prosecutor calling for the unblocking of Twitter. The letter was issued in response to “the growing public demands for unfiltering Twitter to allow the activity of the youth and media in [it],” the …

RFL/RE – More than 800 people have been poisoned after eating toxic wild mushrooms across western Iran, local media report.

Al-Arabia – The EU’s foreign policy chief warned Monday there was “no alternative” to the Iran nuclear deal, after US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo vowed unprecedented sanctions against Tehran following Washington’s withdrawal from the pact.

Al-Arabia – Dedicating his first foreign policy speech to the grave subject of Iran, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo outlined the Trump administration’s new strategy vis-à-vis Iran on Monday, coming shortly after President Trump announced the US would withdraw from the Obama-era nuclear deal. Speaking at the Heritage Foundation in Washington, D.C., Secretary Pompeo vividly explained how the US …

Al-Arabia – The spokesperson of the Arab coalition forces in Yemen, Col. Turki Al-Malki said on Monday that more than 85% of Yemen has been liberated as legitimate forces have advanced on all battle fronts, while confusion has hit Houthi ranks. Malki said during a press conference that a Turkish ship was recently attacked by missiles in front of the …