Social and Political

PayvandNews –  Iran will grant years of tax exemption to both domestic and foreign businesses and individuals as an incentive for ramping up investments in its tourism sector, Deputy Economy Minister Mohammad Khazaei said on Sunday. A UNESCO World Heritage site, the square was constructed between 1598 and 1629 “The tax exemption [strategy] has been envisaged for a period of …

Radiozamaneh – Head of Iran’s Bodybuilding Federation announced that women bodybuilders and their four male coaches who arranged for them to participate in international competitions have been suspended. The federation adds that it will adhere to the ruling of the court in this matter. Mizan Khabar the official website of Iranian judiciary reported last week that a number of what …

RFL/RE – Iran’s state oil producer, National Iranian Oil Co. (NIOC), has signed a new model investment contract with an Iranian firm. The contract with the Persia Oil and Gas Industry Development Company is seen as a template for contracts that Tehran hopes will attract foreign investors back to Iran’s oil and natural gas sectors and boost production after years …

Iranhumanrights.org – The majority of Iran’s MPs have signed a proposal to amend a current law that would make it harder to condemn drug-related criminals to death, according to Jalil Rahimi Jahanabadi, a member of Parliament’s Legal and Judicial Committee. He told the state ISNA news agency on October 4 that the amendment, signed by more than 150 MPs, was …

Iranhumanrights.org – Experts Suspect Intelligence Establishment’s Direct Influence The government of President Hassan Rouhani is preparing to introduce two bills to Parliament that media experts and journalists say could further erode press freedom and freedom of expression in Iran. The first bill is designed to replace the current Press Law and the second would create a state organization to rival …

Al-monitor – Heated debate has erupted in Iran over the confluence of Tasua, one of the most significant holy days in the Shiite calendar, and the Oct. 11 Iran-South Korea football qualifier for the 2018 World Cup. AUTHOR Misha Zand Tasua and Ashura, the ninth and 10th days of the month of Moharram, are days of national mourning to commemorate the martyrdom of Imam …

PayvandNews – Walking at a pavilion near Goftegoo Park in western Tehran, the music of natives from southern Iran attracts all the visitors. The largest pavilion of Qeshm Island, part of Hormozgan Province, is run by a female entrepreneur, Zinat Daryaee. Zinat Daryaee, whose name means adornment of the sea, is really a jewel in the heart of Qeshm Island …

VOA  —Aircraft maker Boeing is making progress on a deal to provide more than 100 commercial airplanes to Iran though none will be delivered in 2016, the company’s top executive said on Tuesday . The deal is part of efforts to rebuild Iran’s elderly fleet, an agreement included in a 2015 pact between Tehran and six world powers to lift …

RFL/RE – The International Monetary Fund (IMF) says Iran’s economy has “rebounded strongly” over the first half of the year, while authorities are undertaking reforms to boost growth. In a statement issued on October 3 after a visit to Iran, IMF staff said oil production and exports “rebounded quickly” to presanction levels, as an array of international sanctions targeting Iran …

Al-monitor – Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif appeared before the Iranian parliament Oct. 2 to address questions about Iran’s diplomatic approach in the aftermath of the nuclear deal. The 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) signed with six world powers led to the lifting of nuclear-related sanctions in return for restrictions on Iran’s nuclear program. AUTHOR Misha Zand …