Social and Political

PayvandNews  – Farid Khanlou owns Jordan Market in an area of Los Angeles called Persian Square. It’s packed with Persian businesses, many of which fly the country’s flag from before the 1979 Iranian revolution. In this heart of the Iranian-American community, the largest group of Iranians abroad, there are many who remain undecided about which presidential candidate they support. According …

Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka says his country is negotiating with Iran about purchasing oil. Speaking at a session of parliament in Minsk on October 7, Lukashenka said talks with Tehran are under way amid differences with Russia on the importing of oil and gas. “We are holding talks with Iran, which is desperate to find [places] to deliver its oil …

Al-monitor – In April, when the experienced reformist politician Mostafa Moein said, “I believe Mr. Rouhani needs a very strong think tank” to advise him on all issues, it did not stir up much reaction in the domestic media. However, now that Iran’s presidential election is only seven months away, the setting up of a reformist think tank might be viewed as …

Al-monitor – Saudi rulers’ refusal to offer a simple verbal apology was indicative of their ultimate impudence and shamelessness,” said Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, on Sept. 5, addressing the families of the 464 Iranian pilgrims who died in the hajj stampede last year. Khamenei went on to criticize Saudi management of the annual pilgrimage, calling on Iranians and other …

PayvandNews – The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has issued a stern warning to all military vessels partaking in Saudi Arabia’s ongoing wargames in the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman and the Strait of Hormuz, noting that any act of transgression into Iran’s territorial waters shall be met with an immediate and befitting response. A strongly-worded statement, addressed to …

PayvandNews – When Iranian officials come to the United Nations, they are usually met with questions about their human rights practices, particularly the arrest of dual nationals. Opinion article by Barbara Slavin (source: VOA) Hoodfar was finally released last week after seven months in prison apparently through the good offices of Oman, which has played a role in freeing dual nationals in the …

Al-monitor – When US presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump went head to head in their first debate on Sept. 26, Iran took up a significant part of the foreign policy discussion. During the debate, Republican Trump challenged Democrat Clinton’s policies while serving as secretary of state 2009-2013, saying, “You started the Iran deal. That’s another beauty where you …

Al-monitor – When Germany’s Vice Chancellor and Economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel entered Iran Oct. 2, accompanied by more than 100 German businessmen, he probably did not expect that some of his comments would cause a minor diplomatic crisis between the two countries and reactions in every Iranian newspaper. AUTHOR Misha Zand In an interview with the German weekly news magazine …

RFL/RE – Iran and Vietnam have pledged to boost trade during Iranian President Hassan Rohani’s visit to Hanoi. “The two sides agreed to increase bilateral trade turnover to $2 billion,” Rohani told reporters on October 6 after the two sides signed several cooperation agreements. “In economics, cooperation opportunities are still large, but the scale of cooperation and bilateral trade are …

RFL/RE – A wealthy gold trader charged with violating U.S. sanctions against Iran asked a U.S. court to dismiss the charges on October 5, saying U.S. prosecutors overreached in bringing the case. Prosecutors accuse Reza Zarrab, 33, a prominent Turkish-Iranian financier, of using a network of companies in Turkey and the United Arab Emirates to carry out hundreds of millions …