Social and Political

Iranwire – Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, has pledged a “harsh response” after two blasts ripped through a gathering to commemorate General Qasem Soleimani in Kerman and left at least 103 people dead.  “The evil and criminal enemies of the Iranian nation once again created a disaster and martyred a large number of people in Kerman,” Khamenei said in a …

VOA – The Biden administration has once again renewed taxpayer-funded protection for former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and one of his top aides, who have been the targets of persistent threats from Iran. The State Department notified Congress late last month that the threats against Pompeo and Trump administration Iran envoy Brian Hook remain “serious and credible” and …

RFL/RE – At least 53 people have been killed in two explosions during commemorations of the fourth anniversary of the death of Qasem Soleimani, a former commander of Iran’s elite Quds Force killed in January 2020 in an air strike by U.S. forces near Baghdad, Iranian state-run media report. The Mizan news agency, which is close to Iran’s judicial system, reported …

iranintl – Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi on Monday called a meeting with some 50 politicians loyal to the regime, amid sharp controversy over upcoming parliamentary elections. The meeting, which was the first of its kind since Raisi took office as Iran’s President in 2021, was shunned by some Reformists who saw his maneuver as a move to distract the nation …

iranintl – Iran’s government, military and hardliners have so far reacted cautiously to the Israeli assassination of a senior Hamas official, Saleh al-Arouri, in Lebanon. A drone attacked Hamas’s office in the southern suburbs of Beirut, where Arouri had a meeting. Several others attending were also killed. Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman condemned Israel’s “despicable” killing of al-Arouri and two other …

iranintl – In a message to Israel’s parliament on Tuesday, Iranian opposition figure Vahid Beheshti urged Israel to target Iran directly amid the regime’s proxy war raging in the region. Beheshti, known for his recent hunger strike in London in a bid to pressure the UK government to designate Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps, said direct action is “the only language they …

iranintl – An Israeli drone killed top Hamas leader Saleh Al-Arouri Tuesday, on the eve of the fourth anniversary of the US killing of IRGC commander Qasem Soleimani. Some hardline commentators in Iran are suggesting that the timing has been deliberate and all the more insulting. Al-Arouri was killed just as state-media in Iran broadcast images of mourners paying homage to Soleimani …

iranintl – Iran’s 84-year-old ruler Ali Khamenei’s recent claim that God once spoke through him has led to sharp criticism and ridicule in the Iranian social media space. On December 31, Khamenei was meeting with the family of former IRGC operative Qasem Soleimani, when he suddenly claimed that more than 20 years ago, he was in the company of a …

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO) –  After spending 14 years on death row, Kurdish-Sunni political prisoner, Davoud Abdollahi was executed for charges of moharebeh (enmity against god) and efsad-fil-arz (corruption on earth) in Ghezelhesar Prison. Iran Human Rights condemns the rampant executions, which have intensified in recent months, and calls for immediate international attention to this issue. Director, Mahmoud Amiry-Moghaddam said: “Davoud Abdollahi had been sentenced …

iranintl – A leader of Iran’s Reform Front, an umbrella organization of reformist parties and groups says only 7 percent of Iranians approve of the country’s current situation. Mohsen Armin, the front’s vice chairman has quoted the results of an opinion poll conducted by ISPA of the government-owned Iranian Students New Agency (ISNA) and said 48 percent of Iranians support reforms …