Social and Political

Radiofarda – Ali Rabiei, the Cabinet Spokesman of the administration of President Hassan Rouhani, has been hospitalized after testing positive for corornavirus, the state-run television reported on Monday. Rabiei had been resting at home since last week, the report said but did not say when the symptoms had appeared or since when the Spokesman’s health condition has worsened. He is …

RFL/RE – Several fuel tankers have caught fire at a truck park near the western Iranian city of Kermanshah, sparking panic among local residents. Governor Fazlollah Ranjbar was quoted by the official IRNA news agency as saying that the fire broke out on July 28 during repair work to a heavy vehicle before spreading to seven others. The governor, however, …

gatestoneinstitute.org – The ruling mullahs of Iran are excited. They are convinced that a new US president, like his previous boss, former President Barack Obama, will throw them the lifeline so badly needed for their survival, their hold on power, and their ability to advance their nuclear and other imperialist plans — both in Venezuela against the United States, and …

Despite massive efforts, lockdowns and province by province policy, Iran continues to grapple with the coronavirus, which shows no signs of slowing down as officials warn they are running short of medical workers. According to Health Ministry Spokesman Sima Sadar Lari, 212 people died from the virus in the last 24 hours. In April, Iran was able to bring its daily …

Radiofarda – Parviz Fattah, Head of Khamenei-controlled Mostazafan Foundation, on Monday said the conglomerate’s revenues increased by 34 percent to reach 360 trillion rials (approximately $2.5 billion) in the Iranian calendar year ending 20 March, 2020. Speaking at a press conference to report on his one year as the head of the Foundation, Fattah said the charitable organization will net …

Radiofarda – A weapons depot at al-Saqr base belonging to Iraq’s federal police force but also used by pro-Iran paramilitaries exploded on Sunday in Baghdad’s southern suburbs. Iraq’s military blamed the explosion on high summer temperatures and poor storage, but given continuous tensions in the region some say it could have been a possible attack. Pro-Iran militia sources claimed that …

Radiofarda – A priest from the minority Zoroastrian community who lived in the United States has been killed on a visit to Iran, state news agency IRNA reported Sunday. The website of the Amordad weekly paper on Zoroastrian affairs said the body of Arash Kasravi was found alongside those of his bodyguard and a nurse who also did domestic work. …

Radiofarda – In an odd and unprecedented ruling Iran’s Supreme Court has handed over the ownership of part of the country’s highest mountain, Mount Damavand, to an organization that operates under the direct supervision of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Hamshahri newspaper in Tehran reported on Sunday July 26 that an official title deed has been issued to Iran’s Endowments Organization …

Radiofarda – The United States Special Representative for Iran Brian Hook says conflicts in Syria and elsewhere will escalate if the United Nations arms embargo on Iran is lifted. Meanwhile, Hook added that the Islamic Republic of Iran has constantly continued to violate the terms of the arms embargo. Based on the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran the UN Security …

RFL/RE – A Swiss pharmaceutical firm has completed the first transaction under a new humanitarian trade channel with Iran, the government of Switzerland said on July 27. Trial operations started in January under the Swiss Humanitarian Trade Arrangement (SHTA) to bring food and medicine to the struggling Iranian population without violating U.S. sanctions. “We would like to emphasize that the …