Social and Political

Radiofarda – Official Turkish data show a significant drop in natural gas imports from its eastern neighbor, Iran, in the first quarter of 2020. Turkey’s Energy Market Regulatory Authority reported on Thursday, May 28, that the country received two billion cubic meters of natural gas from Iran in the first quarter of the year, down nearly fifteen percent from the …

AFP -The European Union’s foreign policy chief on Thursday condemned Washington’s move to end sanction waivers for countries remaining in the Iran nuclear accord, warning it would make it harder to keep Tehran in check. Donald Trump’s administration announced Wednesday that it was ending the waivers because of a series of “escalatory actions” by Iran aimed at pressuring the United …

Radiofarda – In a ceremony in the southern Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas on Thursday more than 100 new gunboats were delivered to the Revolutionary Guard’s Naval Force. The vessels are improved versions of Ashura, Tareq and Zolfaghar class boats manufactured by the Defense Ministry’s Marine Industries Organization and the Revolutionary Guard’s Naval Force, Tasnim News Agency reported. “Our …

RFL/RE – Fuel shipments to Venezuela are being celebrated in some Iranian circles as a blow to the United States, which has imposed heavy sanctions on Tehran and Caracas targeting both regimes.The first of the gasoline shipments arrived in Iranian tankers earlier this week in a public show of defiance against Washington, which has said it is weighing “options” for …

Al-Monitor – Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization dismissed the decision by the United States to end waivers on cooperation involving the country’s nuclear program and said the nation will be self-sufficient in those areas.  A view of the water nuclear reactor at Arak, Iran, Dec. 23, 2019.  Photo by WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS. The spokesman for the Atomic …

Radiofarda – Brigadier General Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf who was elected as the Speaker of Iran’s parliament (Majles) on Thursday May 28, has 40 years of experience in military, political, economic, policing and urban management. Nonetheless, he is best known for being implicated in major financial corruption cases. He was the first IRGC general who became the Mayor of Tehran. Now, …

Radiofarda – The Law Enforcement Commander of Khuzestan Province on Wednesday said the security police of Mahshahr Port has arrested “fourteen agents of Takfiri and separatist groups”. Brigadier General Heydar Abbaszadeh said those who have been arrested had shot bullets at police and Basij headquarters, hoisted “the fake flag of Al-Ahvaziyoun group around the city, and sent video clips showing …

Radiofarda – The U.S. Special Representative for Iran on Wednesday reiterated that maximum economic pressure on Iran would prevent Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons. “Because of our pressure, Iranian leaders have come to a decision: either negotiate with us or manage the economic collapse,” Brian Hook, U.S. Special Representative for Iran, told reporters at a State Department special briefing.​ Secretary …

Radiofarda – The newly elected Iranian parliament dominated by conservatives and hardliners elected a former mayor of Tehran and a former Revolutionary Guard general as Speaker on Thursday, local media reported. The former mayor, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf (Ghalibaf) garnered 230 out of 264 deputies present in parliament. The 58-year-old Qalibaf was also a presidential candidate who ran against hardliner Mahmoud …

Radiofarda – Richard Ratcliffe, the husband of Nazain Zaghari-Ratcliffe, on Wednesday said he is ‘hopeful’ she will be one of 3,000 people pardoned by Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Speaking to Sky News Mr. Ratcliffe said Nazanin’s lawyer has been summoned to the prosecutor’s office and Nazanin and her family are awaiting the authorities’ latest decision about Nazanin. On May …