Social and Political

RFL/RE- Germany, France, and Great Britain have urged Tehran to stick by the terms of the 2015 deal that restricted Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief. In a joint statement on January 12, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Emmanuel Macron, and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that “it is essential that Iran return to full compliance …

RFL/RE – U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said he is “outraged” by a rocket attack on an Iraqi air base on January 12.“Outraged by reports of another rocket attack on an Iraqi airbase. I pray for [the] speedy recovery of the injured and call on the government of #Iraq to hold those responsible for this attack on the Iraqi …

VOA – Iranian Americans gathered in Washington, D.C. and Los Angeles Sunday to mourn those killed when Iran shot down a Ukrainian passenger jet, and peaceful protesters killed and wounded by Iranian security forces.  VOA’s Diplomatic Correspondent Cindy Saine reports from Washington. https://www.voanews.com/episode/iranian-americans-mourn-lost-lives-protest-against-tehran-government-4154216#

gatestoneinstitute.org – Europe, too, will have to draw a few conclusions. The European attempt, initiated by France, Germany and the United Kingdom, to circumvent American sanctions on Iran should cease. In reality, the Iranian regime has just lost a round in its long conflict with the United States. Such air disasters have a lasting effect on people’s minds. The Iranian …

Al-Monitor – Protests erupted across Iran after Iranian officials admitted they had accidentally shot down a Ukrainian passenger plane that had taken off from Tehran hours after Iran launched missiles at US bases in Iraq. President Hassan Rouhani issued a Jan. 11 statement saying the Jan. 8 Ukraine International Airlines crash, which killed 176 people, was due to “human error,” adding that it …

PayvandNews – Protesters outside a university in Tehran have called for justice after Iran admitted it mistakenly shot down a Ukrainian passenger plane on January 8. “Resignation is not enough,” protesters chanted outside Amirkabir university on January 11 while demanding a trial for those responsible for the downing of the plane that killed all 176 people on board. Protesters gathering …

Radiofarda – Donald Trump warned Iran Sunday against killing protesters who have come out to show their anger over the regime’s downing of a civilian airliner as his defense secretary left the door open to talks with Tehran without preconditions. This is Trump’s second series of comments about new protests in Iran in as many days. On Saturday, the U.S. …

Radiofarda – Protests and gatherings in Iran to mourn the victims of a Ukrainian plane shot down by anti-aircraft missiles on January 8 were held in many cities Saturday evening, with some rallies continuing until Sunday morning. People came out in the capital Tehran and other cities angry at three days of repeated denials by the government that the plane …

Radiofarda – In a tweet in Persian, President Donald Trump on Saturday addressed the Iranian people saying his administration is aware of their protests against the Islamic Republic and stood with them. Describing the people of Iran as brave and suffering, President Trump reiterated in his tweet, “To the brave and suffering Iranian people: I have stood with you since the …

CHRI – The Iranian people should be allowed to exercise their constitutional right to peaceful assembly without the threat of violence, said the Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI) after crowds that had gathered in Tehran following the government’s announcement that it had “unintentionally” shot down a Ukrainian passenger plane were met with armed state forces and tear gas. …