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Al-Monitor – The Iranian government has approved a generous plan to facilitate participation in the hajj, offering Saudi-bound travelers the opportunity to pay for the voyage — estimated to cost over $3,000 — in local currency at rates far below the open market. As of March 5, the US dollar cost around 130,000 rials on the open market, over three times the official rate, which has …

Reuters – Qassem Soleimani’s role in a political crisis in Iran highlights the influence of the leader of the Revolutionary Guards’ Quds Force, who has acquired celebrity status at home after being largely invisible for years.FILE PHOTO: A portrait of Quds Force Commander Major General Qassem Soleimani is held up during a demonstration in Baghdad, March 31, 2015. REUTERS/Thaier Al-Sudani/File …

PayvandNews – After Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif announced his resignation via Instagram shortly before midnight local time on February 25, many foreign pundits and officials celebrated his departure. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s response was “Zarif is gone. Good riddance.” Secretary of State Mike Pompeo used even more insulting and undiplomatic language, and dismissed both Zarif and President Rouhani as “front …

VOA — Germany’s President Frank-Walter Steinmeier came under fire over a congratulatory telegram sent to Iran on the 40th anniversary of the Islamic revolution, with a Jewish community leader on Monday joining a chorus of criticism.

Al-Arabia – The US State Department released a video showing what it called a well-looked after Iranian embassy in Washington and sending a message to the Iranian people that all the items at the location are being maintained once diplomatic ties are restored.

chessbase.com– Prior to 2018, there were few world-class chess tournaments dominated by Iranian players — just the odd youth championship. Now Iran is climbing the list of the top countries in the world — currently at number 25, with the average rating of the top ten players rising by the month.

Radiofarda – Islamic Republic security forces stormed the home of the secretary of the board of directors of the Free Union of Iranian Workers, Jafar Azimzadeh, on January 29 and arrested him. Hours later, the vice president of the union, Parvin Mohammadi, was also arrested.

Radiofarda – The conviction of a city council chairman in Iran to flogging for supporting the legal election of a non-Muslim Zoroastrian as a council member in 2017 has led to criticism.

Al-Monitor – By now, it has escaped few that rather than a new beginning between Iran and the West, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action has become another chapter in a long saga of broken promises. But beyond empty pledges on the part of Europe, and more so the United States — which withdrew from the landmark accord last May …

PayvandNews – Sarasadat Khademalsharieh from Iran claimed a silver medal at the World Blitz Championship on Sunday. Russian Kateryna Lagno won the Women’s Section and repeated her success of 2010. She collected 13.5 points. Khademalsharieh took the silver with 13 points and the bronze medal went to Chinese Lei Tingjie who scored 12.5 points.