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VOA – Ten days after Iran’s president died in a helicopter crash in the country’s north, Iranian authorities have not explained why his was the only helicopter that crashed in dense cloud cover out of three that had been flying officials back to Iran from a visit to the Azerbaijani border. Another unresolved question is how one of the passengers …

Iranwire – The Islamic Republic’s parliament on Tuesday re-elected hardliner Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf as its Speaker.  Of the 287 lawmakers voting, 198 backed Qalibaf to retain the position he first assumed in 2021.  He initially became the Speaker after a series of unsuccessful presidential bids and 12 years as the mayor of Tehran. Qalibaf is also known for his role as a …

iranintl – Members of the Assembly of Experts, a body tasked with choosing the Islamic Republic’s next supreme leader elected senior cleric Ayatollah Mohammad Ali Movahedi Kermani as the Assembly’s chairman on Tuesday. Before his death in a helicopter crash on Sunday, former President Ebrahim Raisi was the most likely candidate for the post. Following his death, the Assembly, and …

gatestoneinstitute.org – Worse, abandoning Israel sends a troubling message to U.S. allies worldwide: in times of crisis, do not rely on American support. The Biden administration has eroded trust and damaged U.S. credibility on the global stage even further than it already had done after surrendering Afghanistan and allowing China to kill more than a million Americans with Covid-19, or …

Iranwire – The heavy presence of Iran’s Supreme Leader’s bodyguards during a recent meeting with senior commanders of the armed forces reignited discussions surrounding the protection of Ali Khamenei.  His security is under specific protocols overseen by the IRGC, which is responsible for safeguarding the leader and the clerical establishment. Protecting the leader of the Islamic Republic involves adherence to …

RFL/RE – The United States wants to force a gradual shift in Iran’s “decision-making calculus” by signing a defense deal with Saudi Arabia and securing the normalization of relations between Riyadh and Israel. “We continue to work with allies and partners to enhance their capabilities to deter and counter the threats Iran poses, impose costs on Iran for its actions, …

Iranwire – Amir Velayati, a protester who sustained eye injuries during the 2022 nationwide protests in Iran, has been summoned to court to face the serious charge of “rebellion.” According to the prosecutor’s report, branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court issued summoned for Velayati to appear on June 30 of this year.  The summons accused him of “activities and …

Iranwire – The final trial of tattoo-covered Iranian musician Amir Tataloo took place on Tuesday in Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran. Tataloo faces allegations including producing, sending, distributing, and publishing “obscene” works, such as clips, songs, and images containing vulgar and explicit content.  Other accusations include “establishing a gambling operation, inciting individuals to access obscene content, encouraging …

RFL/RE – Hungarian Jewish organizations and the Israeli Embassy have condemned a public university for having invited Iran’s populist former President Mahmud Ahmadinejad to an event this week. The Budapest-based Ludovika University of Public Service invited the controversial politician — who has said Israel is doomed to be “wiped off the map” and that the Holocaust was a “myth” — …

iranintl – The appointment of Jamileh Alamolhoda, the wife of President Ebrahim Raisi, to the executive board for faculty recruitment at Tehran University has stirred controversy. Political figures close to the government have voiced their discontent for the appointment of Alamolhoda who has denied the oppression of women in Iran They labeled the appointment as an act of nepotism and …