Archive for News

Iran to pardon 10,000 including ‘security’ prisoners

Announcement follows temporary release of 85,000 to ease pressure on prisons amid coronavirus crisis

03.18.2020- Guardian – Iran is to pardon 10,000 prisoners including political ones in honour of the Iranian new year on Friday, according to state TV.

It was not stated whether the pardons would include the British-Iranian aid worker Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe – who was released on Tuesday for two weeks, when 85,000 were let out temporarily because of coronavirus – or the British-Australian academic Kylie Moore-Gilbert, who was not known to have been released.

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Iran Releases 85,000 Prisoners But Not Siamak Namazi

March 18, 2020  – npr – Iran has released tens of thousands of prisoners because of the coronavirus outbreak. NPR’s Steve Inskeep talks to Babak Namazi, whose brother is still detained.

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Where Is Iran’s Supreme Leader?

Senior leaders are sick with the coronavirus.

MARCH 17, 2020-Atlantic – Last week, I proposed that Iran’s coronavirus problem is much greater than commonly acknowledged, and that the true number of cases is perhaps hundreds of times greater than the official number. More signs of uncontrolled infection have emerged, and I fear I was optimistic.

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COVID-19: Iran warns that ‘millions’ could be killed

The death toll in Iran saw another 13% increase Tuesday.

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS | March 17, 2020- The Mercury News- By Nasser Karimi and John Gambrell | Associated Press

TEHRAN, Iran — Iran issued its most dire warning yet Tuesday about the new coronavirus ravaging the country, suggesting “millions” could die in the Islamic Republic if people keep traveling and ignore health guidance.

A state TV journalist who also is a medical doctor gave the warning only hours after hard-line Shiite faithful on Monday night pushed their way into the courtyards of two major shrines that were finally closed due to the virus. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei issued a religious ruling prohibiting “unnecessary” travel.

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The US Kills Iran’s Most Dangerous General – What Happens Now? 

A Kashmiri Shiite muslim holds a picture of Iranian military General Qassem Soleimani as he marches

NurPhoto via Getty Images

Jan 3, 2020 – Forbes – Daniel Markind – General Qassem Soleimani, the Commander of the Quds Force of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corp (IRGC), was killed by a United States drone strike this morning in Baghdad. Soleimani was the second most powerful man in Iran, behind only Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. In some ways, he may have been the most powerful.

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US denounces Iran rights abuses, imposes sanctions on judges

December 19, 2019 – Associated Press –  By MATTHEW LEE

WASHINGTON — The United States is imposing sanction s on additional senior Iranian officials for human rights abuses as the Trump administration increases its “maximum pressure campaign” on the Tehran government.

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UN says it has evidence that Iran was ‘shooting to kill’ protesters

Iranian protesters block a road during a demonstration against an increase in gasoline prices in the central city of Shiraz on November 16, 2019.

Iran says security forces may act against gas price protests 01:57

December 7, 2019 (CNN)The United Nations said Friday that it has video evidence appearing to show Iranian security forces “shooting to kill” protesters during Iran’s latest wave of demonstrations.

In a statement on Friday, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet said she was alarmed by “the continuing lack of transparency about casualties and the treatment of thousands of detainees” during the recent protests in Iran.

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Could Iran’s Revolution Unravel Over a Four-Cent Price Hike?

Protests erupted throughout Iran in November, over an increase in gas prices, and the regime responded with deadly force. Photograph from Middle East Images / Redux

December 6, 2019 -The New Yorker – By Robin Wright

In mid-November, in a surprise overnight announcement, the revolutionary regime in Iran hiked the price of gasoline. By standards anywhere else in the world, it is still pitifully cheap. A litre of gas increased from eight cents to twelve cents—or to fifty cents per gallon—for the first fifteen gallons each month.

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Voices from Iran: Protesters describe unrest and crackdown

A fire breaks out during a demonstration in Tehran against an increase in petrol prices © AFP via Getty Images

Details start to emerge as information blackout is finally lifted

Dec.06.2019 –FINANCIAL TIMES –  Najmeh Bozorgmehr in Tehran – Please use the sharing tools found via the share button at the top or side of articles. Copying articles to share with others is a breach of FT.com T&Cs and Copyright Policy. Email licensing@ft.com to buy additional rights. Subscribers may share up to 10 or 20 articles per month using the gift article service. More information can be found here.
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Iran’s Protests Are Not Just About Gas Prices

A protester in Shiraz, November 2019Middle East Images / Redux

Repression Won’t Solve the Deeper Problems Bringing Iranians to the Streets

December 5, 2019 -Foreign Affairs -By Mohammad Ali KadivarSaber Khani, and Abolfazl Sotoudeh

A wave of protest swept across Iran last week. The government had abruptly hiked gas prices in order to offset its budget deficit at a time of high inflation and negative economic growth. Angry protesters clashed with security forces, set government buildings and banks on fire, and blocked roads. The government responded with an iron fist, killing more than 200 protesters, arresting thousands, and shutting down the Internet across the country for about a week.

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