Iran

(TeleSur) – Pakistan and Iran started cooperating on border security last year and during this latest meeting, the officials discussed military and security cooperation. Pakistan newly elected Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan, in a conversation with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, said that the two countries were connected by inseparable bonds of history, religion […]

China

China defies Trump on Iran, Creating new Benchmark Crude Market in Yuan

Juan Cole

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – China’s new futures market in Shanghai is trading in the Chinese currency, the Yuan, rather than dollars. One reason for dumping the dollar in this regard is that the Department of the Treasury Office of Foreign Asset Control is trying to stop countries from buying Iranian petroleum. The Dept of […]

Iran

Despite Trump’s Violation of it, Iran is Still Abiding by Nuclear Deal, UN Says

AFP

Vienna (AFP) – Iran is sticking to the terms of its nuclear deal with world powers, a UN atomic watchdog report showed Thursday, despite ongoing uncertainty over its future. The report from the International Atomic Energy Agency showed that Iran was still complying with the key parameters of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), […]

Iran

Israel Renews Threat to Attack Iran Targets in Syria

AFP

Jerusalem (AFP) – Israel on Wednesday renewed its threat to attack Iranian military targets in Syria, after the two Muslim allies signed an accord on security cooperation. “The IDF (Israel Defence Forces) will continue to take strong and determined action against Iran’s attempts to station forces and advanced weapons systems in Syria,” Prime Minister Benjamin […]

Iran

“A Deadly Blow:” Why is Iran Persecuting and Killing Sufi Mystics?

Golnaz Esfandiari

Washington, D.C. (RFE/RL) – Thirty-three-year-old Mostafa Abdi, a member of Iran’s largest Sufi order and editor of a news outlet focused on the Gonabadi dervish community, appears set to spend the most productive years of his life in an Iranian prison. Abdi was reportedly sentenced earlier this month to more than 26 years, and 148 […]

Iran

Iran Parliament rakes Pres. Rouhani over Coals on Economy as Centrists Weaken

Eric Randolph

Tehran (AFP) – Iran’s parliament declared its dissatisfaction with President Hassan Rouhani on Tuesday, voting to reject his answers after grilling him over the deteriorating economy. It was the first time Rouhani had been summoned by parliament in his five years in power, and MPs demanded answers on unemployment, rising prices and the sharp depreciation […]

Iran

Iran Launches Suit at UN Court against Trump Sanctions

AFP

By Jan Hennop and Roland Lloyd Parry | – The Hague (AFP) – Iran demanded Monday that the UN’s top court order the United States to suspend nuclear-linked sanctions against Tehran, but Washington vowed to “vigorously” fend off the legal challenge. The Islamic Republic launched a suit at the International Court of Justice over US […]

Featured

Iran Parliament Fires Finance Minister, as US Sanctions Bite (Cost Iran $1.1 Trillion)

Juan Cole

Iran’s parliament on Sunday fired the Finance Minister, Massoud Karbasian, in a severe political setback for president Hassan Rouhani. The Iranian rial has fallen dramatically against the dollar in recent months, eating into the purchasing power of Iranian consumers who buy goods from abroad. Supporters of Karbasian in parliament clashed physically with his critics, leading […]

Iran

Trump Iran Sanctions Knee-Cap Baghdad’s Recovery from ISIL Catastrophe

Middle East Monitor

(Middle East Monitor) – The Iraqi government is worried about US sanctions imposed on Iran, which seem to have a negative impact on the Iraqi economy too. There is currently political unrest in Iraq, as the protests calling for economic reforms have restarted. Baghdad declared that it would ask Washington to exempt Tehran from the […]