- Hundreds of Iranian wrestling enthusiasts and correspondents have extended their friendly welcome to American wrestlers, who arrived in the country to take part in the 2017 Freestyle World Cup. The US freestyle wrestling team landed at Shahid Ashrafi Esfahani Airport in the western Iranian city of Kermanshah, located 525 kilometers west of the capital, Tehran, on Monday afternoon and was given a warm reception upon arrival. 02/14/17
- An Iranian newspaper has published photos of Swedish female diplomats and business executives attending a function at the Swedish embassy in Tehran. The publishing of the photos by a state media is unprecedented as the Islamic Republic has never acknowledged the right of foreign female representatives to choose their own attire while visiting Iran, imposing the veil upon them. 02/14/17
- Women compose ten percent of the Iranian administration, the vice president in women and family affairs, Shahindokht Molaverdi, said here on Sunday. The United Nations has affirmed the statistics about the number of women in the administration, Mehr news agency quoted her as saying. 02/14/17
- With tensions between the United States and Iran mounting over Tehran's test-firing of mid-range ballistic missiles, Iran's hardliners appear emboldened. They talk now of having a chance of winning their country's presidential election in May - or at least turning incumbent Hassan Rouhani into a lame-duck president, if he does manage to secure reelection. -Jamie Dettmer, VOA 02/14/17
- Iran says Russia's planemaker Sukhoi Civil Aircraft Company is moving closer to a deal to sell its Superjet 100 aircraft to the country. Maqsoud As'adi Samani, the secretary of the Association of Iranian Airlines, was quoted by the domestic media as saying that Sukhoi had already started technical talks to obtain a license from the US Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) to sell the planes to Iran. 02/14/17
- Iran and Luxembourg have laid emphasis on the need for all the parties to a multilateral nuclear deal between Iran and six other countries to comply with their contractual obligations. President Hassan Rouhani of Iran and Luxembourg's visiting Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn stressed the importance of continued commitment to the deal on the part of the relevant parties during a meeting in the Iranian capital, Tehran, on Tuesday. 02/14/17
- Iran should not put all its eggs in one basket and it is necessary to establish "good ties" with all countries, says Davoud Hermidas Bavand, a politics professor at the University of Tehran. 02/14/17
- The Iranian judiciary has agreed to commute the death sentences of six people who were sentenced to death while they were juveniles while refusing the requests of four others, Tehran's Prosecutor Abbas Jafari Dowlatabadi announced on February 8, 2017. 02/14/17
- WHEN IT BEGAN to dawn on Marjan Vayghan that her uncle Ali had been detained by customs enforcement at the Los Angeles International Airport, she hadn't even heard about President Trump's Muslim ban. On the evening of January 27, the same day Trump signed the executive order, Ali Vayeghan, an Iranian national with an American green card, was scheduled to arrive at LAX on a 7 p.m. flight -The Intercept 02/14/17
- Iran will participate in CeBIT exhibition as one of the leading events for IT and communication technology worldwide, slated for mid-March in Hannover, Germany. 12 Iranian startups will showcase their latest achievements at a special hall designated for startup companies during the 5-day event from 20th March to the 24th March 2017 at the Hannover Congress Centrum in Hannover, Germany. 02/13/17
Global automakers gather in Tehran - Major European and Asian automakers have participated in the 4th Iran Automotive Industry International Conference (IAIIC) which was inaugurated in Tehran on Sunday. In addition to Peugeot Citroen, Scania, and Renault, some other automobile and auto part manufacturers from Turkey, Germany, Spain, Italy, Japan, South Korea, and China are also taking part in the two-day event, IRNA reported. 02/13/17
Iran's Auto Production Up 40 Percent Year-On-Year - Iran says its production of automobiles has already seen an increase of around 40 percent over a period of 11 months starting 21 March 2016 compared to the same period in the previous year. Iran is the Middle East's largest auto market with a population of 80 million. The automobile industry is seen as Iran's biggest non-oil sector, accounting for nearly 10 percent of the country's gross domestic product (GDP). 02/13/17
Yo-Yo Ma ensemble wins Grammy for 'Sing Me Home' - Cello virtuoso Yo-Yo Ma and his ensemble 'Silk Road' of which Iranian Kamancheh virtuoso Kayhan Kalhor is also a member won the Grammy for Best World Music Album for 'Sing Me Home' on Sunday. 02/13/17
Iran discovers new oil fields with 30 billion barrels of oil: Official - Iran has discovered about a dozen new oil fields with in-place reserves of 30 billion barrels, head of exploration at National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) says. Some 4.7 billion barrels of these reserves are recoverable, said Seyyed Saleh Hendi who also announced the discovery of 128 trillion cubic feet of gas. 02/13/17
Iranian Archers Win Medals In Las Vegas World Cup - Members of the Iranian archery team have managed to bag one gold, one bronze and two silver medals in Las Vegas 2017 Indoor Archery World Cup Stage 4. Initially blocked by the Trump administration's controversial travel ban, members of the Iranian archery team were issued visas to reach Las Vegas for an important Indoor Archery World Cup competition. 02/13/17
Glamour and heartbreak: The precious jewels of Iran's 'sad-eyed' princess - Soraya Esfandiary Bakhtiari never imagined that one day she would marry Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, and that she would reign over her country, Iran. She was queen for seven years, from 1951 to 1958. -Vincent Meylan, CNN 02/13/17
Roudsar Persian leopard in torment - Recently an injured Persian Leopard was found near Sejidan village of Siahkal region, Roudsar. The leopard was caught in a snare. Snares often lead to serious damage of wild animals. Using anchored cables or wire nooses in this region is common, so similar bad news such as capturing of forest cats is often heard. The injured Persian Leopard of Roudsar was transferred to Tehran last week to get a definitive diagnosis. -Farnaz Heidari, Tehran Times 02/13/17
Iran, Sweden Initial The Non-Aligned Movement deplores US coercive measures against IranAccords During Swedish Prime Minister's Visit - Iran's supreme leader has told Sweden's Prime Minister Stefan Lofven that Sweden has a good reputation among Iranians and is seen by Tehran as a reliable economic partner. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei made the remarks to Lofven during a meeting in Tehran on February 11. During Lofven's visit, the two countries initialed accords on cooperation in science and technology, higher education and research, roads, telecommunications, and technology. 02/12/17
Report: Iranian Hackers Target Activists' Mac Devices With Revamped Malware - State-sponsored Iranian hackers, who had until now focused almost exclusively on civil and human rights-focused users of the Android operating systems, have for the first time developed malware (software that damages or disables computer systems) that targets users' Apple devices, according to a new report by Internet security expert, Collin Anderson. 02/12/17
Iran Oil revenues set to reach $45B-$50B in next fiscal year: Oil Minister - Iranian oil minister has said that considering oil prices at $55 per barrels, the country's revenues from oil and gas condensate exports will reach $45-$50 billion in the next Iranian calendar year (March 21, 2017-March 20, 2018), IRNA reported on Saturday. 02/12/17
Former lover of the poet known as Iran's Sylvia Plath breaks his silence - Forty miles south of London, in a quiet West Sussex village, lives a 94-year-old Iranian intellectual who has for half a century kept silent about his former lover, a giant of modern Persian literature who was killed in a car accident aged just 32. -Saeed Kamali Dehghan, Guardian 02/12/17
The Non-Aligned Movement deplores US coercive measures against Iran - The Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) has deplored the US government's recent "unilateral and coercive" measures against Iran, expressing the body's support for the Islamic Republic's national sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence. 02/12/17
US Commander Warns of Russian, Iranian, Pakistani Influence in Afghanistan - The top U.S. commander in Afghanistan says Russia, Pakistan and Iran are pursuing their own agendas with regard to the fragile country, complicating the fight against terrorism and extremism. "We're concerned about outside actors," General John Nicholson told VOA's Afghan service in an interview. 02/12/17
Iran Navy aims to boost Bab el-Mandeb security: Admiral Sayyari - Iran's Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari says the Iranian naval forces are making efforts to improve security in the Gulf of Aden, the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb, considering security of those regions as a top priority. 02/12/17
Trump Warns Iran's Rohani He'd 'Better Be Careful' After Defiant Speech - U.S. President Donald Trump ratcheted up his war of words with Iran on February 10, warning Iranian President Hassan Rohani that he'd "better be careful" after Rohani made a defiant speech denouncing U.S. "warmongering." 02/11/17
US will fully implement JCPOA, says EU's Foreign Policy Chief Mogherini - European Union's foreign policy chief says the administration of US President Donald Trump gave her confidence that Washington will be committed to following through with the 2015 nuclear agreement. Federica Mogherini made the remarks on Friday during her first visit to Washington since Trump became US President in January. 02/11/17
National Museum of Iran showcasing extensive repatriated artifacts - A total of 550 historical relics including sculptures, earthenware and jewelries, repatriated from Belgium, Italy and the U.S., have been put on show at the National Museum of Iran. Adopting "Cultural Diplomacy Achievements" as its motto, the exhibit showcases four collections that have been retrieved with the incumbent Iranian government, the national museum announced on Feb. 6. 02/11/17
Political drama "Midday Event" receives Best Film award at Fajr Festival - "The Midday Event", a political drama that features the terrorist atrocity of the Mojahedin-e-Khalq Organization in Iran of the 1980s, has been crowned best at the 35th Fajr Film Festival. Producer Mahmud Razavi received his award from Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif during a closing ceremony held at Tehran's Milad Tower on Thursday night. 02/11/17
Syria-bound Russian planes using Iran airspace for anti-terror operations: Iranian Official - A senior Iranian official says Russian warplanes are using the Islamic Republic's airspace for anti-terror operations in Syria. The Russians' use of Iran's airspace continues "because we have a fully strategic cooperation with Russia," Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali Shamkhani told Fars news agency on Saturday. 02/11/17
After a scuffle, Iran welcomes US wrestling team to compete at World Cup - "We're prepared, we're set to go," says Bill Zadick, the national freestyle coach of USA Wrestling and the head coach of the team going to World Cup. "When I heard that we were initially denied, it was disappointing. But the diplomacy of the Iranian Wrestling Federation going to their government and lobbying on our behalf worked well and I believe that the Iranian government themselves understand the significance of our sport to their own culture. So I think they want to have us." -PRI 02/11/17
Amid travel ban uncertainty, Houston doctor cancels plans to perform life-saving fetal surgeries in Iran - The doctor had waited as long as he could. Now, Dr. Alireza Shamshirsaz felt he had run out of time, and he needed to break it to them. He dialed in via Skype early this week, and there they were, staring back at him from Iran: The expectant parents whose babies almost certainly would die because he wouldn't be coming to operate on them. -Houston Chronicle 02/11/17
Iranians Use Twitter to Oppose Flag-Burning and Thank Americans for Resisting Trump's Travel Ban - A few days before the 38th anniversary of Iran's 1979 revolution-traditionally commemorated with hardliners burning U.S. flags and promoting other forms of anti-Americanism-thousands of people participated in a Twitter storm to express gratitude for the Americans who protested against President Donald Trump's travel ban on seven Muslim-majority countries, including Iran. 02/10/17
The Limits of Sports Diplomacy in US-Iran Relations - US-Iranian relations since 1979 have been characterized by long periods of animosity and mutual demonization and only fleeting moments of relaxed tensions. Under President Trump, the United States has ratcheted up the anti-Iran rhetoric and actions, causing some analysts to opine that a military confrontation between the two countries is likely. -Nader Entessar 02/10/17
Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals' Upholds Court Order Blocking Trump's Executive Order - "The court's decision to uphold the order blocking the Trump administration's un-American Executive Order is a triumph of justice. The message to the Trump administration is clear: America's democratic institutions will not allow our democracy to be corrupted by bigoted and racist measures that divide our country and make America less safe. -NIAC 02/10/17
Women's World Chess Championship kicks off in Tehran - The knock-out tournament will have the participation of some of the world's top players, including the former Women's World Champions Alexandra Kosteniuk (Russia), Anna Ushenina (Ukraine), Zhu Chen (Qatar) and Antoaneta Stefanova (Bulgaria), the current Women's World Rapid and Blitz Champion Anna Muzychuk, the winner of the FIDE Grand Prix Series 2015-2016 Ju Wenjun (China), the three-time Russian champion and two-time European Champion Valentina Gunina and other leading grandmasters. 02/10/17
Iran Marks 1979 Revolution Anniversary With Mass Rallies, Defiant Words - Hundreds of thousands of Iranians rallied on February 10 to mark the anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution. The rallies commemorate February 11, 1979, when followers of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini ousted a U.S.-backed monarch, Shah Reza Pahlavi. 02/10/17
New U.S. travel restrictions leave Iranian woman in L.A. museum show in artistic limbo - A languid visual poem called "Our Persian Garden," the work has only gained in resonance following President Trump's executive order to temporarily prohibit citizens of seven predominantly Muslim countries from entering the U.S. Oversaturated with light and featuring a soundscape of wind and rushing water, "Our Persian Garden" speaks to feelings of dislocation and alienation that Alaei Novin and other Iranian immigrants have long felt in the U.S., she says. -Los Angeles Times 02/10/17
Deconstructing a Detonation near Yemen - On January 30, 2017, there was an explosion on a Saudi frigate sailing off the Red Sea coast of Yemen, killing two sailors. That much is uncontested. What is unclear--and politically explosive--is whether the Houthis mounted a suicide-boat attack against the frigate (as the Saudis claimed to Secretary of Defense James Mattis) or whether the explosion was caused by a surface-to-ship missile, as the Houthis claim. -James Spencer, LobeLog 02/10/17
How Trump Can Defeat ISIS - If you were betting on an unpredictable Donald J. Trump to transform America's bankrupt Mideast policy scene, these next ten words will burst your bubble. "As of today, we are officially putting Iran on notice," National Security Advisor Michael Flynn told reporters a mere thirteen days into the new administration. Iran? -Sharmine Narwani, American Conservative 02/10/17
Iranian-American Orgs File Federal Lawsuit Against Trump Travel Ban Executive Order - Several prominent Iranian-American organizations have filed a joint action in federal court to stop the Trump Administration's Executive Order banning nationals from Iran and six other predominantly Muslim nations from entering the U.S. The lawsuit was filed by Iranian American civil rights lawyer Cyrus Mehri, partner of Washington, DC-based firm Mehri & Skalet, PLLC; the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law; and pro bono counsel, Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer ("APKS"), on behalf of the Pars Equality Center, the Iranian American Bar Association, the National Iranian American Council, and the Public Affairs Alliance of Iranian Americans. 02/9/17
The "Ambassadors Of Peace" In Iran - Iran hosted around 320 tour guides from about 40 countries in the 17th World Federation of Tour Guides Association (WFTGA) Convention. The event took place from January 28 to February 1, 2017 in Tehran. In the 3-day pre-convention tour around 160 guests visited the historical cities of Qazvin, Zanjan, and Hamedan, enjoying traditional foods, handicrafts, and also folk music. 02/9/17
Defense, intelligence officials caution White House on terrorist designation for Iran's Revolutionary Guard - Senior defense and intelligence officials have cautioned the White House that a proposal to designate Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps as a foreign terrorist organization could endanger U.S. troops in Iraq and the overall fight against the Islamic State, and would be an unprecedented use of a law that was not designed to sanction government institutions. -Washington Post 02/9/17
Kuwait welcomes prospects for cooperation between Iran, Persian Gulf Arab states - Kuwaiti Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled al-Jarallah has welcomed prospects for cooperation between Iran and the Persian Gulf Arab countries to help resolve conflicts in the region. The senior Kuwaiti diplomat made the comments in response to Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif's comments on the country's relations with regional states, including those in the Persian Gulf region. 02/9/17
Washington Lt. Gov. Cyrus Habib: Trump's travel ban would have blocked my parents from moving here - President Trump's recent executive order denying entry to refugees as well as immigrants and visitors from seven majority-Muslim countries has disrupted the lives of thousands of people here and abroad. I can relate to what those families are going through. Two decades ago, my family would have been one of them. -Washington Post 02/9/17
Iranian Baby Barred By Travel Ban Enters U.S. For Lifesaving Surgery - An Iranian baby girl denied entry to the U.S. for lifesaving surgery under President Donald Trump's travel ban has arrived in America for treatment. Fatemeh Reshad was admitted at Oregon Health & Science University's Doernbecher Children's Hospital in Portland on Tuesday, doctors confirmed. -Huffington Post 02/9/17
A New Security Order Needed in the Persian Gulf - Late last year in Manama, Bahrain, British Prime Minister Theresa May assured Persian Gulf oil monarchies that the United Kingdom's anti-Iran posture would remain unchanged under her leadership. Iranian "influence fuels instability in the region," she told the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)'s 37th Leaders Summit, adding, "I am clear-eyed about the threat that Iran poses to the Gulf and the wider Middle East." -Javad Heiran-Nia, LobeLog 02/9/17
Iran's Intelligence Ministry Cracks Down on Alleged "Anti-Revolutionary" Telegram Channels - In the latest crackdown by hardliners against popular social media applications in Iran, the Intelligence Ministry has detained several channel administrators of Telegram. Hardline domestic news outlets have subsequently aired admins' alleged video "confessions." 02/9/17
Iranian hard-liner slams Trump for not tearing up nuclear deal - Along with moderates and Reformists, Iranian hard-liners are slamming US President Donald Trump, but the reason of their criticism is different. Moderates are worried that Trump may fulfill his electoral promise by tearing up the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), while hard-liners lash out at the current US government for not destroying the deal. -Rohollah Faghihi, Al Monitor 02/9/17
Seattle Symphony to Host Free Concert of Music from Trump's Seven Travel Ban Countries - One quarter of the musicians in the Seattle Symphony are immigrants. Many of these players, along with their colleagues in the orchestra, suggested that the symphony host a concert celebrating music from the seven countries affected by the executive order banning travel from some Muslim-majority nations. -Amber Cortes, The Stranger 02/9/17
US: Iran 'Kidding Itself' If It Doesn't Realize Trump Has New Approach - The White House has dismissed a defiant message from Iran's supreme leader about Donald Trump, saying Ayatollah Ali Khamenei should realize "there is a new president in office." -In his daily press briefing Tuesday, White House press secretary Sean Spicer said Trump would not remain idle in response to Iran's "violations, or apparent violations," of its 2015 nuclear deal with the U.S. and five other world powers. He said Trump "will continue to take action as he sees fit. ... [H]e is not going to project what those actions will be, and he will not take anything off the table." -Michael Lipin and Payam Yazdian, VOA 02/8/17
RT: Call Iran! - A link needs to be urgently established between Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and newly sworn-in Secretary of State Rex Tillerson amid the needless escalation in tension between the Trump administration and Iran. This week alone, the Trump White House imposed a blanket travel ban on Iranian nationals. Iran launched a provocative missile test and reciprocated with its own travel ban (since rescinded, at least for the U.S. wrestling team), which in turn led to Trump putting Iran "on notice" and imposing additional non-nuclear sanctions. -Navid Hassibi 02/8/17
Jailed Iranian Swedish Physician Sentenced to Death in Iran - Iranian physician Ahmadreza Jalali, who was arrested in Iran ten months ago, has been reportedly sentenced to death. Although charges have not yet been announced publicly by Iranian Judiciary, Jalili's wife maintains that they are political and include the charge of "collaborations with enemy states". 02/8/17
In Iran, From Prison to Exile for Posting Jokes on Facebook - After completing a five-year prison sentence in Iran for posting jokes about religion on Facebook, the Judiciary has sent Soheil Babadi into exile. The 39-year-old computer engineer must now spend the next two years in Beshagard, a remote community of 35,000 people in the southern coastal province of Hormozgan, a source told the Campaign for Human Rights in Iran. 02/8/17
Iran's Khamenei and Trump spar, and sports and academic ties feel blowback - Among the first casualties of President Trump's immigration ban was the United States wrestling team - victims of a reciprocal Iranian ban that would have kept Americans out of the Freestyle World Cup in Iran in mid-February. Then Mr. Trump's ban was suspended by court order. Iran responded by rescinding its ban. The American wrestlers could travel. Not so lucky were two Iranian archers planning to take part in a stage of the indoor Archery World Cup in Las Vegas this weekend. Their US visas were never issued. -Scott Peterson, CSM 02/8/17
Trekking Iran's Lut desert: a wild, remote adventure - in pictures - Iran's Dasht-e Lut with its giant dunes, salt plains and kaluts provides an epic journey of breathtaking beauty and wilderness, as seen in these images from a 15-day trek with Secret Compass -Guardian 02/8/17
Congress: No Money for Palestinians, More Sanctions for Iranians - As we have over the past two years, LobeLog is posting excerpts from the Legislative Round-up published weekly when Congress is in session by the inimitable Lara Friedman of Americans for Peace Now about what Congress is up to and what individual members are saying, particularly about Israel-Palestine and Iran -Lara Friedman, LobeLog 02/8/17
Iran Should Take American Threats Seriously - It was not surprising that Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, national security adviser to President Donald Trump, "officially put...Iran on notice," following what he cited as "recent Iranian actions, including a provocative ballistic missile launch and an attack against a Saudi naval vessel conducted by Iran-supported Houthi militants." President Trump himself later confirmed these comments. -Shireen T. Hunter 02/7/17
President Rouhani says Iran nuclear deal benefits everyone - Iranian President Hassan Rouhani says the nuclear deal between Iran and six world powers is an agreement that offers benefits to all the parties involved. Speaking at a ceremony in the Iranian capital of Tehran on Tuesday, President Rouhani referred to the recent remarks by US President Donald Trump, who has called the Iran deal "the worst... ever negotiated," and countered by saying that the deal is to the benefit of all. 02/7/17
Iran's Supreme Leader Says Trump 'Reveals America's Real Face' - Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has said he is grateful to U.S. President Donald Trump for showing "the real face of America." Khamenei's website quoted him as making the comments in a February 7 meeting with military commanders in Tehran. 02/7/17
How Iranian Americans can weather Trump's assault on their heritage - For Iranian Americans, estimated at somewhere near a million strong, President Trump's order banning the entry of people from Iran and six other countries has a doomsday feel - one that is uncomfortably familiar. Since the Iran hostage crisis in 1979, through the "axis of evil" in 2002, they've reported feeling intensely unwelcome. That sensation began to break only last year, with President Barack Obama's nuclear deal. -Jason Rezaian, Washington Post 02/7/17
Iran launches Persian Gulf Explorer ship - Iran's first hydrographic and oceanographic survey ship called Persian Gulf Explorer was launched after being delivered to National Institute for Oceanography and Atmospheric Science. On the fifth day of Fajr Decade, the first Iranian hydrographic and oceanographic survey ship, which has been designed and built by the Iranian Defense Ministry's Marine Industries Organization, was officially put into the water during a ceremony in Bandar Abbas. 02/7/17
For Iranian Americans, Trump has complicated an already tricky trip to motherland - For many Iranian immigrants and their families, the 7,500-mile journey between Tehran and California is an emotionally fraught necessity. Most Iranians in the U.S. oppose the hard-line regime in Tehran. Many fled for political freedoms or opportunities for professional growth. Others moved here for a Western education and planned to go back, but found themselves tethered to America after the Islamic Revolution in 1979. -Sarah Parvini, Los Angeles Times 02/7/17
Hoz-e Sultan, a gigantic natural mirror in central Iranian plateau - Hoz-e Sultan, a lonely salt lake in the heart of Iran, resembles a gigantic natural mirror as its shallow water covers a vast plain of salt deposits. It is the epicenter of a relatively rich fauna as well. Sprawled about 40 kilometers north of the city of Qom and adjacent to the Qom - Tehran highway, the lake covers 37,075 hectares. With an altitude of about 720 meters above sea level, the lake is considered as one of the lowest parts of the Iranian plateau. 02/7/17
Maz Jobrani Talks Terrorist Typecasting, '24' and the Grueling Task of Mocking Trump - Maz Jobrani is no stranger to how Muslims are so frequently portrayed on TV and film. The comedian, currently starring in CBS sitcom Superior Donuts, wrote the book on it. I'm Not a Terrorist but I've Played One on TV came out almost two years ago this month, but the subject of Muslim depictions in American media and entertainment feels as timely as ever. -Michael O'Connell, Hollywood Reporter 02/7/17
Iran must be part of universal front against terrorism: Russia - Russia has rejected allegations by the US that Iran sponsors terrorism, stressing that Tehran must be present in the anti-terror front. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov made the remarks on Monday, noting that Iran has never had ties with terrorist organizations. 02/7/17
Three Iranian films to go on screen at Portland festival - Three Iranian films will go on screen at the 40th Portland International Film Festival, which will be held February 9-25, 2017 in Portland, Oregon. "Life+1 Day" by Saeid Rustai and "Parting", a joint production of Iran and Afghanistan by Navid Mahmudi will go on screen in the New Directors section, in which new and emerging filmmakers represent the new generation of master storytellers. In addition, "Starless Dreams", a documentary by Mehrdad Oskui will be screened in the Documentary Views category of the festival. 02/6/17
VIDEO: Foreign Tour Guides Describe Iran With Body Language - The 17th World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations Convention was held in Tehran from January 28 to February 1, 2017. On the sidelines of the convention, the international tour guides were asked to describe their journey to Iran with body language gestures. 02/6/17
Behnaz Shafiei: Iran's trailblazing female biker makes history with women's race - When Behnaz Shafiei crosses the finish line on Friday at the end of a dusty, rock-strewn race track in Karaj, near Tehran, it will mark the end of both a simple motorbike race and a three-year campaign for women's rights in Iran. Whether she wins the race or not, it's a victory. 02/6/17
Trumpian Follies & Iran's Options - This Emperor does have clothes, lots of it, closetsful, but seems to be lacking in some more important attributes. He has done it again; this time he has put Iran "on notice", no less! Is Mr. Trump a savvy diplomat, a good politician, or is he simply a good businessman, a deal maker? The answer to the first two questions is an absolute NO. About being a good deal maker/businessman, well, having a lot of money is not a convincing criterion... -Kambiz Zarrabi 02/5/17
White House Warns Iran To 'Think Twice' Before Testing U.S. Resolve - U.S. Vice President Mike Pence has warned Iran "not to test the resolve" of the Donald Trump administration days after the U.S. imposed new sanctions on the Islamic republic over a ballistic-missile test. Asked by ABC News how the United States would respond to provocation by Iran, Pence said that the "president said everything's on the table" -- including military action. 02/5/17
Latest U.S. Iran Sanctions Signal New Policy Of Confrontation - The United States on February 3 imposed new sanctions against Iran, a move that comes days after Tehran conducted a ballistic-missile test and amid an escalating war of words between the two governments. Shortly after the announcement, U.S. national security adviser Michael Flynn signaled a new, more confrontational U.S. policy toward Iran, saying the "international community has been too tolerant of Iran's bad behavior." 02/4/17
Trump to Iranian People: Drop Dead - The shameful episode of Trump's January 27 executive order and Muslim travel ban has turned on its head decades of American messages about Iran. This step--apparently the brainchild of the "torturer's apprentice" Steve Bannon--has been a bizarre reversal of America's policy. We now say nothing about the Islamic Republic's government but express our public disdain for its people. -John Limbert 02/4/17
Iranian Professors Call For Easing Travel Restrictions For U.S. Citizens - A group of professors has urged Iranian President Hassan Rohani to respond to a recent order by U.S. President Donald Trump temporarily barring travel by Iranians to the United States by easing travel restrictions for U.S. citizens visiting their country. 02/4/17
Thoughts on Iran, Obama, and Trump - Donald Trump's election after a comical and combative presidential contest, carried America's politics from the farcical side of the Rubicon to its tragic shore, straight into the arms of the country's Radical Right. Marx's famous dictum that history is repeated first as tragedy, and then as farce, may have been turned right-side-up. Somewhere up there, Hegel must be terribly amused. -Mahmoud Omidsalar 02/4/17
Decades of Demonization Behind the Ban On Muslims - President Donald J. Trump's executive order banning the entry of citizens of seven countries with majority Muslim populations shocked many people in the United States and many more in Europe and elsewhere. It also elicited a wave of criticism from a variety of quarters-including business, academia, and human rights organizations-both in the United States and elsewhere. -Shireen T. Hunter 02/2/17
Winner of Farhang's annual Nowruz banner competition announced - Each year, Farhang Foundation, through its Nowruz Banner Competition, reaches out to a global community of artists, illustrators, and graphic designers, enlisting their talents to create and submit original designs that capture the essence of Nowruz. During the weeks leading to Farhang's annual Nowruz celebration, the winning design is featured on large street banners in prominent areas of Los Angeles announcing the event. 02/2/17
America Polarized and in Turmoil: United, we must take back our country from the ultra-supremacists in the White House - Among the executive orders signed by President Donald J. Trump this past Friday, there is the enhancing "national security and border control," that has led to massive demonstrations and much controversy. No patriotic American, native or naturalized, could argue against the meritorious notion of enhancing our national security, immigration and border control. However, while most Americans are committed to inclusivity and blind justice, Trump and his dwindling number of supporters want to block Muslims by using a religious litmus test for entry and immigration to the US. -David N. Rahni 02/1/17
France in strong show of support for Iran ties and nuclear agreement - France is using a visit to Tehran by its Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault to show its support for the expansion of economic relations with Iran in the face of growing tensions resulting from what many see as the unfolding anti-Iran approach by US President Donald Trump. 01/31/17
PHOTOS: Fajr International Festival of Visual Arts at Tehran Museum - The 9th edition of the Fajr International Festival of Visual Arts opened at Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art on Sunday. The ceremony started with honoring those active in promoting the festival through the past year including news agencies, publications, and cultural offices. 01/27/17
Poll: Iranian Public Rejects Renegotiating Nuclear Deal - Any plans that new U.S. President Donald Trump may have to renegotiate the Iran nuclear deal (the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA) will find little support among the Iranian people, according to a poll conducted last month and released today by the Center for International and Security Studies at Maryland (CISSM). -Derek Davison 01/26/17
PROFILES: Iranian woman motorcycle racer Baran Hadizadeh - Up at the crack of dawn Baran Hadizadeh starts her day of motocross practice, a routine she goes for three times a week. Motocross is a form of off-road motorcycle racing held on enclosed off-road circuits. Taking her heavyweight motorbike in tow, she drives to the racing track in Hashtgerd, outskirt of Tehran, to live her dream, one day at a time. -Marjan Golpira 01/16/17
IMVBox: A whole new world of Iranian movies at your fingertips - IMVBox.com is the world's leading online distributor of high-quality Iranian cinema. Its Video On Demand service houses the largest legally-assembled library of Iranian feature films, documentaries, TV shows and short films. Thousands of hours of content all easily accessible across multiple devices, all offering a high-quality playback experience. The platform uses a subscription-based model that requires members to pay either a monthly or annual fee. One month of premimum subscription free of charge for payvand.com visitors! 01/13/17
DEEP OATH: Painting exhibition by Narenj Kazemi - If it is bread that you seek, you will have bread \ If it is the soul you seek, you will find the soul \ If you understand this secret, \ you know you are that which you seek 01/9/17
Meet An Entrepreneur Iranian Woman: Carpet Weaving Expert Nahid Hosseini - Nahid Hosseini, 49, is a carpet weaving instructor who exports hand-woven carpets made by her trainees to European countries. Hosseini learned carpet weaving in her childhood from her father, Seifoddin Hosseini, who himself was an exemplary carpet producer and a top carpet weaving instructor. -Mojtaba Heidari 01/4/17
37 Top U.S. Scientists Urge Trump To Preserve Iran Nuclear Deal - Dozens of top U.S. scientists have called on U.S. President-elect Donald Trump to uphold the nuclear deal reached with Iran, calling it "a strong bulwark against an Iranian nuclear-weapons program." The letter was organized by physicist Richard L. Garwin, known for helping design the world's first hydrogen bomb. The 37 signatories of the letter include a Nobel laureate, former White House science advisers, and prominent academics. 01/3/17
Photos: Sculptor Qodratollah Aqeli's new exhibit criticizes social behavior - "The Peculiarity of Creatures", an exhibition of sculptures by Qodratollah Aqeli, has criticized the daily social behavior of people. The exhibit, which opened in Tehran's Sareban Gallery on Friday, showcases a collection of about twenty busts and sculptures. 01/2/17
PHOTOS: Foreign Tourists Visiting Historical Houses In Kashan, Iran - Since the signing of the nuclear agreement between Iran and the world powers in July 2015, there has been a big jump in travel by foreign tourists to Iran. One of the favorite destinations for the tourists is Kashan in central Iran where they can visit numerous historical houses from the 18th and 19th centuries that illustrate the finest examples of architecture from the Qajar era. 12/26/16
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