Iran’s approach toward last year’s protests ‘more mature’ than ever

TEHRAN – Hesamoddin Ashna, a senior cultural advisor to the president, says the Islamic Republic’s approach toward last year’s protests was more mature compared to previous protests.

Former MP blames government and domestic media for 2017 protests

TEHRAN – Former senior lawmaker Mohammad Reza Bahonar says the government as well as domestic media outlets are to blame for last year’s unexpected protests which broke out in dozens of cities and towns across Iran.

Minister: Iranians’ lifestyle has changed drastically

TEHRAN – Iranian people’s lifestyle, including their entertainment, discourse, relationship and appearance, has changed drastically in recent years, Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani-Fazli has said.

No one in Iran is against foreign investment: Jahangiri

Iranian First Vice President Es’haq Jahangiri has said that no one or organization in Iran including the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps is against attracting foreign investment.

West wants to deprive Iran of missile power and then bully it, Ayatollah Khamenei warns

Leader: Iran against WMDs but promotes defense power

TEHRAN - Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said on Sunday that Iran considers nuclear bomb and other weapons of mass destruction as religiously banned, but does anything necessary to increase its defense capability.

Calm restored without gun, Rouhani says of recent protests 

TEHRAN – Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Tuesday that security forces restored calm in the recent protests without using weapons.

By Negar Asadi

Huge turnout in marches marking Islamic Revolution anniversary

TEHARN – Iranians poured into the streets in large numbers on Sunday to mark the 39th anniversary of the victory of the Islamic Revolution and express their loyalty to the Islamic republic system.

Nation backs Islamism, Republicanism despite foreign pressure: Rouhani

TEHRAN – President Hassan Rouhani said on Wednesday that the Iranian people continue supporting the Islamic Republic system despite pressure by foreigners.

No Iran unrest student arrestee remains in custody: interior minister

TEHRAN – No student arrested in connection with the recent riots across Iran currently remains in custody, the interior minister said on Tuesday. 

By Mohammad Ghaderi & Payman Yazdani

UK envoy comments on JCPOA, Iran protests, Zaghari

TEHRAN - Commenting on various issues such as the JCPOA, bilateral ties, protests rallies in Iran and Nazanin Zaghari, British Ambassador to Tehran Nicholas Hopton says that despite all challenges Tehran-London relationship is heading in the right direction.

By Mohammad Mazhari

Targeting Iran’s security: A new phase in soft war 

Iran saw some surprising events for a week starting 28 December when protests broke out in Mashhad, northeastern Iran. A group of people in the city lost their money as a result of the collapse of unlicensed credit and finance institutions in recent years and gathered at the Shohada square, criticizing Iranian state economic performance. 

By Sadollah Zarei

Chaos in December: the defeat of the enemy

TEHRAN – The Islamic Revolution of Iran has been a matter of great concern for America, Britain, Israel and the West since 1979 and it seems it will continue to be so in the future.

Interior Ministry clarifies root causes of Iran protests

TEHRAN – Deputy Interior Minister Hossein Zolfaqari has shed light on the root causes of the recent protests which broke out across the country and died out after a week, saying the ministry has provided President Rouhani with an inclusive report on the sources of public discontent.

Top judge divides protestors into ‘deceived’ individuals and ‘rioters’

TEHRAN – Judiciary chief Ayatollah Sadeq Amoli Larijani said on Monday that prosecutors should separate “deceived” people from “rioters” in dealing with cases of persons who were arrested during the recent protests in some cities across Iran.

Rouhani to address nation on TV

TEHRAN – President Hassan Rouhani is scheduled to appear on TV at 9:00 pm local time (5:30 GMT) on Monday to address the nation.

By Mohammad Hashemi

Time for reflection on unrest in Iran 

It was after midnight on December 31 and I was checking the latest news about protests in Iran on twitter when one post attracted my attention. It claimed the “Iranian regime lost control of the central city of Kashan” --my hometown-- and that “people have taken control of police stations and military installations in the city”. The writer of that post, who is the political editor of a very popular tabloid in Germany, further speculated in another post that this could be the beginning of “syrification of the conflict” in Iran! 

Expediency Council chief urges resolution of economic problems to foil plots

TEHRAN – Chairman of Iran's Expediency Council Seyed Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi has urged officials to solve the economic problems, warning of enemy plots to exploit the issue.

Tehran prosecutor: 54 indictments issued against rioters

TEHRAN – Abbas Jafari-Dolatabadi, the Tehran prosecutor general, said on Saturday that 54 indictments have been issued against those who destroyed public property during the recent unrest.

Ayatollah Alamolhoda rejects involvement in protests

TEHRAN – Mashhad Friday prayer leader Seyyed Ahmad Alamolhoda has rejected involvement in igniting the recent widespread protests across the country, calling for thorough investigation of the causes of the unrest.

Policemen not armed during unrest: Ashtari

TEHRAN – Police Chief Brigadier General Hossein Ashtari has rejected claims that police forces shot dead a number of protesters in the recent unrest, saying none of the police units were armed with assault rifles.

Military chief praises police handling of protests

TEHRAN – Major General Mohammad Hossein Baqeri, chief of the Iranian Armed Forces, said on Monday that police managed to control the situation quickly and separate rioters from peaceful marchers patiently.

Top official calls for national dialogue to counter challenges

TEHRAN – Iranian First Vice President Es’haq Jahangiri said on Monday that it is essential to maintain unity and hold national dialogue among rival political factions to counter the U.S. president’s moves who has been working incessantly to undermine Iran’s economic relationship with the outside world.

Judiciary: 400 protesters still in custody

TEHRAN – Judiciary spokesman Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje'i said on Sunday that still 400 of the protesters who were arrested during the recent unrest across the country are in custody.

Archbishop lauds police’s restraint in face of protests

TEHRAN – Archbishop Cipan Kashjian, the religious leader of the Armenian Christians in Isfahan and south Iran, on Saturday praised the conduct of police in the face of recent protests in some cities across Iran, saying police succeeded to restore calm through their “might” and “restraint”.

By Martin Love 

One view from afar

NORTH CAROLINA - I know a thing or two about protests. But the last real protest I was amidst, for a few days, was in February, 2011, in Maidan Tahrir in Cairo. 

Rouhani administration firm to be honest with people: official

TEHRAN - Majid Takht-Ravanchi, who now serves as deputy director of the presidential chief of staff for political affairs, has said that the government of President Hassan Rouhani is determined to act transparently and be honest with the people.

All detained students to be released by Thursday

TEHRAN – Science Minister Mansour Qolami said on Wednesday that 15 to 20 students are still in custody who will be released by Thursday.

Paul Craig Roberts: U.S. working against Iranians through protests

TEHRAN – Paul Craig Roberts, the former U.S. assistant secretary of the Treasury for economic policy in the Reagan administration and current chairman of the Institute for Political Economy, has said that the United States has worked through recent protests in Iran against the Iranian nation.

Ayatollah Khamenei: Rightful demands differ from acts of violence

TEHRAN – Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Tuesday that people’s honest and rightful demands should be heeded and separated from acts of violence and sabotage.

Majority of protestors were uneducated: Interior Ministry

TEHRAN – Interior Ministry spokesman Salman Samani said on Monday that the majority of people who took part in recent protests across the country were not educated, and only a small number of students and university graduates took part in the protests.