Niloufar Goudarzi
Iran International journalist
Iran International journalist
Ali Larijani, an advisor to the Supreme Leader, signaled a softer stance on Iran’s nuclear program, calling it vital but stressing that it should not overshadow broader progress, as “people must live their lives.”
Iran's government faced widespread criticism at the 48th Session of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) in Geneva over its treatment of women and girls, use of capital punishment and suppression of dissent.
The Iranian Armed Forces released a statement on Saturday, rejecting any suggestion that the helicopter crash involving President Ebrahim Raisi was caused by anything other than bad weather.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian will visit Moscow on January 17 to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin and sign a strategic cooperation agreement, the Iranian Embassy announced.
Iran’s Supreme Council of Cyberspace on announced Tuesday it would lift restrictions on some digital platforms like WhatsApp and Google Play while maintaining control on others as Iranians continue to face some of the world's toughest internet restrictions.
The deputy coordinator of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards on Friday announced a pivot to proxy warfare against Israel as Tehran finds itself in the spotlight following crippling setbacks suffered by Hezbollah and Hamas.
Tehran’s firebrand Kayhan daily rejected a Wall Street Journal report that Iran had provided written assurances to the Biden administration not to target Donald Trump, asserting that no such guarantees could ever be made.
Tehran must embrace atomic bombs to achieve "regional balance," said an Iranian member of parliament on Saturday, adding fuel to an already heated discourse over the future of Iran’s deterrence policies.
A group of Iranian activists staged an artistic protest in London to honor a female student who recently disrobed to her underwear at a Tehran university in an apparent protest at Islamic dress code enforcement.
As fatalities from methanol-laced alcohol continue under the Islamic Republic's prohibition, several experts are casting doubt on the Iranian authorities' narrative that these deaths are merely isolated incidents.
Iran's Guardian Council has approved the controversial Hijab and Chastity bill, now before Parliament, as the nation faces the looming threat of an Israeli attack that could test national unity.
Following last week's case of a mother cleaning classrooms to enroll her child, new reports have surfaced of similar incidents in schools across Iran, where low-income parents are forced to provide labor in exchange for their children's enrollment.
The former head of Iran’s Chamber of Commerce, recently sentenced to prison and fined, has dismissed the government's claims of free trade with Eurasia as empty rhetoric, pointing to the ongoing effects of sanctions.
On Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin emphasized a "very close" alignment of views with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, fueling concerns of a broader conflict in the region.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard and state media have denied reports that an air base in the central province of Isfahan, home to several Iranian military and nuclear facilities, was targeted by Israel overnight.
The Israeli army is "preparing a response" following Iran’s missile attack on Israel earlier this week, an Israeli military official told local and international media on Saturday.
Iran has been ranked the world's seventh most unaffordable country relative to household income amid the country's worst economic crisis since the founding of the Islamic Republic.
Amid heightened Israeli pressure on Hezbollah, Iran’s key proxy in the region, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei adopted a notably measured tone in his Saturday speech, emphasizing the importance of soft power.
Touted as a diplomatic breakthrough, Iranian President's first trip to Iraq last week aimed high on economics and security but seemed to hit more roadblocks than milestones.
A recent directive limiting Afghan refugees' access to bakeries has sparked controversy in Iran, highlighting growing tensions over the rising influx of Afghan migrants against the backdrop of a struggling economy.
Former Iranian foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif's mid-August resignation as an aide to Iran's president was short-lived—he’s already back, proving that political exits can be as brief as a tweet.
In his characteristic ambiguous style, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei hinted at a willingness to "cooperate" with the West while warning the government about the dangers of placing trust in them.
Abbas Araghchi, the newly appointed Iranian Foreign Minister, has declared that the revival of the 2015 JCPOA nuclear deal with the six major world powers is "untenable in its current form."
In his first state TV interview as Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi on Friday hinted at a diplomatic shift, stating that ongoing tensions with the West shouldn't burden the Iranian nation.
Iranian state media are celebrating Abbas Araghchi's swift and overwhelming approval by parliament as Foreign Minister on Wednesday, framing him as a professional diplomat seeking breakthroughs.
On Tuesday, an Iranian lawmaker, defending the proposed minister of science, stated that the nominee is 'fervently loyal' to the core principles of the establishment and fully aligned with Supreme Leader's directives.
An expert from an institute affiliated with Iran's Ministry of Oil has raised concerns about the country's oil dealings with China, revealing that these transactions bring minimal financial returns for Iran.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Khamenei condemned "enemy psychological warfare" aimed at forcing the country to reconsider retaliation against Israel in the wake of the killing of the Hamas political leader in Tehran.
Iran's foreign minister-designate has dismissed the 2015 JCPOA nuclear deal as irreparable, advocating instead for a strategy that blends military force with diplomacy, according to an Iranian MP.
Iran-backed militia forces launched their second attack in a week on US targets in Syria on Tuesday, as ceasefire talks for Gaza approach on Thursday.
Amid Iran's denials of aiding Russia with missile supplies for its war in Ukraine, Iranian officials boasted of their "latest achievements” in the defense sector during a three-day military exhibition in Moscow.
In Tehran, a panel of ex-officials with ties to former foreign minister Javad Zarif and more balanced foreign policy views suggested that external alliances could hinder Iran-US relations.
Iranian media and some officials have intensified rhetoric about retaliating against Israel for the Hamas leader's killing in Tehran as the US bolsters its military presence in the region.
Reports suggest that Iran's response to the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran this week could involve multiple attacks by its proxies and Iran itself, possibly targeting civilians, as early as this weekend.
Shaken by the embarrassment of Ismail Haniyeh's assassination in Tehran, top Iranian officials are issuing threats of harsh retaliation against Israel, attempting to put a brave face on a monumental security failure.
A staunch hardliner aligned with Supreme Leader Khamenei launched a scathing critique of President-elect Pezeshkian's cabinet formation team, accusing them of corruption, espionage and "advocating homosexuality."
Iran’s president-elect’s praising voters for delivering a "resounding punch to the mouth" of those calling to boycott the polls, has ignited a firestorm of reactions from the public.
During Friday prayers in Tehran, a group of worshippers hurled sharp insults at Mohammad Javad Zarif, amid intensifying pressure on newly elected Masoud Pezeshkian from hardline factions as he navigates his cabinet formation.
In the latest chapter of convicted oil embezzler Babak Zanjani's saga, an official claims the former insider has returned more assets than legally required, casting him in a favorable light amid the country's economic crisis.
Amid calls for President Joe Biden to drop out of the presidential race, criticism of his Iran policy has erupted beyond the Republican National Convention, fueled by major flashpoints such as Houthi aggression and Iran's nuclear program.
A significant IT outage has disrupted travel, banking, and healthcare services worldwide, while in Iran industrial, public and private systems appear to be running normally except government's intentional interference with Internet.
Iran has secretly agreed to support Al-Qaeda fighters in Afghanistan and fund the group's operations in the Middle East, according to Afghanistan United Front (AUF), an opposition group.
Iran's Acting Foreign Minister, Ali Bagheri-Kani, has lauded the purported new foreign policy direction under President-elect Masoud Pezeshkian, while steadfastly defending Tehran's support for regional proxy groups.
The Iranian president-elect, Masoud Pezeshkian, has sparked controversy by spending time attending religious ceremonies, while his critics decry his lack of political planning before taking office.
In the aftermath of Masoud Pezeshkian’s victory in the Iranian presidential election, talk of a shadow government by his hardliner rival Saeed Jalili has sparked intense debate.
American foreign policy experts, lawmakers and advocacy groups continue to criticize the Biden administration's Iran policy, demanding answers on the nuclear issue and offering recommendations.
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's recent trip to Turkey has sparked contrasting reactions, with Turkish and Iranian media offering divergent views on the controversial former Iranian president's visit.
During both the presidential election and the runoff, diaspora Iranians gathered outside polling stations abroad to voice their disapproval, arguing that voting would lend legitimacy to the Islamic Republic.
Iran’s former president Mohammad Khatami has highlighted the "unprecedented" absence of 60% of the electorate in Friday’s presidential election, stressing that dissatisfaction extends beyond just the non-voters.
As Iran’s presidential runoff on Friday approaches and the initial US election debates are underway, the potential implications of a Donald Trump victory for Tehran have become a focal point in Iranian media.
Members of Iran's Reform Front attempt to portray Masoud Pezeshkian as a moderate presidential candidate compared to his rival Saeed Jalili. But does he genuinely embody moderation as a regime insider?
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has lauded its fighters in Syria, known as "defenders of the Holy Shrine" as pivotal in safeguarding both Iran and the broader region "against threats."
Iran’s Green Movement leaders Mirhossein Mousavi and Zahra Rahnavard abstained from voting in the presidential elections, while Mehdi Karroubi publicly endorsed Masoud Pezeshkian, the sole reform-leaning candidate.
Activists in the Iranian diaspora mobilized internationally to protest and boycott the presidential election, resulting in confrontations and arrests at some polling stations.
Several student organizations, women's and youth groups are adding their voices to the growing collective effort to boycott the upcoming presidential election in Iran.
Iranian presidential candidate and cleric Mostafa Pourmohammadi has downplayed his role in the mass executions of dissidents carried out by the Islamic Republic during the 1980s.
Observers note that amid otherwise uneventful presidential debates, a contentious issue emerged, dividing conservatives and so-called reformists: the unfulfilled promise of a COVID-19 vaccine.
An Iranian newspaper has denounced the arrest of four journalists during the presidential election campaign, suggesting that it was orchestrated by "one conservative candidate," further dampening public interest in voting.
More than 500 teachers, union activists, and prominent cultural figures in Iran have publicly announced their decision to abstain from voting in the upcoming presidential elections through a joint statement.
'Reformist' presidential candidate Masoud Pezeshkian's use of an iconic song from Iran's nationwide protests in his presidential campaign has sparked backlash on social media.
Parliament speaker and presidential candidate Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has faced renewed public backlash as further revelations surface about a scandal involving his family's trip to Turkey.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) spokesperson reiterated last week that the Revolutionary Guard would refrain from any involvement in the election process despite the close affiliations of most candidates with the organization.
Ahmadreza Jalali, an Iranian-Swedish scientist currently sentenced to death in Iran, has reproached the Swedish Prime Minister for abandoning him in the recent prisoner exchange with Tehran.
Rights group Amnesty International has joined an Afghan and Iranian women's gender apartheid campaign amid continued nationwide oppression in the two Islamic regimes.
Inmates in Ward Four of Tehran’s notorious Evin Prison are suffering from severe overcrowding, abysmal hygiene, and hunger, according to a human rights monitoring group.
Former political prisoner Abolfazl Ghadiani has condemned proponents of reforming Iran's clerical establishment, insisting it is beyond redemption and fervently promoting an election boycott as a bold act of civil resistance.
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the controversial former Iranian president, has criticized the Supreme Leader's foreign policy, expressing willingness to engage in economic relations with the US and hold talks with Donald Trump.
The Secretary of the Seminaries' Intelligent Technologies Department has urged Iranian presidential candidates to utilize Artificial Intelligence (AI) to shape public opinion amid apparent voter apathy.
More than 200 cases have been filed against Iranians amid the continued crackdown on celebrations of the death of President Ebrahim Raisi last month.
As the state-controlled presidential election gets underway, Iran’s six handpicked candidates begin a mud slinging war on televised debates with accusations from corruption to human rights abuses.
Former Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has stated that the most crucial task for the upcoming president will be to help lift sanctions.
Dissident director and screenwriter Bahare Lelahi was allegedly killed by Iran’s security forces and buried in secret.
Former political prisoner Mehdi Mahmoudian has disclosed he is facing two charges, one regarding his comments about the Baha'i minority in Iran and the other for an infestation of bedbugs in Evin Prison in Tehran.
Conflicting accounts have emerged regarding the status of a new comprehensive cooperation agreement between Iran and Russia.
Farzaneh Qarahassanlou, imprisoned for her involvement in Iran's 2022 protests, has gone on hunger strike to protest the denial of urgent medical care after experiencing complete sensory loss on the left side of her body, sources told Iran International.
A mysterious online game promising financial rewards has swept through Iran, attracting players who defy government warnings in their pursuit of wealth.
Iran's top Sunni cleric, Mowlavi Abdolhamid, lamented the country's severe economic challenges, citing the failure of both "reformist" and conservative factions to manage government affairs effectively.
The state-run Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) has warned presidential candidates against tarnishing the country's image in their campaign broadcasts, threatening to block their airing.
Iran's Minister of Intelligence has declared that his agency is keeping a close watch on the behavior of presidential candidates and their supporters, warning that those promoting "subversive" narratives will face prosecution.
A high-ranking aide to Iran's Supreme Leader, purportedly entrusted with Iran's nuclear negotiations said the US and the E3 have been orchestrating a "good cop, bad cop" dynamic to navigate Iran's responses.
Former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad convened with a crowd of his supporters on Thursday, staging a campaign-like event at Tehran’s Bazaar, a bustling hub of commercial activity.
Chinese-language media are seemingly downplaying Beijing's recent supportive stance toward the UAE on three disputed islands in the Persian Gulf, drawing the ire of Tehran.
Imprisoned human rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi has launched a campaign to raise awareness and end state-led sexual harassment of protesters.
Iran’s nuclear chief says the country is adhering to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) agreements, but is “in the process of reducing its nuclear obligations from the 2015 agreement."
The Deputy Governor of Tehran has warned about the "threatening" presence of undocumented Afghan immigrants in the province, likening their removal to going to war.
Former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad announced that he is considering entering the upcoming presidential elections following the recent death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi.
Intense disputes continue as Iranian and Turkish officials debate which nation located President Ebrahim Raisi’s helicopter wreckage, with the Turkish Minister being the latest to weigh in on the issue.
President Ebrahim Raisi's burial at the Imam Reza Shrine in Mashhad marks the culmination of days of nationwide processions following his death over the weekend in a helicopter crash.
The Iranian state media's coverage of the helicopter crash that killed President Ebrahim Raisi has been chaotic, with numerous conflicting reports leaving the public confused and questioning the reliability of the information provided.
Iran trains proxies directly inside its borders through the Imam Ali Unit, as detailed by Iranian state media, exposing a once clandestine wing of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
A government billboard in Tehran encouraging young girls to be homemakers and mothers has sparked a social media backlash amid the country's violent oppression of women.
Several of Iran’s top clerics have expressed concern over high inflation, fluctuating exchange rates, and the impact of sanctions on the economy, placing blame on the government.
In a bid to deny the latest revelations about the state murder of teenager Nika Shakarami, Iran's judiciary released new pictures and claims about her death.
A regime insider once hailed as Iran's richest man, Babak Zanjani, who was previously sentenced to death for corruption, is getting ready to walk free.
The EU’s foreign policy chief has reiterated the bloc's refusal to label Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) as a terrorist entity, sparking further criticism by MEPs during Wednesday's plenary debate.
The Biden administration funded a research project involving an Iranian scientist from a university associated with Iran's illicit nuclear program, according to findings by United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI).
Experts are warning that mismanagement could threaten ancient Iranian heritage after the Deputy Minister of Iran's Cultural Heritage expressed concern about a lack of funds for maintaining critical sites.
Conservative officials and media outlets have scrambled to play down this week's crackdown on women as hijab enforcement police have flooded the streets of Tehran and other cities.
Explosions were heard near the central-western city of Isfahan early Friday as Israel reportedly launched a widely anticipated strike in retaliation to an Iranian attack over the weekend.
