French Citizen Olivier Grondou Released from Iranian Detention
French Citizen Olivier Grondou Released from Iranian Detention Emmanuel Macron, the President of France, announced in a post on the social media platform X that Olivier Grondou, a French citizen who had been detained in Iran since October 2022, has been released. Macron stated that Mr. Grondou has returned to France but provided no further […]
Araghchi: Trump’s Letter ‘Mostly Threats’ but Also Hints at Opportunities
Araghchi: Trump’s Letter ‘Mostly Threats’ but Also Hints at Opportunities Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that President Donald Trump’s letter to Iran’s Supreme Leader “mostly amounts to threats” but also “claims to offer certain opportunities.” Araghchi made these remarks on a special Norooz program on Channel 2, which he attended with his wife and […]
Araghchi Reacts to Trump Letter and Signals Response Will Come, Iran’s Rial Hits Historic Low, Karroubi’s House Arrest Ends, and More
Read all about these stories in this week’s Iran Unfiltered, a digest tracking Iranian politics & society by the National Iranian American Council
Simultaneous Wildfires in Iran’s Wetlands and Forests Prompt Widespread Closures and Environmental Warnings
Simultaneous Wildfires in Iran’s Wetlands and Forests Prompt Widespread Closures and Environmental Warnings On Monday, March 17, thick smoke from a fire in the Iraqi section of the Hoor al-Azim Wetland led to the closure of schools, universities, and certain government offices in several counties of Khuzestan Province. According to a statement released on Sunday […]
Chaharshanbe Suri in Iran: A Blend of Ancient Celebration and Modern Defiance
Chaharshanbe Suri in Iran: A Blend of Ancient Celebration and Modern Defiance Chaharshanbe Suri—an ancient festival marking the farewell to the old year and its hardships, and the welcome of joy and celebration in the new year—dates back centuries and is believed to have roots in Zoroastrian traditions. It is observed on the eve of […]
Iran’s Rial Hits Historic Low as Dollar Surpasses 100,000 Tomans
Iran’s Rial Hits Historic Low as Dollar Surpasses 100,000 Tomans Sources in Iran’s currency market report that the U.S. dollar has reached 100,000 tomans, with some indicating it has already passed that mark—setting a new record for the decline in the rial’s value. In today’s free-market trading, the euro was around 108,000 tomans and the […]
House Arrest of Mehdi Karroubi Lifted: Officials Promise Similar Action for Mousavi
House Arrest of Mehdi Karroubi Lifted: Officials Promise Similar Action for Mousavi According to Iranian media, Hossein Karroubi – the son of Green Movement leader Mehdi Karroubi – stated: “Yesterday, during a visit with my father, officials informed him that starting today, based on the order of the head of the judiciary, your house arrest […]
Trump Puts Onus on Iran to Restrain Houthis as U.S. Strikes in Yemen Leave Dozens Killed
Trump Puts Onus on Iran to Restrain Houthis as U.S. Strikes in Yemen Leave Dozens Killed According to Houthi health officials, at least 53 people—including several children—were killed in heavy U.S. airstrikes on Sunday, March 16. The United States described these attacks as “widespread and heavy” on Houthi positions in Yemen and claimed several Houthi […]
Celebrating the Life and Legacy of Toraj Rahnama: A Pioneer of Persian-German Literary Exchange
Celebrating the Life and Legacy of Toraj Rahnama: A Pioneer of Persian-German Literary Exchange Toraj Rahnama, a renowned translator, poet, literary scholar, and professor of German language and literature at the University of Tehran, passed away at the age of 87 on Tuesday, March 11 at Tondis Hospital in Tehran. Born in 1937 in Ahvaz, […]
Izeh Resident Takes Own Life After Armed Standoff with Security Forces
Izeh Resident Takes Own Life After Armed Standoff with Security Forces While many Izeh residents participated in largely peaceful demonstrations during the 2022 Woman, Life, Freedom unrest, a smaller group resorted to armed confrontation—among them an individual named Abul Korkor. According to human rights media outlets, Korkor died by suicide on Saturday evening, 18 Esfand (March 8), […]
“Street Protests” in Support of the Hijab and Chastity Law
“Street Protests” in Support of the Hijab and Chastity Law The Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) has decided not to officially announce the Hijab and Chastity Law, sparking ongoing criticism from hardline parliamentarians. Previously, these parliamentarians spent weeks attempting to remove Foreign Minister Zarif from office, and now they are focused on forcing the promulgation […]
Explosive Revelations: Rafigh-Doust’s Confessions on Governmental Assassinations
Explosive Revelations: Rafigh-Doust’s Confessions on Governmental Assassinations An interview with Mohsen Rafigh-Doust, former IRGC minister and ex-head of the Mostazafan Foundation, on the program “Oral History of Didban-e Iran” on March 8 (18 Esfand) has sparked widespread reactions and led to the reopening of serious investigations. In the interview, Rafigh-Doust, speaking with pride and even a […]