Archive for the ‘Iran’ Category

Iran President Hassan Rouhani criticizes widening corruption in country in usually blunt terms

Published December 08, 2014

TEHRAN, Iran Iran's President Hassan Rouhani is criticizing widening corruption in his country in unusually blunt terms, saying money once "given under the table now is being given on the table."

Rouhani made the comments Monday at a meeting of an anti-corruption campaign aired live on state television. They come as Iran is in the middle of a plan to decentralize and privatize its economy. Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei repeatedly has warned officials over possible corruption during implementing the program.

In May, Iran executed a billionaire businessman Mahafarid Amir Khosravi, convicted of being at the heart of a $2.6 billion state bank scam in Iran, the largest since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

On Monday, Rouhani said: "The continuation, the deepening and the expansion of corruption is endangering ... the Islamic Revolution."

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Iran President Hassan Rouhani criticizes widening corruption in country in usually blunt terms

Iran Charges U.S. Journalist With 'Unknown Crimes': Family

By Cassandra Vinograd

LONDON A Washington Post reporter detained in Iran has been charged with "unknown crimes" by a Tehran judge, the journalist's family said in a statement on Sunday.

Jason Rezaian, the newspaper's bureau chief in Tehran since 2012, was arrested nearly five months ago. The Washington Post on Sunday first reported that the journalist - a dual U.S.-Iranian national was charged with unspecified crimes in his first court appearance Saturday in Tehran.

In a statement provided to NBC News, Rezaian's family said it was "deeply saddened to confirm that, after being held in solitary confinement without charge for 137 days, Jason Rezaian was charged with unknown crimes by the government of Iran."

"In its ongoing disregard of Iran's own laws, the Iranian judiciary has continued to deny Jason access to legal representation, denied his request for bail, and prevented access to review of his case file," the statement added.

Rezaian's case has prompted sharp criticism from the U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said early Sunday that the U.S. is "deeply disappointed and concerned" by reports that Rezaian has been charged and that a judge had denied him bail.

"We are also distressed by reports that Jason was not allowed access to an attorney, which is a clear violation of Iran's own laws and international norms," Kerry said in a statement, adding that the U.S. is also concerned that Rezaian is under physical and psychological "duress."

"Jason poses no threat to the Iranian government or to Iran's national security," Kerry said. "We call on the Iranian government to drop any and all charges against Jason and release him immediately.

Iran's own human rights chief has weighed in on the case. In a recent interview, Mohammad Javad Larijan expressed hope to France 24 that the journalist's case would be presented to court soon and that "this fiasco" would "end on good terms."

First published December 7 2014, 10:48 AM

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Iran Charges U.S. Journalist With 'Unknown Crimes': Family

A 10-day campaign from 1st -10th December. Be their voice – Video


A 10-day campaign from 1st -10th December. Be their voice
On the occasion of Human Rights Day ( 10th Dec) The Campaign to Free Political Prisoners in Iran (CFPPI) has initiated a 10-day campaign from 1st -10th December 2014 to raise awareness on the...

By: Shiva Mahbobi

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A 10-day campaign from 1st -10th December. Be their voice - Video

Yemen blast: suicide car bomb hits Iran envoys home, three reported killed – Video


Yemen blast: suicide car bomb hits Iran envoys home, three reported killed
A suicide car bomb exploded outside the Iranian ambassador #39;s residence in Yemen on Wednesday, killing as many as three people and injuring 17. Reuters report...

By: TomoNews US

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Yemen blast: suicide car bomb hits Iran envoys home, three reported killed - Video

Iran strikes against ISIL ‘positive’, says John Kerry – Video


Iran strikes against ISIL #39;positive #39;, says John Kerry
The US Secretary of State says "significant progress" has been made by the US-led coalition in fighting the self-proclaimed Islamic State militant organisati...

By: euronews (in English)

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Iran strikes against ISIL 'positive', says John Kerry - Video