Short News Summary for Monday, July 30, 2018. A collection of the most important news from Iran and the world on the eighth day of Mordad 1397.
1. **384 Marriages Under 18 in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province**: The Director General of Social Affairs in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province expressed concern over the number of marriages under 13 years in the province, stating that for the first time in the past year, 384 marriages under 18 have been recorded. Ali Fath Mir Mohammadi called the statistics shocking and noted that 25 marriages under 12 years have been registered in the past year. He added that according to the law, marriages under 13 must have official court permission and a "maturity decree"; otherwise, notaries who register these marriages are acting illegally. Previously, Masoumeh Alishahi, a member of the Women’s Fraction in the Iranian Parliament, stated that the fraction is working to raise the minimum marriage age to 15 by prohibiting marriages under 13.
2. **Tehran Police Investigating Seven Major Economic Corruption Cases**: The Commander of Tehran Police announced that they are conducting preliminary investigations into seven major economic corruption cases related to cars, currency, and coins. Hussein Rahimi stated that investigations into the accused in these cases are being completed under judicial supervision, with one example being the importation of luxury cars. In recent weeks, numerous reports have emerged regarding the illegal registration of several thousand luxury cars, attributed to a hack of the Ministry of Industry's website. Additionally, several currency and coin brokers have been arrested, accused of "disrupting the economic system of the country," including an individual known as the "Coin Sultan."
3. **Alimohammadi: No Corruption in the Clergy Community**: The Imam of Mashhad claimed that there is no corruption in the clergy community and that it is one of the purest societies. He stated that if there are any children of clerics involved in corruption, they are personally responsible unless they are minors. The term "Aghazadeh" (children of the elite) has been frequently used in recent years to describe the misuse of their fathers' positions for economic and political gain. Recently, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo listed instances of corruption among Iranian officials, including a $300 million asset attributed to Sadeq Larijani.
4. **Sadeq Larijani Responds to Pompeo's Comments**: The head of Iran's judiciary reacted to Mike Pompeo's comments about his assets, calling them "unethical" and stating that such remarks are not befitting a politician.
5. **Confirmation of Voting Photo Related to Sepanta Niknam**: Mohammad Reza Bahonar confirmed that a recently published photo from a meeting was related to the voting session for Sepanta Niknam's return to the Yazd City Council.
6. **250,000 Visitors to the Louvre Exhibition in Tehran**: The director of museums announced that 250,000 people visited the "Louvre in Tehran" exhibition, which ran until July 30. However, an exhibition planned for Mashhad was canceled due to foreign insurance companies refusing to participate because of sanctions.
7. **37,650 HIV Cases Identified**: The Ministry of Health reported that by the end of 1396 (2017), a total of 37,650 people with HIV had been identified, with 83% being men and 17% women.
8. **Hoz Sultan Lake Dries Up**: Reports indicate that the Hoz Sultan salt lake near Qom has dried up significantly, posing risks of salt dust storms to nearby cities.
9. **Australian Coroner's Findings on Iranian Refugee's Death**: An Australian coroner determined that the death of Iranian refugee Hamid Khazaei in the Manus Island detention center four years ago was "preventable," criticizing the Australian government's treatment of refugees as a form of "torture."
10. **Homayoun Shajarian Will Hold Street Concerts for People's Well-Being**: Iranian musician Homayoun Shajarian expressed his willingness to hold street concerts without any profit motive to improve people's spirits.