Short News Summary for Thursday, August 16, 2018. Read the most important news from Iran and the world on the 25th day of Mordad 1397 here moment by moment.
Latest Posts
Formation of Iran Action Group at the U.S. State Department Mike Pompeo, the U.S. Secretary of State, announced on Thursday the formation of a special action group regarding Iran. This special group operates under the supervision of Brian Hook, the Special Representative for Iran, and is responsible for directing, reviewing, and coordinating all activities of the U.S. State Department concerning Iran.
Democrats Question U.S. Government on Yemen War Several Democratic representatives in the U.S. Congress are questioning the Trump administration following a recent airstrike by Saudi Arabia and its allies on a school bus in Yemen. Yemeni officials report that at least 51 people were killed in this attack, 40 of whom were children. Saudi Arabia has emphasized that the operation was a "legitimate military operation" targeting Houthi leaders responsible for recruiting and training children militarily. The U.S., along with the UK and France, provides intelligence and logistical support to the Saudi-led military coalition, prompting Congressional Democrats to inquire about the U.S. role in the Yemen war.
Condemnation of a Manager from Majzoban Noor Website to Exile, Whipping, and 7 Years in Prison Reza Entesari, a manager of the Majzoban Noor website, was sentenced in absentia by the Tehran Revolutionary Court to seven years of imprisonment and 74 lashes. The Majzoban Noor website, which covers news related to the Gonabadi dervishes, reported that the 15th branch of the Tehran Revolutionary Court also sentenced Mr. Entesari to two years of exile to Khaf, two years of travel ban, and two years of prohibition from membership in political and social groups and media activities. Reza Entesari is the third manager of "Majzoban Noor" to face heavy sentences from the Revolutionary Court.
Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Former Prime Minister of India, Passes Away Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the former Prime Minister of India, passed away on Thursday at the age of 93 after a prolonged illness. Vajpayee served as Prime Minister in three different terms: 13 days in 1996, 11 months between 1998 and 1999, and then from 1999 to 2004. He was a key figure in the development of India’s nuclear program and issued the order for nuclear tests in 1998, which raised fears of nuclear war with Pakistan.
Asian Games with 378 Iranian Athletes Iran's sports caravan is participating in the Asian Games with 378 athletes across 41 sports disciplines. In the women's section, Iran will send about one hundred participants, reflecting a 70% increase compared to the statistics from the Incheon Asian Games.
If We Are Not Prepared, They Will Attack Us Admiral Habibollah Sayyari, Deputy Coordinator of the Iranian Army, stated that if Iran does not have the necessary preparedness, foreign military powers in the Middle East will attack, just as they have in the past.
German National Railway Company Exits Iran Deutsche Bahn, the German national railway company, announced its exit from Iran due to U.S. sanctions. According to Reuters, Deutsche Bahn had signed a memorandum of understanding with the Eastern Railway Company since May 2017 and had been advising the Iranian railway company for a year and a half.
Majid Azarpey Arrested Majid Azarpey, a reformist political activist who was summoned to the Evin Prosecutor's Office to pay a fine, was arrested to serve his six-and-a-half-year sentence. According to Kalemeh, he was arrested in June 2015 and spent two months in Ward 2-A of Evin Prison. Judge Moghiseh sentenced this political activist to six years and six months in prison and a fine of three million tomans for conspiracy against national security and propaganda against the regime.
Gholamali Haddad Adel's Reaction to Reza Pahlavi: Explain About Bahrain Gholamali Haddad Adel, an advisor to the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, reacted to Reza Pahlavi's position on the Caspian Sea Convention by writing on his Twitter: "It would be better if he explained about parts of Iran, such as Bahrain, which were separated from Iran during his father and grandfather's time." Reza Pahlavi wrote regarding the signing of the legal regime of the Caspian Sea Convention: "The ruling criminals, for their survival, will take our national interests at the borders to the brink of extinction."
Hojjatian: Rouhani Should Bring Military Figures to the Cabinet Saeed Hojjatian, a political activist, told Iran Farda magazine: "Rouhani had only one project; and when that project, namely the JCPOA, faced obstacles, it seemed that the cabinet collapsed from within. Some ministers are eager to leave, and some advisors have separated. Hojjatian criticized the quality of the cabinet and suggested that to test the supporters of the military government, "Rouhani could employ prominent military figures, especially those who claim to manage affairs, in a 'crisis cabinet'" and assign them to areas such as water and employment, which are evident demands of the people. According to Hojjatian, by doing this, Rouhani defines the opponents under the government and reduces the damages.