https://www.voanews.com/z/5422 VOA News On Iran https://www.voanews.com/Content/responsive/VOA/en-US/img/logo.png https://www.voanews.com/z/5422 en 2026 - VOA 60 Sat, 04 Apr 2026 23:23:25 -0400 Pangea CMS – VOA Other tools include facial recognition, app https://www.voanews.com/a/un-iran-using-drones-to-enforce-hijab-law/8011563.html https://www.voanews.com/a/un-iran-using-drones-to-enforce-hijab-law/8011563.html Sat, 15 Mar 2025 04:49:23 -0400 IranMiddle EastTechnologywebdesk@voanews.com (VOA News) The families of political prisoners executed in the 1980s held a commemoration ceremony on Friday. The families of the prisoners wrote a letter to Iran’s president saying they considered the "right to mourning" a basic right, but they received no response other than the continued closure of the Khavaran cemetery's doors. Click here for the full story in Persian. https://www.voanews.com/a/voa-persian-private-commemoration-held-for-political-prisoners-executed-in-1980s/8011270.html https://www.voanews.com/a/voa-persian-private-commemoration-held-for-political-prisoners-executed-in-1980s/8011270.html Fri, 14 Mar 2025 19:28:53 -0400 Iranwebdesk@voanews.com (VOA Persian) Three Kurdish and Lorestan prisoners have been told they may soon have four fingers cut off as punishment for theft. The Iranian court says they must get forgiveness from the people who accused them by next month, or the punishment will go forward. The men have spent nine years in prison. Human rights groups say this kind of punishment is like torture and goes against international laws. Click here for the full story in Kurdish. https://www.voanews.com/a/voa-kurdish-3-prisoners-face-risk-of-amputation-in-iran/8010118.html https://www.voanews.com/a/voa-kurdish-3-prisoners-face-risk-of-amputation-in-iran/8010118.html Fri, 14 Mar 2025 14:51:09 -0400 IranMiddle Eastwebdesk@voanews.com (Bafraw Nuri) The U.S. president sent a letter to Iran’s supreme leader to restart talks on Iran’s nuclear program, but Iran refused. Experts think Iran is preparing for war, as shown by its military drills. The U.S. has added new sanctions, and President Donald Trump says military action is still possible, although he hopes for a new deal. Click here for the full story in Kurdish. https://www.voanews.com/a/voa-kurdish-iran-rejects-us-talks-raising-fears-of-conflict-/8010113.html https://www.voanews.com/a/voa-kurdish-iran-rejects-us-talks-raising-fears-of-conflict-/8010113.html Fri, 14 Mar 2025 14:49:33 -0400 IranMiddle Eastwebdesk@voanews.com (Balen Saleh) Reza Valizadeh, a dual-citizen Iranian American journalist imprisoned in Iran, ended his hunger strike after six days on Thursday out of concern for his mother, who went on the hunger strike with him. Valizadeh said family members asked him to end the strike because his mother’s physical and mental condition had severely deteriorated, and he had developed motor impairment and a weakened physical condition. Click here for the full story in Persian. https://www.voanews.com/a/voa-persian-iranian-american-journalist-ends-hunger-strike-/8010387.html https://www.voanews.com/a/voa-persian-iranian-american-journalist-ends-hunger-strike-/8010387.html Thu, 13 Mar 2025 22:49:54 -0400 Middle EastIranPress Freedomwebdesk@voanews.com (VOA Persian) VOA has learned that a prisoner with cancer who was denied medical care by the authorities of Ghezel Hesar Prison on the pretext of "lack of funds" has died after being transferred to the hospital late. Click here for the full story in Persian. https://www.voanews.com/a/voa-persian-prisoner-dies-in-prison-after-medical-care-denied-/8008754.html https://www.voanews.com/a/voa-persian-prisoner-dies-in-prison-after-medical-care-denied-/8008754.html Thu, 13 Mar 2025 02:05:46 -0400 Middle EastIranwebdesk@voanews.com (VOA Persian) Iranian security forces have arrested four female Kurdish activists in Kurdistan province following International Women’s Day celebrations on March 8. The Kurdistan Human Rights Network confirmed the arrests. Rights groups and activists believe these arrests are part of a wider crackdown on Kurdish women. Click here for the full story in Kurdish. https://www.voanews.com/a/voa-kurdish-iran-arrests-4-female-kurdish-activists-after-women-s-day-events/8008758.html https://www.voanews.com/a/voa-kurdish-iran-arrests-4-female-kurdish-activists-after-women-s-day-events/8008758.html Thu, 13 Mar 2025 02:05:31 -0400 Iranwebdesk@voanews.com (Bafraw Nuri) In the sixth round of parliamentary elections in the Kurdistan Region, some political parties announced they would stay in opposition and not join the new government. However, these parties have not been able to work together or form a united front. Click here for the full story in Kurdish. https://www.voanews.com/a/voa-kurdish-kurdistan-opposition-parties-remain-divided-after-elections/8008991.html https://www.voanews.com/a/voa-kurdish-kurdistan-opposition-parties-remain-divided-after-elections/8008991.html Thu, 13 Mar 2025 02:05:08 -0400 Iranwebdesk@voanews.com (Diyar Jamal) 2015 nuclear deal will expire in October https://www.voanews.com/a/us-iran-ignoring-international-concerns-about-its-nuclear-program-/8009004.html https://www.voanews.com/a/us-iran-ignoring-international-concerns-about-its-nuclear-program-/8009004.html Wed, 12 Mar 2025 20:33:23 -0400 Iranwebdesk@voanews.com (Margaret Besheer) The drills took place in the Gulf of Oman near the strategic Strait of Hormuz https://www.voanews.com/a/china-iran-russia-hold-joint-naval-drills-in-middle-east/8008597.html https://www.voanews.com/a/china-iran-russia-hold-joint-naval-drills-in-middle-east/8008597.html Wed, 12 Mar 2025 16:55:19 -0400 Middle EastEast AsiaEuropeIranChina Newswebdesk@voanews.com (Associated Press) The US also places sanctions on the Foxtrot Network's leader, Rawa Majid https://www.voanews.com/a/us-sanctions-sweden-based-gang-accused-of-attacking-for-iran/8008420.html https://www.voanews.com/a/us-sanctions-sweden-based-gang-accused-of-attacking-for-iran/8008420.html Wed, 12 Mar 2025 15:06:49 -0400 USAEuropeIranwebdesk@voanews.com (Agence France-Presse) U.S. President Donald Trump said last week he had sent a letter to Khamenei proposing nuclear talks https://www.voanews.com/a/iran-s-khamenei-rejects-idea-of-nuclear-talks-with-us/8008333.html https://www.voanews.com/a/iran-s-khamenei-rejects-idea-of-nuclear-talks-with-us/8008333.html Wed, 12 Mar 2025 14:05:45 -0400 IranUSAwebdesk@voanews.com (Reuters) Azerbaijani hitman testifies at trial of two men accused of hiring him to kill a VOA host who is a critic of Iran https://www.voanews.com/a/i-was-there-to-try-to-kill-the-journalist-gunman-tells-new-york-court/8008126.html https://www.voanews.com/a/i-was-there-to-try-to-kill-the-journalist-gunman-tells-new-york-court/8008126.html Wed, 12 Mar 2025 11:25:56 -0400 Press FreedomMiddle EastUSAIranwebdesk@voanews.com (Liam Scott) Reports from various Iranian cities indicate an economic downturn and market recession, with shopkeepers in bazaars lamenting that “no business is happening,” the markets are in “winter hibernation mode,” and the usual festive atmosphere of Nowruz, the Persian new year, is absent. Click here for the full story in Persian. https://www.voanews.com/a/voa-persian-nowruz-markets-in-hibernation-mode-/8007300.html https://www.voanews.com/a/voa-persian-nowruz-markets-in-hibernation-mode-/8007300.html Tue, 11 Mar 2025 17:21:25 -0400 IranMiddle Eastwebdesk@voanews.com (VOA Persian) An indiscriminate shooting by security forces in Tehran resulted in the death of a young man, according to a human rights group. The Human Rights Activists in Iran said the man, who was allegedly suspected of carrying smuggled goods, was shot by officers while passing through a street. Click here for the full story in Persian. https://www.voanews.com/a/voa-persian-rights-groups-says-man-killed-by-government-forces-indiscriminate-shooting-in-tehran-/8005980.html https://www.voanews.com/a/voa-persian-rights-groups-says-man-killed-by-government-forces-indiscriminate-shooting-in-tehran-/8005980.html Mon, 10 Mar 2025 19:57:02 -0400 IranMiddle Eastwebdesk@voanews.com (VOA Persian) As the Iranian Rial continues to depreciate, livelihood protests erupted across Iran on Monday. Telecommunication retirees, nurses, oil industry workers, and a number of recruitment applicants in public sector staged demonstrations, voicing their economic grievances. The surge in protests comes as the Rial hits a new low, following Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei’s remarks against negotiations with the United States. Click here for the full story in Persian.   https://www.voanews.com/a/voa-persian-livelihood-protests-continue-across-iran-/8005978.html https://www.voanews.com/a/voa-persian-livelihood-protests-continue-across-iran-/8005978.html Mon, 10 Mar 2025 19:47:34 -0400 IranMiddle Eastwebdesk@voanews.com (VOA Persian) Comment comes a day after the country's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Iran will not negotiate under US 'bullying'  https://www.voanews.com/a/iran-us-talks-on-nuclear-program-possible-if-limited-in-focus-un-mission/8004413.html https://www.voanews.com/a/iran-us-talks-on-nuclear-program-possible-if-limited-in-focus-un-mission/8004413.html Sun, 09 Mar 2025 13:28:20 -0400 Middle EastIranwebdesk@voanews.com (Reuters) The 3 countries, which share a common desire to counter what they characterize as American hegemony https://www.voanews.com/a/iran-russia-china-to-hold-joint-military-exercises/8004134.html https://www.voanews.com/a/iran-russia-china-to-hold-joint-military-exercises/8004134.html Sun, 09 Mar 2025 06:03:16 -0400 IranMiddle EastEast AsiaEuropeChina Newswebdesk@voanews.com (Agence France-Presse) Move is part of Trump's ‘maximum pressure’ campaign against Tehran https://www.voanews.com/a/trump-administration-ends-iraq-s-waiver-to-buy-iranian-electricity/8004122.html https://www.voanews.com/a/trump-administration-ends-iraq-s-waiver-to-buy-iranian-electricity/8004122.html Sun, 09 Mar 2025 05:13:44 -0400 USAMiddle EastIranwebdesk@voanews.com (Reuters) 'It is not negotiation. It is commanding and imposition,' Ayatollah Ali Khamenei says https://www.voanews.com/a/iran-s-top-leader-rejects-talks-with-us-after-trump-makes-overture/8003752.html https://www.voanews.com/a/iran-s-top-leader-rejects-talks-with-us-after-trump-makes-overture/8003752.html Sat, 08 Mar 2025 13:31:48 -0500 IranMiddle EastUSAwebdesk@voanews.com (Associated Press)