Iran news in brief, April 15, 2019

Iran news in brief, April 15, 2019

Mother of Rape Victim Says Her Family Is Being Forced to Undertake Honor Killing

Mother of rape victim Zahra Navidpour says her family have been threatened by the regime’s agents to undertake her daughter’s murder, by posting a video clip on the internet.

Zahra Navidpour was found dead at her mother’s home on Sunday, January 6, 2018. Her death was initially announced as suicide, but there were suspicions that she had been killed by agents of the member of parliament accused of raping her.

In a video clip published on the internet, the mother of rape victim Zahra Navidpour addressed the mullahs’ Chief Justice Ibrahim Raesi, revealing that her family is experiencing security and judicial pressure. She said after filing a complaint in Tehran, agents of the Detective’s Office went to their residence and ordered them to undertake the murder of Zahra Navidpour.

Around 10 Million People Are Still Illiterate in Iran

Nearly nine million Iranians are suffering from "absolute illiteracy" a news report compiled by Majles (Iranian parliament) Research Center says.

Iran's population has risen to 82 million from less than 40 million four decades ago, but the country's economy is struggling with high rates of unemployment and poverty.

The World Bank assessment shows that 11.6 million absolute illiterate people are living in Iran, today.

The border provinces of Iran are suffering from the highest rate of illiteracy.

Iran Is Peddling a Million Barrels of Oil Again. No One Wants It

 As Iran struggles to sell 6 MMbbl of oil, only one deal has closed for 35,000 bbls, so far.

Iran’s oil production and exports have slumped after the U.S. reinstated sanctions last year, and new curbs are set to further restrict its exports.

With foreign investors steering clear of the world’s fourth-largest holder of crude, it’s trying via the Iran Energy Exchange to offload some oil to domestic buyers. Sales have been dismal, and even Iranian oil officials concede that the physical contracts are undesirable as long as oil sanctions remain intact.

“We knew from the beginning that it was almost impossible to sell oil” on the exchange, Morteza Behrouzifar, deputy head of the Iranian Association for Energy Economics, said in an interview. “Iran’s crude is sanctioned and under no circumstances can anyone buy Iranian crude except those who were granted waivers.”

Clashes in Mosul as Iran-Backed Militias Battle Security Forces

Clashes erupted between the Iraqi federal police and Iran-backed militias in Mosul on Sunday.

A gun battle began when Iraqi police stopped the militias entering western Mosul. Two police officers were injured.

“Police members prevented the Hashed entering one of the neighborhoods in western Mosul where protests against poor public services had taken place,” a local security official said.

“Security members blocked the Hashed from entering the area because it did not fall within their jurisdiction and their line of duty."

The protesters were demanding basic rights that they say members of the Hashed had denied them, the official said.

The militia are regarded by the US as among the biggest threats to the region’s security. They are supported and trained by Tehran.