payvand.com http://www.payvand.com/news News about Iran and Iranians delivered by payvand.com en-US Sat, 11 Feb 2012 17:59:26 GMT Sat, 11 Feb 2012 17:59:26 GMT http://www.payvand.com/news/12/feb/1117.html Amnesty International is calling on the Iranian authorities to respect freedom of assembly and allow peaceful demonstrations in Tehran and elsewhere in Iran on 14 February 2012, amid fears that the authorities may once again use excessive use of force to quell protests, as has happened in previous years. payvand.com http://www.payvand.com/news/12/feb/1117.html Sat, 11 Feb 2012 17:59:26 GMT http://www.payvand.com/news/12/feb/1112.html Severe Internet disruptions and increased censorship have been reported in Iran this week by Iranians who have complained on social media websites and via messages and telephone calls to RFE/RL's Persian Service, Radio Farda. -Golnaz Esfandiari payvand.com http://www.payvand.com/news/12/feb/1112.html Sat, 11 Feb 2012 17:59:26 GMT http://www.payvand.com/news/12/feb/1119.html On February 11, Iran's state TV also showed tens of thousands of pro-government demonstrators rallying across the country to mark the 1979 events, which toppled Iran's pro-west monarchy and brought Islamic clerics to power. payvand.com http://www.payvand.com/news/12/feb/1119.html Sat, 11 Feb 2012 17:59:26 GMT http://www.payvand.com/news/12/feb/1113.html Reports that Iran has stepped up its Internet censorship in recent days -- as evidenced by a general slowdown of the web, Internet blackouts, and the blocking of sites such as Google -- has raised speculation that the country might be testing its controversial "national Internet." -Golnaz Esfandiari, RFE payvand.com http://www.payvand.com/news/12/feb/1113.html Sat, 11 Feb 2012 17:59:26 GMT http://www.payvand.com/news/12/feb/1115.html In another display of infighting in the Islamic Republic's political arena, Parliamentary Speaker Ali Larijani has rejected recent statements accusing him of having vested interests in Qom that would disqualify him from running for a seat in the next Parliament. payvand.com http://www.payvand.com/news/12/feb/1115.html Sat, 11 Feb 2012 17:59:26 GMT http://www.payvand.com/news/12/feb/1114.html European Council President Herman van Rompuy has called on India to use its influence with Iran to convince it to resume nuclear talks with the G5+1. payvand.com http://www.payvand.com/news/12/feb/1114.html Sat, 11 Feb 2012 17:59:26 GMT http://www.payvand.com/news/12/feb/1118.html The prime minister of the Hamas administration in the Gaza Strip, Ismail Haniyeh, has arrived in Tehran at the start of a three-day visit. payvand.com http://www.payvand.com/news/12/feb/1118.html Sat, 11 Feb 2012 17:59:26 GMT http://www.payvand.com/news/12/feb/1116.html Following trips to China by Western world leaders trying to persuade the Chinese to reduce their oil imports from Iran, Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi announced that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will soon travel to China, and a Chinese envoy will visit Tehran in the next couple of days. payvand.com http://www.payvand.com/news/12/feb/1116.html Sat, 11 Feb 2012 17:59:26 GMT http://www.payvand.com/news/12/feb/1109.html An earthquake measuring 4.7 on the Richter scale jolted the village of Kilan of Damavand district in eastern Tehran province on Friday, Head of Rescue Team Operation of Iran's Red Crescent Society, Mahmoud Mozaffar said. payvand.com http://www.payvand.com/news/12/feb/1109.html Sat, 11 Feb 2012 17:59:26 GMT http://www.payvand.com/news/12/feb/1104.html IAAB is proud to announce the 5th IAAB International Conference on the Iranian Diaspora to take place October 13-14, 2012 at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Proposals are now being accepted for presentations and workshops at the 2012 Conference. payvand.com http://www.payvand.com/news/12/feb/1104.html Sat, 11 Feb 2012 17:59:26 GMT