Iran Roundup: $3 bn corruption case, sheep trade, World Press Photo Contest

Iranian chosen as World Press Photo Contest judge

Yalda Moairy, a photographer who had a history of arrest and conviction in Iran for capturing and publishing images of protests was chosen as one of the judges of the World Press Photo Contest for 2024. She had previously served a sentence of cleaning streets as a punishment for photographing the protests.

Iranian top official supports Hamas

Mohsen Rezaei, a member of the Islamic Republic Expediency Council, while emphasizing support for Hamas and Palestine, said, "In recent incidents, the Israelis tried to make it look like Iran commanded the Hamas attack." He added: "The method and character of the Islamic Republic is not to give orders, we do not catch fish for our friends, but we teach them how to fish."

Johan Floderus attends court in Iran

The first session of the court hearing for the charges against Johan Floderus, a 33-year-old Swedish citizen and EU diplomat, who was arrested in Iran on April 17, 2022, was held on Sunday, December 10. He has been accused of "collecting information for Israel for regime change". The Swedish Ambassador was banned from entering the court.

3 billion corruption case for “Debsh Tea” company

A tea company in Iran is accused of a new record for a corruption case by diverting over 3.37 billion dollars subsidized foreign currency which was allocated for imports of tea and equipment.

Sheep trade more profitable than gold and currency trade

In a report on sheep trade, "Fararu" news agency reported that "the price of live sheep has increased by 160% in one year, but during the same period, the dollar and euro have gained 55-68% more value while the price of gold has increased by 74%."