BAGHDAD, 18 Dec 2005 (IRIN) - The Iraqi government signed a memorandum of understanding with Tehran last week aimed at eliminating landmines planted in the country during its war with Iran in the 1980s.Full report

ANKARA, 30 Nov 2005 (IRIN) - Human rights groups fighting for gay rights have called on the United Nations to act on reports of executions based on sexual orientation in Iran. Full report

ANKARA, 28 Nov 2005 (IRIN) - The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) is ready to provide assistance after a moderate-sized earthquake struck the Persian Gulf island of Qeshm in southern Iran over the weekend. Full report

TEHRAN, 27 Oct 2005 (IRIN) - The Japanese government has donated US $1.5 million to the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Iran to help Afghan refugees.Full report

TEHRAN, 9 Aug 2005 (IRIN) - Access to adequate housing in Iran is fraught with difficulties. Iran is riddled with earthquake fault lines and prone to severe droughts. The burgeoning population, coupled with massive population migration from rural to urban areas has resulted in a surge in demand for housing.Full report

TEHRAN, 31 Jul 2005 (IRIN) - Hunger-striking political prisoner Akbar Ganji was near death, his wife told the student news agency (ISNA) on Friday. “When we were leaving his room, he went numb...I told them to re-attach the tube of drips with my permission so that he stays alive,? ISNA quoted Massoumeh Shafiie as saying.Full report

TEHRAN, 29 Jul 2005 (IRIN) - The Iranian government has recently signed a project with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to help it tackle the depletion of land and water resources by adopting community-based methods.Full report

TEHRAN, 28 Jul 2005 (IRIN) - Human rights lawyer and Nobel Laureate Shirin Ebadi has angrily denounced an appeal court that has heard the case of murdered Canadian photojournalist, Zahra Kazemi.Full report

TEHRAN, 27 Jul 2005 (IRIN) - The Director-General of the Bureau for Aliens and Foreign Immigrants Affairs (BAFIA) has warned that Iran would not extend its agreement with the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the government of Afghanistan for the voluntary repatriation of Afghans in Iran.Full report

ANKARA, 25 Jul 2005 (IRIN) - Human rights groups have strongly condemned the recent execution of two gay teenagers in northeastern Iran. "It's entirely unacceptable that people are actually killed because of their sexuality," Kursad Kahramananoglu, head of the International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA), said.Full report

IRAN: Interview with Human Rights Special Rapporteur on Adequate Housing, Miloon Kothari

IRAN: Focus on relief in aftermath of Kerman quake

IRAN: Focus on child labour

AFGHANISTAN-IRAN: Interview with Ruud Lubbers, UN High Commissioner for Refugees

IRAN: Focus on Bam survivors four weeks after quake