Another possible factors for the shift in capital could be for reasons of regime stability. The recent collapse of the Syrian Arab Republic, was caused in part by uprisings in and around the capital city of Damascus,

By bne Tehran bureau Moving Iran's capital from Tehran is not feasible, but the country could relocate its economic centre to the Makran coastal region if proper infrastructure is developed, the head of Iran's Supreme Council of Provinces said on January 9 in response the presidency’s plan to move the bulk of the country’s economy to the coast.

A Swiss national who was arrested and accused of spying in Iran died by suicide in prison on Thursday, according to Mizan Online, a news agency affiliated with Iran’s judiciary.

The man was being held with another inmate at a prison in the eastern city of Semnan, according to Iran's semi-official Tasnim News Agency.

For weeks, Iranian officials have downplayed the fall of their ally in Syria. But an important general has offered a remarkably candid view of the blow to Iran, and its military’s prospects.

We were defeated and defeated very badly, we took a very big blow, and it’s been very difficult,” Esbati noted.

For the first time, Iran publicly admitted its defeat in Syria following the collapse of Bashar Assad's regime. Brig. Gen. Behrouz Esbati called the loss a "big blow" and said the defeat had been difficult for the Islamic Republic.