AP — An Iranian semi-official news agency is reporting that a soldier killed himself after shooting to death three of his comrades in southern Iran. The late Friday report by ILNA quoted Fattah Mohammadi, deputy governor of the southern city of Yasuj, as saying the shooting happened Friday in a youth correctional facility in Yasuj, some 700 kilometers (455 miles) …

NewsWeek – Even after the nuclear deal, Iran will be unable to fund a modernization of its forces to match its rivals. On September 1, Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said something quite remarkable. In a speech at an Iranian military expo, the ayatollah stated that the development of Iran’s “defensive and offensive capabilities” is an “inalienable and clear …

Al-monitor— Lengthy negotiations between the United States and Russia appear to have finally paid off when they reached a deal on a cease-fire in Syria announced Sept. 10. If the truce — the cessation of all air and ground attacks by all parties for one week — is adhered to by both sides, the United States and Russia plan to …

Amnesty – The trial of Nizar Zakka, a Lebanese national and permanent US resident held in detention in Tehran’s Evin Prison since September 2015, has concluded after two brief sessions before Branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court in Tehran. His health is deteriorating but the authorities are denying him access to medical care. View report in English https://www.amnesty.org/download/Documents/MDE1348472016ENGLISH.pdf

PayvandNews – The Iranian archer, who competed at last month’s Olympic Games, won the women’s individual recurve open title. Iran won their second archery gold at Rio 2016 on Thursday (15 September), after Zahra Nemati claimed the women’s individual recurve open title. The 31-year-old, who competed at last month’s Olympic Games, subsequently defeated South Korea’s Jang Moon Jo, Italy’s Elisabetta Mijno, South …

PayvandNews – Iran’s heavyweight powerlifting champion Siamand Rahman has smashed three world records and won the gold medal at the Rio Paralympics. World’s Strongest Paralympian Siamand Rahman In his first attempt in the +107kg category, Siamand Rahman lifted 270 kilograms and broke the Paralympics record at Rio’s Riocentro Pavilion 2 on Wednesday. Iran’s Siamand Rahman (R) celebrates with his coach …

PayvandNews – In a Friday statement, the Iranian Judiciary’s Human Rights Council said the September 13 statement by Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, is “surprising” and “regrettable” as he is already aware of Tehran’s cooperative measures over the past few years At the 33rd session of the Human Rights Council on September 13, Ra’ad Hussein …

washingtonpost – Morteza Mehrzadselakjani is instantly recognizable and not just when he’s standing. The 8-foot-1 Iranian also sits head and shoulders above his competition at the Rio Paralympics’ sitting volleyball events. His incredible reach and dominance in the sport has made him a star in his home country and, more importantly, given the 28-year-old a reason to get up each morning. “I was alone, I was …

alarabiya – Iranian President Hassan Rowhani set off Friday for a tour of Venezuela and Cuba before heading to New York for next week’s UN General Assembly, official media reported. Rowhani will take part in a summit of Non-Aligned Movement countries and hold separate talks with Venezuelan counterpart Nicolas Maduro, the IRNA news agency said. The 120-nation group was founded more …

Bloomberg – Top Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani said he hopes to remain a soldier “until the end” of his life, in remarks that follow weeks of media speculation he might contest presidential elections in May. “I am a soldier of Velayat and the Islamic Republic regime and the brave population, which I value more than my own life,” Soleimani …