Amnesty – Zeinab Sekaanvand Lokran, a 22-year-old Iranian Kurdish woman, is at risk of execution following an unfair trial in which she was convicted of the murder of her husband. She was 17 years old at the time of the crime. She could be executed as early as 13 October. View report in English https://www.amnesty.org/download/Documents/MDE1349492016ENGLISH.pdf

Al-monitor — Prominent Iranian Brig. Gen. Mohsen Rafiqdoost went into unprecedented detail in a Sept. 26 interview about his time as minister of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). During the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq War, the IRGC had its own ministry within the administration that took care of its logistical affairs. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Defense was responsible for the logistics …

PayvandNews  – Farid Khanlou owns Jordan Market in an area of Los Angeles called Persian Square. It’s packed with Persian businesses, many of which fly the country’s flag from before the 1979 Iranian revolution. In this heart of the Iranian-American community, the largest group of Iranians abroad, there are many who remain undecided about which presidential candidate they support. According …

PayvandNews- Head of the Iranian Space Agency Mohsen Bahrami said that Iran will launch three domestically-built satellites, including SharifSat, into orbit by the end of next Iranian year (March 20, 2018). He made the remarks addressing a conference titled ‘Space in Qur’an’s View’. Iran’s Friendship Satellite cartoon by Mehdi Azizi, Iranian daily Shargh Iran says that sending its satellites into …

Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka says his country is negotiating with Iran about purchasing oil. Speaking at a session of parliament in Minsk on October 7, Lukashenka said talks with Tehran are under way amid differences with Russia on the importing of oil and gas. “We are holding talks with Iran, which is desperate to find [places] to deliver its oil …

Al-monitor – In April, when the experienced reformist politician Mostafa Moein said, “I believe Mr. Rouhani needs a very strong think tank” to advise him on all issues, it did not stir up much reaction in the domestic media. However, now that Iran’s presidential election is only seven months away, the setting up of a reformist think tank might be viewed as …

Al-monitor – Saudi rulers’ refusal to offer a simple verbal apology was indicative of their ultimate impudence and shamelessness,” said Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, on Sept. 5, addressing the families of the 464 Iranian pilgrims who died in the hajj stampede last year. Khamenei went on to criticize Saudi management of the annual pilgrimage, calling on Iranians and other …

PayvandNews – The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has issued a stern warning to all military vessels partaking in Saudi Arabia’s ongoing wargames in the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman and the Strait of Hormuz, noting that any act of transgression into Iran’s territorial waters shall be met with an immediate and befitting response. A strongly-worded statement, addressed to …

PayvandNews – When Iranian officials come to the United Nations, they are usually met with questions about their human rights practices, particularly the arrest of dual nationals. Opinion article by Barbara Slavin (source: VOA) Hoodfar was finally released last week after seven months in prison apparently through the good offices of Oman, which has played a role in freeing dual nationals in the …

HRW.org – On September 30, a young woman delivered a stillborn child in Euromieh central prison, in northern Iran. That would be tragic for any mother, but in Zeinab Sokian’s case, the tragedy is runs even deeper: the delivery brings her one step closer to the gallows. By Tara Sepehri Far Iranian law punishes intentional murder with death but prohibits the …