RFL/RE – U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration is extending sanctions relief for Iran that was granted under the 2015 nuclear agreement, while imposing new economic penalties over Iranian ballistic-missile activity. The State Department says it is telling Congress it will continue to waive sanctions on Iran as part of the 2015 nuclear deal. The decision comes just before the Obama …

Al-arabia – Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said that it is not important who will become president after Iran’s presidential election on Friday. He believed it was only important that Wilayat al-Faqih system should win by raising the level of voter participation in the ballot. According to Iran’s Tasnim news agency, Khamenei stated in a speech on Wednesday, “In …

Amensty – The health of jailed trade unionist Esmail Abdi has deteriorated following a hunger strike he started on 30 April in protest at the criminalization of peaceful trade unionists. He is a prisoner of conscience serving a six-year sentence in Tehran’s Evin prison. http://www.amnesty.org/download/Documents/MDE1362602017ENGLISH.pdf

Amnesty – The Iranian authorities must immediately transfer Atena Daemi, an imprisoned human rights defender, whose health has sharply deteriorated in recent days, to a hospital outside of prison so that she can receive the specialized medical care she requires, said Amnesty International. Atena Daemi, who has been on hunger strike for 40 days, has been coughing up blood, suffered …

CHRI – Rouhani Criticizes Revolutionary Guard in Firey Speech During his last campaign rally on May 17 in the city of Mashhad–the hometown of his main rival Ebrahim Raisi–Rouhani accused the powerful Revoluntionary Guard and Basij paramilitary forces of interfering in the political process: “We like the Revolutionary Guard and the Basij militia. All we are asking is to carry …

RFL/RE – Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has called for a high turnout in the country’s May 19 presidential election. In remarks on May 17, Khamenei said a big turnout would mitigate the impact of what he called “unworthy” animosity in a series of televised debates between the candidates. “In the election debates, some remarks were made that were …

RFL/RE – Iranian opposition leader Mir Hossein Musavi, who has been under house arrest since 2011, will vote for President Hassan Rohani in Iran’s election on May 19, according to the opposition website Kalameh. The website reported on May 16 that Musavi has requested that security forces bring a mobile ballot box to his residence so that he can cast …

Radiozamaneh – As Hassan Rouhani continues to receive support from reformist leaders, the battle unfolds between him and the hardliner’s candidate, Ebrahim Raisi who has now joined forced with Tehran Mayor, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf. Hassan Rouhani (left) and Ebrahim Raisi (right) are the two main rivals of Iranian presidential election. In the meanwhile, Hardliners are attacking Rouhani accusing him of …

Radiozamaneh – As the elections draw near, Iran’s Supreme Leader warned that any “rebellion” in the course of the elections would provoke a “slap” from state security forces. Meanwhile 37 candidates who had been previously vetted by Iran’s Election Committee have been banned from running for City and Village Councils Election in Iran. Farhad Tajari, a spokesperson for the Central …

CHRI – A week after incumbent President Hassan Rouhani criticized Iran’s hardline judiciary, its spokesman has announced that dozens of government officials will face possible prosecution for unspecified election campaign violations. “More than 60 managers in the government and executive branch, including those at the city, county and provincial levels of government, have made election violations and their cases are …