iranhumanrights – A Parliamentary committee in Iran has blocked an attempt by security agencies to delay for a year a parliamentary vote on an amendment that could drastically reduce death penalty sentences for drug-related crimes.

RFL/RE – Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says the United States has sent signals that are “not very promising” on a 2015 nuclear accord struck with major powers, but in the end will likely abide by the deal because it is in the country’s best interests. “Unfortunately the behavior from the new administration in Washington is not very promising,” …

CHRI – After being denied entry into Iran’s sports stadiums since 2012, hundreds of women were allowed inside Tehran’s 12,000-seat Azadi Arena on June 9, 2017 to watch a FIVB World Volleyball League match between Iran and Belgium. However, police turned dozens of other women who had purchased tickets for the game away at the entrance, revealing that Iran’s ban …

CHRI – While his family waited for him outside Rajaee Shahr Prison the day he was supposed to be released, on June 6, 2017, Navid Khanjani was told he would have to spend another year behind bars for his peaceful human rights activism. “There was no indication Navid was supposed to serve another year in prison,” an informed source told the Center …

Al-monitor – After weeks of heated campaigning and controversial televised debates, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani managed to secure a second term in the May 19 presidential elections. Now, with electoral passions considerably eased, the question of possible change in both Iran’s domestic and foreign policy is being seriously raised, leading many observers to debate Rouhani’s priorities and approaches in his second term. AUTHOR Hamidreza …

Al-monitor – Using the momentum from a recent re-election and in an effort to live up to his campaign promises, President Hassan Rouhani is urging his country’s various power centers, particularly the country’s supreme leader, to push for peace and better ties with regional countries and world powers. However, with the recent attacks by the Islamic State (IS) and the attempt of …

PayvandNews – Iran’s national football team has blanked Uzbekistan with two goals to be the second country that has booked tickets for the 2018 World Cup, scheduled to be held next summer in Russia. Iran and Uzbekistan national football teams before the game Carlos Queiroz’s squad secured their place in the 2018 World Cup after the Monday night match in …

PayvandNews – Sorrowfully, Manijeh Mir-Emadi (Naseri) painter, the founder and editor in chief of the first bilingual art magazine of Iran and Iranian Art Publishing left this world on the early hours of Saturday June 10, 2017. The Sky wrecks the ship of Art-masters Better not to lean on this hanging sea Her main concern particularly in the past twenty …

RFL/RE – Iranian media are reporting that police have killed four gunmen linked to the extremist group Islamic State (IS). Azizollah Maleki, the police chief in the southern province of Hormozgan, was quoted as saying on June 12 that his forces killed the “armed terrorists” the day before in a shoot-out near the southern town of Roudan. Maleki said that …

Al-Arabia – According to the Iranian news agency Tasnim, the commander of the Quds Force of the Revolutionary Guards, Qassim Soleimani arrived at a location on the Syrian-Iraqi border with his militia, despite the frequent US bombing at these militias to prevent their advancement towards the Tennaf border area. The agency published pictures of Soleimani between the Afghani Fatimiyoun militias, …