RFL/RE – Iranian President Hassan Rohani has criticized major dam projects by Turkey on the Euphrates and Tigris rivers. Rohani is demanding that Turkey halt construction of both dams, saying that they were “dangerous” for the entire Middle East. Rohani made the comments during a conference on sandstorms in Tehran on July 3. He did not name Turkey but said that …

RFL/RE – French energy giant Total will sign a multibillion-dollar agreement to develop an Iranian offshore gas field on July 3, Iran’s Oil Ministry said, in the biggest foreign deal since sanctions were eased last year. “The international agreement for the development of Phase 11 of South Pars will be signed on Monday in the presence of the oil ministry and …

Iran Human Rights -Two men and a woman were hanged on drug related charges at Rasht’s central prison. On Saturday July 1, two men and one woman were reportedly hanged at Rasht’s central prison on drug related charges. According to close sources, these three prisoners were transferred to solirary confinement on Thursday in preparation for their executions. Close sources have …

Iran Human Rights -According to Iran Human Rights, the Iranian authorities carried out 239 executions within the first half of 2017.   According to reports by Iran Human Rights (IHR), 239 executions were carried out in Iran in the first six months of 2017. Among them were three individuals who were under the age of 18 at the time they …

Iran Human Rights -Three Prisoners, including an Afghan citizen, are in imminent danger of execution in Isfahan Central Prison. On Saturday July 1, three prisoners, including an Afghan citizen, were reportedly transferred to solitary confinement in Isfahan Central Prison in preparation for their executions. According to close sources, the prisoners were sentenced to death on drug related charges. “None of …

CHRI – Despite a spate of attacks from powerful conservatives, newly re-elected President Hassan Rouhani should fulfill the promises he made to the people who voted for him, a reformist former legislator told the Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI). “The main objective of the pressure coming from the opposition is to paralyze the [Rouhani] government and throw off track …

CHRI – The peaceful battle by women’s rights activists geared towards ending the ban on female spectators in Iranian sports stadiums is inching forward despite ongoing opposition by religious conservatives. Women watching Iran-Belgium volleyball match in Tehran in June 2017 (photo by ISNA) “Women’s rights activists are pursuing this matter from every direction, but athletic officials are asking us to allow change …

PayvandNews – Iran men’s national taekwondo team has put in convincing performances at the 2017 World Taekwondo Championships in South Korea, and ranked third at the end of the high-status international event. On Friday, the Iranian team stood on the third podium, having garnered 46 points. Iranian taekwondo practitioner Mirhashem Hosseini The South Korean men’s national taekwondo team finished first …