PayvandNews – An Iranian-American lawyer on Tuesday sworn in as U.S. assistant secretary of commerce for industry and analysis affairs. On March 19, the U.S. Senate agreed to appoint Nazak Nikakhtar as the assistant secretary of commerce for industry and analysis affairs.

PayvandNews – The 2018 Cannes Film Festival will open with the world premiere of Iranian director Asghar Farhadi’s Spanish-language drama ‘Everybody Knows’ on May 8.

PayvandNews – Russian investment in developing Iran’s oil and gas fields could total more than $50 billion, presidential aide Yuri Ushakov has said.   “Energy is the most promising sphere for cooperation between Russia and Iran. Leading Russian oil and gas companies such as Gazprom, Gazprom Neft, Rosneft, Lukoil, Zarubezhneft and Tatneft are systemically working on development of fields in Iran. 

“Death to the Sufi” FAZ – In Iran, even communities of Islamic faith are being fought against – especially the Gonabadi order – by Rainer Hermann

Radiofarda – Federal prosecutors asked a judge Wednesday to imprison a Turkish banker for over 15 years for helping Iran evade economic sanctions, saying he was a key player in undermining efforts to curb Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

Iran-HRM – Saleh Shariati was forced to confess to murder under torture when was under 18 years old. He was then sentenced to death in court without any evidence and only upon the oath of 50 men from the family of the deceased man, who were not even witnesses to the death. Most of them did not even know the suspect …

Iran-HRM –  Abdul Wahed Reisi, who was shot on March 28 by Sarburgh Base agents, passed away in the hospital. The Baluch man had 10 bags of rice with him. The agents responsible for the murder have been identified as Mohammad Saburi, from Zabol, and Rohollah Saburi. State-run media have not published the incident. The young man who was married, …

RFL/RE – Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said it would be an “unforgivable mistake” to negotiate with Israel, days after Saudi Arabia’s crown prince for the first time said Israelis are entitled to live peacefully on their own land.

VOA — The head of Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency is “100 percent certain” that Iran remains committed to developing a nuclear bomb and believes the international community must change or scrap its nuclear deal with the Islamic Republic.

HRANA News Agency- According to official sources, at least 3,700 individuals were arrested in the protests that happened in dozens of cities in Iran. In a recent report to the President on recent events, the Interior Minister has reported that at least 300 protesters were charged in the court and are still in temporary custody.