Al-Arabia – A number of Iranian pilgrims hailed the efforts made by the Saudi Arabian government to facilitate their journey to Hajj after they arrived in Medina on Tuesday night.

Al-Arabia – Iranian lawmakers have given President Hassan Rouhani one month to appear before parliament to answer questions on his government’s handling of Iran’s economic struggles, state media reported on Wednesday.

Iran-HRM – Sentences for 39 Gonabadi dervishes have been issued by the Revolutionary Court. They have been sentenced to 208 years behind bars, 1554 lashes, 8years deprivation of social activities and 10 years of exile.   The sentences are as below: Vahid Khamoushi: 12 years behind bars and 2years of exile in Rayen. Alireza Azadravesh: 7 years behind bars, 74 …

Iran-HRM – On July 25, 2018, an Iranian court convicted and sentenced Mohammad Sani, a teacher in the city of Bushehr, to 2years behind bars and 74 lashes allegedly in relation to his nonviolent participation in teacher’s protests during 2015.

VOA – The head of Iran’s most powerful military body on Tuesday rejected U.S. President Donald Trump’s offer of direct talks with Iranian leaders, saying Tehran never would allow talks with what he called the “Great Satan.”

Radiozamaneh – People took to the streets in Isfahan and Karaj on Tuesday July 31 to protest rising inflation and the progressively unaffordable price of living. Videos of these street protests posted on social media show retailers in Shapour neighborhood of Isfahan marching on the streets chanting slogans against rising prices.

CHRI – Iran’s judiciary has extended the detention of prominent human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh, who is facing two national security charges for peacefully engaging in her profession. “When her one-month detention order expired, they extended it for another month after a 10-day delay,” her husband Reza Khandan told the state-funded Iranian Students News Agency on July 30, 2018. Sotoudeh, …

CHRI – A member of Iran’s Parliament has denied reports that the country’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) has ruled to end the seven-year-long house arrests of political opposition leaders Mehdi Karroubi, Mir Hossein Mousavi, and Zahra Rahnavard. Karroubi’s son, Hossein Karroubi, told Ensaf News on July 28, 2018, that he had been informed by a “reliable source close to” …

Al-Monitor – Following President Donald Trump’s May 8 decision to withdraw from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the United States has embarked on a “maximum pressure” campaign against Iran. The campaign involves, among other things, the reinstatement of all nuclear-related sanctions, revoking all licenses that allow for minor exemptions to those sanctions and applying additional economic penalties, including compelling …

Al-Monitor – “It’s good for the country, good for them, good for us and good for the world. No preconditions. If they want to meet, I’ll meet,” US President Donald Trump said at a press briefing July 30. Only hours later, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo appeared on CNBC, where he set conditions for such talks, saying, “We’ve said this …