VOA — Germany’s President Frank-Walter Steinmeier came under fire over a congratulatory telegram sent to Iran on the 40th anniversary of the Islamic revolution, with a Jewish community leader on Monday joining a chorus of criticism.

Radiozamaneh – Iranian Foreign Minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, who had led the Iranian diplomacy team throughout the nuclear talks leading to the nuclear agreement between Iran, the P5+1, and the European Union wrote a short note on his Instagram page announcing that he is stepping down. Sources in Iran cite Zarif saying that the resignation is related to Bashar al-Assad visit …

Amnesty – This public statement documents the state of human rights in Iran during 2018, subdivided by key human rights themes. It is part of a regional review of the state of human rights in the Middle East and North Africa, which includes 18 other country entries.

Iran Human Rights (IHR) – The 11th Annual Report on the Death Penalty in Iran, by Iran Human Rights (IHR) and ECPM, coincides with the 40th anniversary of the Islamic revolution of 1979. The Islamic revolution marks the start of an era where the death penalty became a “normal” part of the people’s everyday lives.

CHRI – Twenty-six members of the European Parliament (MEPs) have urged Iranian President Hassan Rouhani to free eight conservationists who are currently being tried in the country’s secretive revolutionary court system:

PayvandNews – Leader of Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei received the visiting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Tehran on Monday morning. During the meeting, Ayatollah Khamenei hailed the Syrian people and government’s resistance against the terrorist and their supporters in the region, saying the resistance by Syrian president and nation was the key to defeating the US and its …

Radiofarda – An official at the public health authority in Tabriz, the capital of East Azarbaijan province has confirmed that at least 72 people have been taken to hospital as a result of consuming home-made vodka in Ahar, North of Tabriz.

Radiofarda – A member of the Iranian Parliament (Majles) has disclosed that the country’s Supreme National Security Council has banned the publication of news reports about water-related problems including shortage and misuse of resources.

Radiofarda – Iran’s parliament has passed legislation requiring charitable organizations under the control of the Supreme Leader and other state entities engaging in commercial activities to pay taxes.

Radiofarda – Union of Haft Tapeh Sugar Mill Workers say that their labor leader Esmail Bakhshi fainted during a meeting with his family in prison.