VOA – The United States is pressing ahead with plans to push for the extension of a U.N. arms embargo against Iran that is due to expire in two months under the 2015 nuclear deal, but it is likely to face stiff opposition from other nations, including Russia and China. “We have an objective to extend the arms embargo,” U.S. …

VOA – U.S. Iran envoy Brian Hook is leaving his post and U.S. Venezuela envoy Elliott Abrams will add Iran to his role “following a transition period” with Hook, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Thursday. Hook’s departure comes as the United Nations Security Council prepares to vote next week on a U.S. bid to extend an international …

VOA – Numbness and shock at first — now fury. The massive blast at Beirut’s port Tuesday night that wrecked large parts of Lebanon’s capital is likely to have as enduring an impact on the impoverished Mediterranean country as the 2005 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, say diplomats and analysts.  The question, though, is whether the impact will be for …

Iran-HRM – Political prisoner Majid Assadi as well as Mohammad Bannazadeh Amirkhizi, and Payam Shakiba continue to be under interrogation in the Intelligence Ministry Ward 209 of Evin Prison. They were transferred from Rajaei Shahr Prison in Karaj (a.k.a. Gohardasht) to Ward 209 of Evin Prison two weeks ago on July 22, and they are still under interrogation for a new case …

Iran Human Rights (IHR); August 7, 2020: A prisoner sentenced to qisas (retribution in-kind) for murder has been executed at Rasht Central Prison. According to Iran Human Rights, on the morning of Thursday, August 6, a man was executed in Rasht Central Prison. His identity has been established as Mehrzad Jalalvand, aged around 35, was sentenced to qisas (retribution in-kind) …

Iran Human Rights (IHR) – A prisoner sentenced to qisas (retribution in-kind) for “premeditated murder” has been executed in Qom Central Prison (Choobindar). According to Iran Human Rights, a prisoner was executed in Qom Central Prison this morning. His identity has been established as Jaffar Tayebi, who had been sentenced to qisas (retribution in-kind) for “premeditated murder.” An informed source …

gatestoneinstitute.org Crimes against humanity that meet the UN definition of genocide are being inflicted by Chinese troops on their Turkic Uyghur minority in the so-called Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. Charges include torture, forced sterilization and hair shaved from inmates and made into commercial products. Last month, US Customs seized 13 tons of human hair and other “beauty products” worth approximately …

Al-Monitor – Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif visited Moscow last month for the third time in the past six months for meetings with senior Russian officials. Although they have often been adversaries since first establishing diplomatic relations in the 16th century, Iran and Russia are purposely seeking to develop an increasingly close bilateral relationship. Currently the epicenter of the coronavirus …

Shabtabnews – In a virtual International Religious Freedom Roundtable with Ambassador at Large Sam Brownback, Mr. Hamid Gharagozloo, the U.S. representative for IOPHR spoke about the fact that death threats against Dr. Azmayesh, Mr. Ahrari, dissidents and activists outside of Iran continue on a daily basis. The IOPHR Statement also stated that “several prisoners have been threatened with death and …

Radiofarda – The latest data provided to Radio Farda by Kepler, an international data intelligence firm to Radio Farda, show that Iran’s crude oil exports in July reached 101,000 barrels per day. Before the United States imposed sanctions in 2018, Iran used to export 2.5 million barrels per day. Reuters has also reported that Iran’s oil production dropped to 1.9 …