VOA – As U.S. President Joe Biden begins a diplomatic push to revive a 2015 nuclear agreement between Iran and world powers, supporters of the deal say he will need a long-term effort to succeed, while opponents say he should focus instead on pressuring Tehran into a new and tougher deal. The 2015 agreement, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, …

Iran Human Rights (IHR) – A male prisoner sentenced to death on drug-related charges, has been executed in Boroujerd Prison. According to Iran Human Rights, on the morning of Tuesday, February 16, a male prisoner was executed in Boroujerd Prison, Lorestan province. The identity of the prisoner who was sentenced to death on drug-related charges, has been established as Ali …

Iran Human Rights (IHR) – The Tehran Court of Appeals has upheld a five year sentence in absentia for student activist Marjan Eshaghi, who was arrested during the November 2019 nationwide protests. On 12 November 2020, Marjan Eshaghi, a political science student and activist, was sentenced to five years in prison by Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided …

Iran Human Rights (IHR) – IHR previously reported that two prisoners sentenced to death on drug-related charges had been executed at Birjand Central Prison on February 13. Newly obtained information shows that three people were executed at the prison on that day. According to IHR’s previous report (https://iranhr.net/en/articles/4624/), Baluch prisoners, Jamaladdin Barahouyi and Mohammad Barahouyi were executed on drug-related charges …

Al-Arabia – US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke with Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman by phone on Thursday to convey Washington’s continued support for the kingdom’s defense against Houthi attacks emanating from Yemen. The Pentagon chief “underscored Saudi Arabia’s role as a pillar of the regional security architecture in the Middle East and the importance of sharing the responsibility …

theguardian.com – Samira Zargari, the coach of the Iranian women’s Alpine skiing team, has been barred by her husband from travelling to Italy for the world skiing championships, according to reports in the Iranian press. The squad left for Cortina d’Ampezzo, where the championships are being held, on Wednesday, but without Zargari, who was replaced by another athlete, Marjan Kalhor. Iran’s pro-reform …

Shabtabnews – In a statement IOPHR strongly condemned the execution of the innocent prisoner Ms. Zahra Esmaeili and 16 other prisoners in Rajai Shahr Prison in Karaj, on the 17th February 2021. The statement also declared that Zahra Esmaeili suffered a cardiac arrest and died in a state of shock, after seeing the execution of 16 other men who had been …

Shabtab – In an open letter the International religious freedom round table call for a letter in support of Baha’is. Contents of the letter: Dear IRF Roundtable Participants, The Baha’is of the United States are circulating a letter regarding recent appellate court decisions endorsing the confiscation of some 50 homes and farms in the village of Ivel in Mazandaran Province …

Shabtabnews – In a twitter statement the USCIRF Commissioner accuses Iran of covering up its intent to murder Gonabadi Sufi activist Benham Mahjoubi. USCIRF Commissioner @USCIRF_Bauer: "#Iran is now trying to cover up its intent to murder Gonabadi Sufi activist Benham Mahjoubi, through deliberate medical malpractice. This outrageous treatment cannot be allowed to stand." https://t.co/k5HDsl3JfD— USCIRF (@USCIRF) February 18, 2021

Al-Arabia – The United States announced several moves Thursday that appeared to be a sign of easing pressure on Iran, including its willingness to meet with officials from Tehran to discuss the now-defunct nuclear treaty signed in 2015. Several decisions to backtrack from Trump-era decisions against Iran were announced hours after Secretary of State Antony Blinken participated in a virtual meeting with his …