Iranwire – On New Year’s Eve, 2020, Jamshid Sharmahd became a grandfather. The 66-year-old software engineer hasn’t yet had a chance to meet his baby granddaughter, Kiana. He’s not been able to see her face, count her fingers and toes, or even congratulate her mother and his eldest child, Gazelle. Instead, the news was broken to him by telephone on …

Iranwire – Alireza Zakani, a controversial figure throughout his career, was elected mayor of Tehran on Sunday, August 8 after winning 18 votes from the 21-member city council. It came hot on the heels of his recent, provocative move to stand as an effective “cover candidate” for Ebrahim Raisi during the 2021 presidential election campaign. Apart from enabling Raisi in the debates, Zakani’s standing helped …

Iranwire – Normally when a new president takes the helm in Iran, it’s the appointments to ministerial roles overseeing foreign affairs and culture that make headlines. But under Ebrahim Raisi, the biggest tussle has broken out over who will oversee Iran’s economic and financial portfolio – to the point that it has delayed the formation of a new cabinet. During the …

Iran Human Rights (IHR) – Majid Golebacheh who was sentenced to death on drug-related charges, has been executed in Birjand Prison. At least 65 prisoners, including a woman, have been executed on drug-related charges in Iranian prisons in 2021. According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, at least one prisoner was executed in Birjand Prison on the morning of …

Iran Human Rights (IHR) – A Baluch prisoner named Zabiollah Hormozi who was sentenced to death on drug-related charges has been executed in Mashhad Central Prison. At least 64 people have now been executed on drug charges in 2021. According to the Baluch Activists Campaign, a Baluch men were executed on drug charges in Mashhad Central Prison today. His identity …

Iran Human Rights (IHR) – Ebrahim Ghanbarzehi and Nabi Notizehi, two Baluch men sentenced to death on drug-related charges were executed in Kerman Central Prison. At least 63 prisoners, including a woman, have been executed on drug-related charges in Iranian prisons in 2021. According to the Baluch Activists Campaign, two Baluch men were executed on drug charges in Kerman Central …

Al-Monitor – Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi on Monday told French President Emmanuel Macron that Iran’s rights must be upheld as part of the nuclear negotiations with the West, Raisi’s office said of his first call with a Western leader.   According to an Iranian readout of the call, Raisi said that both the United States and the Europeans must meet their commitments under the …

Al-Monitor – The daily coronavirus death toll in Iran reached a new high on Aug. 9 at 588 deaths. The previous high was the day before, Aug. 8, with 542 deaths. According to the latest numbers by Health Ministry officials, there have been over 94,000 COVID-19 deaths in the country, though the actual number could be twice as high. The spread of the …

Al-Monitor – US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday called on the United Nations to hold Iran accountable for a fatal drone strike last month in the Arabian Sea, warning that failure to do so would “fuel their sense of impunity.” “We are confident that Iran conducted this unjustified attack, which is part of a pattern of attacks and …

Iranwire – New President of Iran Ebrahim Raisi has appointed Mohammad Mokhber as his first vice president. Mokhber was formerly president of the Executive Headquarters of Imam’s Directive (“Setad”): one of the biggest business conglomerates in the Middle East, which also happens to be directly controlled by the Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei. Despite the enormous wealth he presided over at Setad, …