VOA – Iran’s top diplomat is expected to visit the United Arab Emirates on Monday, the Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson said, welcoming the appointment of Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan as the Gulf state’s president last week. “Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian is planning to travel to the UAE today,” Saeed Khatibzadeh told a televised weekly news conference. Iranian state media …

Iran-HRM – Political prisoner Mohammad Ali (Pirooz) Mansouri has been deprived of necessary medical care and sick leave. He has been serving his 15th year in Raja’i Shahr Prison in the city of Karaj, near the capital, Tehran. Mansouri’s daughter, Iran Mansouri, wrote a letter to Javid Rahman, the Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran, expressing concern about her …

Iran-HRM – Food protests in Iran triggered last week by a sudden hike in prices of essential goods were violently repressed with security forces using lethal force A new wave of nationwide protests was triggered last week by a cut in state subsidies for imported wheat that caused price hikes of as much as 300% for a variety of flour-based …

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO) – The latest round of protests across Iran have been violently repressed by security forces. At least five people have been killed and unknown numbers injured and arrested. Security forces continue attacking citizens while Islamic Republic officials are preventing the human rights violations from being reported by cutting and disrupting internet access.  Meanwhile, the international community’s …

Shabtabnews – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today expressed relief that religious prisoner of conscience Golrokh Iraee has been released from prison in Iran. Iraee’s release is accompanied by a two-year restriction on travel and joining political groups. “We are relieved Golrokh Iraee’s detention has ended, yet she and so many other Iranian women continue to endure blatant religious freedom …

Al-Arabia – Iran has capacity to double oil exports if there’s sufficient demand, a top official said, even as a deal on the country’s nuclear program that could pave the way for the lifting of sanctions remain elusive. Iran will “exert maximum effort” to recoup its crude oil market share and revive its customers, Mohsen Khojastehmehr, managing director of the …

gatestoneinstitute.org – The European Union is basically admitting that it views the nuclear deal with Iran’s ruling clerics from the perspective of economic opportunity. That should not be the objective of the nuclear talks. Instead, European leaders ought to be seeking a strong deal that will prevent the Iranian regime from acquiring nuclear weapons, especially — as they should have …

RFL/RE – For the first time since 2005, Iran has allowed a United Nations special rapporteur to visit the repressive country. But the mandate of the UN rapporteur and the reasons for her visit have prompted controversy and concern among Iranian activists and foreign rights groups. Alena Douhan, the UN special rapporteur on the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures …

Iranwire – A renowned Iranian filmmaker has said that the offices and homes of several filmmakers and other industry professionals were raided and some of them arrested in recent days. Mohammad Rasoulof made the comments on Instagram late on May 14, posting a statement signed by dozens of movie industry professionals. The statement also claimed that security forces confiscated film production equipment …

RFL/RE – Iranian authorities have arrested at least 22 demonstrators protesting against price hikes in subsidized food staples in two cities in the southwest of the country. President Ebrahim Raisi this week announced a series of economic measures, including cutting subsidies and increasing the prices of several staples, such as flour and cooking oil.Iranians reacted to the expected price hikes …