Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO) – Political prisoner Maryam Akbari-Monfared who has spent 13 years behind bars without a day of furlough for demanding justice for her four siblings, was physically and verbally assaulted and strangled for protesting the cancellation of her family visit because her daughters would not wear prison chadors. According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, Maryam …

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO) – Mohammadreza Shahramfar, Hadi Jozi and three unidentified men were executed for murder charges in Rajai Shahr Prison. Five other men were returned to their cells after obtaining extensions and forgiveness in their cases. According to Rokna, five man was executed in Rajai Shahr Prison on August 24. They were all sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for murder in …

Al-Monitor – As both Washington and Tehran inch toward a return to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the Iran nuclear deal, the spotlight will soon turn to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to resolve an investigation into Iran’s past nuclear weapons research. Iran’s position on the investigation is “nothing to see here” and Tehran wants the file …

Al-Monitor – As momentum builds toward a revived nuclear pact between Iran and world powers, Israel has privately expressed concerns to the United States about the fate of a multiyear investigation into past Iranian nuclear activity.  After nearly a year and a half of indirect talks aimed at salvaging the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Israel has issued …

christianpost.com – The Iranian government is actively inciting “derogatory public opinion” against Christianity and other faiths by using Iranian media outlets to spread religious propaganda, according to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom. A new report from the bipartisan federal advisory committee says Iran’s government uses official media, government-linked media and social media to spread “falsehoods and misconceptions” about …

washingtontimes.com – Iran‘s government is continuing its misinformation campaign against minority religions, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom said in a new report Monday. The commission, a nonpartisan body tasked by Congress with reporting on freedom of religion or belief issues abroad, says Iran‘s rulers seek to paint religious minorities as threats to national security rather than engage in theological debates. Baha’is are …

RFL/RE – Iran’s Islamic Republic Army has kicked off a series of drone exercises across the country amid fears that the country may look to export them to countries such as Russia. According to Mahmud Musavi, the spokesman for these military exercises that commenced on August 24, dozens of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) will be sent from different points and bases from distances of …

RFL/RE – Hundreds of people have taken to the streets in the western Iranian city of Hamedan to protest against a complete cut in water supplies that has lasted several days. According to videos published on social media on August 23, the protesters called officials “incompetent” as the water crisis intensified along with the summer heat.Several parts of the country have experienced …

RFL/RE – Iranian authorities have abruptly canceled dozens of music concerts and cultural events in recent weeks, the latest sign of authorities exerting more pressure on the country’s social and cultural spheres. Earlier this month, rights activist Maryam Karimbeigi was sentenced to more than three years in prison for attending a concert by a popular Iranian singer in Turkey. Days earlier, security agents halted …

VOA — The U.S. has reportedly weighed in on the latest proposal to revive an international nuclear deal with Iran. Israel’s prime minister has slammed the pact as it appears to be taking shape, saying it won’t stop Iran from becoming a nuclear state, and he warned that Israel will act to prevent Iran from possessing a nuclear weapon. Israel has …