Al-Arabia – Iran has summoned Iraq’s ambassador to protest over the presence of Iranian opposition groups at an official ceremony in Iraq’s autonomous Kurdish region, media reported Sunday. Quoting the foreign ministry, ISNA news agency said that during Saturday’s meeting Tehran expressed its “strong objection” to the invitation of members of “separatist groups” at the ceremony “contrary to the recent …

Al-Arabia – Iranian authorities have arrested eight people for “leading” a workers’ strike at a key gas site in the south of the country, local media reported on Sunday. “Eight main leaders of the workers’ strike in the South Pars projects have been arrested by the intelligence services,” Akbar Pourat, the deputy local governor, was quoted as saying by Tasnim …

gatestoneinstitute.org – In an editorial last Monday, Kayhan, believed to reflect the views of the “Supreme Guide”, claimed that now that the Islamic Republic has defeated the American “Great Satan” in the Middle East, it must deal with hyperinflation as “the greatest threat to our revolution.” The new tune may be partly prompted by a desire to cast the current nationwide …

iranintl – Hossein Ta’eb, a senior adviser to the IRGC says former President “Hassan Rouhani will be tried if not today, maybe another day for his decision’s during his presidency.” However, while according to Etemad Online Ta’eb insisted that Rouhani should be tried, he commented that his trial is not the establishment’s immediate priority. Several social media users commenting on the report …

The head of Iran’s Armed Forces Judicial Organization has revealed that indictments have been issued for 26 individuals suspected of having links to the November 30 massacre in the southeastern Iranian city of Zahedan that saw at least 100 people killed. The November 30 incident, a day that has become known as “Bloody Friday,” was marked by widespread protests over the death …

gatestoneinstitute.org – “It is unacceptable that a U.S. government program, which makes the United States and its allies safer, provides funds to remediate the victims of terrorism, and generates income for the United States in a cost-effective manner has been allowed to languish. United States sanctions should be enforced to the fullest extent of the law. As Iranian oil sales …

Iranwire – Iran’s most prominent Sunni cleric has slammed the way elections are being conducted by the Islamic Republic, saying they have led to the election of “weak managers.”  Molavi Abdulhamid, the Sunni Friday prayer leader of the south-eastern city of Zahedan, said on May 12 that the Iranian people want “free and fair elections, not the type that is being …

VOA – The United States said Friday it was sending reinforcements to the Gulf after what it called increasing harassment by Iran of ships in the oil-rich waters. “The Department of Defense will be making a series of moves to bolster our defensive posture” in the Gulf, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters, saying there would be “details …

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO) – 22 drug and murder death row prisoners, including six women, have been notified of their imminent executions in two prisons in Isfahan. One woman, Samira Abbasi, is a child bride. At least 223 people have been executed so far in 2023.  Warning of the continuation of the unusually high wave of executions in Iran, Iran …

Al-Monitor — Despite mediation efforts by Egypt and other regional players, fighting resumed Friday on the fourth day of Israel’s Shield and Arrow Operation against the Palestinian Islamic Jihad in the Gaza Strip after a 13-hour lull.  The resumption of rockets fired at Israel and Israeli counterstrikes in Gaza dashed hopes of a cease-fire between the sides. Egyptian-mediated contacts between the parties …