VOA – The presidents of Iran and Syria signed Wednesday a series of long-term cooperation agreements on oil and other sectors to bolster economic ties between the two allies. Iran’s Ebrahim Raisi, leading a large economic and political delegation, met with his Syrian counterpart, Bashar Assad, after landing in the war-torn country for a two-day visit—an Iranian president’s first visit …

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO) – Saeed Saleh and Hossein Amirabadi, two men sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for murder, were executed in Rajai Shahr (Gohardasht) Prison. According to Rokna, at least two men were executed in Rajai Shahr (Gohardasht) Prison on 3 May. Their identities have been reported as Saeed Saleh and Hossein Ghoul who were sentenced to qisas for murder. An informed source told …

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO) – Hassan Zarei and Lal Mohammad Shirzayi Barahouyi were executed for drug-related charges in Minab Prison. In the last five days, 13 Baluch people have been executed in six prisons. According to Hal Vash, two Baluch men were executed in Minab Prison on 3 May. Their identities have been reported as Lal Mohammad Shirzayi Barahouyi and Hassan Zarei who were …

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO) – Shahin Firouzkouhi and Ali Daftari, two men sentenced to death for drug-related charges, were executed in Qazvin Central Prison. According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, two men were executed in Qazvin Central Prison on 3 May. Their identities have been established as Shahin Firouzkouhi who were both sentenced to death for drug-related charges …

Al-Monitor —  The families of three US citizens held by Iran appealed to President Joe Biden on Wednesday to strike what could be a politically costly deal to bring their loved ones home.  More than two years after the US and Iran began indirect talks over a possible prisoner swap, Tehran is still holding three Iranian-Americans — Siamak Namazi, Emad Shargi and Morad Tahbaz …

iranintl.com – Iranian hunger striker Vahid Beheshti vowed not to give up his fight until the UK proscribes the IRGC. Beheshti’s comments came after the UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly urged him to end his hunger strike amidst fears for his health. Beheshti, 45, wants the UK to declare Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps a terrorist organization. After surviving on …

RFL/RE – The authorities in Iran have closed hundreds of small businesses, including cafes and restaurants, in recent months for allegedly failing to enforce the country’s hijab law on their customers. In recent weeks, the authorities have turned their attention to big businesses, including a major shopping mall, as they intensify their efforts to impose the compulsory head scarf. Tehran’s Opal …

Iranwire – Three imprisoned Iranian female journalists have been awarded UNESCO’s Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize “for their commitment to truth and accountability.” The winners of the 2023 UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize include Niloofar Hamedi and Elaheh Mohammadi, who have been incarcerated for seven months for covering the events surrounding Mahsa Amini’s death in police custody.  Amini’s September …

Iranwire – Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi met with Syrian President Bashar Assad in Damascus during the first visit by an Iranian head of state to Syria in more than a decade, state media reported. Raisi arrived in Damascus on May 3, accompanied by a high-ranking political and economic delegation. During his two-day visit, the two allies are expected to sign …

Iranwire – “Iran is one of the top six countries in the world in the field of water science and technology,” Mohammad Hemmat, director of the president’s Water, Climate and Environment Headquarters, claimed in an interview with Tasnim news agency on April 26. “In 2021, Iran was among the top six countries in the field of water science and technology, and only …