Al-Monitor – A group of rights experts and nongovernmental organizations called on the United Nations to intervene and stop the execution of Iranian boxing champion Mohammad Javad Vafaei-Sani, Agency France Presse (AFP) reported on Thursday. In a letter sent overnight, which was seen by Agence France-Presse, a total of 85 international rights advocates and groups, including a former head of the International …

RFL/RE – Iranian retirees have renewed protests in several major cities across the country, reiterating calls for more social and economic freedoms, as well as regular adjustments to their pensions in line with inflation as the cost of living soars amid international sanctions. According to reports on social media outlets, the protests took place on July 19 outside the pension fund offices …

RFL/RE – Iran would retaliate against any oil company unloading Iranian oil from a seized tanker, the Revolutionary Guards’ navy commander, Alireza Tangsiri, said on July 20, according to state media. In April, the U.S. confiscated Iranian oil on a tanker at sea in a sanctions enforcement operation, according to a maritime security firm. Tangsiri added that Tehran would hold …

RFL/RE – Afsaneh Bayegan has become the latest actress to be convicted for her public opposition to Iran’s mandatory hijab law after being sentenced to two years in prison, as well as mandatory psychological treatment for what the court termed an “anti-family personality disorder.” Bayegan’s sentence, handed down on July 19, follows similar punishments given to actresses Azadeh Samadi and Leila Bolukat …

Iranwire – An Iranian judge has sentenced a woman convicted of flouting the Islamic Republic’s mandatory headscarf rules to two years in prison. As an alternative sentence, she was offered to work for one month as a body washer at a Tehran morgue and pay a fine of 3.1 million tomans ($60). The inhumane ruling was handed down by Mohammad …

Iranwire – The United States has reportedly banned 14 Iraqi banks from conducting transactions in dollars in a crackdown on the siphoning of US currency to Iran. The ban was imposed by the Treasury Department and the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, the Wall Street Journal reported on July 19, citing U.S. officials. According to the report, the United States …

Iranwire – Iranian’s President Ebrahim Raisi’s visit to Africa kicked off amid utter confusion last week when his arrival at his first destination, Kenya, was overshadowed by protests over the high cost of living. On July 11, as the media descended on Kenya’s State House for a briefing on Raisi’s visit to the East African state, Hussein Mohamed, State House spokesperson, said …

Iranwire – A media outlet affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has published a video capturing the moment when a woman known for her opposition to mandatory headscarf rules was arrested. In the video published by Saberin News on July 19, several individuals in uniforms can be seen apprehending Leila Ziafar in her home in Tehran. The release …

Iranwire – The International Sports Press Association (AIPS) is “deeply concerned” about the situation of Iranian journalist Niloofar Hamedi, who has been behind bars for 10 months for her coverage of Mahsa Amini’s death in police custody, a spokesperson says. “AIPS and the Sports Journalists Association of Iran (ISJA), have been actively engaged in addressing her case,” AIPS spokeswoman Azra …

Iranwire – The powerful Guardian Council has re-elected the 97-year-old Ahmad Jannati as its secretary for another one-year term amid reports suggesting that he suffers ill-health and has difficulties communicating. Council spokesperson Hadi Tahan-Nazeef said on July 19 that Siamak Rahpeyk retained the role of deputy secretary and Tahan-Nazeef himself will remain the spokesperson of the 12-member body. Jannati has …