RFL/RE – Iran’s “RoboKids” amusement park, known as the country’s first robotic-themed attraction, was abruptly closed down on August 3 for failing to enforce mandatory hijab rules for some female visitors. The popular Tehran-based attraction, which operates two branches in the capital, was cited for infractions by the Public Places Authority, which led to the immediate closure of the Valiasr branch of …

RFL/RE – The Iran Migration Observatory, which researches Iranian migration trends, has received an eviction order to leave its premises for unspecified reasons. Behram Salavati, the respected institution’s director, revealed on August 2 the letter calling for the eviction, but did not give any further details.The institution, launched in 2018 under the auspices of the Policymaking Research Institute of Tehran’s Sharif University …

Iranwire – Lawyer Babak Paknia confirmed on July 31 that a court has confirmed the death sentence against Mohammad Javad Vafaei Sani, a 27-year-old boxer arrested for taking part in nationwide unrest in November 2019. Paknia said that Branch 4 of the Mashhad Revolutionary Court issued the death sentence in first instance, but the Supreme Court overturned the ruling and …

Iranwire – Authorities in Türkiye have deported an Iranian political activist who had been residing in the country without proper legal documentation. An informed source told IranWire that former political prisoner Shahryar Baratinya was taken from a camp in Dogubeyazit to the nearby Iranian border on August 3.  Iranian agents reportedly took custody of Baratinya at the border, prompting fears for …

Iranwire – The United States could soon offer to put armed personnel on commercial ships traveling through the strategic Strait of Hormuz, as part of efforts to deter the Islamic Republic of Iran from seizing and harassing civilian vessels, news agencies quoted US officials as saying on August 3. The officials offered few details of the plan, which comes as …

Iranwire – Iranian academic authorities fired at least three university professors over the past few days after they came out in support of student protests, the country’s Student Union reported August 3.  Two professors at the Department of Veterinary Medicine of Kerman’s Bahonar University, Baharak Akhtardanesh and Mohammad Mahdi Oloomi, were both dismissed after expressing support for the protest movement …

Iranwire – Iranian security forces arrested Shaker Bori, a popular blogger and satirist from the south-western city of Abadan, and took him to an undisclosed location.  Bori was first apprehended at his home on July 31 by intelligence officers of the Abadan Corps, which is affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), sources told IranWire. His cell phone was …

VOA – Iran announced Thursday its readiness to help urgently complete and operationalize a long-delayed multibillion dollar pipeline to export natural gas to neighboring Pakistan. Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian, on a three-day visit to Islamabad, made the remarks after delegation-level talks with his Pakistani counterpart, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. “We held important discussions on how we can find solutions …

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO) – Rahim Ghaljayi, a Baluch man sentenced to death for drug-related charges, was secretly executed in Zahedan Central Prison. He is the 12th Baluch man to be secretly executed for drug charges between 30 July-1 August. According to Hal Vash, a Baluch man was secretly executed in Birjand Prison on 1 August. His identity has been …

Iran Human Right (IHRNGO) – Mohammad Javad Akbari, Kianoush Teimouri and Sharif Akbari have been executed for drug-related charges in Khorramabad Central Prison. According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, three men were executed in Khorrramabad (Parsilion) Central Prison on 2 August. Their identities have been established as Mohammad Javad Akbari and Kianoush Teimouri from Kouhdasht in Lorestand and …