Al-Arabia – Iran’s IRGC launched a surprise military drill Wednesday on disputed islands in the Arabian Gulf claimed by the UAE, just as the US military increase its presence in the region over recent ship seizures by Tehran. The drill focused primarily on Abu Musa Island, though the Guard also landed forces on the Greater Tunb Island as well, Iran’s state-run IRNA …

RFL/RE – Iranians living in the southeastern province of Sistan-Baluchistan staged a protest on July 31, criticizing the government’s failure to deal with an escalating water crisis, sandstorms, and the unfulfilled water rights of the Helmand River as a drought in the region reaches a “super-critical” stage. The protest, which was described as a “legal gathering” by official Iranian news …

Iranwire – On August 3, the presidency of Ebrahim Raisi will enter its third year. Despite numerous promises and the full support of all branches of government for the president, the inflation is speeding ahead at full force. *** Less than two weeks after Ehsan Khandouzi, the minister of economy, assured the country that, with the growth in liquidity slowing down, the …

Iranwire – A Canadian court has awarded over $142 million in compensation to the families of eight passengers aboard Flight PS752 who died when the plane was shot down over Tehran more than three years ago. The Ontario Superior Court of Justice sided with the families in their lawsuit against Iran, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard …

Iranwire – The commander-in-chief of the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) has warned against a resurgence of widespread protests in Iran on the anniversary of Mahsa Amini’s death next month. Last year’s anti-establishment protests sparked by Amini’s death “represented the most powerful, most dangerous, most serious and far-reaching opposition to the Islamic Republic,” Hossein Salami told officials of the paramilitary …

Iranwire – The judicial system of the Islamic Republic has reportedly executed 11 ethnic Baluch prisoners and one Afghan national across the country over the past 48 hours.  The executions took place in Zahedan, Zabul and Birjand prisons, said Haalvsh, a group that monitors rights violations in Iran’s Baluch-populated areas, amid an escalating use of the death penalty against ethnic …

VOA – Thousands of Marines backed by advanced U.S. fighter jets and warships are slowly building up a presence in the Persian Gulf. It’s a sign that while America’s wars in the region may be finished, its conflict with Iran over its advancing nuclear program continues to worsen, with no solutions in sight. The dispatch of the troop-and-aircraft-carrying USS Bataan …

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO) – Massoud Eshaghzehi, an Afghan national sentenced to death for drug-related charges, was executed in Zabol Prison. According to Hal Vash, an Afghan national was executed in Zabol Prison on 1 August. His identity has been reported as 30-year-old Massoud Eshaghzehi, a father of two. Massoud was arrested for drug-related charges around two years ago and …

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO) – Hamid Asgarinia was executed for rape charges in Qom Central Prison. According to HRANA news agency, a man was executed in Qom Central Prison on 30 July. His identity has been reported as Hamid Asgarinia from Arak. He was arrested for charges of rape, kidnapping and robbery and transferred to Saveh Prison. He was later …

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO) – Hossein Gomashadzehi, Yousef Kalbali and an unidentified Baluch man sentenced to death for drug-related charges, were secretly executed in Zahedan Central Prison. According to Hal Vash, three Baluch men were secretly executed in Zahedan Central Prison on 1 August. Two of the men’s identities have been reported as 72-year-old Hossein Gomshadzehi and 30-year-old Yousef Kalbali. …