iranintl – With all the talk about Iran’s fate in a possible escalation of war in the region, the parliamentary election on March 1 is not the foremost concern for Iranians. Besides immediate fears of war and conflict, Iranian media also highlight expectations of a low turnout amid a general indifference to the regime’s highly manipulated elections. Nevertheless, Iranian media …

iranintl – Iran has imposed nationwide bread rations with penalties for bakers breaking the new rules amid the country’s worst economic crisis since the birth of the Islamic Republic. Eqtesad100, a prominent Iranian news website, scrutinized the contradictory statements from government officials and bakers in a detailed report on Sunday. The situation became more complex with reports circulating about a directive from …

iranintl – Israeli airstrikes in Syria that killed several IRGC generals have unleashed a barrage of “cutlet” photos online, a popular dish now symbolizing Iran’s slain Guards.  The association started with the targeted killing of former IRGC Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani, whose body was so mutilated in a US drone strike in 2020 that people described him as a “cutlet,” a …

Iranwire – Iranian rapper Toomaj Salehi, a prominent voice in Iran’s 2022 uprising, now faces a total of 10 charges, his lawyer says. In a January 21 a post on the social media platform X, lawyer Amir Raisian said that the Supreme Court had rejected five of the eight charges previously filed against Salehi. However, a court in Isfahan maintained …

Iranwire – Controversial Iranian singer Amirhossein Maqsoodlou, better known as Amir Tataloo, has admitted to engaging in “anti-cultural and obscene” activities online, according to semi-official media. Authorities in Türkiye apprehended the tattoo-covered artist on December 2 following a complaint filed by the Iranian authorities, and handed him over to the Islamic Republic’s police on December 6, media outlets reported at …

Iranwire – Iranian border forces have shot and killed another Kurdish transborder porter, or kolbar, in the western province of Kermanshah bordering Iraq. According to the Kurdistan Human Rights Network, Sadegh Mirzaei, 40, was fatally shot by members of the Nosoud Border Regiment on the evening of January 20. The report said that two other kolbars, who were not identified, …

VOA – An Iranian soldier opened fire on fellow soldiers Sunday, killing five of them in the southeastern city of Kerman, where 94 people were killed in a bombing attack earlier this month, Iranian state TV reported. State TV said the shooting happened when the soldier arrived at a barracks dormitory and opened fire on the resting soldiers. It said …

VOA – A thwarted Iranian plot to assassinate two journalists working for a Persian TV network in London has renewed focus on the ways hostile governments try to target critics outside their jurisdiction. Details of the plot, uncovered by the British news outlet ITV News late last year, included a plan to kill the journalists Sima Sabet and Fardad Farahzad. …

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO) – Eslahollah Bakhsh, an Afghan national, and Hamid Ebadinejad were executed for drug-related charges in Rasht Central Prison. According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, two men were executed in Rasht Central Prison on 18 January. Their identities have been established as 36-year-old Eslahollah Bakhsh (pictured left), an Afghan national, and Hamid Ebadinejad (pictured right) …

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO) – Nouri Zamani, Fathollah Jourkesh and Hosseinali Koutahi were executed for drug-related charges in Isfahan Central Prison. According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, three men were executed in Isfahan Central Prison (Dastgerd) on 20 January. Their identities have been established as 32-year-old Nouri Zamani (pictured right)  from Lahijan, 30-year-old Fathollah Jourkesh (pictured left) from …