iranintl – Months away from the looming US presidential elections, the possibility of a return of a Donald Trump administration and the anti-JCPOA lobby in Iran’s next parliament is already causing negative shockwaves to Iran’s national currency. Economist Morteza Afghah told ILNA that every report about the possibility of Trump’s victory or polls in favor of the Republican Party leads to …

iranintl – In his latest report, the UN Special Rapporteur on Iran highlighted the recent use of international courts in holding Iranian regime authorities accountable for human rights abuses committed. Lamenting the absence of accountability measures in Iran, Javaid Rehman pointed to recent cases where international law and universal jurisdiction were used to hold individuals and Iran accountable. For this …

iranintl – Authorities in Iran are evidently manipulating the vote count to secure a predetermined outcome of Friday’s parliamentary elections amidst a notably effective boycott campaign. Turnout The Guardian Council’s extensive disqualification of candidates prior to the March 1 parliamentary and Assembly of Experts elections gave rise to huge popular discontent. Authorities resorted to relentless propaganda and various measures to …

Iranwire – Iran deploys a sinister tactic against the Baha’i religious minority—fabricating legal cases and relentless summonses, creating a web of oppression. Recent revelations expose the extent of government hostility, leaving Baha’is in constant uncertainty.  IranWire’s interviews with members of the community highlight the fear of arrests and hindrance in burying their dead, showcasing an ongoing assault on their rights.  …

Iranwire – Authorities in the Islamic Republic hanged as many as 834 people in 2023, marking an alarming increase of 43 percent from the 582 executions recorded in 2022. Among those executed, a concerning number – 471 individuals, constituting 56 percent – were sentenced to death for drug-related offenses. The latest figure reflects a substantial increase in drug-related executions from …

Iranwire – Alborz province has recorded the lowest turnout with 28.4 per cent for both the Parliament and the Assembly of Experts elections held last week in Iran.  It was followed by Kurdistan province with 30.54 per cent and Tehran with 34 per cent.  Only eight provinces crossed the 50 per cent mark in turnout, with Kohgiluyeh and Boyer Ahmad …

Iranwire – While Iran’s constitution officially recognizes and guarantees rights for religious minorities, discrimination against them persists. There is a stark contrast between official guarantees and the challenging realities they face, including employment barriers, property seizures, and restrictions on religious ceremonies. The Islamic Republic officially recognizes three religious minorities—Christian, Zoroastrian, and Jewish—granting them freedom to practice their rituals, teachings, and …

Iranwire – A regional Iranian official has warned against “crossing red lines” in the coming weeks as Iranians prepare for the Persian New Year, which falls during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan this year. “When organizing concerts, organizers and license holders must adhere to established boundaries, ensuring that no red lines are crossed,” Siavash Muslimi, commander of the Islamic …

VOA – The United States said Monday that the low turnout in Iran’s election came as no surprise and was a new sign of discontent in the cleric-run state. “I don’t think there’s any doubt that there’s discontent about the regime’s rule,” State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters. “We did not assess that these elections would be free and …

VOA – The United States on Monday condemned the sentencing of an Iranian singer who won a Grammy Award in 2023 for a song that became an anthem for mass Iranian protests after the death of Mahsa Amini while in the custody of the morality police. Singer and songwriter Shervin Hajipour said on his Instagram account last week that he …