Social and Political

Radiofarda — The Obama administration secretly sought to give Iran access — albeit briefly — to the U.S. financial system by sidestepping sanctions kept in place after the 2015 nuclear deal, despite repeatedly telling Congress and the public it had no plans to do so.

Radiofarda – ZTE Corp has signed an agreement in principle that would lift a U.S. Commerce Department ban on buying from U.S. suppliers, allowing China’s No. 2 telecommunications equipment maker to get back into business, according to sources familiar with the matter.

Radiofarda – In an open letter addressed to President Hassan Rouhani, the sister of an imprisoned environmentalist says her family has been cautioned by authorities to keep quiet about their relative’s detention, lest he be executed.

Radiofarda – France, Britain, Germany and the EU on Wednesday sent the United States a joint official request for their companies to be exempt from punitive measures resulting from fresh US sanctions on Iran.

Iran-HRM – On Sunday, June 3, nearly 500 workers from Ahwaz Steel National Industrial Group gathered in front of the Khuzestan Governorate building on the fourth day of their protests following a protesting rally on the streets of Ahwaz.

RFL/RE – French President Emmanuel Macron has warned of the potential for “conflict” after Iran announced plans to boost its uranium-enrichment capacity following the U.S. decision to withdraw from its nuclear deal with world powers.

Al-Arabia – Iran’s declaration that it could increase its uranium enrichment capacity if a nuclear deal with world powers falls apart risks sailing close to the “red line”, France’s foreign minister said on Wednesday.

VOA – Iran’s government is facing increasing criticism from prominent Iranian lawyers angered by its decision in recent days to allow only a select few defense attorneys to handle national security cases.

VOA – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets with British Prime Minister Theresa May in London Wednesday, concluding the final leg of a three-day European tour aimed at persuading European leaders to alter the international nuclear agreement with Iran.

HRW – Iran’s judiciary reportedly created a very short list of lawyers approved to represent people accused of national security crimes – commonly used to prosecute activists – in Tehran’s courts during the investigative stage of the case. Of the 20,000-plus members of Tehran’s Bar association, only 20 lawyers made the list, which, unsurprisingly, excluded women and human rights lawyers.