Social and Political

RFL/RE – The ninth round of Syria peace talks sponsored by Iran, Russia, and Turkey began on May 14 in Kazakhstan’s capital, Astana.

RFL/RE – Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif are meeting in Moscow to discuss ways to save a landmark Iran nuclear deal.

Al-Arabia -It’s a piece of equipment that militants covet and gives them lethal accuracy: thermal sniper sights. They allow them to pick them targets from far away and in any climatic condition, night or day.

Al-Arabia – US media outlets are questioning this week whether former Secretary of State John Kerry broke the law after photos emerged of him allegedly leaving a quiet meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif earlier this month in a reportedly last-ditch attempt to salvage the nuclear deal.

Al-Arabia – Following reports that Iraqi Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr’s list Sairoon (On the Move) is the early front-runner in the national elections, Sadr’s supporters gathered in Tahrir Square in Baghdad to celebrate and chanted against Iran and corruption and in support of the independence of the Iraqi decision.

PayvandNews – The Iran women’s national futsal team has vigorously ended its campaign at the 2018 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Women’s Futsal Championship, and defended its title as the champion of the continental tournament.

VOA – Iranian human rights activists say several teachers arrested for staging a protest in Tehran have been sent to the city’s Evin prison, known for its jailing of political dissidents under harsh conditions.

Radiofarda – Iran’s president Hassan Rouhani has assigned his foreign minister to review the future of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), through direct talks with his British, Chinese, French, German and Russian counterparts.

Radiofarda – Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif is visiting Beijing to meet with Chinese leaders following U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to pull out of the landmark 2015 nuclear deal.

Radiofarda – A Syrian war monitor says Israeli strikes on suspected military positions in Syria this week killed 42 people.