Social and Political

Al-Monitor — Of the individuals Iran is seeking in an exchange with the United States, four were charged with sanctions violations and a fifth with acting as an unregistered foreign agent of Iran, according to a list of names provided by the country’s mission to the United Nations.  The individuals are Mehrdad Moein Ansari, Kambiz Attar Kashani, Reza Sarhangpour Kafrani, Amin Hasanzadeh …

iranintl – A former Iranian diplomat says the 2015 nuclear deal is now “a forgotten issue,” and “it is not clear whether Iran and the United States will return to that deal.” Jalal Sadatian speaking to Fararu website in Tehran, explained that “nonetheless, from a legal point of view, the contents of the 2015 nuclear deal, also called the Joint Comprehensive …

Iranwire – Prominent human rights activist and political prisoner Narges Mohammadi was verbally abused and beaten by a staff member of Tehran’s Evin prison, witnesses told IranWire.  The incident occurred on September 11 as Mohammadi was visiting the prison’s hospital.  A prison officer called Mohammadi “insane” in front of several other officials and beat her after she responded to the …

Iranwire – For Ashura, the holiest day on the Shia calendar, worshipers traditionally gather for large demonstrations of high-scale mourning to mark the death of Hossein ibn Ali, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, during the seventh-century Battle of Karbala, in today’s Iraq. Arbaeen marks the end of the 40-day mourning period, with worshipers taking part in various rituals, including …

VOA – The head of Israel’s Mossad spy agency on Sunday said that Israel is prepared to strike “in the heart of Tehran” to track down the perpetrators of what he said were more than two dozen Iranian attempts to hit Israeli and Jewish targets around the world. Speaking at a security conference, David Barnea said that Israel and its …

iranintl – Some political observers in Iran define President Ebrahim Raisi’s government as a copycat, based on remnants of former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s populist narrative. However, as noted in a Khabar Online report, also carried by a few other Iranian websites, the Raisi administration at times appears to be a blend of Ahmadinejad’s ideas with his reformist predecessor Mohammad Khatami’s slogans. …

iranintl – Iran and neighboring Arab countries find themselves increasingly at odds as both sides are engaged in rhetoric that underscores their deep-seated differences. Amid the persisting rivalries, the Gulf Cooperation Council of the Arab States condemned Iran on Friday for what they called “false” claims that prisoners were being treated badly in Bahrain, a long-time target of Iranian propaganda. …

RFL/RE – Javad Ruhi survived three death sentences for participating in protests in Iran last year, only to die under mysterious circumstances last week. People familiar with Ruhi’s case said the 31-year-old never stood a chance — that even after his death sentences were overturned by the Supreme Court, he was told he would “never leave prison alive.”Speaking to RFE/RL’s …

gatestoneinstitute.org – The Biden administration has been accused of secretly bypassing US laws to reach a deal with Iran’s Islamist regime. On August 10, the Biden administration apparently cut a “deal” excluding Congress and keeping the American people and U.S. regional allies in the dark — even though they are the ones who would be the most directly affected by …

VOA – Kian Derakhshan, who was badly injured in protests following the death of Mahsa Amini last September, told VOA he believes the Iranian people will ultimately prevail, ushering in a new era of freedom and democracy under the banner of “Women, Life, Freedom” in Iran. Amini, 22, died September 16, 2022, in the custody of Iran’s morality police, allegedly …