Social and Political

Shabtabnews – In a twitter statement USCIRF expresses deep concern in regards to the health of Iranian lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh. Nasrin Sotoudeh, has been hospitalized as of September 19, 2020, with her condition worsening, and the family is being denied access to her and any information on her condition. Ms. Sotoudeh has been in jail since 2018 and on a …

Shabtabnews – According to recent reports the Iranian regime ranks amongst the worst offenders in human trafficking. As the annual TiP report which ranks countries in a three-tier system on their effectiveness in tackling human trafficking and other forms of slavery, placed Iran on its global list of worst offenders in human trafficking and forced labor. In this regards the following article sheds light …

RFL/RE – A man who took part in Iran’s anti-establishment protests in November has died in a detention center in Tehran, the opposition website Kalame reported.Nader Mokhtari, 35, died over the weekend at the Kahrizak detention center, Kalame reported.Iranian officials have not commented on the report.Mokhtari had slipped into a coma after being beaten with truncheons by security forces during …

Radiofarda – For the first time, Iranian authorities are seriously discussing the possibility of adding Chinese to the foreign languages taught in the nation’s schools. Acting Head of the Curriculum Planning Department of the Educational Research and Planning Organization of Iran, Ali Mohebbi, announced on Sunday, September 20, that Chinese and Arabic might be added to the list of foreign …

Radiofarda – In an interview with Hannah Kaviani the State Department Spokesperson Morgan Ortagus explained that the United States will follow up on anybody violating the U.S sanctions.

RFL/RE – Iran is prepared for a full exchange of prisoners with the United States, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said in a virtual address to the Council on Foreign Relations in New York.In response to a question about whether Tehran would free Iranian-American father and son Baquer and Siamak Namazi, Zarif said on September 21 that the only way for …

VOA – The United States is imposing sweeping new sanctions on Iran to curb Tehran’s nuclear, missile, and conventional arms threats after Washington asserted the United Nations arms embargo on Iran was reimposed indefinitely late Saturday. White House National Security Adviser Robert O’Brien said Monday that U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration is imposing new sanctions and export control measures on …

Iran-HRM – The basement of the Central Prison of Shiraz, also known as Adelabad Prison, is where Iran’s wrestling champion Navid Afkari spent his final days before being executed on September 12, 2020. The notorious basement of Adelabad Prison is also called “Ebrat” which literally means “a lesson.” IRGC Intelligence runs Ebrat Ebrat is run by the IRGC Intelligence Division and is where they torture detained …

Iran-HRM – Various regime military commanders have lately come out with announcements indicating formation of new local hit squads, Razaviyoun patrols, and other rapid reaction groups in cities and provinces across the country. Observers see this new strategy as a last resort response to the outbreak of widespread protests throughout Iran in November 2019. What was different in November 2019 …

Radiofarda – The United States on September 21 will sanction more than two dozen people and entities involved in Iran’s nuclear, missile, and conventional weapons programs, a senior U.S. official told Reuters. The United States on September 19 unilaterally reimposed all UN sanctions against Iran, despite opposition from some of Washington’s closest European allies and uncertainty over their impact. Secretary …