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Al-Monitor — A joint statement by French President Emmanuel Macron and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping last Friday referred among other things to common efforts for reviving the nuclear deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), with Iran that was signed in 2015 but stalled following the US withdrawal from the agreement in 2018. The statement noted that …

Al-Monitor – CIA Director Bill Burns made an unannounced trip to Saudi Arabia this week where he reportedly aired Washington’s frustrations over Riyadh’s opening to Iran and Syria through mediation brokered by US rivals China and Russia.  Speaking on condition of anonymity, a US official confirmed the trip to Al-Monitor. “Director Burns traveled to Saudi Arabia where he met with intelligence counterparts and …

Al-Monitor —  The latest signs indicate the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran doesn’t have much of a pulse. The Biden administration says the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) is not on the agenda. However, on Monday a report by Axios revealed that the US has discussed with its European and Israeli partners an interim agreement with Iran that would include …

RFL/RE – A military adviser to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) died of his injuries after an Israeli air strike near Syria’s capital, the Iranian semiofficial Mehr news agency reported on April 2. Israel has for years carried out attacks against what it has described as Iran-linked targets in Syria, where Tehran’s influence has grown since it began supporting …

voanews – Washington — Former U.S. President Donald Trump, in a social media posting Saturday, told his followers that, based on what he called leaks from the Manhattan district attorney’s office, he expects to be arrested Tuesday. Trump, in the message on his Truth Social platform, called on his supporters to “PROTEST, TAKE OUR NATION BACK!” There is no confirmation from …

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO) – The Islamic Republic of Iran’s Judiciary has announced the confirmation of death sentence for Habib Farajollah Chaab, better known as Habib Asyoud, increasing the risk of his imminent execution. The Swedish-Iranian dual national was kidnapped from Turkey by Islamic Republic forces in collaboration with international drug gangs in October 2020 and taken to Iran. Expressing …

Al-Arabia – Iran has announced more than 100 arrests nationwide over the mystery poisonings of thousands of schoolgirls, charging that the unidentified alleged perpetrators may have links with “hostile” groups. In the wave of cases since late November, schoolgirls have suffered fainting, nausea, shortness of breath and other symptoms after reporting “unpleasant” odors on school premises, with some being treated …

RFL/RE – At least five people were killed and two more injured when an explosion tore through a residential building in Tabriz, in western Iran, early on March 12. The blast, which occurred at around 3 a.m. local time, damaged three buildings and affected around 20 apartments, according to firefighters quoted by the Fars news agency. There has been no …

Iranwire – As IranWire has reported, hundreds of Iranians have sustained severe eye injuries after being hit by pellets, tear gas cannisters, paintball bullets or other projectiles used by security forces amid a bloody crackdown on mainly peaceful demonstrations. Doctors say that, as of now, at least 580 protesters have lost one or both eyes in Tehran and in Kurdistan alone. …

Iranwire – An Iranian sports official has said that women’s gymnastics will not be licensed in the country due to “cultural” reasons. “The gymnastics attire is not permitted due to cultural considerations, as it is a crucial component of the athlete’s overall appearance, along with the make-up required for championship-level competition,” Mahin Farhadizadeh, vice president of Women’s National Olympic Committee, …