Shabtabnews In this dark night, I have lost my way – Arise from a corner, oh you the star of guidance.

iranintl – The IRGC-affiliated Fars news website claimed a turnout of more than 40% after polls closed at midnight in Iran’s controversial elections, despite numerous reports indicating lackluster participation. The Fars reportestablished a narrative that other outlets hesitated to challenge. Shortly after vote counting commenced, the state news agency IRNA also claimed a turnout of 41%. Compared to the official …

iranintl – The recent revelation that Iran ranks as China’s 38th trading partner has once again cast doubt on the efficacy and depth of the much-touted economic ties between the two countries. While the Iranian regime heavily relies on Beijing as its primary oil customer, the actual data on bilateral economic relations appears less promising for the sanctions-stricken country. China’s …

Iranwire – Islamic Republic officials have cut the telephone access of incarcerated singer Toomaj Salehi after he called for an elections boycott.  “After Toomaj Salehi’s message regarding the election boycott and ongoing harassment, and in continued violation of his rights, his phone calls were abruptly terminated under orders from the Ministry of Intelligence,” Salehi’s social media accounts, managed by his …

Iranwire – An Iranian military conscript took his own life by gunshot on February 29 amid a surge in suicides among Iranian military personnel. Behnam Jafarizadeh, the revolutionary prosecutor of Bam city in the southeastern city of Kerman province, reported that the conscript was serving in the city’s judiciary office.  “After being granted a few hours of leave, the soldier …

Iranwire – A member of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) was killed in an airstrike in the Syrian city of Banyas. The killed IRGC officer was named as Reza Zarei. Iran’s Daneshjoo news agency attributed the attack to Israel. The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported three explosions targeting a villa believed to be housing an Iranian-affiliated …