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

Iranwire – On May 9 the firestorm of popular protests  was reignited in Iran. The jump in the prices of bread, cooking oil, poultry and then several other basic commodities triggered protests first in cities in Khuzestan province, then in the provinces of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari, Kermanshah, Lorestan and Ardebil. Scattered videos posted on social media show protesters chanting slogans …

VOA – Protests over soaring food prices continued in several cities in Iran on Saturday, according to postings on social media, while an Iranian lawmaker told a local media outlet that one person was killed in a demonstration in the southwest. The protests were triggered last week by a cut in state subsidies for imported wheat that caused price increases …

VOA – The EU’s foreign policy chief said on Friday that he believed there had been enough progress during consultations between his envoy and Iranian officials in Tehran this week to relaunch nuclear negotiations after two months of deadlock. Talks to revive Iran’s 2015 nuclear deal with world powers have been on hold since March, chiefly over Tehran’s insistence that …

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO) – Four men including an uncle and nephew, were executed on drug-related charges in Shiraz Central Prison last week. According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, four men were executed in Shiraz Central Prison (Adelabad) on the morning of May 8. Their identities have been established as Abbas Pajmordeh and his nephew Ali Pajmordeh who …

Al-Monitor – In a last-ditch effort to get the Iran nuclear deal back on track, Enrique Mora, the European Union’s deputy foreign policy chief, was in Tehran this week for a four-day visit. Yet signs of growing ties with China that came just before his visit indicate Iran may be prepping for backup options.  Since Iran refuses to directly engage in talks with the …