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

Iran-HRM – February saw the state crackdown on protests by fuel traders in Sistan and Baluchestan that started in Saravan, southeastern Iran. The protests erupted on February 22 when Baluch fuel carriers gathered near an Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) base on the border in Saravan to protest the border closure. The Guards, who had dug large holes on the …

Al-Arabia – Iran will soon present a “constructive” plan of action on the nuclear deal, the Foreign Minister said on Friday, after European countries scrapped a plan to submit a resolution criticizing Tehran at a meeting of the UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency “As Iran’s FM [foreign minister] and chief nuclear negotiator, I will shortly present our constructive concrete plan of action—through proper …

Iranwire – Coronavirus vaccination in Iran started late and is progressing at a slow pace. The start of the new Iranian calendar year, a time when Iranians traditionally travel on a massive scale, is just around the corner. But would-be vacationers must wait for the National Coronavirus Taskforce to determine which destinations are open to travelers, and under which restrictions. …

Iranwire – In September 2015, the Lebanese-born IT expert Nizar Zakkatravelled to Iran for a conference on the express invitation of the government. But in Tehran he was arrested, accused of “espionage” and ended up spending four miserable and unjustified years in prison.  Zakka and several other ex-hostages of the Islamic Republic have now set up an international organization, Hostage Aid …

Iranwire – Pope Francis, the head of the worldwide Catholic Church, has arrived in Iraq ahead of a historic meeting with Ayatollah Ali Sistani, an influential Shia source of emulation. Footage was published earlier today of the Pope being received at Baghdad Airport by the Iraqi prime minister, Mustafa Al-Kadhimi, and escorted through Baghdad by motorcycle police: marking the beginning of his first …