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

Iran-HRM – A 39-year-old man has been sentenced to death by Iranian authorities for “insulting Prophet and the imams” through messages he sent on an instant messenger app. The state-run ROKNA news agency, identified the man only by his first name as Meisam and said that he was also sentenced to prison, flogging and a fine. Rokna said that the court did not accept the 39-year-old …

RFL/RE – U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper says he sees no need to boost the number of U.S. forces in the Middle East, a day after a Pentagon official suggested Washington was considering sending additional troops to the region.“Right now, we believe we have sufficient capability in the theater to deter what we need to deter,” he told reporters flying …

VOA – Iran’s foreign minister said Saturday a detained Princeton graduate student will be exchanged for an Iranian scientist held by the U.S., marking a potential breakthrough between Tehran and Washington after months of tensions.       “Mohammad Javad Zarif made the announcement on Twitter. The trade involves graduate student Xiyue Wang and scientist Massoud Soleimani.      Glad that Professor Massoud …

VOA – The United States imposed sanctions Friday on three Iranian-backed Iraqi militia leaders over their alleged role in violently suppressing protests that have shaken Iraq. The militia leaders are accused of ordering their forces to fire on civilians protesting government corruption and high unemployment. Since the protests began in October, around 400 protesters have been reported killed by security …

VOA – Iraq’s top Shi’ite religious leader, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, called on the country’s political leaders Friday not to choose a new prime minister with ties to outside countries, ostensibly referring to Iran and the U.S. Iraqi Shi’ite worshipers gathered for Friday prayers in the holy city of Karbala as Sheikh Abdel Mehdi Karbalaie, a top spokesman Sistani, urged …