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

iranintl – The Iranian parliament has rejected the outlines of next year’s budget bill, a symbolic move as the administration has no way to balance the estimated deficit. The bill, submitted by President Ebrahim Raisi’s administration last week was rejected as 127 lawmakers out of the 236 present voted against it on Tuesday, pointing out several fundamental issues including a …

iranintl – Scrutiny and calls for answers surround one of the largest corruption cases in the Islamic Republic, involving $3.5 billion of foreign currency and many officials. “Where and when this corruption happened is not important to us. What matters is that such a thing should not happen in the Islamic Republic, whatever you want to call it, embezzlement, wasting …

Iranwire – A 19-year-old pre-university student died in the eastern Iranian city of Zabul this week after being tortured by intelligence agents of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the Haalvsh human rights group reported.  Mahmoud Derakhshani, an ethnic Baluch, was arrested on September 3 by IRGC intelligence agents who had stormed his father’s home without a court order.  The …

Iranwire – Iran’s Expediency Discernment Council has approved an amended version of the controversial Chastity and Hijab bill after parliament addressed issues raised over the proposed legislation. The council ruled that the draft law, which has drawn criticism both inside the country and abroad, is now consistent with the general policies of the legislative system. The Guardian Council is expected to echo …

Iranwire – Zohreh Sarv, an Iranian political prisoner who has been on hunger strike in Tehran’s Evin prison for three weeks, attempted to take her own life. According to the activist HRANA news agency, Sarv was taken to hospital on December 12 after swallowing 30 anxiolytic pills, and was returned to prison a few hours later. HRANA quoted sources close …