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

Amnesty – Fears are mounting that thousands of people have been sentenced to death and are at risk of execution or are facing investigations or prosecution on capital drug-related offences, amid a horrific surge in executions in Iran. In 2023, at least 481 people were executed for drug-related offences – over half of the total of at least 853 executions …

iranintl – The United States warned Iran on Tuesday not to retaliate against it for an attack on Iran’s embassy compound in Syria, telling the UN Security Council it had no warning of the Israeli strike. The Security Council held an emergency meeting on Tuesday to discuss the attack, which Israel has not officially taken responsibility for. The strike on Monday – that Iran said …

iranintl – In recent years, Iranian authorities have often announced significant discoveries of oil and gas reserves, but, in reality, the government has faced tremendous challenges – often self-inflicted – in actually extracting these resources. In February 2017 authorities revealed the presence of two billion barrels of shale oil reserves in the western province of Lorestan. To try and ascertain …

iranintl – The Mayor of Tehran’s persistence in constructing a mosque at one of the capital’s parks, despite public objections, may be linked to the Basij militia’s involvement in quelling anti-government protests. The Mayor, hardliner Alireza Zakani, along with other officials, say the construction of a mosque at Gheytarieh Park is in response to “popular demand” for providing places of …

Iranwire – Saeed Madani, a sociologist, university professor, and prominent researcher in social sciences, was transferred to Damavand Prison, IranWire reports.  Authorities acted at the request of the Ministry of Intelligence and with the prosecution’s approval to transfer him. In January 2022, Madani received a nine-year prison sentence from the Revolutionary Court. The charges against Madani included “forming and leading …