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

RFL/RE – A senior cultural official has resigned after protests by conservative religious authorities over a concert in Iran’s holy Shi’ite city of Qom where many of Iran’s senior ayatollahs are based. Iranian media report that Abbas Daneshi, head of the department of culture in Qom, resigned due to discontent among senior theologians over the event held last month. In …

RFL/RE – Iran has temporarily released a journalist for medical treatment after he suffered from health problems following a hunger strike. Ehsan Mazandarani, editor in chief of the reformist Farhikhtegan daily, was arrested in November 2015 and sentenced in April to seven years in prison after being convicted of charges that included “acting against national security.” His prison sentence was …

Iran Human Rights – Zeinab Sekaanvand, who was 17 years old when she was arrested by Iranian authorities for the murder of her husband, is in imminent danger of execution. Iran Human Rights calls for international reactions to stop Zeinab’s execution Zeinab Sekaanvand Lokran, a juvenile prisoner who was sentenced to death for the murder of her husband, is in imminent …

Al-monitor – Iran is pursuing a “resilient economy” that is less dependent on oil, has reduced nonperforming loans in its banking sector and is anticipating European participation in financing a landmark Boeing deal, according to Minister of Economic Affairs and Finance Ali Tayebnia. AUTHOR Barbara Slavin In an interview with Al-Monitor on Oct. 7 on the sidelines of the fall meeting …

PayvandNews – President Hassan Rouhani said on Friday that Iran and Malaysia reaffirmed to strengthen ties and restore economic transactions to the pre-sanctions time. During a joint press conference with Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak in Kuala Lumpur, Rouhani said, “We stressed that 2016 should be the year of expanding relations in political, cultural, scientific and economic areas.” …