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

VOA – The United States said Friday it was sending reinforcements to the Gulf after what it called increasing harassment by Iran of ships in the oil-rich waters. “The Department of Defense will be making a series of moves to bolster our defensive posture” in the Gulf, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters, saying there would be “details …

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO) – 22 drug and murder death row prisoners, including six women, have been notified of their imminent executions in two prisons in Isfahan. One woman, Samira Abbasi, is a child bride. At least 223 people have been executed so far in 2023.  Warning of the continuation of the unusually high wave of executions in Iran, Iran …

Al-Monitor — Despite mediation efforts by Egypt and other regional players, fighting resumed Friday on the fourth day of Israel’s Shield and Arrow Operation against the Palestinian Islamic Jihad in the Gaza Strip after a 13-hour lull.  The resumption of rockets fired at Israel and Israeli counterstrikes in Gaza dashed hopes of a cease-fire between the sides. Egyptian-mediated contacts between the parties …

RFL/RE – Human rights watchdog Hengaw says Saman Darvishi, a Kurdish prisoner held at Iran’s Evin prison, has died with the cause of death attributed to assault and torture by Iranian security forces. Darvishi’s death, which Hengaw said occurred on May 9, follows a year of reports that he suffered severe beatings and torture while incarcerated for theft and allegedly injuring …

Iranwire – Iranian authorities have released two French citizens jailed in separate cases and they are both now returning to France, French officials say. Bernard Phélan , who also holds Irish nationality, and Benjamin Brière were freed from their prison in the northeastern city of Mashhad and are “on their way to France,” Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna said. “Finally Freed. Benjamin Brière and Bernard Phélan will …