US and Israeli Intelligence Scrutinize New Iranian Nuclear Data

Governor of Kashmar, Hojjatollah Shariatmadari said that in Tuesday's earthquake in the city, 120 people have also been injured, with 35 of them hospitalized.

According to the US Geological Survey, the earthquake originated approximately five kilometers from Moghan, Razavi Khorasan Province, while local Iranian media reported the magnitude as 5.0, occurring at a depth of six kilometers.

Iran, which is situated on significant fault lines, experiences frequent seismic activity. A notable example occurred in November when a powerful 7.3 magnitude earthquake struck near the Iraqi border, resulting in over 530 fatalities and thousands of injuries.

Iran experiences an average of 10,000 earthquakes per year, according to the UN with the country still reeling from the tragedy of 2003 when a 6.6-magnitude earthquake devastated the historic city of Bam, claiming the lives of tens of thousands.

Last year, at least three people died with over 800 injured after a 5.9 magnitude earthquake hit the city of Khoy, West Azerbaijan province.

At the time of the quake in January, the Mehr news agency said 70 villages had been damaged.

Pirhossein Koolivand, the head of the Iranian Red Crescent, confirmed on Tuesday that an additional 26 pilgrims are currently receiving medical treatment in Saudi hospitals in addition to those who have died at the annual religious event.

Koolivand said the pilgrims' health status is "good and suitable", claiming that medical staff dispatched from Iran to accompany pilgrims attended to over 11,000 cases.

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On Sunday, Mohammed Al-Abdulaali, a spokesman for Saudi Arabia's Health Ministry, said in one day, over 2,760 pilgrims experienced sunstroke and heat stress at the Hajj attracting around 1.8 million to Mecca in Saudi Arabia.

To combat the mass of yearly deaths that occur, Saudi officials have implemented several safety measures, such as climate-controlled environments and extensive medical services, mitigating the health dangers associated with the extreme heat.

Last year, the pilgrimage saw as many as 240 deaths, with temperatures soaring to about 48 degrees Celsius.

Zarif, who was Iran’s top diplomat from 2013 to 2021 and a key figure in the controversial nuclear deal negotiations, declared his intentions through a post on the social networking platform X.

The planned discussion is expected to touch on major national issues under a potential Pezeshkian presidency, though skeptics doubt significant change will occur if he were elected.

The event comes as Iran prepares for unexpected presidential elections on June 28 following the sudden death of President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash.

Critics fear that the roundtable may simply be another example of Iran’s political theater, aimed at maintaining the status quo under the guise of reform.

Skepticism about Pezeshkian’s potential for genuine reform is growing as he aligns closer to the narrative of the ruling theocratic regime. In a recent televised interview, he focused primarily on economic issues without touching on more contentious subjects such as foreign policy, the nuclear program, or the mandatory hijab law, leaving many supporters feeling disillusioned as the country cries out for change.

Demonstrators against the Iranian government had gathered at a memorial service hosted by the Islamic Education Center (IEC) in Maryland, commemorating the deaths of President Ebrahim Raisi and Iran's foreign minister, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, who died in a freak helicopter crash last month.

In a video posted on social media, Soltan-Mohammadi was seen making a death gesture at Siamak Aram, an activist who fled Iran in 2011.

After three sessions, the civil court in Maryland decided to extend the initial temporary order until the end of the year.

It prohibits Soltan-Mohammadi from contacting, threatening, or approaching Aram's residence and workplace, as stated by his lawyer on Instagram.

It is the latest in a string of attacks on Iranians abroad over the last two years, including attacks and plots against Iran International journalists.

Roya Boroumand, the Executive Director of Abdorrahman Boroumand Center for Human Rights and an expert witness at the court, told Iran International that this latest order carried significant implications.

“First, it sends a message to individuals and their superiors that they cannot act with impunity in any nation. While such threats may be allowed in Iran, this order ensures a record is established, deterring future threats against individuals. Past incidents have demonstrated that these threats can materialize, underscoring the necessity of this precautionary measure,” Boroumand said.

In August 2023, a Fox News Digital report disclosed a three-page letter from the GOP detailing mosques and centers in Maryland, Texas, Michigan, and Virginia with alleged links to the Iranian regime. The report asserted that the Islamic Education Center in Maryland received funding from the Alavi Foundation, which the Iranian government purportedly controls, and from Abolfazl Bahram Nahidian, an Iranian Imam based in Washington.

The letter demands fair airtime to counter "claims and accusations" made against Rouhani's administration during recent presidential debate roundtables, accusing the IRIB of perpetuating what it describes as "the illegal spread of lies and defamation".

"By law, the Electoral Commission should allocate a specific time for the absent party to defend themselves," the letter stated.

Rouhani's office criticized the IRIB for its historical bias and its disregard for "the observance of electoral ethics." The letter expresses hope that the state broadcaster will alter its course and allow Rouhani or his representatives to address the doubts and accusations.

The call for fairness comes in the wake of pointed critiques from conservative figures, including Tehran Mayor Alireza Zakani, during the first televised debate. On Monday night he pointed fingers at Rouhani’s government as the root cause of Iran's current economic strife.

However, many lay the blame in the hands of the late president, Ebrahim Raisi, whose tenure since 2021 led to the worst economic crisis since the founding of the Islamic Republic. His sudden death last month in a freak helicopter crash has led to a snap election on June 28.