Explosion at Iran gas refinery injures three workers

Akbari Feyzabadi had been convicted on charges including moharebeh, or waging war against God, “deliberate destruction of public property, disrupting public order and collusion against national security,” Judiciary news outlet Mizan said.

The court cited what it described as the defendant’s confessions about carrying a handgun, appearing in the streets and opening fire during the unrest in Naein county, the report said.

The Supreme Court, judiciary said, upheld the ruling after reviewing the case file and found no flaws in the verdict, which it said was based on evidence, documentation and the defendant’s statements.

Cases involving espionage and national security accusations in the Islamic Republic have long drawn scrutiny from rights groups and lawyers over allegations of forced confessions, torture, restricted access to independent lawyers and denial of fair trial guarantees.

With Akbari Feyzabadi’s execution, at least 38 prisoners convicted on political or security-related charges have been executed in Iran since March 18, according to a tally based on publicly reported cases.

• 

  Iran executes another political prisoner, bringing tally to 37 since March

Rights group HRANA had previously said at least 52 prisoners facing political or security-related charges were executed during the past Iranian year.

Lawmakers back executions

On May 4, 63 members of parliament issued a statement thanking the judiciary for carrying out death sentences against January protest detainees and urged Judiciary Chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei to take what they called decisive and public action against the “main elements” behind the protests.

The judiciary’s media outlet reported Sunday that another political prisoner, Mojtaba Kian, was executed after being convicted in Alborz province of sending information about defense industry sites to networks linked to the United States and Israel during attacks on Iran.

Iranian security forces have arrested thousands of people across the country on political and security-related accusations since the start of US and Israeli attacks on Feb. 28.

A senior Iranian military commander said on Monday that the country’s military capacity remained intact despite claims that its naval, air and missile capabilities had been destroyed.

The commander of Khatam al-Anbiya joint military command said Iran had shown on the battlefield that its capacities remained in place and that it would continue fighting.

Ali Abdollahi added that Iran’s military equipment was being upgraded to match current conditions.

Iran said on Monday that no agreement with the United States was imminent, despite progress toward a framework in talks aimed at ending the war.

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said the two sides had reached conclusions on many issues but that did not mean they were close to signing an agreement.

He said the focus of talks remained ending the war on all fronts, including Lebanon, and that the possible MOU did not include specific details on managing the Strait of Hormuz.

The spokesman said management of the strait belonged to coastal countries and denied that Iran planned to charge tolls, saying any services provided could carry a cost but should not be presented as tolls.

He also said the current focus of negotiations was ending the war, not the details of the nuclear issue.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf kept his post on Monday after lawmakers held elections for the parliament’s presiding board, state media reported.

More than 270 of the 285 members of parliament took part in the vote, according to the reports.

The election was held despite parliament having been closed since the start of the Iran war.

If the United States meets its commitments and a first-stage MoU advances, Iran’s nuclear file could be reviewed during 60-day talks, Iran's semi-official ISNA reported on Monday, citing a senior Iranian diplomat.

“The nuclear issue, enrichment and stockpiles of highly enriched uranium will be reviewed in 60-day talks in exchange for the lifting of sanctions and the full release of Iran’s blocked assets, and US forces will fully withdraw from the areas around Iran,” he was quoted as saying.

He added that management of the Strait of Hormuz was a matter between Iran and Oman, and Tehran was negotiating the issue with Muscat.