Iran Focus: London, Jun. 06 – British Prime Minister Tony Blair will fly to Washington for talks with United States President George W Bush on Iran, Iraq, and the Middle East peace process. Downing Street today announced the trip, with the two leaders’ discussion expected to begin tonight and continue on Tuesday.

Iran Focus: Tehran, Jun. 06 – A group of Iranians were handed down harsh sentences ranging from execution and amputation of limbs to lashes and prison time, accused of armed robbery, according to today’s edition of the state-run Kayhan daily. A court in the city of Ahwaz (southern Khuzestan province) announced that three individuals charged with “armed robbery” from the group of thirteen were sentenced to execution.

Iran Focus: Washington, DC, Jun. 06 – Iran is a source, transit, and destination country for women and girls trafficked for the purposes of sexual and labour exploitation, according to the 2005 annual Trafficking in Persons Report released by the United States’ Department of State. The DoS Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons noted that “the Government of Iran does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking”.

Iran Focus: Tehran, Jun. 06 – Students in Payam-Nour University of Ardebil (northwest Iran) began a hunger strike, protesting the arrests of fellow student activists. In the latest in a string of university hunger strikes across the country, students in Payam-Nour University announced in a statement, “In memory of those who could use their wealth of knowledge …

Iran Focus: Tehran, Jun. 06 – Students in the University of Yazd (central Iran) have started a hunger strike today in protest against a recent government clampdown on student activists. The students said they began their hunger strike after recent threats by the authorities against them. A number of students have been arrested by the secret police, the Ministry of Intelligence and Security, on bogus charges.