New York Times: The death penalty is an abhorrent attempt to sate an irrational cultural bloodlust. According to a 2014 report from Amnesty International, “only nine countries have continuously executed in each of the past five years — Bangladesh, China, Iran, Iraq, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, U.S.A. and Yemen.”
Eye-for-an-eye incivility
Iran eyes new oil along border with Iraq
UPI: Iran said Friday it could get about 30,000 barrels of oil per day during the initial phase of operations at the Azar oil field straddling the border with Iraq. Iran said operations on its side of the border will begin during the first half of the next Iranian calendar year, which begins in March.
Rubio: Obama being played by Putin
The Hill: Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) said Saturday that President Obama has not done enough to deter Russian President Vladimir Putin from invading Ukraine. President Obama was also criticized by Republicans for his handling of the civil war in Syria and, more recently, the nuclear crisis in Iran.
At least 34 executed in 11 days in Iran
Death Penalty News: Iran has executed at least 34 prisoners in past 11 days in 7 cities across Iran including many young prisoners in their early 20s. On Thursday, May 1, the International Workers’ Day, hanged Mostafa Nazi Chalavi, Amir Rouzdar and Babak Vavani in Bandar Abbas Prison bring.
Iran detains Spaniards for illegal hunting
AP: Iran’s official news agency is reporting that authorities have detained two Spaniards for alleged illegal hunting after they were found with a captured alligator. The Sunday report by IRNA quotes an official of Ilam province, as saying the two were detained during a midnight ambush.
Nuclear inspectors to visit Iranian sites
AP: Iran’s official news agency is reporting that international inspectors will visit two nuclear sites in the coming days. The report by IRNA quotes spokesman of Iran’s atomic department, as saying the inspectors will visit a uranium mine and a uranium-thickening facility in Ardakan.
Iran has briefed U.N. nuclear agency on detonators: ISNA
Reuters: Iran has provided the U.N. nuclear watchdog with information about detonators with possible military applications, under an accord intended to allay concerns about Tehran’s atomic activities, an Iranian news agency said on Sunday.
Iran’s Rouhani reiterates need for policy of engagement
Bloomberg: Iranian President Hassan Rouhani reiterated that engagement is the way out of Iran’s nuclear impasse with Western nations. Iran “cannot succeed internationally by being confrontational,” Rouhani said in an address to academics in Tehran today.
Hezbollah’s relationship with Iran’s Quds forces is tightening
Al-Arabiya: The Syrian government has announced that it will hold a presidential election on June 3, and as President Bashar al-Assad declared this week, he has registered to run in the election. Iran has made public its full support for Syria’s June presidential election.
Japan Idemitsu to buy no more than 1 Iran crude cargo this year
Reuters: Japanese refiner Idemitsu Kosan Co said it will buy either no crude or a maximum of one cargo from Iran in the year through March 2015, a move that could keep at bay any potential U.S. pressure over oil shipments from the Islamic republic.
