Roozbeh Bolhari is a correspondent for RFE/RL's Radio Farda.
Iranian authorities appear to have intensified their crackdown on anti-government protests in predominately Kurdish areas. There are reports of security forces using firearms and firing tear gas indiscriminately, including into people's homes.
Amid a worsening economy, worker protests and strikes have sprung up in Iran recently over unpaid wages and poor working conditions.
Iranian activist Sepideh Qolian has been detained after alleging she was mistreated following a previous arrest.
Iran's ethnic minorities, which make up about half of the country's population, stand to have a huge impact on the country's June 12 presidential election. Well aware of this, the candidates are courting minority voters as the election campaign reaches its climax.
