The story: A high-ranking Shiite cleric has been killed at point-blank range in northern Iran. The rare incident comes amid ongoing strikes and unrest in the southeastern Sistan-Baluchestan Province and other regions of the country. Although anti-establishment protests that erupted last autumn have largely ended, the continued sporadic unrest suggests the potential for renewed wider demonstrations.

The coverage: Ayatollah Abbas Ali Soleimani Esbukolai, a senior Iranian cleric, was shot dead on Apr. 26. The incident took place in the city of Babolsar in the northern Mazandaran Province.

• Mazandaran Governor-General Mahmoud Hosseinipour Nouri identified the assailant as a security guard at a bank where the cleric was conducting personal business. CCTV footage was released shortly after showing...