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Iran’s Regime Escalates Death Sentences and Pressure Against Political Prisoners

Sia Rajabi
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Iran’s Regime Escalates Death Sentences and Pressure Against Political Prisoners

Iranian authorities have intensified their crackdown on individuals accused of links to the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK), imposing lengthy prison sentences, issuing death threats, and expanding the use of capital punishment against political prisoners.

According to information released by the Secretariat of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), five political prisoners currently held in Hall 37 of Ghezel Hesar Prison are being denied basic amenities while facing increasing judicial pressure. Several of the prisoners had previously been transferred from Fashafouyeh Prison to Ghezel Hesar in April 2026.

Among them are two young relatives accused of PMOI membership. Abolfazl Rahbar, a 23-year-old house painter, and his cousin Omid Rahbar, a 24-year-old laborer, were arrested in January 2026. They were recently informed verbally of prison sentences of 20 and 26 years, respectively.

Two other detainees in the same ward are reportedly facing explicit threats of execution. Vahid Azizi, a 42-year-old civil and groundwater engineer with a PhD, was arrested on January 6, 2026, during the nationwide protests and has since been threatened with the death penalty. Mostafa Imani, a 39-year-old writer and designer from Karaj who holds a master’s degree in art, was arrested on March 29, 2026, on charges related to alleged contact with and membership in the PMOI. Prosecutors have reportedly warned him that he could face execution.

The fifth prisoner, Farshid Dolatyari, a 41-year-old driver, has remained in detention since November 2025. According to the report, he has been subjected to sustained pressure while his legal status remains unresolved. In December 2025, the Ministry of Intelligence-affiliated Mehr News Agency published his photograph without identifying him by name, alleging that he had stockpiled weapons.

The reported cases come amid a broader escalation in the use of executions against political opponents. On July 22, authorities executed Mehdi Khanaki, a 26-year-old law graduate and PMOI member, following months of torture and a trial lacking due process. Khanaki had been arrested in February 2026 after participating in the nationwide protests.

The report states that approximately 2,400 people have been executed over the past year, including ten PMOI members. It also alleges that authorities have refused to return the bodies of some executed prisoners to their families.

The judiciary has also expanded the use of capital punishment against relatives of political dissidents. Amir Hassan Akbari-Monfared, a 22-year-old accounting student, was sentenced to death on charges of “rebellion.” The sentence was linked to his family relationship with a deceased PMOI member. His family had previously lost four relatives during executions in the 1980s.

In another case, PMOI supporter Arghavan Fallahi, 25, was sentenced to death on July 1, 2026, after what the report describes as months of physical and psychological torture.

There have been other cases in Rasht’s Lakan Prison, where several PMOI supporters have received death sentences following brief video hearings conducted without legal representation. Those named include Zahra Tabari, a 68-year-old electrical engineer; Yaghoub Derakhshan, 51, who reportedly underwent a retrial; and Amin Farahavar, a 38-year-old poet who was denied medical treatment for internal bleeding before being sentenced to death on charges of “enmity against God.”

The NCRI has called on the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the UN Human Rights Council, and the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran to intervene. The organization urged international bodies to press for the revocation of the reported death sentences and to dispatch an independent fact-finding mission to inspect prisons including Ghezel Hesar and Evin, citing concerns over the treatment and safety of political prisoners.

Thirteenth Day of the Hunger Strike By 1,500 Prisoners, Condition of the Strikers Is Critical

Jubin Katiraie
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Thirteenth Day of the Hunger Strike By 1,500 Prisoners, Condition of the Strikers Is Critical

The collective hunger strike by around 1,500 death-row prisoners in Unit 2 of Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj entered its 13th day on Saturday, July 25. As the protest continues, a new video from inside the prison has been released, showing a number of prisoners holding signs reading “No to Execution” while reaffirming their determination to continue the hunger strike.

According to received reports, the strike continues in protest against the ongoing implementation of execution sentences and what the prisoners describe as the “intensification of executions.” The strikers are demanding an immediate halt to executions, respect for the right to life, and that the authorities address their demands.

The video released from Unit 2 of Ghezel Hesar Prison shows that despite nearly two weeks having passed since the hunger strike began, the prisoners remain steadfast in their demands and have declared that they will continue their hunger strike until their demands are addressed.

At the same time, reports from inside the prison indicate that the physical condition of many of the hunger strikers has significantly deteriorated. According to informed sources, the prolonged hunger strike has caused severe weakness, low blood pressure, weight loss, exhaustion, and physical incapacity among a number of prisoners, and some have lost a significant portion of their physical strength due to refusing food.

Collective Hunger Strike at Ghezel Hesar Prison Calls for Halt to Executions

One of the prisoners said about the conditions inside the prison that many of the hunger strikers are suffering from severe physical weakness after 13 days without food. However, despite the deterioration of their condition, no effective medical care has been provided so far.

According to these reports, officials at Ghezel Hesar Prison and the prison infirmary have so far taken no effective measures to examine or treat the hunger strikers. Informed sources say that despite the prisoners’ severe physical decline, no medical team has been dispatched to assess their health.

During the first days of the protest, images were also released showing a number of prisoners who had sewn their lips shut in an act of protest, an action that received widespread attention in the media and on social media.

Death Fatwa: Salman Rushdie’s Attacker Coordinated with an Individual in Iran

Esmaeil Mohades
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Death Fatwa: Salman Rushdie’s Attacker Coordinated with an Individual in Iran

The attack on Salman Rushdie was carried out in connection with the death fatwa issued against him by Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder of Iran’s regime. A new report by The New York Times has revealed additional details about the attempted assassination of Rushdie. According to the report, prosecutors in the case against Hadi Matar allege that before carrying out the attack, he communicated with an individual in Iran identified as “Kamyar” and discussed implementing the death fatwa against the author. The allegation was presented during court proceedings and forms part of the evidence submitted by prosecutors.

Salman Rushdie Attacker Is an Agent of Hezbollah

New Details About the Death Fatwa

According to The New York Times, prosecutors said that in May 2022, Hadi Matar sent a message to an individual in Iran identified as “Kamyar.” According to prosecutors, Matar wrote that he knew Rushdie’s location but had questions about how to carry out the attack.

According to the same court documents, Matar also asked whether the death fatwa against Salman Rushdie remained valid. Prosecutors say that after the individual assured him the fatwa was still in effect, Matar decided to carry out the attack. These allegations were presented as part of the prosecution’s evidence and legal arguments in court, and The New York Times based its report on those filings.

The Attack on Salman Rushdie

On August 12, 2022, Salman Rushdie was stabbed while preparing to speak at the Chautauqua Institution in New York State. Hadi Matar rushed onto the stage and attacked the author, stabbing him multiple times.

Rushdie was seriously injured in the attack. He lost the sight in one eye, and the nerves in one of his hands sustained severe damage. Security personnel at the scene immediately detained the attacker, and criminal proceedings were subsequently initiated.

Background of the Death Fatwa

The origins of the case date back to 1989. Following the publication of The Satanic Verses, Ruhollah Khomeini, the then leader of Iran’s regime, issued a fatwa calling for the killing of Salman Rushdie and the publishers who knowingly disseminated the book. Since then, the death fatwa has remained one of the most controversial issues in relations between Iran and Western countries and has repeatedly drawn international attention over the decades.

The recent New York Times report has once again brought the issue into the spotlight. Prosecutors believe the alleged communication between Hadi Matar and an individual in Iran may shed light on the planning of the attack. However, these allegations have been presented as part of the ongoing judicial proceedings, and it is up to the court to evaluate the evidence and determine their validity.

The release of these details, as judicial proceedings continue, has once again placed the attempted assassination of Salman Rushdie and the consequences of the death fatwa at the center of international media attention.

Why Bandar Abbas and Chabahar Have Become Central to Military Developments

Mehdi Hosseini
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Why Bandar Abbas and Chabahar Have Become Central to Military Developments

In Iran, the southern ports occupy a position that extends beyond their role as commercial hubs due to their unique geographic location. Situated along the Strait of Hormuz, the Gulf of Oman, and major global shipping routes, Bandar Abbas and Chabahar have become two strategically sensitive points in the region’s economic and geopolitical landscape.

However, the importance of these two ports is not the same. Bandar Abbas—particularly Shahid Rajaee Port—is the current heart of Iran’s trade, while Chabahar is viewed more as a long-term geopolitical asset. As a result, any disruption at either location could have consequences far beyond localized damage, affecting trade, industrial production, transportation, and the livelihoods of millions of people.

Bandar Abbas Explosion Exposes Regime’s Deadly Cover-Up

Bandar Abbas: The Main Gateway for Iran’s Foreign Trade

Bandar Abbas consists of several port facilities, the most important of which is Shahid Rajaee Port. According to statistics published by port authorities and maritime transport studies, approximately 85% to 90% of Iran’s container operations are handled at Shahid Rajaee Port. The port processes more than 81 million metric tons of cargo annually, and more than 50% of Iran’s maritime trade depends on it.

Trade estimates indicate that goods worth tens of billions of dollars pass through this route each year. Bandar Abbas alone accounts for an estimated $29 billion in Iran’s foreign trade.

The significance of these figures becomes even clearer considering that a large share of the goods essential to Iran’s economy enter the country through this route:

Basic commodities and food products, raw materials for factories, industrial machinery, automobile parts, electronic equipment, chemicals, and agricultural and livestock inputs.

Bandar Abbas is also one of Iran’s principal export gateways. Petrochemical products, steel, cement, minerals, bitumen, agricultural products, and manufactured goods are among the items shipped to international markets through this port.

Chabahar: A Smaller Port with Strategic Importance

Compared with Bandar Abbas, Chabahar handles a much smaller volume of trade. According to available statistics, the port processes around 4 million metric tons of cargo annually and accounts for approximately 2% of Iran’s maritime trade. Its share of Iran’s container traffic is estimated at between 3% and 5%.

Crisis of Unpaid Wages for Workers in Southern Iran Amid Escalating War Conditions

Chabahar is Iran’s only oceanic port, meaning it is the country’s only port with direct access to the Indian Ocean and is located outside the Strait of Hormuz.

Chabahar is a key component of the International North–South Transport Corridor (INSTC), a trade route designed to connect India, Iran, Russia, and Central Asian countries through integrated maritime, rail, and road networks.

From Port Disruptions to a Livelihood Crisis

Truck drivers, transportation companies, freight terminals, repair shops, tire and spare parts suppliers, roadside service providers, and hundreds of related businesses all depend on the uninterrupted flow of trade.

Approximately 450,000 road freight drivers are active in Iran. Including their families and related occupations, the livelihoods of several million people depend on the continued functioning of this economic chain.

Therefore, reduced activity at Iran’s southern ports could trigger a domino effect:

The consequences extend far beyond the transportation sector. Delays in the arrival of industrial raw materials reduce production, while higher transportation costs ultimately increase prices for consumers.

In an economy already struggling with inflation, declining purchasing power, and production challenges, such a shock could significantly increase social pressure.

Economic Crisis: A Challenge Beyond War and Trade

Disruptions to critical infrastructure typically create more than just an economic crisis; they can also evolve into a broader social crisis.

When people directly experience rising prices, declining incomes, and fewer employment opportunities, questions about the origins of the crisis and responsibility for political decisions inevitably become more pronounced.

Under such circumstances, the Iranian regime’s efforts to turn an external crisis into a source of domestic unity may face significant challenges, as public support depends on the perception that the costs of the crisis are shared fairly and that political decisions serve the public interest.

For this reason, the military developments surrounding Iran’s southern ports cannot be viewed solely as a military or commercial issue. They lie at the intersection of the country’s economy, security, and political future. It is possible that any effort by Mojtaba Khamenei—the son of Iranian regime supreme leader Ali Khamenei—to initiate another military confrontation may prove ineffective in the face of the opposing side’s strategy from the outset. Nevertheless, developments in the coming days and weeks will need to be monitored closely.

UN Fact-Finding Mission Urges Immediate Halt to Executions in Iran’s Alikhani Square Case

Jubin Katiraie
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UN Fact-Finding Mission Urges Immediate Halt to Executions in Iran’s Alikhani Square Case

In a statement, the United Nations Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Iran urged Iran’s regime to immediately stop carrying out the death sentences of defendants in the case known as the “Alikhani Square” case in the city of Isfahan.

The mission said on Thursday, July 23, that according to credible information it has received, the families of at least two more individuals sentenced in this case have been summoned for final visits, raising concerns that the executions may be imminent.

Iran’s ‘No to Executions Tuesdays’ Campaign Marks130th Week

The “Alikhani Square” case is related to the January protests in Isfahan. Earlier, the Committee for Following Up on the Situation of Detainees in Iran reported that Iran’s Supreme Court had upheld the death sentences of 12 detainees in this case. One week after that announcement, two of those sentenced, Golmohammad Mohammadi and Erfan Esfandiari, were executed.

The UN fact-finding mission also expressed concern over the accelerating pace of executions of protesters in Iran and called on officials of Iran’s regime to refrain from carrying out these death sentences.

The mission had previously warned that during periods of social and political unrest in Iran, the issuance and implementation of death sentences intensify and that capital punishment is used as a tool to instill fear, suppress dissent, and retaliate against protesters.

Death Sentence Issued for Iranian Political Prisoner Amirhassan Monfared

Mehdi Hosseini
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Death Sentence Issued for Iranian Political Prisoner Amirhassan Monfared

Amirhossein Akbari Monfared, a 27-year-old political prisoner held in Tehran’s Evin Prison, has been sentenced to death by Judge Abolghasem Salavati on the charge of baghi (armed rebellion against the state).

According to the ruling issued by Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Abolghasem Salavati, and served to Akbari Monfared two days ago, he was sentenced to death on the charge of baghi through membership in the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK).

The prisoner is currently being held in Evin Prison and was tried before the same court several weeks ago.

Amirhasan Akbari Monfared, along with his father, Mohammad Akbari Monfared, and his brother and sister, Amirhossein and Zeinab Akbari Monfared, were arrested by agents of the Iranian regime’s Intelligence Department in Karaj during the winter of 2025. The other three family members were later released on bail.

So far, no information has been made available regarding the details of the security-related charges brought against the other members of the family.

Mohammad Akbari Monfared, born in 1968, Amirhossein Akbari Monfared, 33, Zeinab Akbari Monfared, 30, and Amirhasan Akbari Monfared, 27, are residents of Karaj.

Thirteenth Night of CENTCOM Strikes; Southern, Western, and Central Iran Under Fire

Hoshang Amiri
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Thirteenth Night of CENTCOM Strikes; Southern, Western, and Central Iran Under Fire

The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced early Friday, July 24, the conclusion of the thirteenth consecutive night of military operations against targets in Iran. This latest wave of strikes expanded beyond the southern coastal regions to include parts of western and central Iran.

CENTCOM said in a statement that the latest wave of strikes targeted military command centers, drone storage facilities, communications networks, coastal surveillance centers, and Iran’s naval capabilities. According to the command, the objective of the operation was to reduce threats posed by the Iranian regime against civilian mariners and commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz.

CENTCOM also stated that despite the recent strikes and military tensions, the Strait of Hormuz remains open to commercial shipping and that vessels continue to transit the strategic waterway freely with the support of U.S. forces.

Expansion of Strikes to New Cities

As the strikes continued, field reports indicated explosions in several provinces across Iran. In addition to attacks on Bandar Abbas, Jask, Qeshm, Ahvaz, Omidiyeh, and Andimeshk, explosions or air defense activity were also reported in Taft in Yazd Province, Naein in Isfahan Province, Borujerd and Khorramabad in Lorestan Province, Khondab in Markazi Province, and Firuzabad in Fars Province.

In Tehran, air defense systems were activated for several consecutive nights in the eastern parts of the capital, including Hakimiyeh, eastern Tehranpars, and the Pardis area. Officials from the Iranian regime have not yet provided any explanation regarding the cause of the activity or the intended targets.

Bandar Abbas: Power Outage and Two Injured

In Bandar Abbas, the U.S. strikes damaged the electricity network in the Tappeh Allah Akbar neighborhood. The director general of crisis management for Hormozgan Province said operational teams were immediately dispatched to secure the area and repair the power grid, adding that electricity is expected to be restored to affected areas as quickly as possible.

At the same time, the state-run IRNA news agency, citing the head of the Hormozgan Red Crescent Society, reported that shrapnel struck several buildings in the same neighborhood, injuring two people who were taken to a hospital for treatment. According to emergency officials, both injured individuals are in stable condition.

Concerns Grow Over Escalation Along Global Energy Routes

As the fighting continued, an attack by Yemen’s Houthi movement on a Saudi oil tanker heightened concerns about potential disruptions to shipping through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. These developments pushed global oil prices higher, with the price of a barrel of oil surpassing $100.

Analysts believe that the simultaneous military pressure on the Strait of Hormuz and growing insecurity in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait have turned the world’s two main energy chokepoints into a new center of crisis.

Latest Casualty Update

Meanwhile, Iranian military sources have claimed after each phase of the U.S. strikes over recent nights that they carried out retaliatory operations against U.S. military positions in the region. In the latest developments today, videos circulating on social media appear to show missiles launched by the Iranian regime flying over Jordanian airspace. The missiles are reportedly said to have targeted Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan.

Three European Embassies in Tehran Evacuate Staff Amid Escalating Regional Tensions

Mehdi Hosseini
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Three European Embassies in Tehran Evacuate Staff Amid Escalating Regional Tensions

Amid escalating tensions between the Iranian regime and the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany have withdrawn some of their embassy personnel from Tehran.

A German media outlet reported on Thursday, July 23, that staff members of Germany’s embassy in Tehran have left Iran.

At the same time, news sources reported that France has also withdrawn some of its embassy personnel from Tehran due to concerns over the recent escalation in tensions.

Earlier, on Wednesday, the United Kingdom announced that, following the escalation of hostilities between the Iranian regime and the United States, British embassy staff had temporarily departed Iran.

In a statement published on its official website, the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office said that British embassy staff in Tehran had temporarily left Iran due to the security situation. However, the embassy will continue to operate remotely. The ministry also advised British nationals against all travel to Iran.

The withdrawal of personnel from these three embassies comes after several other European embassies took similar measures in February, before the start of U.S. and Israeli military operations against the Iranian regime.

Tracing $100 Million Worth of Properties Attributed to Mojtaba Khamenei

Jubin Katiraie
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Tracing $100 Million Worth of Properties Attributed to Mojtaba Khamenei

The U.S. government has announced the launch of a new phase in identifying the hidden wealth of senior leaders of the Iranian regime. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that the financial manager of Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of Iranian regime supreme leader Ali Khamenei, has been identified, and Treasury officials are now investigating a network of his properties and assets around the world.

According to Bessent, the identified properties are worth more than $100 million, and Washington hopes to soon release complete information, including the locations of these assets.

U.S. Treasury Targets Khamenei-Linked Financial Network

This financial operation is being carried out as part of the campaign known as “Economic Wrath,” which aims to cut off the Iranian regime’s financial lifelines by freezing accounts, identifying overseas assets, and intensifying pressure on the regime’s oil revenues.

The U.S. Treasury Secretary claimed that the Iranian rial has fallen to its lowest level in history and that Iran’s inflation rate has surpassed 180%. He stressed that pressure on the Iranian regime’s financial resources will continue and that any seized assets will be held for the people of Iran.

Power Outages Plunge Iran into Darkness

Sia Rajabi
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Power Outages Plunge Iran into Darkness

Amid wartime conditions, the Iranian regime has imposed widespread power outages on citizens and manufacturers while dramatically increasing energy costs. People across the country are struggling with financial losses caused by fluctuations in the power grid. Industries are also facing production shutdowns and sharply rising costs due to energy shortages. Meanwhile, electricity is being sold on Iran’s Energy Exchange at prices four times higher than the standard rate.

Exceptional Grid Conditions and Controversial Appeals to Citizens

On July 20, Abbas Aliabadi, the Iranian regime’s energy minister, said: “We are currently in an exceptional situation, and unauthorized electricity consumption and cryptocurrency miners have added to the demand. Areas affected by the war are the priority for electricity supply, but some cities are not involved, and we must be careful.”

Why Is Iran’s Electricity Industry Facing a Crisis?

These remarks come as public dissatisfaction with the power grid has reached a peak. For example, a resident shared a video reporting three separate outages in the city of Fardis, near Karaj. The repeated fluctuations caused power cuts in Fardis and neighboring areas, damaging household electrical appliances.

In a July 17 statement, the Ministry of Energy urged people to turn off their air conditioners during peak consumption hours. According to the statement, each household should shut down its cooling system for one hour to ensure a stable electricity supply in southern regions. The regime’s inability to manage the country’s infrastructure has shifted the burden of compensating for the energy shortfall onto end users. The pressure placed on households, alongside severe restrictions in other sectors, points to a deep structural crisis in Iran’s energy system.

Planned Power Outages and Complaints from Tehran Residents

On July 14, Tehran’s electricity distribution company announced that scheduled power outages in the capital would begin on Wednesday, July 15. Tavanir, Iran’s state-owned power generation and distribution company, attributed the restrictions to rising temperatures and unprecedented growth in electricity consumption.

According to the official notice, outages will occur in two-hour intervals. However, authorities have acknowledged that power cuts could be extended to as long as four hours under certain scenarios.

This announcement followed earlier reports of widespread power outages across Tehran on July 11.

Technical Justifications for Energy Imbalances and Broad Industrial Restrictions

The head of Tavanir stated that electricity consumption has exceeded the country’s power generation capacity. He said: “I do not claim that we can get through the summer without power outages because our consumption is higher than our production.”

Two days later, Tavanir’s director general for customer affairs promised that notices of electricity restrictions would be issued 48 hours in advance. Abdolamir Yaghouti described public conservation measures as the only way to prevent the grid from collapsing under what he called “load management.” He claimed that rising temperatures have reduced power plant efficiency and that part of the electricity generated is consumed by cooling the facilities themselves.

Meanwhile, Arman Khaleghi, secretary general of the House of Industry, said manufacturing facilities are now limited to electricity supply on only two days per week. He predicted that these restrictions would eventually extend into evening and midnight hours.

The electricity crisis intensified in later part of the Persian month of Tir (mid-July) after power allocations for cement factories were reduced by 90%. On May 13, 2026, Asr-e Iran newspaper revealed that electricity allocations for some industries had been cut from 8 megawatts to 2 megawatts.

Ali Akbar Alvandian, secretary of Iran’s Cement Association, said operating at 10% capacity is economically unviable for factories.

While manufacturers are already struggling with liquidity shortages and limited access to raw materials, the lack of electricity is delivering the final blow to the industrial sector.

Power Outages and Electricity Sold at Four Times the Price on the Energy Exchange

Iran’s regime is placing additional pressure on manufacturers by selling electricity on the Energy Exchange at four times its normal price. While citizens and industries struggle with losses caused by ongoing power outages and expensive electricity, the revenue generated from this imbalance flows into government coffers.

This approach not only fuels inflation in essential goods such as cement but also undermines public trust. Continued blackouts alongside government-driven energy price increases are clear signs of ineffective and incompetent economic and infrastructure policymaking.

The government has claimed that the power outages are the result of foreign attacks.

These problems existed long before the recent developments and have been worsened by ineffective policies. Under these circumstances, raising electricity prices on the Energy Exchange and imposing higher costs on industries and citizens without improving grid stability has only increased economic pressure.

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