Iraq: Iranian Regime Violated Commitments Regarding Strait of HormuzHe set out six conditions for reopening the strait, including an end to the war and U.S. attacks on Iran and the Iranian regime’s allies in Lebanon, Palestine, Yemen, and Iraq; an end to the naval blockade; the withdrawal of U.S. military forces from around Iran; full payment of war damages; the lifting of sanctions; and the release of Iran’s frozen assets. Zolghadr also called for an end to U.S. threats against Iran. Hours earlier, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) spokesperson had also said that reopening the Strait of Hormuz “has essentially nothing to do with the Iran-Oman negotiations” and would take place only if the United States fully accepts “Iran’s conditions.” These positions were expressed as Iranian regime Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced the same day that Iran and Oman were nearing an agreement on the “legal mechanism and management of the Strait of Hormuz.” Araghchi said Tehran and Muscat were “very close to an agreement” on determining shipping routes and were initially negotiating a temporary route that is intended to serve as the basis for the main route in the future. According to him, the military and naval forces of the two countries have also discussed the route based on existing maps. The Iranian regime’s foreign minister nevertheless stressed that an agreement with Oman would not in itself mean that the strait would be reopened, and that the matter depends on other conditions, including what Tehran calls “compensation for the violations of the Islamabad memorandum by the United States.” These positions differ significantly from assessments by U.S. officials in recent days. A U.S. official told Reuters on Friday that the Iran-Oman negotiations had made progress and that Washington expected an agreement to be reached “soon” that would allow unobstructed commercial traffic to resume through the Strait of Hormuz. The official said that if such an agreement were implemented, the United States would also lift its blockade of Iranian ports. It had previously been reported that the plan being negotiated by Iran and Oman includes establishing new shipping routes through the strait, an issue that over the past week has become one of the main focuses of diplomatic efforts to end the five-month crisis between Iran and the United States. U.S. Vice President JD Vance said on Saturday that Iran had promised Washington it would allow the flow of oil and gas through the Strait of Hormuz to return to prewar levels, but that the United States would not trust these commitments until they were implemented in practice. He said the negotiations are focused on establishing a mechanism for the safe passage of ships, including Iran’s commitment not to attack commercial vessels and to clear mines. Vance also said Iranian regime officials had told the United States they did not intend to charge fees to passing ships.
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Iranian Regime Sets New Conditions for Reopening the Strait of Hormuz
While Iranian regime officials announced progress in Iran-Oman negotiations over shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, August 8, they also set out new and extensive conditions for reopening the waterway.
Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said on Saturday that the Strait of Hormuz “will not be reopened until the United States corrects its behavior,” as he put it. He emphasized that the council would not back down from this position “whether in war or negotiations.”
Retirees in Iran Demand Action on Their Grievances
On Sunday, August 9, retirees and pensioners in several Iranian cities held street protests against dire living conditions, rising prices and inflation, discrimination, the violation of their rights, and the Iranian regime officials’ disregard for their demands.
The protests were held in the cities of Shush, Dezful, Ahvaz, Isfahan, and Kermanshah. In addition to their labor and livelihood demands, protesters chanted against corruption and plunder, warmongering, executions, and the repression of prisoners.
Shush: Protest in Temperatures Above 50°C
In Shush, Social Security retirees gathered and held a protest march outside the city’s Social Security building. The gathering took place as temperatures in Khuzestan Province had risen above 50°C.Continued Labor Protests: Telecommunications Retirees Rally in Various Iranian CitiesThe retirees protested meager wages and pensions, rising prices and inflation, poverty, the depletion of people’s household food budgets, the state of healthcare services, and the commodification of healthcare and education. They also protested corruption, plunder, and the looting of public wealth, as well as the Iranian regime officials’ disregard for people’s plight, and challenged the regime’s warmongering policies.
Dezful: Gathering Outside Social Security Office and Parliament Member’s Office
In Dezful, a group of Social Security retirees gathered outside the Social Security building and the office of a member of the Majlis (parliament) to protest their livelihood problems and labor demands. By gathering outside these offices, the protesters called for their demands to be addressed and for an end to their difficult living conditions.Isfahan: Second Consecutive Day of Steel Retirees’ Protest
In Isfahan, a group of retirees and pensioners of the Steel Pension Fund gathered outside the fund’s building for the second consecutive day. The protesters’ main demand was the full implementation of pension adjustments to bring payments into proportion. The continuation of the gathering for a second consecutive day reflects the Steel retirees’ ongoing protest over their wages and benefits.Ahvaz: Protest Against Rising Prices, Corruption, and Warmongering
In Ahvaz, Social Security retirees and pensioners gathered outside the Social Security Organization building in Khuzestan Province. The protesters objected to government corruption, warmongering, the difficulty of making ends meet, and the violation of their rights. One of the retirees’ main grievances was the four-month delay in implementing the salary increases for the Persian calendar months of Farvardin and Ordibehesht, corresponding to March 21–April 20 and April 21–May 21, respectively. They attended the gathering amid Khuzestan’s extreme heat and chanted against the policies of the Iranian regime. Among the chants by the Ahvaz retirees were: Imprisoned protesters, imprisoned workers, imprisoned teachers, must be freed! Imprisoned teachers must be freed. Imprisoned workers must be freed. Kermanshah: Protest Against Inflation, War, and Executions In Kermanshah, retirees also held a protest gathering. In addition to economic and livelihood problems, the chants addressed war, executions, human rights, the release of prisoners, and the need for solidarity against oppression and repression. Sunday’s gatherings in several cities show that retirees’ protests in Iran have gone beyond purely labor-related demands and have become a platform for expressing widespread dissatisfaction with the economic situation, corruption, warmongering, executions, and repression. Rising prices and inflation, declining purchasing power, healthcare problems, delays in payments and salary increases, and the incomplete implementation of the pension adjustment plan have been among the main issues driving these protests. Alongside these demands, chants were also heard against war and executions and in support of prisoners.Prison Guards Raid Ward 7 of Evin Prison, Intensifying Pressure on Prisoners
Reports indicate intensified pressure and repression against political prisoners in prisons across Iran. In the latest incident, Evin Prison guards raided Wards 3 and 4 of Ward 7 on Saturday, August 8, beating prisoners and, during the search, destroying their personal belongings and taking away some of their possessions.
The attack took place at around 11:30 a.m. According to published reports, after entering Wards 3 and 4, prison guards violently beat the prisoners and destroyed their rooms and personal belongings under the pretext of conducting a search. Following the raid, there is no information about the whereabouts or fate of four prisoners, including Ehsan Rostami and Mojtaba Taghavi in Ward 3, and Amirhossein Moradi and Hassan Amidi in Ward 4.
This is not the first raid by Evin Prison guards in recent days. On Saturday, August 1, guards also raided Ward 2 of Ward 7 and forcibly removed several prisoners from the ward after beating them, including Amirhossein Moradi, Ehsan Rostami, Pejman Toobreh Riziz, and Mojtaba Taghavi.
These actions are part of the Iranian regime’s broader policy of creating an atmosphere of fear and preventing protest and resistance inside prisons.
Continued Judicial Pressure on Political Prisoners
Meanwhile, the Iranian regime’s judiciary has announced that Parisa Kamali, a 39-year-old political prisoner, will stand trial on Monday, August 10, at the Revolutionary Court in Yazd. She was arrested in May 2024 and was subsequently sentenced by Judge Tavakoli to six years in prison on charges including “membership in the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran,” “acting against security,” and “destruction of public property.” In a message from prison, Kamali described the Iranian regime’s policy of executions and repression as a cause of fear and terror and emphasized that prisoners and opponents have now moved beyond the point of fear. Last year, she was also exiled to Yazd Central Prison as a punitive measure.Pressure on Masoud Jamei and His Transfer to Solitary Confinement
Reports from Sheiban Prison in Ahvaz also indicate that pressure has been exerted on political prisoner Masoud Jamei. He was reportedly transferred to solitary confinement after protesting prison conditions amid the extreme heat in Ahvaz; the cell has no cooling equipment.Political Prisoner Massoud Jamei Transferred to Solitary Confinement for TortureJamei had previously been transferred to solitary confinement in July protesting prison conditions. He was arrested in the summer of 2023 along with Farshad Etemadifar and Alireza Mardasi. In July 2025, Branch One of the Ahvaz Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Adibimehr, sentenced him to two death sentences and one year in prison on charges including “waging war against God,” “assembly and collusion against national security,” “membership in the People’s Mojahedin Organization,” and “propaganda against the regime.”
Severe Beating of Hamzeh Darvish at Lakan Prison in Rasht
At Lakan Prison in Rasht, Hamzeh Darvish was also reportedly severely beaten by prison personnel after exposing prison conditions. His injuries were reportedly so serious that other prisoners had to transfer him to the prison clinic on a stretcher.Jamming Devices Installed at Ghezel Hesar Prison
Meanwhile, at Ghezel Hesar Prison, following a hunger strike by approximately 1,500 prisoners, powerful “jammers,” or signal-blocking devices, have been installed in Unit 2 of the prison. Reports indicate that, in addition to cutting off or disrupting communications, these devices have caused symptoms such as dizziness, nausea, and severe physical pain among some prisoners, putting their health at risk. Taken together, these reports present a picture of intensified pressure on political prisoners and protesters in Iran’s prisons, ranging from raids and beatings at Evin Prison to transfers to solitary confinement, the issuance of harsh judicial sentences, torture, and the imposition of communications and physical restrictions in other prisons. The National Council of Resistance of Iran, while exposing these reports of pressure, called on international bodies to respond and take immediate action to save the lives of prisoners in Iran.U.S. Sanctions Cryptocurrency Exchange Network Linked to Iran’s regime
The United States sanctioned a cryptocurrency exchange network in the United Arab Emirates for allegedly assisting the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
On Friday, August 7, the United States sanctioned a cryptocurrency exchange called Shelbit and its affiliated network, saying the exchange had transferred millions of dollars in cryptocurrency for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and other groups linked to the Iranian regime.
US Sanctions Global Network Supporting Mahan Air and IRGCThe U.S. Department of the Treasury also sanctioned Siavash Kayvanpour, an Iranian living abroad who founded Shelbit and a network of other companies, for allegedly providing material support to the IRGC and Nobitex, Iran’s largest cryptocurrency exchange. The United States also sanctioned Nobitex in June this year for allegedly helping the Iranian government circumvent Western sanctions. In its announcement, the U.S. Treasury Department said that SHPS Shelbit, based in the United Arab Emirates, conducts business under the name “Shelbit Exchange.” U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent also said in a statement: “Treasury will hunt down and dismantle the illicit financial networks that keep the regime afloat.” Reuters had previously reported that Shelbit, based in Dubai, had moved cryptocurrency on behalf of Iran’s central bank and had also worked with one of the world’s largest illegal online gambling networks. The exchange also transferred cryptocurrency to addresses that the Israeli government identified as linked to the IRGC. The U.S. Treasury Department said in a statement published on its website: “The Iranian regime’s willingness to allow this gambling network to operate highlights its hypocrisy and corruption..” The action by the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) came shortly after the Dubai Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority announced that Shelbit had violated regulations concerning anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism. The U.S. Treasury Department says VARA took enforcement actions against Shelbit General Trading in January 2025 and July 2026, but the company has continued to operate. The U.S. State Department, in a separate report, said the Treasury Department had targeted a network of exchanges and front companies linked to the Iranian regime. The statement emphasized that the United States is taking decisive action to cut off the financial lifelines that keep the Iranian regime in power. Accordingly, the U.S. Treasury Department took action to dismantle a network of exchanges and front companies that helped Iran secretly move hundreds of millions of dollars through the international financial system. The U.S. State Department said: “Through these networks, Tehran accessed oil revenue and evaded sanctions designed to curb its destabilizing activities, laundering funds using front companies.” The United States says that by targeting the banks, exchanges, and individuals who operate and facilitate this illicit network, it is making clear that anyone who helps Iran evade sanctions will face serious consequences. The U.S. State Department described today’s Treasury Department actions as a continuation of the Trump administration’s maximum pressure policy toward Iran, which seeks to cut off the financial resources used by the regime to threaten regional stability, support terrorism, and strengthen its military capabilities.
Iran’s Regime Fabricates Cases Against Teachers and Their Resistance to Authoritarian Rule
The Iranian regime’s campaign to suppress teachers has continued following the January 2026 protests. Through arrests, imprisonment, and harsh judicial sentences, the regime has targeted teacher union activists. According to recent reports, at least 60 teachers have so far faced judicial prosecution.
The January 2026 protests, which began over deteriorating living conditions and teachers’ labor demands, quickly expanded beyond economic grievances. Teachers and activists from teachers’ trade associations were among the groups that played an active role in the demonstrations. After the protests subsided, the Iranian regime’s security and judicial institutions began prosecuting these activists.
New Figures on the Arrest and Prosecution of Teachers
The Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI) said in a recent report that from the nationwide January 2026 protests through July 28, at least 60 teachers and teacher union activists were arrested, imprisoned, or subjected to judicial rulings. The human rights organization emphasized that this figure represents the total number of individuals arrested, prosecuted, or imprisoned, and should not be interpreted as the current prison population. The actual number of arrested teachers is likely higher than the reported figure. According to these reports, many arrests took place during the protests or in the weeks and months after they had subsided. One focus of the report is the scale of the crackdown in smaller cities. A knowledgeable source in Arak said that a significant number of teachers in the city were arrested, but only a few of their names became public.Arbitrary Arrests, Solitary Confinement, and Denial of Legal Counsel
According to the Center for Human Rights in Iran, many detained teachers were held for extended periods under arbitrary detention and in solitary confinement. They were denied access to legal counsel, communication with the outside world, and medical care. This indicates that the pressure imposed on them extended well beyond their arrests. According to Akhbar-e Rooz, an independent Persian-language news website, a number of teachers have been prosecuted on vague national security charges such as “assembly and collusion against national security” and “propaganda against the regime.” Some have also been sentenced to lengthy prison terms, flogging, internal exile, travel bans, and the deprivation of social rights. The Coordinating Council of Iranian Teachers’ Trade Associations also condemned these judicial rulings on July 28, 2026. The organization called for an end to fabricated cases, the overturning of the sentences, and respect for teachers’ legal rights. A weekly report by Zamaneh Tribune, a Persian-language news outlet, also reported the continued issuance of heavy prison and internal exile sentences against January protesters and labor activists. According to the weekly report, which covers the period from July 25 to July 31, the Iranian regime’s judiciary has used psychological pressure—including prolonged legal delays and denial of medical treatment—alongside the implementation of flogging and execution sentences to pressure prisoners. The situation has created a widespread atmosphere of fear and anxiety among prisoners’ families, including the families of detained teachers.Specific Cases of Convictions and Internal Exile of Protesting Teachers
Among the recent cases, Arya Norani, a teacher in North Khorasan Province, was sentenced to 14 months in prison. Azadeh Saleki, a teacher in the city of Khaf, was sentenced to five years in prison. Ahmad Alizadeh, a retired teacher in Abdanan, was sentenced to two years in prison, a one-year travel ban, passport revocation, and 1,080 hours of unpaid community service. These severe sentences represent only a fraction of the numerous cases reported across different provinces. The report also states that Jan-Mohammad Ahmadi, head of the Teachers’ Trade Association of Nurabad Mamasani, was recently arrested by security forces. These cases demonstrate that judicial pressure against labor activists is not confined to a single province or city but extends nationwide. Another example is Iraj Toubihaei Najafabadi, a labor activist and member of the Teachers’ Trade Association of Najafabad. After completing a sentence of two years and one month in prison, he was transferred on Sunday, July 19, to a village in Nehbandan County, South Khorasan Province, to serve a sentence of internal exile.An Organized Campaign Against Teachers
Taken together, these reports indicate that following the January 2026 protests, the Iranian regime launched a broad and organized campaign to suppress teachers and labor activists. Arbitrary detention, solitary confinement, denial of access to legal counsel and medical care, along with prison sentences, flogging, and internal exile, have all been employed simultaneously against this group. At least 60 teachers who have been arrested or convicted represent only part of a much broader reality—one that, according to human rights organizations, likely extends well beyond the officially reported figures.Iran’s Housing Crisis Pushes People Toward Informal Settlements and Homelessness
The state-run Rokna news website published remarks by Iraj Rahbar, head of the Tehran Association of Mass Home Builders, regarding Iran’s housing crisis. He reported an average 100% increase in construction material prices and said that some products linked to the petrochemical industry have more than doubled in price. In just 40 days, the price of rebar increased by about 230 million rials (approximately $123).
Under such conditions, no investor can plan for the future. The construction sector, which has long been a key driver of employment and investment in Iran’s economy, has itself become one of the main victims of instability.
Construction Material Prices in Iran Increase by 100%The increase in workers’ wages must also be viewed in this context. The daily wage of an unskilled laborer has risen from about 12 million rials to about 25 million rials (approximately $14).
Projects That Remain Only on Paper
According to the report published by Rokna, the actual construction cost has now reached about 550 million to 700 million rials per square meter (approximately $293 to $373), while contracts under the National Housing Movement project were signed based on 2023 prices of 85 million rials per square meter (approximately $46). Even after price adjustments, the gap between actual construction costs and the contracted amounts remains substantial. This gap shows that many projects were based from the outset on estimates that no longer correspond to today’s economic realities. A direct consequence of the housing crisis will be further increases in home purchase prices and rents, placing even greater pressure on millions of families.The Housing Crisis: From the Economy to Society
The housing crisis has now become a social issue. Declining housing construction, the expansion of informal settlements, rising numbers of renters, delayed family formation, and widening class divisions are all interconnected consequences of this trend. For a large segment of society, housing has shifted from a basic necessity to an unattainable commodity. Under these conditions, the dream of homeownership has given way to the struggle to pay next month’s rent. From both economic and social perspectives, this situation cannot be viewed merely as the result of temporary market fluctuations. Persistent inflation, the devaluation of the national currency, an unstable business environment, and declining investor confidence have combined to create the severe downturn now affecting the construction industry. If this trend continues, its consequences will extend far beyond the construction industry. Declining employment, reduced investment, deepening urban poverty, and growing inequality are among the outcomes that could weigh on Iran’s economy and society for years to come. In this context, the housing crisis is not merely a sectoral problem but a reflection of deeper economic and governance challenges facing Iran today.Gas Shortage Casts Shadow Over Iran as Billions Wasted Through Gas Flaring
Before the summer has even ended and while the consequences of repeated power outages continue to weigh heavily on people’s lives and businesses, warnings have already emerged about gas shortages in the coming winter. In this context, Mohammad Jafar Ghaem Panah, executive deputy to Iranian regime president Masoud Pezeshkian, recently announced that Iran will face a daily natural gas shortfall of about 100 million cubic meters this winter. He emphasized that even if temperatures are not unusually cold, the country will still face an energy imbalance requiring careful management.
Factors such as aging infrastructure, declining pressure in gas fields, and a lack of investment have contributed to this situation. In addition, the burning of vast amounts of associated petroleum gas in flare stacks is one of the main causes of energy waste. According to the National Iranian Oil Company, about 80 million cubic meters of associated gas are produced daily in Iran, a portion of which is burned in flare stacks due to insufficient infrastructure.
Power Outages Plunge Iran into DarknessDomestic reports also confirm the scale of these losses. According to the Iranian regime’s Parliamentary Research Center, about 50.5 million cubic meters of flare gas were burned each day in 2022, a volume roughly equivalent to the production capacity of two phases of the South Pars gas field and close to Iran’s daily natural gas exports that year. The center estimated the opportunity cost of gas flaring over a decade at approximately $33.79 billion and noted that collecting and exporting the gas flared in 2022 could have generated about $4.6 billion in revenue.
Iran’s Position Compared to the World and the Region
During oil extraction, a quantity of “associated gas” is released. If it is not collected and processed, it is burned in flare stacks to prevent the risk of explosions. According to the World Bank’s Global Gas Flaring Tracker Report, Iran ranked second in the world for gas flaring in 2025, behind Russia. That year, Russia flared about 30.28 billion cubic meters of gas, while Iran flared about 29.93 billion cubic meters. In other words, Russia’s flaring volume was only about 1% higher than Iran’s, even though its oil production was estimated to be more than twice that of Iran. The gap is even more pronounced in the “flaring intensity” indicator, which measures the volume of gas flared per barrel of oil produced. According to World Bank data for 2025, Iran flared about 19.55 cubic meters of gas per barrel of oil, compared with about 0.69 cubic meters for Saudi Arabia, 0.98 cubic meters for the United Arab Emirates, and 2.43 cubic meters for Qatar. These regional countries have invested in infrastructure to convert associated gas into electricity, petrochemical feedstock, and liquefied natural gas (LNG).The Financial Cost of Gas Flaring
Research by the Iran Open Data Center shows that approximately 22.8 billion cubic meters of associated gas were flared in Iran in 2024, the highest annual volume on record. Based on European benchmark prices, the value of the wasted gas was estimated at about $9 billion, meaning an average of approximately $1.04 million worth of gas was burned every hour. Between 2012 and 2024, Iran flared a total of approximately 203 billion cubic meters of gas. Based on the same benchmark, the cumulative value of this wasted gas is estimated at about $85.6 billion, equivalent to nearly one-quarter of Iran’s $341 billion gross domestic product in 2025. These figures indicate that over the 13-year period, an average of about $750,000 worth of gas was burned every hour. Despite the passage of time, officials’ statements indicate that the trend continues. In February 2026, Iranian regime president Masoud Pezeshkian acknowledged that 50 million cubic meters of gas are flared each day in Iran, with an estimated daily value of about $17 million. According to him, every one million cubic meters of gas burned results in a loss of approximately $330,000. Experts attribute the continued practice of gas flaring primarily to inadequate infrastructure, sanctions, and insufficient investment. The World Bank also emphasizes that the technology needed to capture associated gas already exists, and that the main obstacles are limited investment, inadequate market and pipeline infrastructure, insufficient regulations, and ineffective governance.Construction Material Prices in Iran Increase by 100%
Iraj Rahbar, head of the Tehran Mass Builders Association, said that following the U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran, the price of construction materials in the country has increased by 100%.
Rahbar added that under the current conditions, developers are unable to launch new projects and are only trying to complete projects that are already under construction.
According to him, since March 2026, the prices of construction materials, production inputs, and labor wages have risen at an unprecedented pace, sharply increasing construction costs.
The head of the Tehran Mass Builders Association emphasized that for some petrochemical-related products, the increase has exceeded 100%.
Iranian Citizens Struggle to Cover Expenses as Housing Crisis DeepensHe said the construction cost per square meter in Tehran is approximately 550 million rials (about $293) under the best conditions, while in some projects it ranges between 600 million and 700 million rials (about $320 to $373). It is worth noting that the minimum monthly wage for a worker with one child is approximately 240 million rials (about $128). In addition, in April and May, one month after the ceasefire in the U.S.-Israel war against Iran’s regime, domestic media reported a sharp surge in rents, followed by unprecedented pressure on tenants’ livelihoods. The state-run ISNA news agency reported that in the mid-2000s, rent accounted for 25% to 40% of household income in large cities and 15% to 25% in smaller cities. However, based on 2025 data, the figure has now reached 50% to 70% in large cities and fluctuates between 20% and 50% in smaller cities.
Unprecedented Surge in Water and Electricity Bills
The state-run Ettela’at newspaper, referring to the sharp increase in water and electricity costs during June and July, wrote that the bills of some ordinary subscribers have increased by as much as 300% or more. Electricity bills for some households have risen within a month from 3 million rials to between 8 million and 10 million rials. The newspaper wrote on Wednesday, August 4, that although higher consumption during the warm season is partly natural, the sharp increase in bills for households living in small and medium-sized homes—including subscribers who were previously considered “low-consumption” users—does not appear normal. The newspaper also suggested that lowering the consumption threshold may have classified more subscribers as high-consumption users. It warned that charging people higher utility costs under difficult economic conditions could lead to increased public dissatisfaction and a decline in social trust.Volker Türk Expresses Deep Concern Over Increase in Executions in Iran
The increase in executions in Iran has once again drawn reactions from international organizations. The United Nations says the implementation of death sentences has accelerated in recent months, and a growing number of defendants in national security and protest-related cases are at risk of execution. At the same time, concerns have increased over the lack of fair trial guarantees and reports of forced confessions.
The 132nd Week of the ‘No to Execution Tuesdays’ Campaign Across 59 PrisonsVolker Türk, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, said in a statement issued on Wednesday, August 5, that since the first executions linked to the protests earlier this year, at least 56 people have been executed on national security-related charges. According to him, 27 of those individuals had been convicted in cases related to the widespread protests earlier this year. The first executions in these cases were announced on March 19, 2026. Officials of the Iranian regime reported the execution of three men accused of killing police officers during the December–January protests. The case marked the beginning of a new wave of executions linked to nationwide protests.
UN Warns About Rising Executions
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said that more than 100 other people facing similar charges are also at risk of execution. He stressed that this trend has raised serious concerns about the human rights situation in Iran. Türk also said that executions in drug-related cases continue at an alarming rate. According to him, the increase in executions since March has coincided with a rise in death sentences in national security cases. The statement said that the death penalty continues to be carried out in various types of cases, while human rights concerns regarding judicial proceedings remain unresolved.Criticism of Judicial Proceedings and Executions
Volker Türk said that guarantees for fair trials and due process remain inadequate. He added that in some cases, confessions were likely obtained under torture or other forms of ill-treatment. According to Türk, a number of death sentences have been issued following very rapid judicial proceedings. He also referred to cases of public executions, describing them as another troubling aspect of the implementation of the death penalty. Another part of the statement said that the continued issuance and implementation of death sentences, along with the growing number of people convicted in national security cases, has drawn increased attention from human rights organizations to the situation in Iran.Iran and Global Execution Statistics
Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, have repeatedly stated in their reports that Iran ranks second after China in the use of the death penalty worldwide. These reports identify the high number of executions in various cases, including drug-related offenses and national security cases, as one of the most significant human rights concerns. At the end of his statement, Volker Türk called for the immediate halt of all executions in Iran. He also urged officials of the Iranian regime to move toward abolishing the death penalty and complying with international human rights standards. The increase in death sentences, the warning that more than 100 condemned prisoners are at risk of execution, criticism of judicial proceedings, and allegations of forced confessions are among the report’s main points. In conclusion, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights called for the immediate suspension of executions and progress toward abolishing the death penalty.The Pressure of Growing Cost of Living on Iranian Families
The livelihood challenges facing the Iranian people have forced what is described as a “survival economy” upon society. According to the state-run Entekhab news website on August 3, a survival economy is “an economy in which people monetize every small opportunity, not out of interest in a minimalist lifestyle or sustainable consumption, but in order to manage their daily expenses under the pressure of rising living costs.”
In previous years, online marketplaces were primarily used to buy and sell homes, cars, and investment assets. Today, however, browsing listings on these platforms presents a very different picture of the financial condition of Iranian households. These advertisements indicate changing consumption patterns and mounting economic pressures, reflecting the growing impoverishment of Iranian society.
Parliamentary Research Center Warns About Expansion of Poverty in IranOn August 4, the state-run Rokna news agency published a report titled “Unusual Listings on Divar (a website for classified ads): From Selling Hair to Renting Laptops!” stating: “The growing number of online listings featuring unusual items such as human hair, second-hand shoes, and empty perfume bottles reflects economic changes and financial pressures in society.” Similarly, on August 2, the state-run Khabarfarsi news website published a report titled “Unusual Advertisement for an Empty Perfume Bottle Draws Attention,” stating: “In such a market, three developments occur simultaneously. First, consumption shifts away from ownership, with people renting instead of buying. Second, goods retain value until the very end of their useful life, with even empty bottles and heavily used clothing entering the marketplace. Third, financial credibility and official documents themselves become marketable assets, meaning what was previously only an administrative or legal instrument now acquires a price through advertisements. This situation can be described as a form of survival economy.”
