Iran’s Youth Are Selling Their Kidneys as the Economy Continues to PlungeIn 2023, Binance admitted to violating sanctions and anti-money laundering laws and agreed to pay more than 4 billion dollars in fines. The settlement included oversight by U.S. authorities, the replacement of the CEO, and strengthening compliance structures. Zhao was sentenced to four months in prison but was pardoned by U.S. President Donald Trump in October 2025. Following this pardon, Binance sought to strengthen its ties with the Trump administration. However, internal documents and statements from informed sources indicate that Binance has continued to function as a channel for circumventing sanctions, particularly for the Iranian regime, which uses cryptocurrency to finance its activities.
Tehran’s Sanctioned Networks used Bianance to Transfer $1 Billion
The Wall Street Journal has reported that internal investigators at this exchange identified the transfer of more than 1 billion dollars in digital assets linked to entities attributed to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), but instead of pursuing the matter, they were dismissed from their jobs.
Binance, the world’s largest digital asset exchange, has consistently been at the center of controversy. Since its establishment in 2017 by Changpeng Zhao in Shanghai, the platform rapidly grew into a giant handling billions of dollars in daily transactions. However, its rapid growth has been accompanied by legal challenges.
Iran’s Regime Sentences Two Young Protesters to Death
Mohammad Faraji, 23, and Raouf Sheikh-Ma’aroufi, 24, both from the city of Bukan in Iran’s West Azerbaijan Province and among those arrested during the 2022 nationwide uprising, officially received their death sentences on Tuesday, February 24, at Bukan Central Prison.
The two young men, who were convicted on fabricated charges of “enmity against God” and “corruption on earth” — charges frequently used by the Iranian regime to impose harsh punishments on political detainees — had been held for more than three years in a state of legal uncertainty and subjected to severe physical and psychological torture:
Raouf Sheikh-Ma’aroufi was violently arrested on the evening of Monday, December 26, 2022, by agents of the Ministry of Intelligence in Bukan, the Iranian regime’s main intelligence body.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese Voices Support for Iran Protests
- Mohammad Faraji was first arrested on Tuesday, February 21, 2024. He was temporarily released on January 13, 2025, but just one week later he was deceived and abducted by agents of the Ministry of Intelligence in Urmia, who posed as “customers at an auto repair shop,” and was re-arrested.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese Voices Support for Iran Protests
Anthony Albanese, the Prime Minister of Australia, said on Monday, February 23, in an interview with Sky News Australia, that he admires the courage of the Iranian people. He stated that Iranian citizens have shown great bravery in defending human rights and protesting against state violence. These remarks were made during a televised interview and received wide coverage in the media.
In this interview, Albanese referred to the violent crackdowns against protesters. He emphasized that many crimes and atrocities have been committed against individuals who stood up for democratic values and human rights. The Australian Prime Minister described Iran’s regime as authoritarian and repressive. He added that the people of Iran have paid a heavy price in confronting this political structure.
Human Rights Watch Warns About Tsunami Of Arrests And Enforced Disappearances In Iran
International reactions to the suppression of nationwide protests by the Iranian people
This position was expressed within the broader framework of international reactions to the suppression of nationwide protests in Iran. In recent months, various governments have voiced concern over human rights violations in Iran. The Australian government had previously imposed sanctions on certain Iranian officials. The Prime Minister’s latest remarks indicate that Canberra continues to support the protesters’ demands. Albanese’s statements reflect growing diplomatic pressure on Tehran. Many international legal and civil institutions have published reports about mass arrests and violence against citizens. In conclusion, the Australian Prime Minister said that the people of Iran are not alone in their pursuit of human rights and that the global community hears their voice. The official stance of the Australian government once again showed that the issue of human rights in Iran has become a global concern. Despite this support, internal repression continues, and the people of Iran have chosen to fight to overthrow Khamenei’s fascist dictatorship. It is worth recalling that the Australian government had previously placed the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which operates under the command of regime supreme leader Ali Khamenei, on its terrorist list and had also expelled the ambassador of Khamenei’s regime from Australia.Human Rights Watch Warns About Tsunami Of Arrests And Enforced Disappearances In Iran
In a report published on February 24, Human Rights Watch reported a widespread wave of arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances, torture, and the threat of secret executions of protesters from Iran’s December demonstrations, describing the current situation as a tsunami of repression.
According to the report, since December 28, 2025, and especially after the nationwide massacres on January 8 and 9, 2026, Iran’s regime security and intelligence agencies have arrested tens of thousands of people, including children. The organization states that those detained face torture, severe mistreatment, highly unfair trials, and the risk of death in detention or immediate and arbitrary executions.
Amnesty International warns of execution risk for 30 protesters in Iran
Enforced disappearances and denial of access to legal counsel
Human Rights Watch stated that many detainees are held completely incommunicado in both official and unofficial facilities, including secret detention centers. Families and lawyers report that authorities systematically refuse to provide information about the fate and location of detainees, an act that the organization considers an enforced disappearance and a serious crime under international law.Torture, forced confessions, and the threat of execution
The organization has documented multiple cases of torture and mistreatment, including severe beatings, sexual and gender-based violence, food deprivation, threats of execution, and denial of medical services. In addition, 139 videos of forced confessions broadcast by state media up to February 6 were reviewed, which the organization considers a blatant violation of the prohibition of torture and the presumption of innocence.Call for international action
Human Rights Watch has called on United Nations member states to:- demand the immediate release of those arbitrarily detained.
- clarify the fate and whereabouts of enforced disappearances.
- halt the carrying out of any planned executions.
- grant independent international observers, particularly the UN fact-finding mission in Iran, full and unimpeded access to the country and prisons.
Ongoing arrests and security environment
The report indicates that after the January massacres, a heavy presence of security forces, checkpoints, and inspections of citizens’ mobile phones has been established in many cities, and arrests continue. Protesters, students, pupils, lawyers, doctors, journalists, political and civil activists, athletes, and members of ethnic and religious minorities, including Baha’is, are among those detained. Human Rights Watch concluded that holding detainees in emptied prison wards and unregistered detention centers, alongside the use of CCTV and drones to identify protesters, indicates the continuation of an organized campaign to instill fear and suppress protests.Mohammad Hossein Hosseini, 26-Year-Old Footballer from Mashhad, Subjected to Physical Torture
Mohammad Hossein Hosseini was arrested on October 8, 2022, and held for 13 days in the custody of the Ministry of Intelligence, the Iranian regime’s main intelligence body. He was then transferred to Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad and released on bail on January 31, 2023. Since that year, he has been repeatedly summoned by intelligence agents and subjected to repeated torture. On April 9, 2025, Intelligence Organization agents of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) raided his home and arrested him again. He was held for one week in intelligence detention before being transferred to Vakilabad Prison, where he remained for 45 days and was this time released on a written pledge. Most recently, on the seventh day marking the death anniversary of Khosrow Alikordi, he was detained for several hours.
Detained Protesters in Iran Facing Serious Security Charges, Risk of ExecutionHe was also present during the January protests this year in the Vakilabad and Khayyam areas of Mashhad. On January 13, around 12 p.m., seven or eight agents of the Ministry of Intelligence raided his home and arrested him. Three of his mobile phones and his wristbands were confiscated, and their whereabouts remain unknown. He was tortured while in intelligence custody and was allowed to make one phone call that same night. After two days, he was transferred to Vakilabad Prison. Upon arrival at the prison, he contacted his family. On Monday, February 2, he was again transferred from Vakilabad Prison to the IRGC Intelligence Organization for the purpose of extracting forced confessions. On Friday, February 6, he was paraded in the Vakilabad and Khayyam streets of Mashhad, accompanied by several officers, including special police units (NOPO) and the Mashhad prosecutor, and was labeled as the “leader of the Mashhad riots.” Finally, on Thursday, February 12, he returned to Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad. During his detention, he has repeatedly been subjected to torture. On January 13, he was tortured in a garden in the Tous Boulevard area of Mashhad. On January 15, immediately upon entering prison, he was assaulted by other inmates. Again, when he was transferred to the IRGC Intelligence Organization on February 2, he was subjected to further torture. No court session has yet been held for him, and his case remains open in Branch 270 of the Revolutionary Court of Mashhad, a court that handles political and security-related charges in Iran. He faces charges of “enmity against God,” “leading riots,” “sabotage against national security,” and “collusion against the system,” which under the Iranian regime’s laws can carry the death penalty. Mohammad Hossein has been denied access to a lawyer.
New Zealand Sanctioned 40 Officials of the Iranian Regime Over the Suppression of Protesters
In response to the killing of protesters during the Iranian people’s national uprising, New Zealand placed a number of members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and government and judicial officials of the Iranian regime on its sanctions list.
On Wednesday, February 25, New Zealand announced that 40 officials of Iran’s regime who were involved in suppressing protesters have been banned from traveling to the country.
Winston Peters, New Zealand’s foreign minister, said in this regard that witnessing the brutal killing of thousands of protesters in Iran was horrifying.
Australia Sanctions 20 Iranian Officials, Three IRGC Entities Over Protests CrackdownHe added that Iranians have the right to protest peacefully, enjoy freedom of expression, and have access to information. These rights have been violated in a brutal manner. The new sanctions list includes Esmail Khatib, the Iranian regime’s Minister of Intelligence; Eskandar Momeni, the Interior Minister; Mohammad Movahedi Azad, the Prosecutor General; and a number of members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Thus, New Zealand joins the United States, the European Union, Australia, the United Kingdom, and Canada, which have placed punitive measures against the Iranian regime in response to recent developments in Iran on their agenda.
Iran’s destabilizing activities are unacceptable
New Zealand announced that the new sanctions also include three Iranian citizens who have played a role in the Iranian regime’s destructive activities abroad. New Zealand’s foreign minister further said that Iran’s destabilizing activities are completely outside the framework of acceptable state behavior. Today’s actions send a clear message that those who act with callous disregard for human life have no place here. Peters added that whenever New Zealand witnesses actions that undermine international law and regional stability, it will continue to act carefully and in coordination with its partners. Individuals subject to the new sanctions package will not be permitted to enter or transit through New Zealand. Previously, New Zealand had imposed travel bans in three stages against 55 officials of the Iranian regime over human rights violations in Iran.A Look into the Background of Mohammad Bagheri, The IRGC Commander Who Was Killed in the Recent AttacksThe country has also sanctioned 29 Iranian citizens and 19 entities of the Iranian regime for supporting Russia’s military campaign against Ukraine. Human Rights Watch reported on February 24 that following the nationwide killings on January 8 and 9, officials of the Iranian regime launched a wave of arbitrary arrests, torture, enforced disappearances, and the broadcasting of forced confessions, and that thousands face the risk of unfair trials and secret executions. The organization added that the Iranian regime’s Law Enforcement Command (FARAJA), the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and its intelligence organization, the Ministry of Intelligence, and judicial officials have played a role in the coordinated campaign to suppress the people.
Iran’s ‘No To Executions Tuesdays’ Campaign Declares Solidarity with Student Protests in 109th Week
On Tuesday, February 24, 2026, the “No to Executions Tuesdays” campaign entered its 109th week and continued in 56 prisons across Iran.
On this occasion, the “No to Executions Tuesdays” campaign issued a statement. Part of the statement reads:
“We, the members of the ‘No to Executions Tuesdays’ campaign, stand in solidarity with the people of Iran and the families of those killed. We salute the students from Sharif University of Technology, the University of Tehran, Amirkabir University of Technology, the University of Art, Melli University (Beheshti University), and the University of Mashhad (Ferdowsi University). They are courageously standing against the repressors in the universities. We call on the general public to continue supporting and standing with the protesting and revolutionary students to preserve the university as a bastion of resistance against any form of dictatorship and fundamentalism, and we warn against the repression of students.”
Iran: 1,100 Executions Over Three Months; An Ongoing Massacre
The full text of the statement by the “No to Executions Tuesdays” campaign
Continuation of the “No to Executions Tuesdays” campaign in its 109th week in 56 different prisons The fortieth-day memorial ceremonies for those killed in the January 2026 uprising, held in various parts of the country, became a symbol of the continuation of the uprising and public solidarity. These gatherings, accompanied by anti-regime slogans and the rejection of dictatorship, demonstrated that the memory and names of the victims of repression have become an inspiring force for achieving the overthrow of the regime and the establishment of justice, freedom, and equality. “We, the members of the ‘No to Executions Tuesdays’ campaign, stand in solidarity with the people of Iran and the families of those killed. We salute the students from Sharif University of Technology, the University of Tehran, Amirkabir University of Technology, the University of Art, Melli University (Beheshti University), and the University of Mashhad (Ferdowsi University). They are courageously standing against the repressors in the universities. We call on the general public to continue supporting and standing with the protesting and revolutionary students to preserve the university as a bastion of resistance against any form of dictatorship and fundamentalism, and we warn against the repression of students.” In recent days, the executioner regime has held hasty trials and fabricated cases against detainees of the recent movement. While they have been deprived of the right to choose their own lawyers and to defend themselves, and are subjected to torture beyond human tolerance, some of them face death sentences on the baseless charge of “enmity against God.” Among them are 19-year-old Mohammadamin Biglari, sentenced to death by Judge Abolghasem Salavati in Branch 15 of the regime’s Revolutionary Court in Tehran, and 55-year-old Mohammad Abbasi, who was also sentenced to death by the same branch. In addition, Abdollah Parki, who had been arrested a few days earlier by the Intelligence Office in Mehrestan County in Sistan and Baluchestan province, died suspiciously in detention. As part of these ongoing repressions, the death sentence of Mehrab Abdollahzadeh, one of those arrested during the 2022 nationwide uprising, has been upheld in Urmia Prison, and his life is in danger. The despotic mullahs’ regime executed more than 350 people between January 21 and February 20, marking a fivefold increase compared to the same period last year. In the early days of month of Esfand (from February 21 until now), 33 prisoners have been executed. The “No to Executions Tuesdays” campaign calls on the international community, human rights organizations, and awakened human consciences to be the voice of prisoners and the people of Iran and not allow the lives of the children of this land to be taken by criminal oppressors. We urge all families of detainees to widely spread information about the condition of their imprisoned children. Raise your voices; this is the only way to confront the pressures of this dictatorial regime. Political prisoners who are members of the “No to Executions Tuesdays” campaign are on hunger strike on Tuesday, February 24, in the 109th week of the campaign, across 56 prisons in the country.Victory Of Public Unity in Abdanan; Release of Detained Teacher After Widespread Protests
This year in Abdanan, a city in Ilam province in western Iran, before the school bells rang, the “first lesson” was taught—not from repetitive textbook pages, but from the streets, backed by unity, honor, strength, and collective perseverance.
On Saturday, February 21, one of Abdanan’s well-known teachers was arrested without a judicial warrant and transferred to an undisclosed location. The news spread through the city like a spark and quickly turned into a wave of reaction. At first, citizens peacefully gathered in front of the regime’s governmental and security institutions, demanding his release, but security agents of Iran’s regime detained him.
The atmosphere in the city was tense but not fragmented; people were united and determined, and they did not back down in the face of promises and threats from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Australia Sanctions 20 Iranian Officials, Three IRGC Entities Over Protests CrackdownDuring the protest gathering, people stood up against the heavy security presence and, chanting “Death to Khamenei” and “Death to the dictator,” expressed their anger over repression and arrests. One day later, on February 22, news broke that the teacher who had been arrested and abducted had been released. Within hours, the streets of Abdanan became the scene of a public celebrations, as people gathered to say that this victory was the result of unity, perseverance, and collective resistance. According to local sources, as he retreated from his earlier claims, the criminal prosecutor had initially set “no public welcome” for the imprisoned teacher as a condition for his release. However, the people of Abdanan rejected this condition and, through their strong presence, demonstrated that a teacher’s freedom is the natural right of society, not a negotiable concession. What happened in Abdanan was not merely the arrest and release of one individual; it was a display of society’s power and the fruit of resistance, unity, and genuine social bonds. A city that achieved victory through solidarity showed that the true capital of any society lies in its connections and its perseverance against all forms of despotism, manipulation, and dictatorship.
Third Day of Student Protests in Iran
On Monday, February 23, on the third day of student protests, several universities across the country witnessed protest gatherings and memorial ceremonies. Reports indicate simultaneous demonstrations at Alzahra University, the University of Tehran, and Sharif University of Technology, along with an intensified security presence at some educational institutions.
The start of the gathering at Alzahra University
Students at Alzahra University, a women’s university in Tehran, began their protest gathering at 11 a.m. in front of the Faculty of Art, in accordance with a prior call. Participants chanted slogans including “Do not be afraid, do not be afraid, we are all together” and “We did not give our lives to compromise, nor to praise the murderous leader.”UN Experts Warn About Fate of Disappeared Protesters in IranAccording to published reports, protests at the university continued throughout the day, with students chanting slogans such as “Freedom, freedom, freedom,” “We did not give our lives to compromise, nor to praise the murderous leader,” and “This year is the year of blood, Seyed Ali will be overthrown,” referring to regime supreme leader Ali Khamenei.
Memorial ceremony at the University of Tehran
At the same time, students at the University of Tehran, one of the country’s most prominent universities, held a memorial ceremony at 11 a.m. for “martyr” Raha Bahloulipour, a student of Italian literature at the university. During the ceremony, slogans such as “Woman, Life, Freedom,” “Until the mullah is shrouded, this homeland will not become a homeland,” “Death to the dictator,” “For every person killed, a thousand stand behind them,” “This fallen flower has become a gift to the homeland,” and “All these years of crime, death to this ولایت” were chanted. Additionally, at the Faculty of Theology of the University of Tehran, a ceremony was held to honor martyr Mohammadreza Moradali, a master’s student at the faculty. According to reports, a group of Basij forces—the paramilitary organization affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)—attempted to appropriate the ceremony in their favor and portray him as a supporter of the regime. However, students prevented this move by chanting slogans such as “This fallen flower has become a gift to the homeland,” “Woman, Life, Freedom,” and “We swear by the blood of our comrades, we will stand until the end.”Gathering at Sharif University of Technology
At Sharif University of Technology, one of Iran’s leading engineering institutions, students also gathered on Monday, February 23, in memory of the martyrs and in protest against the regime. According to reports, students chanted the slogan “This year is the year of blood, Seyed Ali [Khamenei] will be overthrown.”Entry bans and a security atmosphere
Alongside these gatherings, reports have emerged of increased restrictions at the University of Tehran. According to a student-run channel, following the previous day’s protest, a number of students were unlawfully barred from entering the university. It is said that security personnel, holding a list of names, prevented certain students from entering—an action that student activists say contradicts the university’s disciplinary regulations. There are no precise figures available regarding the number of students banned from entry. The University of Tehran’s Student Council has issued a statement asking students who have faced such restrictions to report their cases. At the same time, multiple reports indicate the presence of security forces around the Faculty of Foreign Languages and the male dormitory complex of the University of Tehran. According to student sources, a large number of students gathered to attend the fortieth-day memorial ceremony for uprising martyr Raha Bahloulipour, and the atmosphere on campus has been described as heavily securitized. The third day of student protests comes as demonstrations have spread to several universities, accompanied by reports of disciplinary and security pressures.Detained Protesters in Iran Facing Serious Security Charges, Risk of Execution
Following the bloody crackdown on the January protests, detainees are now facing severe security-related charges and the danger of being sentenced to death. Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, director of Iran Human Rights, an Oslo-based human rights organization, emphasized in an interview with Deutsche Welle, the German international broadcaster, the necessity of raising awareness.
The publication of alarming reports about the attribution of security charges to detained protesters and the holding of rushed trials—without due process and without access to independent legal counsel—has raised serious concerns about the fate of those detained.
Fortieth-Day Memorials in Iran Turned into Nationwide ProtestsAmnesty International announced in a statement on Friday, February 20, 2026, that at least 30 people in Iran are facing the death penalty in connection with the January 2026 protests. According to the human rights organization, eight of these individuals have been sentenced to death within just a few weeks of their arrest. Since the nationwide protests of 2022, Iran’s regime has sought to instill an atmosphere of fear and intimidation in society against any political dissent by bringing heavy security charges and swiftly carrying out certain sentences.
