Daily household purchases in Iran show that the prices of food items are constantly rising.The price increases are so noticeable that complaints such as “Why do prices keep rising?” are voiced.From an economic perspective, the reasons for rising prices and inflation vary based on time, location, and the type of product.In recent years, the price increases of food items in Iran have reached unprecedented levels, with some food items rising in price even more than non-food goods.According to the Statistical Center of Iran, in August 2023, the inflation rate for the twelve months leading up to that month was 34.8% compared to the same period the previous year.
Severe Price Increases in Food Items Over the Past Year
This means that Iranian households spent 35% more in August 2023 to purchase the same goods and services.The inflation rate for food items was reported at 30.1%, while for non-food goods it was 37.3%. The highest inflation was seen in red and white meat, which increased by 58.3%.These figures indicate a sharp rise in food prices and food inflation under the Iranian regime. Annual inflation for fruits and nuts was 32.4%, and for vegetables, it was 25%.This runaway inflation has caused households to lose their purchasing power day by day. The decline in purchasing power has led to reduced consumption and worsened food security.In August 2024, the price of mushrooms increased 1.5 times, potatoes 1.1 times, onions 1.7 times, melons 1.6 times, and bell peppers 1.3 times compared to the same period the previous year.This sharp rise in prices, coupled with stagnant incomes, has caused households to lose their purchasing power and reduce their consumption.This reduction in consumption is more noticeable among middle- and low-income groups and has negative effects on nutrition and health, especially for children.In the Iranian regime, solutions such as imports, export bans, stockpiling, and preferential exchange rates have been implemented to regulate the food market.However, these policies have not been able to significantly reduce prices.Imports to regulate the market under inflationary conditions are considered a lack of support for domestic producers, reducing their motivation to produce.On the other hand, export bans impose significant costs on exporters and are considered anti-production policies.Price controls have also been consistently criticized by farmers and producers due to the lack of an accurate accounting system, leading to reduced social capital and shifts in business practices.The Iranian regime prefers to intervene in the market rather than regulate it.These interventions are made without considering their consequences and without designing efficient systems.Inflation and rising prices of food and non-food items do not seem to be a significant issue for the mullahs’ regime.
The U.S. Department of Justice is preparing to file criminal charges related to the hacking of the election campaign of Donald Trump, the Republican candidate in the 2024 U.S. presidential election, by the Iranian regime.Citing two informed sources, The Associated Press reported on Thursday: “It was not immediately clear when the charges might be announced or whom precisely they will target.”This action is the result of an FBI investigation into a cyber intrusion that multiple intelligence agencies quickly identified as being orchestrated by the Iranian regime, with the aim of influencing this year’s U.S. presidential election.The potential criminal charges come as the U.S. Department of Justice warns about efforts by countries including Russia and China, which are seeking to interfere in the November 2024 presidential election, notably through hacking and using covert social media campaigns to shape public opinion.Matthew Olsen, Assistant Attorney General and senior national security official at the U.S. Department of Justice, stated in a speech in New York that the Iranian regime is making more significant efforts than in previous election cycles to influence this year’s election. As the election approaches, Iran’s activities have become increasingly aggressive.He also noted that the Iranian regime views this fall’s U.S. election as crucial for its own interests, and this has heightened its desire to shape the election’s outcome.Previously, U.S. intelligence officials had stated that the Iranian regime’s efforts were aimed at preventing Donald Trump from returning to office. According to them, the Iranian government has decided to use influence campaigns to damage Trump’s efforts.A U.S. intelligence official had earlier told reporters that the Iranian regime’s preference is primarily a reflection of its unwillingness to escalate tensions with the United States. Iran is opposing a candidate that Tehran’s leaders believe would increase these tensions.In early September, the U.S. Attorney General warned the Iranian regime against interfering in U.S. elections and undermining American democracy.On August 10, Trump’s campaign revealed that it had been hacked and stated that Iranian regime agents had stolen and leaked sensitive internal documents.On Wednesday, a day before the Associated Press report, U.S. prosecutors formally charged a Pakistani national linked to the Iranian regime for attempting to assassinate a U.S. official in retaliation for the killing of Qasem Soleimani, the former commander of the Quds Force of the IRGC.The U.S. Department of Justice announced in a statement that Asif Reza Merchant, 46, was allegedly seeking to hire an assassin to kill a U.S. politician or government official inside the United States. U.S. officials have said that he has wives and children in both Iran and Pakistan.A few days earlier, U.S. Senator Charles Grassley had released FBI documents revealing that Iranian regime-backed individuals were seeking to assassinate several prominent American political figures in connection with the killing of Qasem Soleimani.
René Descartes, the French mathematician and philosopher of the Enlightenment, laid the foundations for modern philosophy and the new era in human history. In his book Discourse on the Method, he introduced four principles for attaining truth, one of which is the principle of “division”: “Divide each problem into as many parts as possible to better understand it.” While nations that entered the modern era took steady steps towards growth, progress, and prosperity using Descartes’ teachings, the same cannot be said for Iran. Unfortunately, the teachings of Descartes are now used in Iran to dissect and analyze the multifaceted poverty and suffering that has plagued the country under the regime of supreme leader Ali Khamenei and his corrupt and exploitative administration.Poverty in Iran has become more than just the opposite of wealth or prosperity. It has now been dissected into “absolute poverty,” “below the poverty line,” “extreme poverty,” “survival poverty,” “relative poverty,” and dozens of other forms such as educational, healthcare, housing, and nutritional poverty. The regime’s so-called “poverty experts” shamelessly present these terms to explain the dire situation of millions of impoverished Iranians.Recently, the Minister of Labor in Khamenei’s government provided shocking statistics on the extent and severity of poverty in Iran. On September 8, 2024, Mehr News Agency quoted Ahmad Meydari, an expert in poverty, as saying: “30% of the population is below the poverty line. Most of those experiencing ‘absolute poverty’ have jobs and incomes, but their wages do not cover their living expenses. Eradicating absolute poverty is a goal we must move towards.”Meydari’s statement, made after four decades of authoritarian and exploitative governance, indicates the regime’s supposed goal to eliminate absolute poverty, an ironic and disheartening claim given the current state of the nation.
The Rise of Absolute Poverty
Meydari added, “Until the mid-2000s, about 12% to 15% of the population was in absolute poverty. By the mid-2010s, this figure rose to around 20%. Since 2018, it has increased sharply to 30%, with approximately 25.4 million people living in absolute poverty according to data from the Statistical Center of Iran and the Research Center of Parliament.” This statistic reveals that 30% of Iranians, despite being employed, are unable to meet their basic needs such as food and essential living expenses.Furthermore, even economic growth and controlling inflation seem incapable of eliminating absolute poverty, with Meydari emphasizing that “different actions” are needed.
Extreme Poverty: A More Severe Crisis
The crisis, however, does not end with absolute poverty. Millions of Iranians are suffering from what can be categorized as “extreme poverty,” meaning their income is insufficient even to cover basic sustenance. Meydari explains: ”Extreme poverty is when an individual’s income cannot even cover the cost of food. In other words, absolute poverty is defined as the inability to achieve a minimum standard of living, and therefore, extreme poverty is a subset of absolute poverty.”According to the Iranian Statistics Center, approximately 6% of the population, or 5 million people, suffer from extreme poverty. These are individuals who go to bed hungry and search for food each day just to survive. Shockingly, even providing a warm meal to the poorest has faced budgetary obstacles under the regime’s rule, despite the country’s immense oil wealth and billions spent on internal corruption, terrorism, and military projects.
Widespread Poverty Across the Nation
Experts in the field of poverty have acknowledged that “the Gini coefficient has surpassed 40%,” reflecting a vast gap between the rich and the poor. Sociologist Maqsud Farasatkhah remarked: ”Between 2011 and 2023, around 10 million people were added to the poverty statistics, a terrifying figure. In such conditions, poverty becomes widespread” (Deutsche Welle, September 7, 2024).Farasatkhah also noted that a quarter of Iran’s population, along with half of the population in provinces such as Sistan and Baluchestan, live below the poverty line. He described this trend as “a catastrophic trajectory” affecting many regions, including Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari, North Khorasan, West Azerbaijan, and Hormozgan. Farasatkhah and others question whether Iranian society can withstand such hardship or if it will face further unrest and social upheaval.Additionally, Zahra Kavyani, an economic researcher, expressed concern over the worsening poverty gap: “The 30% poverty rate is alarming, but even more dangerous are the growing trends within this population. Over the past four years, the poverty gap has steadily increased, and it will not be easy to bring those below the poverty line back above it” (Jamaran, September 8, 2024).The crisis of poverty in Iran has far-reaching consequences, including children dropping out of school, increased child labor, and the intergenerational transmission of poverty. Other devastating effects include smuggling, fuel trafficking, scavenging, and many other harmful byproducts of widespread destitution.
With the start of the seasonal session of the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Iran’s nuclear program has become the focus and agenda, which will continue from September 9 to 13. Rafael Grossi, Director General of the IAEA, expressed concern at this session about the agency’s awareness of the latest developments in Iran’s nuclear activities, including the production of centrifuges and the operational aspects of the heavy water reactor. He also expressed hope that he would soon meet with the Iranian regime’s new president, Masoud Pezeshkian. However, the main actor in this issue on the Iranian side is not Pezeshkian but regime supreme leader Ali Khamenei. Grossi’s statement comes as the Iranian regime had previously pretended to adopt a peaceful approach toward reaching an understanding with the IAEA Director General and resuming a new level of cooperation. But this was merely a deception; the Iranian regime always takes such actions ahead of the Board of Governors’ meetings to prevent the issuance of resolutions against its nuclear program. According to the Iranian government’s claims, the IAEA and European members of the Board of Governors have disrupted cooperation by issuing their own alleged statements. Two days ago, the regime’s delegation in Vienna presented its latest positions and demands regarding the Director General’s reports to the Board of Governor. In another report, the Iranian regime proposed designing a new modality for implementing the provisions of the 2022 statement. The Iranian regime claimed that this requires direct dialogue between Iran and the IAEA. The Iranian regime asserted that an agreement would only be implemented if Grossi kept his promise not to use the IAEA as a political tool, and this would be evident in his tone and reports. However, in his recent speech about engaging with the Iranian government, Grossi stated that he had exchanged messages with Pezeshkian after the Iranian elections. But as mentioned earlier, the main actor on the scene is Khamenei. These meetings and displays of understanding with the IAEA pursued by the Iranian government have another goal. That goal is that in October 2024, the expiration date of the JCPOA agreement will occur, and all sanctions against the Iranian regime will automatically be lifted. Afterward, no sanctions can be imposed on Iran’s nuclear program, unless before this deadline, the European Troika triggers the snapback mechanism. This means that due to Iran’s significant violations of the JCPOA and its lack of cooperation with the IAEA and the Board of Governors, all sanctions from the six resolutions prior to Resolution 2231 would be reinstated. It is important to note that none of the permanent members of the UN Security Council have the right to veto the snapback mechanism. Therefore, the Iranian regime is trying to engage with Grossi, the IAEA, and the Board of Governors and politicize the IAEA’s decisions to reach this expiration date. Additionally, the regime aims to maneuver against the European Troika, which recently threatened to activate the snapback mechanism if Iran does not cooperate with the IAEA before the expiration of the JCPOA, and neutralize their actions. Iran possessing nuclear weapons, in addition to regional chaos, would fuel a nuclear arms race in the already volatile Middle East region.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office has announced formal charges against a Pakistani man connected to the Iranian regime, accused of attempting to assassinate a U.S. official in retaliation for the killing of Qassem Soleimani, the former commander of the IRGC’s Quds Force. His arrest was announced on August 6.According to AFP, the U.S. Department of Justice stated on Wednesday that 46-year-old Asif Reza Merchant allegedly sought to hire a hitman to assassinate a U.S. politician or government official.Earlier, U.S. officials had said that the Pakistani man had wives and children in both Pakistan and Iran. It remains unclear how the Iranian regime recruited this Pakistani citizen for their plot.U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland stated, as these charges against Asif Merchant for terrorism and murder-for-hire demonstrate, we will continue to hold accountable those who seek to execute Iran’s deadly plots against Americans.U.S. Attorney Breon Peace added, as charged, Merchant orchestrated a plot to assassinate U.S. politicians and government officials. Today’s indictment sends a message to terrorists both here and abroad.FBI Director Christopher Wray stated that the Pakistani man had close ties with the Iranian regime, and the murder-for-hire plot comes straight from the playbook of the Iranian regime.Another FBI official revealed that the assassins Merchant allegedly tried to hire were actually undercover FBI agents.The U.S. Department of Justice announced that after spending time in Iran, the Pakistani citizen entered the U.S. from Pakistan and contacted someone he believed could help him with the plan to kill a U.S. politician or government official. However, that person reported the plot to law enforcement.Asif Reza Merchant was arrested on July 12 while attempting to leave the United States.The Iranian regime’s delegation to the United Nations stated last month that it had not received any report on this matter from the U.S. government.In August 2022, the U.S. accused a member of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of plotting to assassinate John Bolton, the former U.S. National Security Advisor.The Department of Justice stated that Shahram Poursafi, who remains at large, had offered to pay an individual in the U.S. $300,000 to kill Bolton.Republican Senator Chuck Grassley released FBI documents showing that individuals supported by the Iranian regime sought to assassinate several prominent U.S. political figures in retaliation for the killing of Qassem Soleimani.The documents, provided to Senator Grassley, show that the Iranian regime targeted several U.S. politicians and military officials, including President Joe Biden, former President Donald Trump, and former U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley, who is also a former presidential candidate.Earlier, Michael McCaul, the Republican chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, described the reports of the Iranian regime’s plot to kill a U.S. politician or official through a Pakistani national as “horrific.”This senior lawmaker said that the Iranian government is brazenly attempting to carry out terrorist activities on U.S. soil, adding that the arrest of the suspect is a good step, but the U.S. government must take significant actions to hold Iran accountable for this plot and to prevent future schemes.
The news of Iran’s request to import gas from Russia, despite being the world’s second-largest holder of gas reserves, has sparked widespread reactions.Some experts say that the agreements signed with Russia in recent years have not brought significant benefits to Iran. Importing gas from Russia might disrupt Iran’s own efforts in gas exploration and extraction.Some analysts believe that importing gas from Russia could be an opportunity to offset shortages during the colder months.On the other hand, this move could turn Iran into a regional gas transit hub.Bahman Khodakarami, an energy expert, stated that importing gas from Russia has garnered a lot of attention in recent years.He added that despite Iran being one of the largest holders of natural gas reserves in the world, importing gas from Russia seems contradictory.Khodakarami pointed to infrastructure problems, international sanctions, and reduced investment in the energy sector, saying these issues have prevented Iran from producing and distributing gas to its full potential.In winter, Iran faces gas shortages for domestic consumption due to high demand, an aging gas distribution network, and decreased production efficiency.Russia sees Iran not only as a consumer but also as a potential route for exporting gas to other countries.With Western sanctions and the war in Ukraine, Russia is looking for new export routes, and Iran could serve as a strategic corridor.Khodakarami further stated that importing gas from Russia could help Iran use imported gas during peak consumption seasons like winter and prevent potential outages.This would also allow Iran to export some of its domestic gas to other countries, generating revenue for the government.According to Khodakarami, becoming a regional gas hub would help Iran strengthen its bargaining power in the region by acting as a transit route for Russia’s gas to neighboring countries.In recent relations between Iran and Russia, the benefits of this cooperation have been more in Russia’s favor.Russia gains access to new markets through Iran, while Iran, by becoming a regional gas hub, not only meets its domestic needs but also strengthens its geopolitical position. However, the success of this cooperation depends on managing political and economic challenges.Mohammad Sadegh Jokar, head of the Energy Studies Institute, announced that the gas import will take place through a pipeline that passes through Azerbaijan.Morteza Behroozi-Far, another energy expert, said that Iran is facing an imbalance, with consumption exceeding production in winter.He added that if Iran cannot raise production to an acceptable level, importing gas from Russia will be inevitable.Behroozi-Far stated that despite Iran’s vast gas reserves, it is forced to import gas from Russia due to infrastructure issues and an inability to attract investment.Hassan Moradi, an energy expert, also believes that having gas reserves does not mean Iran should avoid trading with other countries.However, beyond all these reasons, it is a political issue, not an economic one or due to shortages, that has forced Iran, despite having the world’s second-largest gas reserves, to import from Russia.
Protest gatherings by various segments of the Iranian population were held in different cities across the country due to economic hardships. On Monday, September 9, widespread protests took place in several cities. The economic crisis, rising inflation, and declining purchasing power have severely impacted the livelihoods of the people.
Protests by oil workers in several cities of Iran
Oil workers in several cities, including Bushehr and Kangan, held protests. Employees of Pars Oil and Gas Company (site 2) in Kangan protested the lack of response to their demands. One of the main demands of the Pars Oil and Gas Company (POGC) workers is the removal of unfair salary caps in operational areas of the oil industry.Another issue sparking protests is the separation of specialized and support roles.Workers have also demanded the adjustment of minimum wages for new employees and the return of excess taxes collected in recent years.Employees at the Fajr Jam Gas Refinery in Bushehr held a protest march within the refinery grounds, demanding employment contracts and salary increases.
Protest by heavy vehicle owners in Zabol
Heavy vehicle owners held a protest outside the Zabol governor’s office in response to the blocking of their fuel cards. One of the drivers at the protest stated, “We will not give up our rights, even if the army, the IRGC, or the police come and tear us apart.”It is worth noting that drivers’ protests were also held in several other cities last week.
Protest by literacy movement teachers
Teachers from the Literacy Movement in their protest declared: “We, the literacy movement instructors since 2013, demand formal employment and status resolution.” Despite multiple protest gatherings, no officials from the Ministry of Education have responded to their demands. Today’s protest was held in front of the Ministry of Education.
Protest by housing applicants in Kerman
Housing applicants in Kerman held a protest in front of the governor’s office, objecting to the delays in housing allocation and construction. Although housing construction has taken place, particularly in Kerman, not a single unit has been delivered to the public under the “Leap in Production” scheme.
Protest by school janitors in Isfahan
School janitors and service workers resumed rallies to protest the harsh living conditions by laying out an empty tablecloth. One janitor said, “Despite the heavy workload, for some time now they’ve been promising us salary increases, but nothing has happened so far.”The widespread protests by various segments of the Iranian population reflect the ongoing economic disorder and the lack of improvement. These protests are growing daily, and protests continue to be held in cities across Iran. However, the Iranian regime, unable to solve their problems, responds with indifference to these protests.
On September 9, Iran witnessed a new wave of protests that spread to several provinces, with demonstrations focusing on living problems and the failure of the Iranian regime’s companies to fulfill their promises to retirees. Retirees from the telecommunications company held a protest rally to express their anger at the Execution of Khomeini’s Order (EIKO) and the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps, which supervise the company, for not fulfilling their promises to provide the necessary financial rights. The demands centered on restoring their legitimate rights and improving their financial conditions.The Execution of Khomeini’s Order (EIKO) and the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), as the main shareholders in the pension fund, operate under the direct supervision of the regime’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei. The intervention of these institutions, aimed at securing funding for regional intervention projects and exporting terrorism, has led to a significant deterioration in the conditions of retirees. Khamenei and the Revolutionary Guards sought to control all of Iran’s resources, including the pension fund, to finance their interventions, resulting in widespread poverty and greatly angering the people.In today’s protest rallies, retirees chanted slogans directly targeting the EIKO and the IRGC. One of the main slogans was: “The EIKO and the IRGC are thieves, and the retiree is their enemy,” denouncing these institutions for their role in the deterioration of retirees’ conditions and their failure to fulfill their obligations. These slogans reflect the widespread anger and dissatisfaction of retirees with the mismanagement and interference of these entities operating under Khamenei’s supervision.A similar gathering of telecommunications company retirees took place in the city of Tabriz in East Azerbaijan Province, where protesters voiced their frustration at the company’s failure to meet its obligations. They demanded that the situation be resolved and their overdue wages paid.Retirees from the telecommunications company also gathered in Shiraz to denounce the company’s failure to meet its financial obligations toward them, demanding that their long-accumulated rights be paid.A protest march was organized by telecommunications sector retirees in the Khuzestan province, where demonstrators demanded their lost rights and denounced the company’s failure to fulfill its commitments. The demonstration was attended by a large number of retirees who raised slogans expressing their dissatisfaction.Another gathering of telecommunications company retirees took place in Gilan province, where they expressed their anger towards the company’s management for failing to implement its repeated promises. The protesters focused on the need for management to fulfill its legal and financial obligations.Retirees of the telecommunications company organized another protest gathering in Isfahan, where they raised the slogan: “We have not seen justice, we have heard many lies,” referring to the company’s hollow promises. The city also witnessed protests by service workers and school guards, who expressed their demands with an empty table, symbolizing the deterioration of their living conditions.Housing applicants for the “Balad Al-Amin” project gathered in front of the Kerman Governorate building, where they set up symbolic tents in protest against the failure to deliver housing units on time, despite having paid the money in advance. The protesters criticized the delay in the implementation of housing projects and their high costs.The literacy movement teachers gathered in front of the Ministry of Education in Tehran, where they demanded improvements in their professional conditions and the implementation of the ministry’s promises regarding salary increases and an improved work environment.These growing protests indicate the escalation of popular anger towards the deterioration of living conditions and the continued failure of the government and its affiliated companies to provide appropriate solutions to the accumulated crises. While the Iranian people are suffering from economic and living crises, the regime is busy igniting wars in the region and financially supporting terrorist groups, instead of focusing on solving these internal problems. Its nuclear ambitions have also imposed heavy costs on the people, exacerbating internal crises. With increasing public discontent and the expansion of protests, it is not unlikely that the people, having lost patience with these policies, will rise up in a comprehensive uprising to overthrow this regime and achieve a better future.
State news agencies in Iran, including the national broadcaster IRIB, reported that as of today, new bread prices have been registered in all smart card readers used for bread sales in Tehran.The 40% to 66% price increase for bread in Tehran has begun while most provinces in Iran had already implemented similar price hikes.Previously, Mizan News Agency, affiliated with Iran’s judiciary, reported from Tehran on Wednesday, August 28, stating that “bread prices have been arbitrarily increasing at bakeries for a while,” which “can have a direct impact on people’s lives.”Although this judiciary-affiliated news agency reported a “50% increase” in bread prices in Tehran, the actual prices showed a 100% increase.In mid-August, the Nournews website reported an unofficial and quiet increase in bread prices in Tehran, stating that some types of bread had seen price hikes of more than 100%.This website, linked to the Supreme National Security Council, reported: “The bread price increase is being quietly implemented in some areas of Tehran. The price of Barbari bread in some areas has risen from 50,000 rials to 70,000 rials, and Taftoon bread from 7,000 rials to 15,000 rials.” (Each US dollar is equivalent to 600,000 rials.)Nournews also quoted a flour industry activist saying that “the government has lost control over bread prices because the fundamental policies supporting this sector have been flawed for years.”Statements by regime’s President Masoud Pezeshkian and other government officials regarding the implementation of subsidies and the potential increase in gasoline and bread prices come at a time when a significant portion of the population lives below the poverty line.Earlier, sociologist Maqsoud Farasatkhah, in an interview with the Ham-Mihan newspaper on August 13, stated: “Based on my research, at least one-third of Iranian households are facing absolute poverty in some form.”He further mentioned, “We are dealing with a group that is going hungry and surviving on the minimum number of calories,” adding: “Last year, Iran was ranked among the ten countries with low hunger levels in the Global Hunger Index. However, field reports indicate that millions of people in the country are living with hunger.”
According to social media reports, Sara Deldar, a former political prisoner from Rasht, has died after suffering from infections caused by pellet wounds.Ms. Deldar was hit by pellet bullets by Iranian regime security forces during the nationwide protests in 2022 in Rasht for helping the injured.After her arrest, she was sentenced to one year, three months, and six days in Lakan prison in Rasht. She was released on probation after serving more than six months.In her last Instagram post on July 21, she mentioned contracting an infection in her body after being released from prison and being hospitalized. She referred to physical weakness, severe anemia, and the enlargement of her spleen, kidneys, and ovaries as some of the problems she was facing.Ms. Deldar also stated that other prisoners released from Lakan prison in Rasht were struggling with similar illnesses after their release.Several political prisoners have died under suspicious circumstances after being released from prison.Sara Tabrizi, former Iranian political prisonerIn another case, the lifeless body of Sara Tabrizi, a former political prisoner, was found at her parents’ home in Tehran on March 24. This 20-year-old woman had been under severe psychological pressure from security forces in the final weeks of her life. She had been summoned to the Ministry of Intelligence on March 23.Yalda Agha Fazli: “the defendant did not express remorse”Yalda Agha Fazli, a 19-year-old girl who was arrested in late October 2022 during anti-government protests, died under suspicious circumstances after being released from prison on November 11, 2022. The Iranian regime declared her death a suicide. In Yalda’s case file, it was recorded during her detention that “the defendant did not express remorse,” and this phrase has since become a symbol among political prisoners.
