Following multiple revelations of unregulated loans being given to bank employees and multi-billion rial loans to members of the Stock Exchange Board with low interest rates and 10-year repayment periods, Iranian media now report on a favorable 5-billion-rial loan (approximately $8,334) being granted to members of Parliament for housing deposits, with an interest rate of only 4%.Tejarat News, in a report on this subject, wrote that “legal favoritism has occurred from the Stock Exchange and banks to Baharestan (the Parliament building), while ordinary people are only given housing deposit loans up to a maximum of 200 million tomans (approximately $3,334) with an 18% interest rate.”Tejarat News also pointed out that after Majid Eshqi, the head of the Stock Exchange Organization, resigned following reports of receiving a billion-rial loan with a 4% interest rate and a 10-year repayment period, it became evident that the 5-billion-rial housing deposit loan (approximately $8,334) with 4% interest given to Parliament members demonstrates that “favoritism” in Iran’s economic structure is not limited to the Stock Exchange Board. In some cases, like the housing deposit loans for Parliament members, it occurs “within a completely legal framework.”Tejarat News wrote that both the lenders and borrowers justify this “favoritism” as being “within the legal framework,” and such excesses have become a natural routine. An example of this is the special loan terms for Parliament members’ housing deposits.Earlier, a report from the Central Bank revealed that last year, banks loaned 910 trillion rials (approximately $1.516 billion) solely to their own employees.However, Abdolnaser Hemmati, the Minister of Economy under the government of Masoud Pezeshkian, defended this practice, stating, “Bank employees start work at 6 a.m. and work under difficult conditions.” In recent years, “despite 40% inflation, their wages have only increased by 20%, so they deserve these loans.”Hemmati’s comments sparked public backlash, with citizens responding that millions of employees and workers in other sectors also start work at 6 a.m. and often work until the afternoon and evening. Their salaries have also only increased by the same 20% annually.
The state-run ISNA news agency reported a sharp increase in the prices of school supplies in the market, stating that luxury items have also entered the market, with school backpacks being sold at prices ranging from 3 million to 70 million rials (approximately $5 to $117). It is worth mentioning that the minimum wage in Iran is around $180, and many workers earn even less. In its report, ISNA discussed the millions of rials spent on purchasing school supplies, noting that the prices of various items have increased compared to last year, with some items falling into the luxury category and being sold at unexpectedly high prices. According to the news agency, a 12-pack of regular black pencils is sold for up to 2.4 million rials (approximately $4), while high-quality brands can go for over 14 million rials (about $24). In the retail market, mechanical pencils are sold for prices ranging from 400,000 rials to over 20 million rials (approximately $0.66 to $34), and regular pens are priced at 500,000 rials (about $0.80). It has also been reported that in the stationery market, colored gel pens in 42-piece sets are sold for over 65 million rials (around $109). A 12-pack of colored pencils is priced at up to 7 million rials (about $12), while a 120-piece set of foreign-brand colored pencils sells for 230 million rials (around $384). According to ISNA, backpacks range in price from 3 million to nearly 70 million rials, and laptop backpacks are sold from around 7 million rials up to 250 million rials (about $384). These skyrocketing prices come at a time when many families are unable to afford their children’s educational needs, leading to an increase in dropout rates and children not entering the education system. In this regard, the Deputy Minister of Elementary Education at the Ministry of Education announced that in the 2023-2024 school year, about 216,243 children were left out of school. Mohammad Molavi, a member of the Education Commission of the regime’s Majlis (Parliament), also stated in July that 279,000 children had dropped out of school due to “financial difficulties.” The Deputy Chairman of the Education Commission in the Majlis also reported that the total number of children out of school in Iran stands at 911,000, including 400,000 elementary students.
Bloomberg News and the Wall Street Journal have reported that Iran, despite warnings from Western countries, has delivered ballistic missiles to Russia for use in Ukraine. However, the Iranian regime’s delegation to the United Nations denied these reports.The two outlets reported on Friday, September 6, that Iran recently delivered the ballistic missiles to Russia. Bloomberg, citing informed sources, stated that the U.S. has informed its allies about this development.Three days earlier, Bloomberg had reported that Ukraine’s allies believed that the ballistic missile transfer from Iran to Russia would take place within a few days. The Wall Street Journal also cited an American official saying that the U.S. had recently informed its allies that the missile delivery had been completed.According to the report, the shipment included over 200 short-range ballistic missiles. The Wall Street Journal also quoted a European official stating that this was not the end, and that weapons shipments from Tehran to Moscow were ongoing.Both American media outlets reported that the U.S. and the European Union are planning to impose sanctions on Tehran over this action. The Wall Street Journal wrote that the new EU sanctions package against Iran will likely include sanctions on Iran’s national airline, Iran Air, and several individuals and entities involved in the ballistic missile deliveries to Russia.Meanwhile, Sean Savett, spokesperson for the White House National Security Council, expressed concern over reports of missile transfers from Iran to Russia, stating that any such transfer signals an escalation in Iran’s support for Russia’s aggressive war in Ukraine. Another U.S. official told Reuters that Washington is closely monitoring the missile transfers between Iran and Russia.In contrast, Iran’s mission to the United Nations on Friday denied the reports of missile transfers to Russia, asserting that the regime’s stance on the Ukraine conflict has not changed, and that Iran considers providing military assistance to either side as inhumane. According to the state-run IRNA news agency, Iran’s UN office stated: “Not only does Iran refrain from such actions, but it also calls on other countries to cease sending weapons to the parties involved in the conflict.”Cooperation between Moscow and Tehran has increased since Russia’s war against Ukraine began, with the Iranian regime sending a large number of drones and other military equipment to Russia. The decision to send ballistic missiles had been discussed for some time, and Reuters reported on August 9 that a group of Russian military personnel had traveled to Iran to receive training on using “Fateh-360” ballistic missiles.Reuters, citing European sources, reported that hundreds of these missiles were expected to be delivered to Russia soon. While the Iranian regime has consistently denied sending weapons to Russia for use against civilians in Ukraine, Western and Ukrainian officials have so far provided multiple pieces of evidence of Iranian-made weapons, including Shahed drones, being sent to Russia.
In the wake of his final report detailing atrocities committed by the Iranian regime, Professor Javaid Rehman, the former UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Iran, has faced an onslaught of attacks from Iranian authorities and their allies abroad. His July 2024 report, titled “Atrocity Crimes,” highlighted heinous acts including mass executions in the early 1980s and the massacre of over 30,000 political prisoners in 1988, which Rehman classified as crimes against humanity and genocide. Following the release of the report, Iranian officials launched a campaign to discredit Rehman, accusing him of bias, corruption, and accepting bribes—all claims he vehemently denies.
In a statement, Professor Rehman emphasized that he conducted his duties with “great integrity and absolute commitment,” acting impartially throughout his six-year tenure as Special Rapporteur from 2018 to 2024. Rehman disclosed that the Iranian government not only barred him from entering the country but also resorted to personal abuse and unsubstantiated accusations in an attempt to undermine his work. Furthermore, he categorically rejected claims that he had received any form of payment for his participation in conferences related to his findings, calling these allegations “false and fabricated.”
The regime and its allies attacked Rehman for his recent participation in an event that was about the regime’s human rights abuses, especially the execution and torture of dissidents in the 1980s.
“I completely reject the false and fabricated accusations that I received any form of honorarium, conference fee or speaker fee for participation in the conference on 24 August 2024 in Paris. There have been false allegations against me that I have received funding to attend this meeting based on various allegations that high-profile persons have been paid to attend such events,” Rehman wrote. “I must alert the international community, that through this smear campaign against me, the Iranian authorities (and their sympathisers) are attempting to escape and avoid accountability for their crimes.”
Rehman’s report shines a light on the mass execution of political prisoners, religious persecution, and the abuse of women and children. He calls for international intervention, urging the global community to establish investigative mechanisms to hold Iranian authorities accountable for their crimes.
Amid the smear campaign, Rehman asserts his commitment to pursuing legal action against those who continue to propagate falsehoods aimed at damaging his reputation. He concludes his statement by urging the international community to focus on the victims and to ensure justice is served.
The full text of Professor Rehman’s statement is below:
Statement from Professor Javaid Rehman
The U.S. Department of Justice has announced in a statement the arrest of an Iranian-American dual citizen on charges of illegally exporting U.S. technology to Iran.U.S. prosecutors have identified this Iranian-American citizen as Gholamreza Goudarzi, also known as Ron Goudarzi, a resident of Porter, Texas. He was arrested on August 30 at George Bush Intercontinental Airport.The 76-year-old man is accused of smuggling parts and components used in the production of both unmanned and manned aircraft from the U.S. to Iran.According to the U.S. Department of Justice statement, Mr. Goudarzi is currently in custody and will remain so until his court hearing on September 5, where the reasons for his detention will be addressed.According to Robert Wells, Executive Assistant Director of the FBI’s National Security Branch, the illegal smuggling of sensitive U.S. technology to a foreign country endangers national security and undermines the integrity of trade laws.He further emphasized that the United States will not tolerate the illegal export of advanced technology to its adversaries, and the FBI, along with its partners, will work to hold those who violate U.S. laws accountable.Court documents indicate that from November 30, 2020, to July 4, Gholamreza Goudarzi illegally exported aircraft parts, as well as oil and drilling components, to Iran.He frequently traveled to Iran, often carrying out these exports through the UAE, and several times transported parts in his luggage.The Justice Department’s complaint states that security agents inspected Goudarzi’s luggage on several occasions and discovered aircraft parts and components hidden within clothing. Some items had features consistent with drone manufacturing parts as well as components used in electric motors and generators.According to this complaint, Gholamreza Goudarzi did not have the necessary license to export such items to sanctioned countries, including Iran.If Mr. Goudarzi is found guilty in this case, he faces up to 10 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000 for smuggling goods.Previously, on August 14, the U.S. Department of Justice had also charged Jeffrey Chance Nader, a 68-year-old Iranian-American citizen, with attempting to illegally export American aircraft parts to Iran.
In a series of posts on X, Mai Sato, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Iran, on Tuesday, September 4th, highlighted the execution of at least 93 individuals in Iran over the past month. She noted that only a portion of these executions have been officially reported by the Iranian regime.Mai Sato expressed concern about the execution of Reza Rasaei, one of those arrested during the nationwide protests in 2022, on August 6th. She pointed out that his conviction was based on confessions obtained through torture, other individuals in the case had retracted their testimonies implicating Rasaei, and a forensic expert had challenged Rasaei’s involvement in the murder.Ms. Sato emphasized the “necessity of transparency” in the judicial process, stating that executions carried out with a “violation of fair trial and due process” are considered “illegal” and “irreversible.”The UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Iran stated that based on the reports she has received regarding the current implementation of the death penalty in Iran, she is “deeply” concerned that innocent people may have been executed or may be at risk of execution.“I have been the Special Rapporteur on Iran for one month. In August 2024, at least 93 people were executed. Based on the information received, only a portion of these executions were officially reported by the Iranian regime, highlighting the need for transparency,” she said.
I have been the Special Rapporteur on #Iran 1 month. During August 2024, at least 93 individuals were executed. Based on information received, only a fraction is officially reported by the Islamic Republic of #Iran, highlighting the need for transparency. https://t.co/vVfWuexkMI
Ms. Sato, along with several other UN experts, reported on Friday, September 2nd, that the number of executions by the Iranian regime in August was more than double the 45 executions carried out in July.The report states that so far this year, 400 Iranian citizens, including 15 women, have been executed by the Iranian regime.UN experts noted that according to the Iranian regime’s claims, nearly half of those executed had committed drug-related offenses. They added that “execution for drug-related crimes violates international standards.”In response to this report, a spokesperson for the U.S. State Department described the execution statistics in Iran and the judicial processes leading to such sentences as “concerning.”Matthew Miller, in his daily press briefing, criticized the Iranian regime’s judiciary, stating that this institution is neither independent nor capable of providing fair trials.Amnesty International has reported that the Iranian regime was responsible for 74% of the documented executions worldwide last year. Those executed include ethnic minorities, particularly the Baloch, women, and individuals who were minors at the time of their crimes.
On August 24, an international conference titled “Crimes Against Humanity: Time for Accountability and an End to Impunity” brought together former UN officials, legal experts, and human rights advocates to emphasize the necessity of justice for the victims of the 1988 massacre in Iran. The conference, which included participation from Maryam Rajavi, President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran, underscored ongoing efforts to hold Iranian regime officials accountable for their past and present crimes.Maryam Rajavi’s speech focused on the continuing human rights abuses in Iran, urging international action against the regime. She contrasted the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights with the actions of the Iranian regime, which she described as reliant on human rights suppression and violence. Rajavi highlighted the 1988 massacre, where 30,000 political prisoners, predominantly members of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK), were executed, calling it one of Iran’s most significant human rights violations. She emphasized the justice-seeking movement fueled by this atrocity and showcased a book documenting 5,000 of the PMOI victims.Professor Javaid Rehman, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran from 2018 to 2024, presented a detailed report on the Iranian regime’s atrocities, including the 1988 massacre. He highlighted the systematic and widespread attacks on civilians, resulting in mass executions and enforced disappearances, particularly targeting PMOI members. Rehman argued that these actions were carried out with genocidal intent, as the regime viewed the PMOI as a deviant religious group, justifying their extermination. He called for an international investigative and accountability mechanism to address these crimes, stressing the importance of preventing further violations and ensuring justice for the victims.Dr. Chile Eboe-Osuji, former President of the International Criminal Court (ICC), stressed that international law no longer grants immunity to government officials who commit atrocity crimes. He pointed out that the ICC has jurisdiction over crimes in its member states if those states fail to act. Eboe-Osuji commended Professor Rehman for exposing the truth about the 1988 massacre and suggested that the targeted killings of PMOI members could meet the legal definition of genocide, further emphasizing the need for international action.Dr. Chile Eboe-Osuji, former President of the International Criminal Court (ICC)Professor Leila Nadya Sadat, former Special Adviser on Crimes Against Humanity to the ICC Prosecutor, discussed the urgent need for accountability for the 1988 massacre and other crimes committed by the Iranian regime. She warned that impunity for the 1988 crimes has emboldened the regime to continue its oppressive practices. Sadat advocated for the establishment of an international investigative mechanism to collect evidence and facilitate prosecutions, similar to those established for Syria and Myanmar. She also highlighted the importance of universal jurisdiction, urging countries to prosecute perpetrators within their borders. While acknowledging the challenges in legally defining the 1988 massacre as genocide, Sadat argued that pursuing such charges is essential to mobilizing global support and pressing the international community to act.Professor Leila Nadya Sadat, former Special Adviser on Crimes Against Humanity to the ICC ProsecutorDr. Mark Ellis, Executive Director of the International Bar Association, emphasized the importance of universal jurisdiction in prosecuting crimes such as genocide and crimes against humanity. He highlighted the precedent set by the trial of Hamid Noury in Sweden, the first legal proceeding related to the 1988 massacres, and urged other nations to adopt similar frameworks. Ellis called on European countries to use universal jurisdiction to investigate and prosecute Iranian officials for their crimes, emphasizing that the suspects and victims are well-known, and that decisive action is needed.Dr. Mark Ellis, Executive Director of the International Bar Association (IBA)Tahar Boumedra, President of JVMI and former Head of the UN Human Rights Office in Iraq, delivered a powerful testimony about the atrocities he witnessed against Iranian dissidents at Camp Ashraf. Boumedra recounted his experiences during his time with the UN mission in Iraq, where he had unrestricted access to the camp, home to many PMOI members. He described his role in documenting the crimes against the residents and criticized the UN’s inaction, which ultimately led to his resignation. Despite attempts by the UN to silence him, Boumedra continued to speak out about the abuses he witnessed. He expressed his support for Professor Rehman’s efforts to document the regime’s crimes. Boumedra’s remarks underscored the ongoing need for accountability and international solidarity with the Iranian people.Tahar Boumedra, President of JVMI and former Head of the UN Human Rights Office in IraqThe conference also featured the testimonies of the families of the 1988 massacre victims. They shared their personal experiences and grievances, holding up pictures of their lost loved ones and highlighting the immense suffering they have endured. Their stories emphasized the human cost of the regime’s brutality and reinforced the urgent need for justice and accountability from the international community.
Rezvan Hakimzadeh, the Primary Education Deputy of the Iranian regime’s Ministry of Education, announced that there are 164,000 children in Iran who have dropped out of school.The official IRNA news agency quoted Hakimzadeh as saying, “We compare the statistics of children who reach the age of six with registration data, and those who are not registered in the system are considered dropouts.”Experts believe that the statistics announced by the Ministry of Education only account for children who are unable to enter the education system, and that the overall number of dropouts is significantly higher.These experts cite statistics from the regime’s Majlis (parliament) Research Center, which reported that the number of dropouts in the country in 2023 was 930,000.On July 24, the Deputy Chairman of the Education Committee of the Majlis also stated that the number of children who have dropped out of school in Iran is 911,000, including 400,000 primary school students.On August 19, 2023, Hakimzadeh also reported an increase in primary school dropouts, with the latest figures indicating that 160,000 primary school students have dropped out.A review of official statistics shows that 70% of “dropouts” belong to the lowest five income deciles.In this context, Mohammad Molavi, a member of the Education Committee of the Islamic Consultative Assembly, stated in July that 279,000 children had dropped out of school due to “financial problems.”This trend is also evident in the statistics provided by the Iranian Statistics Center, which reported that the number of dropouts in the 2022-2023 school year exceeded 929,000, an increase of 2% compared to the previous year.In November 2023, an expert from the Majlis Research Center expressed concern about the situation of children in Iran, stating that 1.5 million children are at risk of dropping out, and 14 million children live in households that cannot afford even the basic food basket.The over-40% inflation rate in recent years has caused housing costs to consume 70 to 80 percent of the expenses of low-income households, leaving them unable to meet other essential needs, including food, healthcare, clothing, and education.
For years, the Iranian regime has exploited cheap labor by using thousands of prisoners as a source of significant income. This issue has now caught the attention of United Nations reporters. In one of the latest reports on this matter, the regime was accused of running the most prominent form of modern slavery.On August 28, the United Nations website published a written statement submitted by a non-governmental organization condemning the use of prisoners in Iran as labor, labeling it as the most prominent form of contemporary slavery. The statement examines the conditions under which Iranian regime officials rent out prisoners’ labor to private and public sectors.
Prisoners Subjected to Forced Labor
The report states that prisoners’ labor is attractive to exploiters due to its very low cost. Meanwhile, prison authorities seize at least three-quarters of the prisoners’ meager wages, presenting this situation as a clear example of human exploitation in the modern era.The statement raises deep concerns about human rights violations and the use of prisoners as a tool for profiteering, calling for immediate action by the international community to address these conditions.The report reads in part: “In the same context, estimates indicate that Iranian authorities rent labor force from prisoners to private and government sectors because it is very cheap labor compared to its counterparts in both sectors.“Those in charge of prison administration seize at least three-quarters of prisoners’ salaries, and prisoners are usually employed in prison workshops or transferred to places outside them, such as mines and quarries, where they work long hours without time to rest. Female prisoners are forced to work in sewing workshops, packing goods, cooking, and baking for very low wages – estimated at $2.9 per month for bakery workers in 2020, which is not enough to provide for their basic needs or help their families.“Guards in Tehran Grand Prison and Fashafuyeh Prison threaten prisoners with torture to encourage them to increase their productivity.”
Mohammad Eslami, the head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization stated on the evening of Saturday, August 31: “There is no deviation in our nuclear program, and we have the authority to accept or reject inspections and to prevent inspectors from entering the country.”Eslami stated, “We are monitored by the agency, and cameras and inspectors observe our activities daily, unannounced, and regularly,” noting that “the cutting of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) access to inspection cameras at Iran’s nuclear sites is related to the JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action), because according to the JCPOA, if the other party does not fulfill its commitments, we must also reduce our commitments.”In another part of his remarks, Eslami referred to international criticism regarding the denial of entry to some IAEA inspectors into Iran, saying, “We have the authority to accept or reject inspections, and this is our legal right, not due to pressure, politics, or force. They propose [inspectors], we evaluate. If we determine that an inspection is not a problem, we approve it, and if we do not approve it, no one can pressure us to accept.”Referring to the possible visit of IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi to Tehran, Eslami added that the approach of the Atomic Energy Organization under the 14th administration will not differ from previous governments, as “we operate based on programs and are accountable to program obligations.”While Eslami claims that there is no deviation in Iran’s nuclear program according to IAEA reports, the IAEA on August 29 released a confidential report stating that the Iranian regime has defied international demands by increasing its stockpile of enriched uranium to a level “close to weapons-grade.”The IAEA also noted in its new report that the Iranian government has not yet reviewed its previous decision to ban IAEA inspectors from its nuclear program, and the agency’s monitoring cameras remain disabled.
