Iran’s Regime Raises Pressure on Families of Political Prisoners

Hoshang Amiri
-
0
Iran’s Regime Raises Pressure on Families of Political Prisoners
On the morning of Saturday, January 18, 2025, two notorious senior judges of Iran’s regime, Ali Razini and Mohammad Moghiseh, were killed in the Supreme Court. State media announced that the killer was Farshid Asadi, a 31-year-old janitor at the Supreme Court. Only one day after the killing of Razini and Moghiseh, early the next morning, agents of the Ministry of Intelligence raided the home of the Akbari-Monfared family and arrested Amir Hassan, the family’s 23-year-old son. He was subjected to severe torture for 24 days, particularly during the first four days, until the Ministry of Intelligence arrested his father, Mohammad Ali Akbari-Monfared, on January 21. Mr. Akbari-Monfared, who contracted polio in childhood, is disabled in both legs. Despite also suffering from severe heart disease and four strokes—including one stroke that, even after several years, has left the right side of his body paralyzed—he has been unable to leave his home in recent years. Nevertheless, the Ministry of Intelligence accused him and his son of supplying a weapon to his cousin once removed, Farshid Asadi (the Supreme Court janitor), or of carrying out “terrorist operations” on behalf of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK). The People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) is the largest Iranian opposition group. Over the past decades, Iran’s regime has executed 120,000 of its members and supporters. He is currently hospitalized in Shahr-e Rey, where doctors have considered amputating his leg due to an infection caused by the harsh and unsanitary conditions in the Greater Tehran Prison. Although nine months later Amir Hassan, his father Mohammad Ali, and their two co-defendants—Arghavan Fallahi and Bijan Kazemi—were acquitted of charges of involvement in the killing of judges Raezani and Moghiseh, Amir Hassan was subjected to severe physical and psychological torture to force a confession. He spent six months in solitary confinement. Four days later, the interrogators brought his father to see him. They tried to force Amir Hassan to confess, but when he refused, they removed his blindfold. Mr. Akbari-Monfared was sitting in a wheelchair, and the torturers pointed a gun at his head, threatening, “If you don’t confess, we will kill your father.” Amir Hassan refused to give in to the threats. In front of his father, they beat him, tied his legs, and hung him upside down for two hours, repeatedly kicking him in the stomach. Mr. Akbari-Monfared previously served eight months in prison during the 2000s. He is distantly related to Farshid Asadi, the man said to have shot the two notorious Supreme Court judges, as well as to two other political prisoners, Maryam Akbari-Monfared and Reza Akbari-Monfared, who are his cousins. Both Maryam and Reza were sentenced to 17 and 10 years in prison respectively for seeking justice for their family members executed by the regime. Maryam Akbari-Monfared has spent 17 years in prison without a single day of leave.
Maryam Akbari Monfared Faces Paralysis as Iranian Regime Blocks Treatment
In recent years, the main approach of Iran’s regime security forces in dealing with the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) has been to arrest and fabricate cases against individuals who were either previously, during the 2000s, accused of supporting or belonging to this organization, or those related by family ties to its members. Ali Younesi, the son of Mir Youssef Younesi—a political prisoner of the 2000s—was arrested in March 2020 and, after months of uncertainty, sentenced to 16 years in prison. Ali was only 19 years old at the time of his arrest. He was a gifted student at Sharif University of Technology and a gold medalist in the 2017 International Astronomy and Astrophysics Olympiad. Similarly, 25-year-old Arghavan Fallahi was arrested during the nationwide protests of 2022, along with her father, a former political prisoner, and her brother.
Eleven Days of Silence on Political Prisoners Abducted From Iran’s Evin Prison

The Entire Family Was Arrested; Nothing Is Left for Them

The arrests at the Akbari-Monfared household did not end with Amir Hassan and his father. Sometime later, agents came to arrest the family’s daughter, and two weeks after that, they returned to detain the eldest son. Fifty-eight-year-old Mohammad Ali Akbari-Monfared is currently in a hospital, handcuffed and shackled, under the watch of two armed guards. To pressure Amir Hassan, the regime is keeping him among drug traffickers, thieves, and criminal inmates. The Iranian regime intends to break him through unbearable torture and force him to confess to what they demand. He once went on a hunger strike, but the head of the Greater Tehran Prison came and threatened him, saying, “We’ll beat you so badly that you won’t be able to stand up for a week.” The father and son have no lawyer, as the judiciary refuses to allow any attorney access to their case. Despite the lack of any evidence against them, they remain unlawfully detained in prison. Families of political prisoners have repeatedly been warned that if a human rights lawyer or an independent attorney takes their case, it will “cause trouble” for them. Nine months of preliminary investigation for this case is excessively long. Through such prolonged and fabricated cases against families of political prisoners, Iran’s regime seeks to intimidate society. Surrounded by severe social crises and international isolation, the regime sees the suppression of the opposition as its only means of survival.

Unprecedented Execution Record in the Past 30 Years in Iran

Hoshang Amiri
-
0
Unprecedented Execution Record in the Past 30 Years in Iran
The total number of executions carried out between September 23, and October 22 has reached an unprecedented figure of at least 283 people — the highest in the past four decades. Independent and human rights sources emphasize that this number represents only the officially reported portion of reality, as many executions are conducted secretly without any public announcement.

Comparing these figures with previous years reveals a shocking trend:

  • September 23 to October 22, 2022 = 36 executions
  • September 23 to October 22, 2023 = 81 executions
  • September 23 to October 22, 2024 = 152 executions
  • September 23 to October 22, 2025 = 283 executions
The rapid surge in these figures illustrates the regime’s policy of intensified repression and internal pressure in the face of growing political and social crises.
Iran’s Regime Executes 18 Prisoners, Including One Woman
Statistical Composition of Executions: The Real Face of Structural Violence Analysis of the statistics during this period shows that the structure of executions spans across women, minors, ethnic minorities, and foreign nationals:
  • Women executed: 7
  • Juvenile offenders (under 18 at the time of crime): 2
  • Drug-related charges: 134
  • Murder charges: 134
  • Baluch prisoners: 10
  • Afghan nationals: 11
  • Espionage charges: 2
Execution in Iran is not merely a judicial reaction but a core element of the ruling system — a mechanism for elimination, not reform. A look at statistics from the past seven months shows that at least 1,138 prisoners have been executed across the country. The details themselves reflect the depth of the tragedy:
  • Women executed: 36
  • Juvenile offenders executed: 6
  • Political prisoners: 22
  • Drug-related charges: 555
  • Murder charges: 489
  • Baluch prisoners: 116
  • Kurdish prisoners: 44
  • Afghan nationals: 59
  • Espionage charges: 12
The widespread use of executions reflects the Iranian regime’s reliance on them as a tool to project false authority and instill fear throughout society.

Why Have Executions Accelerated?

The key question is why the dictatorship ruling Iran, while facing multiple domestic and international crises, has resorted to accelerating executions.
Iranian Worker at Risk of Execution
On one hand, economic pressures caused by sanctions, deadlocks in regional policy, and global isolation have eroded the regime’s political legitimacy. On the other, the Iranian people, following the mass protests of 2022, have demonstrated their capability and determination for change. In this situation, “execution” serves as a psychological weapon for the regime — a means to threaten society, intimidate dissidents, and maintain control in the face of growing dissent. However, evidence from the ground indicates that this repressive policy has lost its deterrent effect.

Protests Inside Prisons: A Sign of the Collapse of Fear

The strike of 1,500 prisoners in Ward 2 of Ghezel Hesar Prison and the gathering of their families protesting the implementation of death sentences present a clear image of resistance against this deadly policy. Support for the “Tuesdays for No to Execution” campaign, both inside prisons and within society, demonstrates that the regime has failed to enforce total silence even behind prison walls. “Execution,” once intended as a tool of fear, has now turned into a spark for protest and solidarity.

The Responsibility of the International Community and Human Conscience

In such a catastrophic situation, the responsibility of the international community, human rights organizations, and the United Nations is heavier than ever. The UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Iran and other international bodies must continuously and publicly pressure the regime’s leaders to halt executions. Silence or inaction in the face of these crimes amounts to complicity in the cycle of death.

Iran’s Regime Debt to Social Security Disrupts Healthcare for Workers and Retirees

Esmaeil Mohades
-
0
Iran’s Regime Debt to Social Security Disrupts Healthcare for Workers and Retirees
Three weeks after the approval by Iran’s top three branches of power to pay 700 trillion rials (approximately 608.7 million dollars) of the government’s debt to the Social Security Organization, the securities have still not been delivered to Refah Bank, creating the risk of further disruption in healthcare services for workers and retirees. The state-run ILNA news agency reported on Tuesday, October 28, that according to the decision made on October 6 by Iran’s three branches of power, the government was supposed to settle part of its debt to the healthcare sector of the Social Security Organization by issuing 700 trillion rials in securities, and transfer the remaining 1.2 quadrillion rials (approximately 1.043 billion dollars) to the organization by the end of the year through state-owned shares and assets.
Iranian Workers Cannot Afford Even One Gram of Gold with Their Monthly Minimum Wage
However, three weeks after the October 6 approval, the relevant bonds have still not been signed by the Planning and Budget Organization or delivered to Refah Bank. Although the head of the Planning and Budget Organization promised on October 11 that “part of the government’s debt will be paid soon,” bureaucratic delays in the organization have once again halted the payment of healthcare dues—a problem that has also plagued other issues such as retirees’ back pay, salary adjustments, and teacher ranking plans. Earlier, on August 27, Reza Jabbari, a member of the presidium of Iran’s parliament (Majlis), warned about an “imbalance crisis” in the country’s healthcare system, emphasizing that given the current conditions, the government will no longer be able to cover healthcare costs in the future. In a meeting with Mohammadreza Zafarghandi, the Iranian regime’s minister of health, treatment, and medical education, he warned: “If no plan is made for the country’s healthcare system, given the aging population and dietary patterns, the same imbalance crisis we are currently facing in the energy sector will emerge in healthcare.”

Experts’ Warnings

Nima Amirshokari, an economist and faculty member at the Monetary and Banking Research Institute, told the state-run ILNA news agency that converting debt securities into cash in banks usually takes less than two weeks, but: “When this process takes too long, the problem lies within the decision-making body—the Planning and Budget Organization—which has a more complex bureaucratic mechanism.” He emphasized that banks assume only limited risks in such processes, bearing the financial costs and delays in liquidity, but not responsibility for the delay in bond issuance. Alireza Heydari, a social security expert, also told ILNA that these are actually “one-year Islamic treasury bonds” through which the government defers its payment obligations to the future.
Iranian Workers’ Wages Have Fallen By 261% In Less Than Ten Years
According to him, this method is a form of debt shifting and does not increase the government’s budget deficit, but its liquidity depends on the prompt action of the Planning and Budget Organization and the cooperation of the designated bank. He also stressed that the approval of this resolution at the highest level of the three branches reflects an understanding of the “emergency situation” in social security, and it is expected that the government will exert more pressure on executive bodies for its swift implementation. Shahram Kalantari, head of the Iranian Pharmacists Association, stated on August 26 that “the government is a massive debtor in the pharmaceutical supply chain,” adding: “Since March 21, 2025, except for the Health Insurance Organization—which only paid its April debt—we have received nothing from insurers.” He further said: “The Health Insurance Organization owes us 100 trillion rials (approximately 87 million dollars), the Social Security Organization owes 150 trillion rials (approximately 130.4 million dollars), and the Daroyar drug subsidy plan owes 90 trillion rials (approximately 78.2 million dollars) since July.”

Risk of Contract Cancellations and Healthcare Disruptions

Delays in implementing the resolution have pushed the insured healthcare network into crisis. According to Heydari, the Social Security Organization currently faces a six-month delay in paying its debts to Atieh Sazan supplementary insurance, private hospitals, pharmacies, and university medical centers. He warned that if this situation continues, insurance companies and medical centers may unilaterally terminate their contracts, as the private sector has no obligation to continue providing services without payment. This concern has become more serious as the renewal period for new contracts between supplementary insurers and medical centers approaches, with experts warning that continuation of this trend could disrupt the healthcare cycle for workers and retirees.

IAEA: Iran Has Enough Material for 10 Nuclear Bombs

Esmaeil Mohades
-
0
IAEA: Iran Has Enough Material for 10 Nuclear Bombs
Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), has for years warned about Iran’s widespread uranium enrichment at concentrations approaching the level needed to build a nuclear weapon. Grossi told the Swiss newspaper Le Temps on Wednesday, October 22, that Iran’s regime still possesses enriched uranium, including about 400 kilograms enriched to 60%, a concentration slightly below weapons-grade. Grossi added that if the trend continues, Iran would have enough material for roughly 10 nuclear bombs.

Reaction from Araqchi to Grossi’s remarks

Abbas Araqchi, foreign minister of Iran’s regime, immediately responded to Grossi’s remarks, saying, “I do not know whether he said this out of concern or as a threat, but those who make such threats should know that repeating a failed experience will yield nothing but another failure for them.”
Iran’s Nuclear Power Dream: From Fantasy to Reality
In his interview Grossi also said that if diplomacy fails, force would be used again. His words were not left unanswered by Iran’s regime officials. Ebrahim Azizi, chair of the National Security Commission, responded, “If Grossi had observed professional and technical principles, a war would not have taken shape.” Azizi called Grossi an “agent” of the twelve-day war between Iran and Israel and said, “He is now worried about diplomacy.” Grossi’s statements about Iran’s enriched uranium came after Iran halted cooperation with IAEA inspectors. Ali Larijani, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, said that if the IAEA wants to conduct inspections, it must submit a formal request so it can be reviewed. Following these developments, the Washington-based Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS) released new satellite imagery saying that reconstruction activity has begun at the former site of the “Taleqan-2” facility, which had been destroyed in an Israeli strike. All of this data suggests that Iran’s nuclear developments have reached a sensitive and dangerous stage.
Iranian regime’s Near-Weapons-Grade Uranium Stockpile Grew Before Strike
If Iran’s regime pursues the bomb path and can raise the enrichment level to 90%, the production of a nuclear weapon would become possible. So far, the IAEA does not know whether the 400 kilograms of enriched uranium were buried underground after the bombing or moved elsewhere. Iran’s regime fears that this information could be passed to the United States and Israel so that in the next round of strikes those exact locations would be targeted. Iran’s regime currently faces a crossroads of “surrender or resistance” and is trying to resist as much as possible in hopes of finding a way out of this crisis without the fall of the regime. It is worth noting that the world was not aware of the regime’s nuclear program. In 2003 the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), the largest Iranian opposition group, provided this information to international organizations to prevent the regime from building an atomic bomb. If Iran’s regime is given enough time, it can reactivate its previously destroyed or dormant nuclear program. According to experts, to convert these 400 kilograms into 90% enriched uranium, Iran’s regime would need to possess several thousand centrifuges secretly — and it has demonstrated that it has that capability. Rebuilding nuclear sites and restoring the production capacity of several thousand centrifuges is possible but time-consuming, because many centrifuges have been destroyed or rendered unusable and must be rebuilt and reinstalled. There is no precise information on the fate of the 400 kilograms of enriched uranium. Iran’s regime may be seeking to continue on the path to building an atomic bomb, in which case the lives of the Iranian people would be put at risk. Domestic experts say the regime’s nuclear project has so far cost roughly 2 trillion dollars directly or indirectly (under international sanctions), but Iran’s regime, which sees its survival tied to having a nuclear weapon, will not abandon this project.

92nd Week Of ‘No To Execution Tuesdays’ Campaign In 54 Prisons Across Iran

Sia Rajabi
-
0
92nd Week Of ‘No To Execution Tuesdays’ Campaign In 54 Prisons Across Iran
The 92nd week of the “No to Execution Tuesdays” campaign continues in 54 prisons across Iran. With the prisons of Ilam and Borujerd joining the campaign last week, the number of prisons participating in the hunger strike of the “No to Execution Tuesdays” movement has reached 54. In this week’s statement of the “No to Execution Tuesdays” campaign, referring to the confirmation of death sentences for Manouchehr Fallah and Ehsan Faridi and the issuance of death sentences for Kavous Abdollahzadeh and Zahra Tabari, it states: “These cruel sentences are a clear attempt to instill fear in society and silence the voices of freedom-loving people of Iran.” The political prisoners emphasized in this statement that the people are standing firm against this machinery of death and intimidation. The full text of the 92nd weekly statement of the “No to Execution Tuesdays” campaign is as follows: Expansion of “No to Execution Tuesdays” to 54 prisons in the 92nd week with the joining of the Borujerd Brick Factory Prison and Ilam Prison As we pass the 92nd week of the “No to Execution Tuesdays” campaign, the repressive and execution-driven regime recorded 283 executions in the month of Mehr 1404 (September–October 2025) — making it the bloodiest month in decades. In this month alone, seven political prisoners, seven women, and two child offenders were executed. Since last Tuesday, 59 executions, including two women, have been recorded. This wave of executions has coincided with the issuance and confirmation of new death sentences against political prisoners, including Kurdish political prisoner Kavous Abdollahzadeh and Zahra Tabari in Lakan Prison in Rasht, as well as the reconfirmation of death sentences for Manouchehr Fallah and Ehsan Faridi by the Supreme Court. Last week, Evin Prison officials and security forces attempted to transfer Ehsan Afrashteh from Evin Prison for execution, but the move was met with resistance from fellow inmates. There remains a constant threat of his imminent transfer for the implementation of the death sentence.
Iranian Political Prisoner Sentenced to Death
“These cruel sentences are a clear attempt to instill fear in society and silence the voices of freedom-loving people of Iran. This tyrannical regime, for more than 46 years, through corruption and the plundering of the oppressed people’s wealth — which continues to this day — has dragged the nation into death and destruction and now clings to execution as a tool for its survival.” But the people have stood firm against this machinery of death and intimidation. The prisons of Borujerd and Ilam have now joined those that, in the heart of darkness, keep the flame of protest alive. By joining the “No to Execution Tuesdays” campaign, they send the voice of resistance from behind prison walls to the world. This week, the brave and bereaved families of those sentenced to death gathered in front of the parliament, chanting “No to Execution,” showing that no power can extinguish the flame of love for freedom and the right to life in this land. We, the members of this campaign, once again declare: Execution is a criminal tool for the survival of tyrannical regimes. No religious or political justification can legitimize the deprivation of human life. Every execution is a new wound on the body of society and a sign of the failure of law, human dignity, and justice. We demand the immediate halt of all executions, the annulment of all death sentences, and unconditional access for international human rights organizations to prisons and prisoners in Iran. On Tuesday, October 28, political prisoners in fifty-four prisons across the country are on hunger strike.

Iran’s Regime Shifted Drug and Weapons Smuggling Operations to Yemen After Assad’s Fall

Mehdi Hosseini
-
0
Iran’s Regime Shifted Drug and Weapons Smuggling Operations to Yemen After Assad’s Fall
Yemen’s Interior Minister Ibrahim Haidan stated that after the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s government in Syria, Iran’s regime transferred its narcotics and weapons smuggling operations to Yemen. He said in an interview with Al Hadath TV on Sunday, October 26, 2025, that the Syrians arrested in Yemen were drug-manufacturing experts who had entered the country under the guise of tourists. Haidan reported close security cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s legitimate government, adding that relations between the two sides “are at their best level.”
Strong Ties Between Houthis and Iranian Regime Arms Supply Network Remain Intact
According to him, the discovery of a drug production factory in Yemen’s Al Mahrah Governorate was carried out in full coordination with Riyadh, and the coast guard forces of both countries have conducted joint exercises and training sessions. On September 5, Haidan had also announced the seizure of a captagon production plant linked to Iran’s regime in Yemen, stating that the country’s security forces had arrested a Syrian national and a Lebanese national in connection with the facility. He said the purpose of these activities was “to expand smuggling networks and destabilize the region.” The Houthis are considered one of Iran’s regime’s proxy groups in the region. The Israeli news outlet Ynet reported on September 26, 2025, that the Houthis, with Tehran’s support, continue to produce weapons and train proxy forces. Continuing his interview with Al Hadath, Yemen’s interior minister referred to the country’s internal situation, stating that the Houthi coup had weakened the structure of the state and created a security vacuum. Haidan added that some of the arrested Houthi members had links with the Somali militant group al-Shabaab. The Houthis have controlled the Yemeni capital, Sana’a, since 2014. However, the United Nations, the United States, and the European Union do not recognize the group’s rule. The United States and Israel have designated the Houthis as a terrorist organization. The Middle East Monitor Research Foundation, a Dubai-based political think tank, wrote in an October 16, 2025, analysis that with the Gaza ceasefire agreement, Yemen has become a new front of confrontation between Iran’s regime and Israel. On September 6, Moammar al-Eryani, Yemen’s minister of information, announced that the Houthis, in cooperation with Iran’s regime, had established a factory for producing chemical weapons in areas under their control.

Iran’s Regime Executes 18 Prisoners, Including One Woman

Hoshang Amiri
-
0
Iran’s Regime Executes 18 Prisoners, Including One Woman
Eighteen prisoners, including one woman, were executed in prisons across Iran between Tuesday, October 21, and Sunday, October 26, 2025. The executions took place in the prisons of Shiraz, Zahedan, Aligudarz, Arak, Esfarayen, Khorramabad, Dezful, Qom, Shahroud, Rasht, Tabriz, Ghezel Hesar (Karaj), Yazd, and Borujerd.

Execution of 3 prisoners in Adel Abad Prison of Shiraz

At dawn on Sunday, October 26, three prisoners were executed in Adel Abad Prison in Shiraz. Their identities are as follows: – Mousa Mohammadi, a native of Tabriz and resident of Saadi Town in Shiraz, previously arrested and sentenced to death on murder charges. – Mohammad Reza Nazari, from Shiraz. – A prisoner identified by the surname Dehghani, who had been charged with murder.
UN Fact-Finding Mission Expresses Concern over Unprecedented Rise in Executions in Iran

Execution of Mohammad Omar Zardkouhi in Zahedan Prison

On the morning of Sunday, October 26, 28-year-old Mohammad Omar Zardkouhi was executed in Zahedan Prison. He had been arrested two years earlier on murder charges and sentenced to death.

Execution of Manouchehr Mehki in Aligudarz Prison

At dawn on Sunday, October 26, Manouchehr Mehki was executed in Aligudarz Prison. He had previously been arrested and sentenced to death on murder charges.

Execution of Mehrdad Moradi in Arak Prison

At dawn on Sunday, October 26, Mehrdad Moradi was executed in Arak Prison. His charges were related to narcotics offenses.

Execution of Ali Saedpanah in Esfarayen Prison

On the morning of Sunday, October 26, Ali Saedpanah was executed in Esfarayen Prison. He had been arrested two years earlier and sentenced to death on murder charges.

Execution of Yar Hossein Bahri in Khorramabad Prison

At dawn on Saturday, October 25, Yar Hossein Bahri was executed in Khorramabad Prison. His charge was murder.

Execution of Mohammad Osmani in Dezful Prison

At dawn on Saturday, October 25, Mohammad Osmani was executed in Dezful Prison on murder charges.

Execution of Narges Ahmadi in Qom Prison

On the morning of Saturday, October 25, Narges Ahmadi was executed in Qom Prison. She had previously been arrested on murder charges and sentenced to death.

Execution of Reza Sabzi in Shahroud Prison

At dawn on Saturday, October 25, Reza Sabzi was executed in Shahroud Prison. His charges were related to narcotics offenses.

Execution of 3 prisoners in Lakan Prison of Rasht

At dawn on Saturday, October 25, three prisoners were executed in Lakan Prison in Rasht. Their identities are as follows: – Farhad Hatami, from Kangavar. – Meysam Bagheri, 34 years old, from Karaj, who had been imprisoned for six years. – Amir Nazari. All three were executed on charges related to narcotics offenses.

Execution of Marouf Fattahi in Tabriz Prison

At dawn on Wednesday, October 22, Marouf Fattahi, 30, from Tabriz, was executed in Tabriz Prison. He had been arrested five years ago following a street altercation and sentenced to death for murder.

Execution of a prisoner in Ghezel Hesar Prison

According to the state-run IRNA news agency, at dawn on Wednesday, October 22, a prisoner identified only by the initials M.A. was executed in Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj. His charge was murder.

Execution of Eslam Mirsaydeh in Yazd Prison

At dawn on Tuesday, October 21, Eslam Mirsaydeh, a 59-year-old Afghan national from Pul-e Alam city in Afghanistan, was executed in Yazd Prison. His charges were related to narcotics offenses.

Execution of Fardin Vafaipour in Borujerd Prison

At dawn on Tuesday, October 21, Fardin Vafaipour, 43, from Borujerd and father of two children, was executed in Borujerd Prison. He had been arrested four years earlier on drug-related charges and sentenced to death.

Iranian Political Prisoner Sentenced to Death

Mehdi Hosseini
-
0
Iranian Political Prisoner Sentenced to Death
The Revolutionary Court of Rasht has sentenced Zahra Shahbaz Tabari, a 67-year-old political prisoner, to death. Branch One of the Revolutionary Court of Rasht sentenced political prisoner Zahra Shahbaz Tabari to death on charges of “collaboration with groups opposing the regime.” The ruling was issued despite “very limited and unreliable evidence.” Judge Ahmad Darvish-Goftar issued the death sentence last week during a video-conference hearing for Shahbaz Tabari. The political prisoner from Rasht has been accused of “collaboration with the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK).” The PMOI/MEK is the largest organized opposition group to Iran’s regime. Iran’s regime has turned executions into a tool of control and repression. The regime’s policy of executions serves not justice, but the continuation of institutionalized violence and an admission of its inability to enact social reform.

Trial lasted less than 10 minutes

Shahbaz Tabari’s family described the entire court process as “symbolic and illegal.” In an interview with the Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), Shahbaz Tabari’s child said: “The trial lasted less than 10 minutes. My mother did not have effective access to an independent lawyer. The lawyer appointed by the judiciary endorsed and relayed the verdict without offering any real defense. The entire trial was a show.” He added: “The judge announced the death sentence with a smile during a 10-minute session. The appointed lawyer also smiled when he heard the verdict.” He called the charges against the 67-year-old political prisoner “fabricated” and stressed that his mother “had no connection whatsoever with any political group or opposition movement.” Earlier, on July 27, Iran’s regime executed two political prisoners, Mehdi Hassani and Behrouz Ehsani Eslamloo, on charges of membership in the PMOI/MEK.
Global Condemnation of the Execution of Behrouz Ehsani and Mehdi Hassani
Another political prisoner, Manouchehr Fallah, imprisoned in Rasht, has also received a death sentence on the same charge. These actions by the Iranian regime reflect its fear of the growing activities of the resistance movement. Through such measures, the regime seeks to intimidate and influence public opinion.

Limited and unreliable evidence

According to Zahra’s relatives, the case evidence consists solely of “a piece of cloth bearing the slogan ‘Woman, Resistance, and Freedom'” and “an unpublished voice message,” with no indication of organizational or military activity. Her child added that Iranian regime security officials even attempted to add more serious charges, including “possession of weapons,” to the case—an allegation that, considering her age and professional background, is “baseless and absurd.” Shahbaz Tabari is a graduate of Isfahan University of Technology, an electrical engineer, and a member of the Iranian Engineering Organization. She holds a master’s degree in Sustainable Energy from the University of Borås in Sweden. She had previously been arrested for posting peaceful content on social media and was released after three months under electronic monitoring. On April 17, security forces raided Shahbaz Tabari’s home, arrested her, and transferred her to Lakan Prison in Rasht. During the operation, agents searched her residence and confiscated her mobile phone, laptop, and those of one of her family members. According to Shahbaz Tabari’s family, she has only seven days to appeal the death sentence issued against her.

With The Debt of a Single Bank in Iran, 120 Specialized Hospitals Could Be Built

Hoshang Amiri
-
0
With The Debt of a Single Bank in Iran, 120 Specialized Hospitals Could Be Built
Hossein Raghfar, a pro-regime economist, reacted to the recent crisis involving Iran’s Ayandeh Bank, saying that with its tens of trillions of tomans of debt to the Central Bank, at least 120 specialized hospitals could be built in Iran. On Saturday, October 25, Raghfar said in an interview that Ayandeh Bank has losses of 4.5 quadrillion rials (approximately 4 billion dollars) and owes 3 quadrillion rials (approximately 2.7 billion dollars) to the Central Bank. According to him, the bank also loaned 1.3 quadrillion rials (approximately 1.13 billion dollars) to 61 individuals without collateral and has not recovered the money.
U.S. Treasury Identifies $9 Billion in ‘Iranian Shadow Banking’ Activity
The economist added that this amount of debt is 25 times the cost of constructing the Persian Gulf refinery and could be used to build 120 specialized hospitals or a railway network connecting Tehran, Mashhad, Shiraz, Isfahan, and Tabriz. On October 23, Mohammad Reza Farzin, the governor of the Central Bank of Iran’s regime, announced the dissolution of Ayandeh Bank and its merger into Bank Melli (the National Bank of Iran). In a statement, the Central Bank also said that due to accumulated losses of 5.5 quadrillion rials (approximately 4.78 billion dollars), overdrafts of 3.13 quadrillion rials (approximately 2.7 billion dollars), a negative capital adequacy ratio of 600%, severe liquidity imbalance, and the non-repayment of 80% of granted loans, it was necessary for Ayandeh Bank to enter the “resolution process.” Ali Ansari, the founder of Ayandeh Bank and owner of the Iran Mall (one of the largest shopping centers in the Middle East), reacted to the bank’s dissolution without mentioning its massive debts, calling Ayandeh’s activities a symbol of “effort and intelligence” and saying his “conscience is clear.” Raghfar continued, describing Ayandeh Bank as one of the symbols of structural corruption in Iran’s banking system. He said that while such enormous resources have been destroyed, the bank’s CEO mocks public opinion and speaks of rationality in economic management. Criticizing oversight institutions, Raghfar added: “The question is, where was the government during all this time, and why did it delay the dissolution of Ayandeh Bank? The excuse of lacking proper laws for this delay is irrelevant and unrealistic.” The economist referred to the backing of unbalanced banks as “power institutions” and emphasized that as long as major bank debtors are not identified and the judiciary and parliament fail to act against them, the banking crisis will persist. In recent days, many social media users, referring to Ali Ansari’s close relationship with Mojtaba Khamenei (the son of regime supreme leader Ali Khamenei), described the structure of Iran’s regime as the main driver of widespread financial corruption. Financial reports of Ayandeh Bank show that by mid-June, about 98% of its major loans—amounting to 1.2 quadrillion tomans (approximately 1.043 billion dollars)—were classified as non-performing, effectively meaning that the bank’s repayment cycle had collapsed. Raghfar also commented on Bank Sepah, saying that “before merging with the five military and security banks, it was not unbalanced,” but the merger introduced “corrupted assets and massive debts” into its balance sheet. The economist warned: “With Ayandeh Bank’s massive debt, the country’s economy has become extremely fragile, and in the future, Bank Melli may also join the list of unbalanced banks.” Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the speaker of Iran’s regime parliament (Majlis), on October 25, called the decision to dissolve Ayandeh Bank “a serious starting point for reforming the banking system and thereby reducing the country’s inflation,” adding that similar actions should be taken against other loss-making banks and financial institutions. He urged the Central Bank to offset Ayandeh Bank’s accumulated losses through “the assets of its main shareholder.” Fatemeh Mohajerani, the government’s spokesperson, also cited “banks’ imbalance and excessive withdrawals” as one of the causes of inflation, assuring the public that depositors “should not worry” because their accounts will be transferred to Bank Melli. Ayandeh Bank was established in 2012 following the merger of Tat Bank, Salehin Credit Institution, and Ati Credit Institution. According to unofficial estimates, the bank currently employs around 4,000 staff members and provides services to nearly three million customers through 270 branches across Iran.

Critical Air Pollution in Iran’s Major Cities

Sia Rajabi
-
0
Critical Air Pollution in Iran’s Major Cities
The air in several cities of Khuzestan Province has reached the red alert level, meaning it is unhealthy for all groups. In Isfahan and Mashhad, air quality is reported to be at an orange level, unhealthy for sensitive groups. According to air quality monitoring data on Friday, October 24, the city of Hoveyzeh, with an air quality index (AQI) of 158, is classified as “unhealthy for all groups” and is currently the most polluted location in Khuzestan Province. The Air Quality Index (AQI) is divided into five main categories: 0–50 represents clean air, 51–100 indicates moderate air quality, 101–150 is unhealthy for sensitive groups, 151–200 is unhealthy for everyone, 201–300 is very unhealthy, and 301–500 represents hazardous air conditions.
Air Pollution Emergency in Three Iranian Provinces
The cities of Behbahan and Khorramshahr recorded AQI levels of 152 and 151, respectively, placing them in the red alert zone. Experts have warned that fine particulate matter smaller than 2.5 microns—about one-thirtieth the diameter of a human hair—can penetrate deep into the lungs and cause cardiovascular, respiratory, and neurological problems.

Warning in Khuzestan, Rising Pollution in Tehran

While Khuzestan is under an air pollution alert, Tehran’s air quality index is also on the rise. Reports indicate that on the first Friday of November, Tehran’s air quality index reached 108, placing it in the orange zone—unhealthy for sensitive groups. Over the past 24 hours, the average AQI in Tehran was 99, which is considered acceptable. According to data from the Tehran Air Quality Control Company, the capital had only 10 days of acceptable air quality in October, while 19 days were unhealthy for sensitive groups and one day was unhealthy for all groups. The most polluted day of the month was October 2, when the AQI reached 181 due to particulate matter smaller than 10 microns. For most polluted days in October, Tehran’s main pollutant was fine particulate matter smaller than 2.5 microns, which was responsible for reduced air quality on 20 out of 30 days that month.

Situation in Other Cities

Based on data from 13 active monitoring stations, Isfahan’s 24-hour average AQI stood at 121, indicating orange alert conditions—unhealthy for sensitive groups. In Mashhad, the 24-hour average AQI was 124, also reflecting unhealthy conditions for sensitive groups. In recent weeks, multiple cities across various Iranian provinces have been struggling with air pollution and dust storms, disrupting residents’ daily lives. Over the past years, air pollution levels have repeatedly reached critical points, and the spread of dust particles has worsened Iran’s environmental crises and public health threats. Despite the worsening situation, Iran’s regime has failed to present a coherent or sustainable plan to control and manage this crisis.
1...495051...3,779Page 50 of 3,779