The Collapse of Livelihoods in Tehran; Housing Rent Has Become a NightmareExperts believe the housing market is currently in a state of waiting for lasting political stability. The fluctuation of the dollar around 1.6 million rials has completely disrupted developers’ calculations for new projects. Year-on-year inflation in March and April reached 50.6%, a serious warning sign. This inflationary pressure has turned housing from a consumer good into a safe haven for preserving value. Without a non-aggression agreement, a short-term recovery in property transactions appears unlikely.
Iran’s Housing Market Under the Rubble of War
The 40-day war involving Iran’s regime, the United States, and Israel led to a phenomenon analysts describe as “wartime freeze.” Between February 28 and mid-April, property transactions nearly dropped to zero. Field reports indicate that the average price per square meter in Tehran now fluctuates between 1.25 billion and 1.33 billion rials (approximately 800 to 850 dollars). After a 15.6% surge in January–February, prices stagnated due to the shadow of war. Sellers, facing uncertainty about the future of peace, have increased asking prices by up to 10%. However, buyers have withdrawn from the market and shifted their capital into gold. In areas such as District 1 of Tehran, record prices of 5.8 billion rials (approximately 3,718 dollars) have been reported for select properties.
Iran’s Nurses Reject the Regime’s ‘Pro Internet’ Plan
At a time when public access to the internet in Iran is facing widespread restrictions, the issue of “Pro Internet” has become a major topic of debate. This type of special access, designed for certain groups and institutions, has sparked various reactions. In this context, the Nursing Organization (a professional body representing nurses in Iran) has taken a different stance and rejected the use of this privilege.
According to a report published on April 26, the Nursing Organization, which has around 300,000 members, has officially opposed Pro Internet. Ahmad Nejatian, the head of the organization, stated that nurses do not consider themselves separate from the public and do not seek special privileges.
Pro Internet and the protests against it
Pro Internet has been introduced as a new model of access to the global network. Rather than focusing primarily on speed, it emphasizes connection stability and less restricted access to certain international services. Access to Pro Internet is mainly designed for groups such as businesses, technology companies, and certain professional institutions.Obtaining this service requires verification of professional identity and going through administrative procedures. Users must also pay an additional fee to use it. While this option is available to some, the general public continues to face extensive internet restrictions. This disparity in access has become one of the main points of protest against Pro Internet. In its official statement, the Nursing Organization announced that despite having access to Pro Internet, it will not use the service until general public access is restored. Ahmad Nejatian stated that the internet is an essential tool for the daily lives of all people and should be equally available to everyone. He emphasized that the decision was made after review by the organization’s board of directors. According to him, as long as other segments of society do not have access to free internet, nurses will not make special requests either. This position has been taken while internet restrictions have caused significant economic damage. Estimates indicate that internet shutdowns or disruptions have inflicted daily losses of between 30 trillion and 50 trillion rials on the economy. Additionally, part of the workforce in digital companies has faced the risk of unemployment. The Nursing Organization’s rejection of tiered internet has been presented as an example of protest against unequal access to the internet. This decision comes as communication restrictions continue, and the debate over fairness in internet access has become one of the main issues in society.⚖️ #Iran's internet blackout has now entered its 59th day after 1392 hours of near-total disconnection from the outside world.
— NetBlocks (@netblocks) April 27, 2026
The prolonged shutdown continues to cast a veil of digital darkness over human rights violations on the ground. pic.twitter.com/HN6m3FxPfV
Iranian Doctor Sentenced to Death for Helping Injured Protesters
Ameneh Soleimani, a physician, was arrested solely for saving the lives of those injured during the January 2026 uprising and is now facing a death sentence.
Dr. Ameneh Soleimani, a physician and director of a dermatology and cosmetic clinic in Ardabil, a city in northwestern Iran, was arrested in recent days by security forces for admitting and treating individuals injured during protests in the city.
Iran’s Regime Executes Baluch Political Prisoner Amer RameshThe arrest of Ameneh Soleimani is assessed as part of direct pressure on the medical community to deter them from treating protesters. According to reports from Iran, at least four physicians have so far been arrested for treating the injured, and there is no information about their condition or whereabouts. Additionally, Khosrow Minaei, a 45-year-old volunteer rescue worker, who had turned his home into a shelter for treating the injured, was arrested on January 14, 2026, during a raid by security forces. Mr. Minaei had sheltered and treated more than 20 injured individuals in his home; two of them died due to the severity of their injuries. He was severely beaten at the time of his arrest. Security agents also completely destroyed household belongings, shattered the windows of the house, and fully wrecked his personal vehicle, a Peugeot Pars. During the January protests, multiple cases of security crackdowns against physicians and medical staff were reported. Local sources have reported raids on temporary medical shelters and the arrest of doctors who, without any political activity, were solely engaged in treating the injured. The medical community and public opinion should not remain silent in the face of such news.
Iran’s Regime Executes Baluch Political Prisoner Amer Ramesh
The Iranian regime, continuing its daily extrajudicial executions, executed Baluch political prisoner Amer Ramesh in Zahedan, the capital of Sistan and Baluchestan province.
Mizan News Agency, affiliated with the judiciary of the Iranian regime, stated that the reason for the execution of this political prisoner was alleged involvement in bombings, ambushes against military forces, and membership in Jaish al-Adl, a Baluch militant group.
Details of the Execution of six PMOI MembersThis political prisoner, who was about 18 years old at the time of his arrest, was from the village of Bilingi, near Chabahar in southeastern Iran. He had previously been shot during a raid by security forces on a shop. On Friday, April 24, this Baluch political prisoner informed his family in a phone call that he had been transferred from Zahedan Central Prison to quarantine and that his execution was scheduled to be carried out at dawn on Sunday, April 26.
Iran’s Regime Forges Guyana’s Flag in New Oil Tanker Scandal
Following international revelations about the Iranian regime’s covert oil activities, a new report by the Associated Press has exposed further dimensions of flag forgery. According to official statements by authorities in Guyana, a country in South America, the tanker fraudulently used the country’s maritime identity. Guyana’s maritime administration emphasized that the vessel was never registered in its maritime system and has no record there. This issue represents a clear example of flag forgery in maritime activities linked to the Iranian regime.
Details of the exposure of Guyana flag forgery in maritime records
Reports indicate that the tanker, previously known as Phoenix, presented itself under the Guyanese flag without going through legal procedures. This act constitutes a clear violation of international maritime laws. Authorities in Guyana stated that no authorization had been issued for the use of the country’s flag. Such an action is considered another example of flag forgery aimed at bypassing sanctions.India Has Seized Three Oil Tankers Linked to Iran’s Regime This MonthThe Associated Press also emphasized in its report that the tanker was seized by the United States in Asia and was suspected of carrying sanctioned Iranian crude oil. This event has once again drawn attention to the complex and covert networks used for oil transportation.
Reactions to the flag forgery case
Guyana’s authorities, in an official statement, denied any connection to the vessel. They stated that the illegal use of the country’s flag has targeted the credibility of its maritime system. This response indicates that the issue of flag forgery has become an international crisis. The exposure of this case once again shows that the ruling structure of the Iranian regime resorts to tools such as flag forgery and systematic concealment to ensure its survival. The repetition of such illegal actions presents a clear picture of the nature of corruption networks and the evasion of global regulations. It should be noted that the regime uses various methods to circumvent sanctions, and flag forgery is one example of the illegal actions of the Iranian regime.Iran War: Escalating Drug Shortages and Disruption of Healthcare Services
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has warned that the consequences of U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran could place the country’s healthcare system under strain for months or even years.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies stated that after weeks of bombardment, Iran is facing the risk of a serious crisis in the provision of healthcare services, and shortages of equipment along with disruptions in supply chains may persist for an extended period. At the same time, the state-run newspaper Donya-ye-Eqtesad reported that drug shortages—especially specialized and imported medications—have intensified in Tehran pharmacies, forcing patients either to wait for supplies or to use alternatives with lower effectiveness.
80% of Pharmacies in Iran on the Verge of Bankruptcy
Red Cross warning: ceasefire does not mean the crisis is over
Cristian Cortez Cardoza, Regional Vice President of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies for the Middle East and North Africa, said after a four-day visit to Iran in Geneva that a ceasefire does not signify the end of the crisis. He warned that hundreds of clinics, healthcare centers, educational institutions, and commercial units have been damaged or destroyed during the attacks, placing heavy pressure on people’s access to medical services. According to him, concerns are growing over shortages of critical medical equipment, including dialysis machines and prosthetics. He said one factory that produces 60% of dialysis filters and equipment only has raw materials for the next three months, and its supply chain has been disrupted due to the war.Drug shortages spread to major pharmacies
Alongside international warnings, the Donya-ye-Eqtesad report shows that the drug crisis has visibly worsened at the city level. The report states that supplying medications, especially specialized drugs, has become extremely difficult in recent weeks, and even well-known pharmacies in Tehran responsible for serving patients with special conditions are facing shortages. The report notes that long lines form in front of the central pharmacy of the Red Crescent Society from the early hours of the morning, with many people queuing before it opens. Some visitors are not there for immediate purchases but to obtain pre-invoices to determine how much of the cost is covered by insurance and whether they can afford the medication at all.Patients with chronic conditions caught between foreign drugs and domestic alternatives
One of the most important points in the report is the dilemma faced by patients with chronic conditions, who are caught between expensive foreign medications and less effective domestic alternatives. Drugs such as venlafaxine, certain insulin brands, some foreign cancer treatments, and antibiotics like rifampin are among those identified as difficult to find in the market. Under such conditions, patients and their families are forced either to wait long periods for medications, use substitute drugs, or bear the very high costs of foreign medicines—despite the fact that even supplementary insurance covers only a limited portion of expenses.Patients describe the realities of the drug market
The Donya-ye-Eqtesad report cites specific examples of this pressure. A woman with leukemia said that foreign drugs have higher quality and effectiveness, but she cannot afford them. Another individual spoke about the extreme difficulty of finding the antibiotic rifampin, explaining that its European version is no longer available in the market, the Turkish version has also become scarce, and the patient has ultimately been forced to use the Iranian version, which, according to them, is less effective. In the same report, some visitors said that even medications not previously considered scarce have become difficult to find in recent weeks, with shortages more pronounced among foreign drugs—medications that, if available, are sold at higher prices.Financial strain, drug shortages, and grassroots support networks
The report also shows that alongside supply issues, people’s financial ability to purchase medications has declined. Visitors say that with rising prices, insurance coverage limits are quickly exhausted, leaving many families unable to pay the remaining costs. At the same time, around some pharmacies, grassroots support networks and charities have emerged to help patients obtain medications and navigate administrative and financial processes. This part of the report shows that the burden of the crisis is not solely on the healthcare system, and segments of society are spontaneously trying to fill the gaps. The combined warnings from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and field reports from Iran’s pharmaceutical market indicate that the issue is not just a temporary shortage. The war has disrupted supply chains, damaged healthcare infrastructure, and at the same time increased financial pressure on patients.US Sanctions Chinese Refinery, Tehran-linked Shipping Companies
The U.S. Department of the Treasury announced a new package of Iran-related sanctions on Friday, which includes a major Chinese refinery and about 40 shipping companies and vessels associated with what has been described as Iran’s shadow fleet.
According to the department, Hengli Petrochemical Refinery in Dalian, one of the largest buyers of Iranian crude oil and petroleum products, has been targeted by sanctions. At the same time, a general license has been issued to allow for the gradual wind-down of transactions involving the company, giving related parties time to exit commercial dealings.
U.S. Sanctions Tehran’s Drone and Missile NetworksThe Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) also announced sanctions on nearly 40 shipping companies and vessels involved in Iran’s oil transportation network. This network is considered part of the so-called shadow fleet used to evade sanctions and transport oil. The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump also sanctioned several so-called “teapot” refineries—small independent Chinese refineries—last year. These measures created restrictions for these refineries, including difficulties in obtaining Iranian crude oil and forcing them to sell refined products under different names. Teapot refineries account for about one-quarter of China’s refining capacity and operate with low or even negative profit margins. In recent months, they have also faced increased pressure due to declining domestic demand. Reuters news agency reported that these sanctions, by freezing the entities’ assets in the United States and prohibiting U.S. citizens from doing business with them, have also discouraged some larger independent refiners from purchasing Iranian oil. According to 2025 data from Kpler, China buys more than 80% of Iran’s exported oil. At the same time, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced that several cryptocurrency wallets linked to Iran have also been sanctioned. He wrote on the social media platform X that OFAC has frozen 344 million dollars in cryptocurrency through these measures. Bessent emphasized that they will track the financial flows that Tehran is trying to move out of the country and will target all financial channels linked to the Iranian regime. These measures come as Washington, alongside an existing ceasefire with Iran, continues its economic pressure by intensifying sanctions, restricting export routes, and increasing pressure on the ports and financial networks of Iran’s regime.
War and its Impact on Children’s Education in Iran
Repeated school closures during the war between the United States and Iran’s regime have severely reduced the quality of education in the country. This critical situation has significantly lowered learning quality, especially at the elementary level and among first-grade students. The current conditions not only undermine students’ academic futures but also create numerous challenges for parents.
Failure of virtual alternatives and infrastructural crisis in the education system
In the current situation, the need for alternative options to traditional classes is felt more than ever. Solutions such as virtual classes, televised schooling, and printed materials are among these options. Although the Ministry of Education of Iran’s regime claims to have implemented these measures, the reality on the ground suggests otherwise. Conversations with families and education activists indicate that these options have failed to provide adequate quality. A shortage of internet servers has made access to the SHAD system (the regime’s student education network) extremely difficult. Additionally, high costs and time limitations have significantly reduced the effectiveness of televised schooling.The Shadow of Anxiety Over Iran’s Education, School Seats Are EmptyingTeaching lessons by parents who lack instructional expertise is considered nearly impossible. Parents may be able to supervise homework, but they are not capable of effectively conveying educational concepts to their children. This issue is even more serious for first-grade students who are just beginning their academic journey. A boys’ school principal states that since the introduction of virtual education into the system, he has seen no benefit. He believes that with current methods, the true concept of studying and education has been entirely hollowed out. In his view, the developmental and character-building aspects of education have also been completely neglected.
Alarming statistics of closures and inability to manage the crisis
Due to numerous difficulties, families are reluctant to use the SHAD system. The disruption of international internet access has also eliminated the possibility of using alternative solutions. Rezvan Hakimzadeh, Deputy Minister for Primary Education in the Ministry of Education, claims that they had prior preparedness for such circumstances. She states that school closures due to air pollution and energy imbalances had already occurred in various provinces. Now, the war has added to existing problems, leading to one-month closures in some provinces. In the current academic year, Khuzestan Province has experienced 34 days of closure and Tehran Province 31 days of closures.Educational inequality and poverty among lower classes
Regarding final exams, it has been reported that teachers’ children are correcting exam papers at home. This disorder occurs at a stage where these grades account for 60% of the national university entrance exam results. School closures and reliance on virtual education have now become a routine approach in the education system. The reasons for this decision range from virus outbreaks to air pollution, energy imbalances, and most recently war. Iran’s regime has completely ignored the serious access and quality crises resulting from this structural shift. This crisis is directly tied to families’ economic status and exacerbates inequality in society. Providing smart devices or high-quality internet for underprivileged and lower-income families is very difficult and sometimes impossible. In many households, there is only one mobile phone, which is not always available to the student. The lack of sufficient devices in multi-child families leads to absenteeism and severe academic decline for one of the children.Decline in national literacy and rise in dropout rates
Virtual education has resulted in sixth-grade students having literacy levels comparable to second grade. Wealthier families compensate for this weakness with private tutors, but poorer families lack such essential resources. Inequality in university entrance exam results significantly intensifies feelings of helplessness among underprivileged students. From 2022 to April 2026, schools across the country have operated virtually for more than 350 days. This is equivalent to the complete closure of an academic year and represents a severe blow to the education system. The number of dropouts in 2022 was estimated at around 911,000 students. The number of out-of-school children rose to 950,000 in 2025 and has now exceeded 1 million. These children, after dropping out, enter cycles of informal labor and exploitation in the market. In 2025, numerous reports highlighted severe weaknesses among students in the Persian language. The state-run Ham-Mihan newspaper reported an inability to read and write in deprived areas. In those regions, five out of every 20 students lack basic literacy skills. An examination of the current situation shows that the education system, under the influence of war-driven policies and mismanagement, is on the verge of collapse. Class disparities in access to education have pushed a generation of children out of school and into the labor market. Repeated closures and the inefficiency of virtual platforms have turned the right to education into a luxury commodity that is out of reach for many.Iran: Violent Transfer of Political Prisoners to the Notorious Ghezel Hesar Prison
On Monday, April 13, seven political prisoners held in Ward 7 of Evin Prison in Tehran were abruptly, violently, and humiliatingly transferred to solitary confinement cells in Unit 3 of Ghezel Hesar Prison, a facility whose name is associated for many families of political prisoners with pressure, isolation, and serious threats to prisoners’ lives.
Among those transferred are Miryousef Younesi, a 71-year-old political prisoner, and Mehdi Vafaee, a 40-year-old political prisoner. Mehdi Vafaee was arrested in June 2022 and sentenced to 6 years in prison on charges of “assembly and collusion against national security” and “membership in the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK).” His mother, Shiva Esmaili, is also a political prisoner held in the women’s ward of Evin Prison; she was arrested in February 2023 and sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Iran’s ‘No To Executions Tuesdays’ Campaign Marks 117th WeekAt the same time, three other political prisoners—Abolfazl Rahbar, Omid Rahbar, and Farshid Dolatiyari—were also transferred from Fashafouyeh Prison (also known as Greater Tehran Penitentiary) to Ghezel Hesar Prison. The charges against these three prisoners have also been described as “membership in the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran.” According to the published report, agents of the Iranian regime’s judiciary shaved the heads of the seven political prisoners before transferring them from Evin, and then moved them while handcuffed, shackled, and blindfolded. The prisoners were also beaten with water hoses prior to the transfer and were injured. The sudden transfer of these prisoners to Unit 3 of Ghezel Hesar, accompanied by beatings, humiliation, and the severing of their contact with their previous environment—has increased concerns about their physical condition and safety. The National Council of Resistance of Iran (an opposition coalition) has also called on the UN Special Rapporteur and an international fact-finding mission to immediately visit the place where these prisoners are being held and to clarify the reasons for their transfer to this prison.
The German Government Will Not Receive the Son of Iran’s Last Shah
Following reports of Reza Pahlavi, the son of Iran’s last Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, traveling to Germany to attend a session at the Bundestag (Germany’s federal parliament), the German government announced that it will not receive him and sees no reason to negotiate with him.
Stefan Kornelius, spokesperson for the German government, said that during the Thursday visit of the son of Iran’s last Shah to Berlin, German government representatives will not receive him, and the German government sees no reason to negotiate with him.
He added that the German government expects the people of Iran to have the right to freely choose their own leadership.
Additionally, 21 political figures in Germany addressed a letter to the Bundestag president and the heads of parliamentary factions, expressing serious concern about the visit of the former Shah’s son to Berlin and emphasizing that this trip would be an insult to millions of Iranians who overthrew the Shah’s dictatorship.
More than 24 associations and groups of Iranians residing in Germany across different parts of the country have strongly criticized the planned trip of Reza Pahlavi, the son of Iran’s last Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, to Berlin this week and warned about its consequences. These groups emphasized that any meeting between members of the German parliament and him could legitimize a figure who, according to them, does not represent the will and demands of the Iranian people and plays a divisive role.
A number of active associations, particularly organizations representing segments of Iran’s ethnic groups, including Kurds, have reiterated these concerns. Among Iranian Kurds in particular, references to historical background and bitter memories of repression during the Pahlavi era have intensified these criticisms.
Press Portal (a media outlet) writes that these groups, representing a diverse spectrum of Iranians living in Germany, believe that Reza Pahlavi’s positions and actions are in conflict with the principles of democracy, human rights, and coexistence among ethnic groups. According to Iranian groups in Germany, Reza Pahlavi’s notoriety stems from the disgraceful past of his father, a dictator who ruled for 37 years through a one-party system based on the notorious SAVAK intelligence organization, as well as through the killing and torture of political opponents and intellectuals.
Reza Pahlavi has not distanced himself from his father’s documented crimes. Just last week in Sweden, he described his father’s bloody record as a source of pride.
These groups also criticized Reza Pahlavi’s positions regarding developments in Iran, stating that his calls for foreign military action against Iran are unacceptable to them. According to them, some of his close associates have also expressed similar views regarding the country’s infrastructure.
Sania Kohansal, spokesperson for the Voices of Youth Association, also stated: “Reza Pahlavi does not have a clear mandate from Iranian society. His statements about connections with certain elements within Iran’s power structure, as well as positions that have increased divisions among opposition groups, are concerning. As part of the younger generation of Iranians living in Germany, we see no reason for Bundestag representatives to meet with him.”
According to this report, Reza Pahlavi’s recent trips to European countries, including Sweden and Italy, have also been met with reactions and criticism from some Iranians abroad as well as certain political and academic circles.
