The Snapback Mechanism Increases Likelihood of Global Consensus Against Iran’s RegimeAraghchi described the consequences of snapback as “truly serious and heavy,” adding: “We must try to prevent it, but at the same time, we should not exaggerate it.” In response to a question about the return of IAEA inspectors to Iran, Araghchi said they must be present for cooperation with the agency to continue. On August 18, Esmail Baqaei, spokesperson for the regime’s Foreign Ministry, said Tehran’s interactions with the IAEA have “changed after recent events,” but the relationship remains direct. He also mentioned the possibility of holding another round of talks with the agency in the coming days. Earlier, Badr Abdelatty, Egypt’s Foreign Ministry, reported mediation efforts to resume cooperation between Iran’s regime and the IAEA after the suspension of activities by inspectors. Tehran denied that such contacts aimed at reducing tensions and maintaining regional stability had taken place. According to an official statement from Egypt’s Foreign Ministry, Egyptian foreign minister Abdelatty held separate talks with Araghchi and IAEA director-general Rafael Grossi on August 12. Cairo said the goal of these contacts was to strengthen mutual trust and create favorable conditions for security and stability in the region. These contacts took place after Tehran announced it was suspending cooperation with the IAEA following the 12-day war with Israel. On July 12, Araghchi said that no agreement with the United States would be possible without recognition of Iran’s “right to enrichment,” stressing that cooperation with the IAEA had become conditional and taken on a “new form.”
Iranian Regime FM: Snapback Sanctions Will Cost Heavily
Abbas Araghchi, the foreign minister of Iran’s regime, stressed that activating the snapback sanctions would have heavy costs but “is not the end of everything.” He added that Tehran cannot completely cut off cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
In a video interview with the state-run IRNA news agency, parts of which were published on Wednesday, August 20, Araghchi emphasized: “The activation of the snapback will not be economically more impactful than the current situation.” He added: “For years we have been in talks with China and Russia on what solutions might ultimately prevent snapback and have considered certain measures, though we may not succeed.”
Decline In Caspian Sea Water Levels and the Risk of Desertification Along Its Coasts
As reports emerge that the Caspian Sea has reached its lowest water level in 50 years, a climatologist has warned that if the retreat continues, northern Iran will soon face a desert-like area filled with sand and salt.
Farid Mojtahedi, a climatologist, told the state-run ISNA news agency on Wednesday, August 20, that the sea’s retreat has reached about 300 meters along the Caspian coasts. He warned that if it extends to 500 or 600 meters, it will leave behind a desert-like zone of sand and salt.
He added: “At present, we are facing wind erosion along the Caspian coasts.”
Land Subsidence Warnings in Tehran and the Critical Situation of 70% of Iran’s PlainsAccording to Mojtahedi, desertification in the southern Caspian region will generate dust storms that affect the settlements along the southern shores of the sea. Masoumeh Bani-Hashemi, head of the National Caspian Sea Research Center, announced on August 18 that the sea’s water level has dropped by two meters since 1996. She explained that the decline in the Caspian’s water level has accelerated in the past two years compared to the previous 30-year period, noting that last year alone the sea level dropped by 26 centimeters. The latest report by the Caspian Research Center, issued in June this year, confirmed the continuation of the sea’s declining water level. The report shows that one-quarter of the total decline has occurred in just the past two years. In 2023, the Caspian reached one of its lowest levels in the past century. According to new data, the Caspian’s water balance has been falling at an accelerated rate over the past 18 years. The Caspian’s water level is now 29 meters below that of open seas, and marine and climate experts predict that by the end of this century, it could drop by another 9 to 18 meters. Such a drop would result in the loss of one-quarter of the sea’s total surface area. Mehdi Zare, a full professor of geology, warned that if Russia’s current dam construction and water withdrawal from the Volga River continue, the Caspian will lose between 25% and 50% of its surface area by the year 2100. With reduced water inflow into the Caspian, wetlands, migratory birds, and sturgeon populations are facing extinction. According to Mojtahedi, one of the most critical impacts of the Caspian’s retreat is on Anzali Lagoon and Miankaleh Lagoon. The climatologist warned that Anzali Lagoon, already threatened by waste, sewage, and sediment, now faces the risk of drying up, explaining: “This lagoon is hydrologically connected to the Caspian Sea, and due to its higher elevation, the sea is pulling water from the lagoon.”
13 Provinces in Iran Will Shut Down on Saturday, August 23
Government offices and institutions in at least 13 provinces will be closed on Saturday, August 23, due to the regime’s inability to provide sufficient energy. The Coordinating Council of Banks also announced that all banks in Tehran will be closed on that day.
The main reasons cited for these closures are extreme heat, rising temperatures, energy saving and “management” of energy consumption, and “helping to stabilize the grid.”
In some of these provinces, the working hours of government offices and public institutions were also reduced on Tuesday and Wednesday, August 19 and 20.
Power Outages and Extreme Heat in Iran Are Claiming LivesIn recent weeks, several provinces in Iran have been shut down for multiple days due to energy shortages and the water and electricity crisis. According to analysts, such decisions reflect deep-rooted and chronic deficiencies in infrastructure management and development—weaknesses that Iran’s regime has been unable to overcome in recent years. Earlier, after the regime decided to close government offices, people on social media dismissed the decision as useless and diversionary, stressing that the root of the water and electricity crisis lies not in people’s daily consumption, but in the regime’s mismanagement and policies. Last summer as well, the government repeatedly closed offices in 18 to 21 provinces in an attempt to reduce pressure on the electricity grid. Although the declared aim of these measures is to reduce electricity consumption and prevent widespread blackouts, experts argue that due to the absence of structural planning, such shutdowns are only temporary fixes that create further problems. On August 18, the regime’s Energy Minister Abbas Aliabadi stated that the peak electricity consumption period in Iran had passed, but power outages would nevertheless continue at least until the end of summer. Mostafa Rajabi Mashhadi, CEO of Iran Grid Management Company, also confirmed four-hour-long blackouts in some cities. Justifying the outages, he said: “In recent days, we have lost a significant portion of the hydroelectric power plants’ capacity for electricity generation due to a substantial reduction in dam reservoirs, and we are facing more limitations in electricity supply.” According to domestic media reports and citizen accounts, in some Iranian cities water and electricity are cut off for eight to 10 hours daily, disrupting people’s lives. This year, the scheduled and regular cuts to water and electricity began earlier than in previous years, starting in May.
“Pay for Treatment” in Iran’s Notorious Qarchak Prison
A new report reveals that officials at the infamous Qarchak Women’s Prison in Varamin, Iran, are systematically denying essential medical care to inmates, demanding payment for hospital transfers and treatment. This practice has already led to multiple deaths and places the lives of over 1,200 prisoners at daily risk.
Qarchak Prison, long cited as one of the Iranian regime’s worst detention facilities for women, is enforcing a deadly “money for treatment” policy, according to sources from inside the facility. Officials at the prison infirmary are reportedly refusing to provide necessary medical services or transfer sick prisoners to outside hospitals unless the inmates or their families pay for the services in advance.
Political Prisoners Held in Inhumane Conditions in Iranian Rgime PrisonsThis policy is being implemented despite the fact that many of the women incarcerated in Qarchak lack any financial support from the outside. In numerous cases, prisoners in critical condition who were unable to pay the demanded fees have been sent back to their wards without receiving care.
Fatal Consequences of a Corrupt Policy
This deliberate withholding of medical care has had fatal consequences. In recent months, several female prisoners have died due to the intentional denial of urgent medical attention. Among the victims were Atefeh Banayi and Farzaneh Bizhanipour, both of whom were accused of “malingering” or faking their illness by prison staff while in a state of severe physical distress, only to die shortly thereafter. Reports suggest that other similar deaths have occurred but have not been publicly disclosed, shrouded in a veil of official silence. The head of the Qarchak prison infirmary, identified as a nurse, has been named as the official primarily responsible for demanding these payments. Even inmates facing serious conditions, such as the risk of a heart attack, have been told they must pay before being transferred to a hospital.Violation of Official Regulations
This practice is in direct violation of the Iranian Prisons Organization’s own regulations, which explicitly state that prison authorities are responsible for safeguarding the health and lives of inmates. Furthermore, the dire situation extends to political prisoners. Women who were transferred to the quarantine section of Qarchak Prison following an attack on Evin Prison are also being held in deplorable conditions and face the same life-threatening lack of medical care. The continuation of the “money for treatment” policy confirms Qarchak’s reputation not only as one of Iran’s most notorious prisons but as a facility where the lives of more than 1,200 inmates are being actively and deliberately endangered.UN Rapporteur: Sharifeh Mohammadi’s Case a Clear Example of Urgent Need to Abolish the Death Penalty
The UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran described the case of Sharifeh Mohammadi, an imprisoned labor activist, as a clear example of the urgent need to abolish the death penalty.
Mai Sato, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran, referring to the Iranian Supreme Court’s approval of Mohammadi’s death sentence, wrote that this case is a clear example of the urgent necessity to abolish capital punishment.
On Monday, August 18, Mai Sato wrote on the social media platform X that although Branch 39 of the Supreme Court had previously overturned Mohammadi’s death sentence due to serious legal and procedural flaws, this time it upheld the ruling.
The UN Special Rapporteur pointed out that Mohammadi’s conviction was based on the charge of “baghi” (armed rebellion) and alleged links to an “armed group.” He wrote: “Officials claim that the Coordinating Committee to Help Form Workers’ Organizations, which Mohammadi was once a member of, is linked to the Komala Party, which the Iranian government considers armed and rebellious.” Sato continued, citing reports that Mohammadi was subjected to violations of fair trial guarantees, including torture, denial of access to a lawyer of her choice during interrogations, and five months of solitary confinement. On August 16, Amir Raeesian, Mohammadi’s lawyer, told the state-run daily Shargh that her death sentence had been finalized, saying: “Although none of the issues previously cited by Branch 39 of the Supreme Court for overturning [Mohammadi’s] ruling have been resolved, this time the court upheld the death sentence.” He added: “The ruling of Branch 2 of the Revolutionary Court in Rasht merely repeats the earlier ruling of Branch 1, without addressing the Supreme Court’s objections and based solely on the security forces’ claims. Therefore, it was expected that the Supreme Court would overturn the ruling again, but contrary to expectations, it did not.”روز شانزدهم اوت ۲۰۲۵ دیوان عالی کشور ایران (شعبهی ۳۹) حکم اعدام شریفه محمدی فعال کارگری، از اقلیت اتنیکی آذربایجانی، را تایید کرد؛ با وجود اینکه همین شعبهی دیوان عالی پیشتر، در اکتبر ۲۰۲۴، با استناد به نواقص جدی حقوقی و مربوط به آییندادرسی این حکم را نقض کرده بود.
— Mai Sato (@drmaisato.bsky.social) (@drmaisato) August 18, 2025
محکومیت او…
Iranian Regime Authorities Execute Nine PrisonersIn another part of her note on X, Sato emphasized that international human rights law does not allow the death penalty for national security crimes, including “baghi.” She wrote that the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights restricts the death penalty to “the most serious crimes,” meaning the intentional taking of life. She stated that the irreversible nature of capital punishment requires the highest legal standards, adding: “When Iran’s own Supreme Court previously identified serious flaws in a death penalty case, its decision to uphold the same flawed conviction raises grave concerns about the risk of an unfair execution.” The UN Special Rapporteur concluded that this case is a clear example of the urgent need to abolish the death penalty. Currently, around 70 prisoners across Iran, including Sharifeh Mohammadi, Verisheh Moradi, and Pakhshan Azizi, face political charges and are at risk of having their death sentences upheld or carried out.
Iranian Regime Authorities Execute Nine Prisoners
On Monday, August 18, nine prisoners were executed in the prisons of Amol, Khorramabad, Shiraz, Isfahan, Sari, and Hamedan. This brings the number of executions from July 23 to August 18 (less than one month) to at least 140. According to these figures, nearly five people have been executed daily, meaning one prisoner executed every five hours.
At dawn on Monday, August 18, Saman Ghasemi was executed in Amol prison. He had previously been arrested on murder charges and sentenced to death.
82nd Week of “No To Execution Tuesdays” Campaign In 49 Prisons Across IranTwo prisoners, Iman Jouzi and Ali Omidi Moghadam, were executed in Khorramabad prison. Iman Jouzi, son of Hatem and a native of Veysian, had previously been arrested on murder charges and sentenced to death. The other executed prisoner, Ali Omidi Moghadam, had also been arrested earlier on murder charges. Davoud Kashani was executed in Hamedan prison. He had been arrested earlier on murder charges and sentenced to death. Behrouz Sadeghi and Arash Mahjoor were executed in Isfahan prison. Behrouz Sadeghi, 28 years old and from Isfahan, had been arrested four years ago on murder charges and sentenced to death. Arash Mahjoor, 36 years old and also from Isfahan, had been arrested six years ago on murder charges and sentenced to death. Also, on the morning of Sunday, August 17, Salar Rahimzadeh, 38 years old, was executed in Adelabad prison in Shiraz. He had been arrested on murder charges and sentenced to death. At dawn on Saturday, August 16, Houshang Fathi and Siamand Sa’adati were executed in Sari prison. Houshang Fathi, 30 years old, had been arrested three years ago on drug-related charges and sentenced to death. Siamand Sa’adati, 41 years old, had been arrested two years ago on drug-related charges and sentenced to death.
Transfer of 13 prisoners to solitary confinement for execution
Thirteen prisoners in the cities of Bandar Abbas, Beyram, Saveh, and Arak were transferred to solitary confinement in preparation for execution. – In Bandar Abbas, seven Afghan prisoners were transferred to solitary confinement. – The head of the judiciary of Larestan county announced the public execution of two men and one woman scheduled for Tuesday, August 19, in the Gehdom district of Beyram, a town in Larestan. These prisoners are currently held in solitary confinement. – On the morning of Tuesday, August 19, two prisoners in Arak prison were transferred to solitary confinement for execution. Their charges were announced as murder. – Also on Monday morning, Abolfazl Fateh was transferred to solitary confinement in Saveh prison for execution. His charge was announced as murder.82nd Week of “No To Execution Tuesdays” Campaign In 49 Prisons Across Iran
The 82nd week of the “No To Execution Tuesdays” campaign was held in 49 prisons across Iran. Prisoners, by participating in this campaign, expressed their protest against the issuance of death sentences in the country.
Political prisoners announced that between July 23 and August 18 alone, 128 people had been executed, and since March 21 of this year, 619 people have been hanged. “These numbers are not merely statistical data, but stories of lives and families plunged into grief and suffering.”
The statement of the prisoners participating in the 82nd week of the “No To Execution Tuesdays” campaign reads as follows:
The 82nd week of the “No To Execution Tuesdays” campaign in 49 prisons across the country
In its 82nd week, the “No To Execution Tuesdays” campaign once again amplified the voices of prisoners and their families to society. The continued lack of information regarding five political prisoners sentenced to death and members of the campaign (Vahid Bani Amerian, Pouya Ghobadi, Babak Alipour, Mohammad Taghavi, Akbar (Shahrokh) Daneshvarkar), as well as one security-related prisoner sentenced to death, Babak Shahbazi, is a clear sign of gross human rights violations and increasing pressure on prisoners’ lives.
Families of Five Political Prisoners Sentenced to Death Expressed Concern Over Continued Lack of News About ThemFurthermore, the Supreme Court’s confirmation of the death sentence for political prisoner Sharifeh Mohammadi once again exposes the dimensions of injustice and cruelty of the regime’s judiciary—a tyrannical system that has completely lost its legitimacy in society.
Iranian Activist Sentenced to DeathThe statistics of executions reveal a human tragedy: between July 23 and August 18 alone, 128 people were executed, and since March 21, 619 people have been hanged. These numbers are not merely statistical data, but the stories of lives and families plunged into mourning and suffering. The members of the “No To Execution Tuesdays” campaign strongly condemn this wave of executions and the intensified pressure on prisoners. They express their appreciation for the courage and perseverance of the justice-seeking families who have gathered outside prisons and other locations to echo the voices of prisoners, and they call on all compatriots not to leave the families of prisoners, especially those sentenced to death, alone in these difficult times. The “No To Execution Tuesdays” campaign urges all people to use any means and tools available to express their protest against unjust verdicts and the policy of executions in the country, and to demonstrate their human solidarity against this systematic violence through possible methods, including gatherings and supporting the families of those sentenced to death. On Tuesday, August 19, 2025, the members of the “No To Execution Tuesdays” campaign in its 82nd week are on strike in 49 prisons across Iran.
80% of Pharmacies in Iran on the Verge of Bankruptcy
Shahram Kalantari, head of the Iranian Pharmacists Association, pointed to the heavy debts of insurance companies and the Subsidy Targeting Organization to pharmacies and announced that 80% of the country’s pharmacies are on the verge of bankruptcy.
On Sunday, August 17, in an interview with the state-run Fars News Agency, Kalantari said: “The Subsidy Targeting Organization has not made any payments since February, and the debts of this organization along with the debts of insurance companies to pharmacists have exceeded 300 trillion rials (approximately 322.58 million dollars).”
Medicine Shortages In Iranian Pharmacies And Online SalesHe added that many private pharmacies, due to bounced checks, have practically been pushed out of the drug supply cycle, and distribution companies no longer cooperate with them. These remarks come at a time when the rising prices of medicine and medical services in recent months have placed increasing pressure on citizens, especially low-income groups. Meanwhile, a number of sick citizens, under the current circumstances, have given up on buying medicine and pursuing their treatment.
50% of the pharmaceutical market is monopolized by state-owned pharmacies
The head of the Pharmacists Association further stated in his interview that there are more than 17,000 pharmacies in Iran, of which about 16,000 are private. Kalantari added that nevertheless, 50% of the pharmaceutical market is controlled by 1,700 state-owned pharmacies. He continued: “Pharmaceutical companies, because they cannot collect payments from state-owned pharmacies and medical universities, put pressure on private pharmacies and significantly reduce their settlement deadlines.” He put the amount of bounced checks of pharmacists at 40 trillion rials (approximately 43 million dollars) and added: “Any pharmacist whose check bounces can no longer practically obtain a checkbook, and in effect, distribution companies no longer work with such pharmacists, do not sell them products, and these pharmacies head toward bankruptcy.”Criticism of “online drug interventions”
The head of Iran’s Pharmacists Association also criticized “online drug interventions” in Iran and warned about its consequences. Kalantari said: “No matter how much we explain that medicine is not a commodity that we should allow patients to obtain through platforms, no one listens. Or they buy from centers whose origins are completely unknown.” He stressed: “The sale of medicine must be under strict supervision, and the related data and information should be monitored on servers located in the Ministry of Health.” According to Kalantari, the issue of online drug sales currently has supporters in the Article 90 Commission of Iran’s parliament, and even the head of this commission supports it.Twelve Major Dams in Iran Supplying Drinking and Agricultural Water at Less Than 10% Capacity
The latest data from Iran’s Water Resources Management Company shows that twelve major dams that supply drinking and agricultural water currently hold less than 10% of their capacity. According to these statistics, Lar Dam is at less than 5%, Latian Dam at 16%, Doosti Dam in Khorasan Razavi at 5%, and Sefidrud Dam in Gilan province at 4%.
The state-run ISNA news agency, citing these figures on Sunday, August 17, reported that water reserves in Shamil and Niyan dams in Hormozgan province, Rudbal Dam in Darab (Fars province), as well as Voshmgir and Boustan dams in Golestan province, have completely dried up.
A New Wave of Protests Over Water and Power Shortages from Nishapur to Amol and AnarThe data shows that from the beginning of the current water year (September 23, 2024) until August 16, inflows into all reservoirs across Iran totaled 23.81 billion cubic meters—representing a 42% decrease compared to last year. Iranian media had earlier reported that as of August 9, the water volume in reservoirs was at 42% of capacity. Water levels behind Amir Kabir Dam (Karaj), Lar Dam, and Latian Dam have dropped to their lowest levels in modern history. This situation is no longer described as a “crisis” but rather as a “water failure state,” with part of the damage deemed irreversible. Frequent and widespread water and power outages in recent months have disrupted daily life across different parts of Iran. For example, Tasnim News Agency, affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), reported on August 16 that the city of Baneh is facing severe water shortages, with water supplies being cut for eight to ten hours daily. According to Tasnim, this issue is the result of several factors, including climate conditions, reduced rainfall, ongoing droughts, and the pressure caused by population growth and tourism in the area. Meanwhile, a three- to seven-fold increase in electricity bills in recent days, coupled with a lack of transparency about the details, has triggered protests from consumers. Mismanagement of water resources, diversion of water to regime-linked industries and agriculture, and lack of investment in the water sector are among the main causes of the shortage—making the Iranian regime fully responsible for this situation.
The Iranian Regime’s New Tax Law: Collecting Taxes from Citizens on Inflation
Masoud Pezeshkian, the president of the Iranian regime, has ordered the implementation of the “Speculation and Arbitrage Tax Law.” The legislative process for this law began in 2020, and it aims to tax half of the increase in the value of citizens’ assets caused by inflation during its first two years of enforcement.
The “Speculation and Arbitrage Tax Law,” which was approved by the regime’s Majlis (parliament) on June 29, was formally enacted by Pezeshkian on Friday, August 15.
Since the 1980s, the Iranian regime has sought to impose taxes on citizens’ capital gains from assets such as property, cars, gold, and foreign currency, but these attempts had never been put into practice.
Only $1.5 Million Paid Out of $70 Million in Taxes Owed by Luxury Homeowners in IranThe law covers real estate, vehicles, gold, jewelry, silver, platinum, foreign currency, and cryptocurrencies. To enforce it, the Ministry of Economy is required to create an intelligent system that links to the registries of deeds, the stock exchange, customs, and the Central Bank in order to track transactions subject to taxation.
