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Phone Access Cut Off for 5 Iranian Political Prisoners on Death Row 

Hoshang Amiri
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Phone Access Cut Off for 5 Iranian Political Prisoners on Death Row 

Iranian regime authorities have cut off phone access for five political prisoners sentenced to death; pressure is increasing to forcibly transfer them to Ghezel Hesar prison

Five political prisoners sentenced to death in Evin Prison—Akbar Daneshvarkar, Seyed Mohammad Taghavi Sang-dehi, Babak Alipour, Pouya Ghobadi Bistonī, and Vahid Bani-Amerian—have been denied the right to phone communication with their families since Sunday, April 20, 2025.

Forced Transfer of Five Political Prisoners Sentenced to Death in Iran

A source close to the families told HRANA (Human Rights Activists News Agency) that prison authorities have blocked these inmates’ phone and bank cards. According to the source, this is part of a broader pressure campaign to forcefully transfer them to Ghezel Hesar prison in Karaj.

Earlier, on April 16, an attempt to transfer these prisoners was thwarted due to their resistance and that of other inmates.

These five prisoners, along with Abolhassan Montazer, were sentenced to death in November 2024 by Branch 26 of Tehran’s Revolutionary Court on the charge of “baghi” (armed rebellion) through membership in opposition groups. Additional charges including “collusion and assembly,” “property destruction,” “founding an illegal group,” and “illegal border crossing” have resulted in prison and exile sentences. Their main charge is membership in the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK), the largest Iranian opposition group.

These prisoners, some of whom have prior arrests and convictions from the 2000s and recent years, were arrested by intelligence agents between fall 2023 and spring 2024 in Tehran and Chaldoran and transferred to Evin Prison.

 

Iran’s Regime Expands Police Presence in Schools to Enforce Hijab and Suppress Student Dissent

Mehdi Hosseini
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Iran’s Regime Expands Police Presence in Schools to Enforce Hijab and Suppress Student Dissent

The commander of Iran’s regime police force and the regime’s minister of education have signed an agreement that officially allows police forces to enter schools. Under this agreement, military personnel are granted authority in educational matters and can take action to enforce compulsory hijab on students in schools.  

On Sunday, April 20, Iranian media reported that with a joint memorandum of understanding signed between Ahmadreza Radan, the commander-in-chief of the regime’s state security forces (SSF), and Alireza Kazemi, the regime’s education minister, police have been officially authorized to be present in the country’s schools.  

At the signing ceremony, Kazemi described himself “proudly” as a soldier of Radan and said that with this agreement with the police force, it is now possible to focus more than before on the “cultural affairs” of schools.  

Amnesty International Condemns Iran’s Mandatory Hijab Law as a Violation of Women’s Rights

Kazemi referred to “hijab and modesty” as one of the current cultural problems in the country that requires cultural work, stating: “In all matters, including hijab, we must carry out cultural and foundational work to raise awareness.”  

He added: “The root of all economic and social issues in the country is cultural. Therefore, we must institutionalize the culture of economy and security from childhood, implementing this practically in elementary and secondary school levels.”  

Radan also stated during the signing ceremony that the Police Command is set to be actively involved in producing educational, social, and cultural content for schools and will establish direct communication with teachers and students’ parents.  

The commander of SSF stated, “The enemy has realized better than we have that the most influential group in Iranian society is students,” adding, “The enemy is influencing our students and is trying to hijack their minds through cyberspace. The biggest thieves who are not being pursued are the mafia of those who steal students’ minds. This is an issue that must not be taken lightly.”

Radan, who is under sanctions by the European Union, the United States, and Canada for his major role in human rights violations in Iran, stated: “This excellent interaction between the two bodies, the police and the Ministry of Education, is not enough. If we consider it sufficient, we will fall into the third negligence, and once again, we will be caught off guard in that third negligence.”

Increased repression of students

The signing of this agreement between the Ministry of Education and the police chief clearly shows that Iran’s regime plans new programs to further control and repress students.

Given the SSF’s history of repression and violent confrontations with protesting citizens, this development is a warning sign of an increase in student rights violations in Iranian schools.

The regime’s efforts to militarize schools and suppress protesting students, teachers, and union activists have a long-standing history over the past two decades.

In one of the most recent examples, on March 24, Tasnim News Agency, affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), published a report advocating for the installation of surveillance cameras in classrooms, stating that this issue has become a contentious matter among officials at the Ministry of Education.

These pressures have intensified since the nationwide protests that began after the death of Mahsa Amini in the custody of the regime’s morality police in 2022, particularly targeting teachers and students who oppose the regime’s policies.

 

Iran’s Regime “Killing Its People” by Removing Subsidized Currency for Medicine

Esmaeil Mohades
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Iran’s Regime “Killing Its People” by Removing Subsidized Currency for Medicine

Amid growing concerns over a new wave of rising healthcare costs in Iran, Salman Es’haghi, spokesman for the Health Committee of Iran’s regime Majlis (parliament), said that by removing the state-subsidized exchange rate for medicine in the new year, the government is effectively killing its own people.

In an interview with ILNA, a state-affiliated news agency, on Sunday, April 20, Es’haghi said: “The government must refrain from killing its people. I am saying this seriously—if the state-subsidized exchange rate is removed from medicine, equipment, and medical supplies, the government will be killing its own people.”

Es’haghi added: “We will witness people’s desperation and helplessness in the healthcare sector. Since treatment costs will increase by 20 to 30 times, people will certainly avoid seeking medical care, and we will face a situation similar to the COVID pandemic, which led to the death of many people.”

Pharmacists and Doctors Concerned Over the Impact of Rising Drug Prices and Shortages in Iran

He continued: “Today, 80% of healthcare expenses are paid out of the patient’s pocket, and only 20% is covered by insurance, and even that is paid with delays.”

Ali Akbar Eyvazi, secretary of the Tehran Social Security Pensioners Association, stated on April 17: “Medicine and treatment have become a serious issue, and drug prices are so high that even the insurance companies cannot cover them.”

Eyvazi pointed out that hospitals violently eject patients who cannot afford hospitalization costs, throwing them out onto the streets, and said that the situation regarding medicine and healthcare is becoming even more critical.

On another front, Akbar Abdollahi-Asl, acting head of the General Department of Medicine and Controlled Substances, announced that the Central Bank is refusing to provide the necessary foreign currency for medicine imports, predicting that the medicine shortage will quadruple in the next two months.

Earlier, on April 13, Mehdi Pirsalehi, head of Iran’s Food and Drug Administration, announced that the 42,000 rial per USD exchange rate used for importing medical equipment has been removed, and replaced by a rate of 285,000 rials per USD—an increase of sevenfold.

Mohammad Jamalian, another member of the Health Committee of the regime’s Majlis, also stated on April 12 that the price of some medications in the country has doubled or tripled, and there is a “severe shortage” of about 150 items.

On April 5, Mohammad Jamalian, a regime’s Majlis member also remarked that due to economic problems, healthcare has turned into a national security issue in Iran. He said: “A person who is searching for medicine and cannot find it may take dangerous actions.”

He added: “When a father or mother is searching for medicine for their child, or a child is looking for medicine for their parents and cannot find it or afford it, we must accept that such a person may resort to any dangerous act.”

 

Protesting Retirees in Cities Across Iran Chant Slogans Against Regime Officials

Sia Rajabi
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Protesting Retirees in Cities Across Iran Chant Slogans Against Regime Officials

As the economic crisis deepens and Iran’s regime fails to address the demands of various segments of society, retirees once again held protest gatherings across multiple cities. During these demonstrations, they chanted slogans against the officials of the regime in protest of the neglect of their economic and professional demands.

Protests by retirees from the Social Security Organization, as well as from the steel and mining sectors, took place on Sunday, April 20, in various cities including Isfahan, Ahvaz, Tehran, Rasht, Sari, Shahroud, Shush, Qaemshahr, Kerman, and Kermanshah.

Nationwide Protests by Retirees Highlight Deepening Economic Crisis in Iran

Videos circulating on social media show retirees chanting slogans such as “From Khuzestan to Gilan / Death to the officials,” “Ghalibaf, have some shame / Leave the parliament,” and “Hey lying government / Where are the results of your promises?”

Other slogans chanted by the protesters included: “Only in the streets / can we win our rights,” “No to humiliation, no to disgrace / Death to this justice,” “No handouts, no charity / Give us our rights with dignity,” “Unity, unity / against poverty and corruption,” and “We won’t live under oppression / We sacrifice our lives for freedom / Shame on this life, shame on this life.”

Protests by Oil, Gas Workers and Metro Employees

A group of Tehran Metro employees held a protest on Sunday, April 20, in front of the municipality and city council buildings.

These protesters voiced objections to the management’s performance and the non-payment of their wages.

According to the regime-aligned ILNA news agency, the workers’ demands included “No to changing the bylaws, independence of the Operating Company, full implementation of the Supreme Labor Council’s wage resolution, and no to unregulated hiring.”

At the same time, contract workers of the Gachsaran Oil and Gas Company held a protest, demanding the removal of intermediary contracting companies and the establishment of direct employment contracts.

In their protest, they declared: “We expect the employment reform bill to be passed immediately and the contractor system for workforce management to be dismantled.”

Contract workers at the 12th refinery of South Pars in Bushehr also stopped working for the third consecutive day on April 20, protesting the non-payment of their overtime wages.

These workers told ILNA: “So far, no official has responded to these protests. This behavior shows not only disregard for our rights but also disrespect toward the workers.”

In recent years, retirees and workers have repeatedly held protests and marches across various Iranian cities over the regime’s failure to meet their demands.

The worsening living conditions of workers, retirees, and pensioners has led to a sharp rise in the number of their protests in recent years.

The human rights website HRANA reported on March 19 that in the year 2024, at least 3,702 protests and strikes took place across various sectors throughout the country.

 

Iran’s Water Crisis Turns into a Catastrophe

Mehdi Hosseini
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Iran’s Water Crisis Turns into a Catastrophe

Amid continued warnings about water shortages and the drought crisis in Iran, Ahad Vazifeh, head of the National Center for Climate and Drought Crisis Management at Iran’s Meteorological Organization, said the country has turned into a “sieve” due to numerous illegal wells and excessive extraction from legal wells.

Speaking to ISNA, a regime-affiliated news agency, on Saturday, April 19, Vazifeh said: “We have turned the country into a sieve by digging numerous unauthorized wells and over-extracting from legal ones.”

The official added: “Over 80 percent of the over-extraction is from legal wells. This situation cannot continue in the long term because the volume of groundwater reservoirs is finite. The lower the water table drops, the saltier it becomes, and its quality declines.”

Warnings About Iran’s Drought Crisis Coinciding with World Water Day

He noted that water shortages have worsened in major cities like Tehran, saying: “In the capital, even with normal rainfall, the city teeters on the brink of a water crisis—let alone if the rainfall is below average.”

In recent weeks and months, warnings have increased about water shortages, depleted dam capacities, and the Iranian regime’s inability to manage the drought crisis.

On April 14, Mehdi Pirhadi, head of Tehran City Council’s Health Commission, said the capital is experiencing “extreme thirst” due to reduced rainfall, and the decline in water quality has pushed people toward using bottled water.

On April 7, the state-run Ham-Mihan newspaper warned that the country is on the verge of a “full-scale water catastrophe” and, ultimately, severe drought, cautioning that the lack of water will threaten both people’s livelihoods and the nation’s very survival.

In another part of his interview with ISNA, Vazifeh said: “One of Tehran’s main challenges is that most of its drinking water comes from underground. The city consumes about 40 cubic meters of water per second, and 24 cubic meters of that comes from groundwater sources.”

He cited “lack of water flow toward plains, reduced rainfall, and excessive extraction through well digging” as causes for land subsidence in southern Tehran, saying: “Gradually, the subsidence is creeping into the city, just as it has spread from southern Isfahan into the city center.”

On April 6, MP Abolfazl Aboutorabi warned of a potential “water war” between provinces, stating: “Tehran is facing an extremely critical and dangerous situation, and provinces like Fars, Baluchestan, and other eastern regions are also dealing with similar problems.”

On March 15, Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni also described Iran’s water shortage as a serious issue and urged people to “prioritize water consumption management.”

Official statistics show that around 80 percent of Iran’s groundwater resources have been used up, and dam reservoirs are in a critical state.

Experts had previously warned that Iran’s thousand-year-old groundwater reserves have been depleted within just the past three decades.

 

Dollar and Gold Prices in Iran Drop to Lowest Level Since Trump’s Return to White House Amid Ongoing US-Iran Negotiations

Hoshang Amiri
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Dollar and Gold Prices in Iran Drop to Lowest Level Since Trump’s Return to White House Amid Ongoing US-Iran Negotiations

With the conclusion of the second round of negotiations between the Iranian regime and the United States in Rome, the value of the U.S. dollar in Iran dropped to its lowest level since February, when Donald Trump returned to the White House. Last week, following the previous round of talks, the dollar experienced a significant drop but quickly resumed an upward trend.

On Saturday morning, April 19, the dollar traded at around 850,000 rials in Tehran’s market. As trading began, the price rose to over 860,000 rials. However, following the release of positive news by pro-regime media in Iran regarding the second round of negotiations held in Rome, the dollar’s value dropped to about 824,000 rials.

The current exchange rate shows a 3% decrease compared to Thursday, April 17, when the dollar was trading around 856,000 rials.

Iran’s Rial Continues to Plummet in New Persian Year

In the previous round, the dollar’s rate on Saturday, April 12, had dropped about 7% compared to Thursday, April 10. On Thursday, April 10, the dollar had been around 1,001,100 rials, but after the talks on April 12, it dropped to 928,000 rials.

This trend continued on Sunday, April 13, with the dollar falling by around 9% to 847,000 rials. However, on Monday, it rebounded by about 5%, reaching around 892,000 rials.

Currently, the dollar is trading at approximately 825,000 rials.

This is the lowest dollar rate since January 27, the day Donald Trump returned to the White House for a second term and subsequently issued an order to reinstate maximum pressure on the Iranian regime.

During this period, the dollar peaked on April 7, reaching 1,058,900 rials.

The gold market followed the currency market. The price per gram of gold, which was 68,600,000 rials on Thursday, April 17, has now dropped by 4% to 65,630,000 rials.

 

Iranian Students Protest Dangerous Cafeteria Conditions Amid Official Indifference

Esmaeil Mohades
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Iranian Students Protest Dangerous Cafeteria Conditions Amid Official Indifference

From cockroaches and lizards to flies and glass shards, in recent days, images of food served in university cafeterias across Iran have repeatedly made headlines and shocked students who rely on campus meals.

This report shares further details by interviewing students from universities in various cities across Iran.

The incident began on February 24. The “Amirkabir” student newsletter reported that a used syringe tip was found in a meal served at the cafeteria of Iran University of Science and Technology.

Due to the Nowruz holidays and university closures, the report did not receive much attention at first. However, after universities reopened on April 9, a student at Kashan University found a lizard in his plate of rice at the cafeteria, took a photo, and shared it online using the hashtag “lizard rice.”

Other students, upon seeing the incident, protested the quality and safety of the food served at Kashan University’s cafeteria. However, according to reports, one official mockingly responded: “Well, that’s good! We’re giving you Chinese food!”

Videos circulated online show that after hearing this irresponsible response, students at Kashan University of Medical Sciences went on a hunger strike and formed a 200-meter line of food trays in the university courtyard to express their protest.

On April 13, the Student Union of Bu-Ali Sina University in Hamedan issued an official statement expressing regret over the “deplorable, unacceptable, and unsanitary” conditions of their cafeteria.

Before the statement was released, students had reported finding plastic, insects, and worms in their meals, and had protested multiple times. However, in the most recent incident, shards of glass were found in the food.

Most students have no choice but to use university cafeteria food—many cannot afford meals from outside, and many don’t have the time to cook.

University of Tabriz and a live worm in student meals

Shortly after the events in Hamedan, students at Tabriz University of Medical Sciences protested. A live worm was found in student meals served at the university cafeteria.

Student protests about their lives and health being treated carelessly have led nowhere, and university officials continue to deny the incidents.

At the same time, students at Alzahra University in Tehran also reported finding flies and plastic in their food and expressed their protest by lining up food trays in the university courtyard.

Previously, student sources had reported that over 240 students in Iran had been hospitalized in the past year due to food poisoning.

Only six months after a major food poisoning incident among students at the Shushtar University of Medical Sciences, the news of 25 more students falling ill at Ahvaz University of Medical Sciences has sounded a serious alarm about the hygiene and nutrition standards at medical universities in Khuzestan province.

Iran’s regime shows no concern for the condition of students, and regime officials make no effort to improve the situation. Meanwhile, students continue to express their protest against this dire state by organizing gatherings nearly every day for one reason or another.

 

Iranian Regime Atomic Energy Organization Protests IAEA Reports

Sia Rajabi
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Iranian Regime Atomic Energy Organization Protests IAEA Reports

Behrouz Kamalvandi, the deputy head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran’s regime, said on Friday, April 18, in an interview with Iranian media, that during the recent visit of Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), to Tehran, “some of his interviews” were met with objections.

The regime-affiliated website Fararu quoted Kamalvandi as saying: “Specifically, there was an objection to Mr. Grossi’s recent remarks about Iran’s 60% enriched uranium stockpile, which he equated to seven atomic bombs.”

In its latest report on February 26, the IAEA announced that the Iranian regime had significantly increased its stockpile of highly enriched uranium over the past three months, and if this trend continues, the uranium reserves could theoretically be enough to build six nuclear bombs.

The Director General of the IAEA returned to Vienna on Thursday, April 17, after two days of talks with Abbas Araghchi, the Iranian regime’s foreign minister, and Mohammad Eslami, the head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization.

Rafael Grossi is expected to attend the second round of negotiations between Iran and the United States, which will be held on Saturday, April 19, in Rome, the capital of Italy.

Grossi has emphasized that an agreement between the Iranian regime and the United States will not be credible without the involvement of the IAEA.

In another part of his remarks to Iranian media, Kamalvandi stated that during Grossi’s recent visit to Tehran, “two Iranian officials, in separate meetings, stressed Iran’s firm stance against threats and warned that the Islamic Republic would deliver a strong response to any threat.”

The spokesperson of the regime’s Atomic Energy Organization announced that the IAEA Deputy Director General will travel to Tehran in two weeks for the “continuation of high-level technical negotiations.”

 

UN Special Rapporteur Warns About Transfer of Death Row Prisoners in Iran

Mehdi Hosseini
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UN Special Rapporteur Warns About Transfer of Death Row Prisoners in Iran

Mai Sato, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran, expressed deep concern over reports of the forced transfer of five political prisoners sentenced to death from Ward 4 of Evin Prison to Ghezel Hesar Prison.

On Thursday, April 17, Sato posted on X (formerly Twitter), recalling that in her latest report to the UN Human Rights Council she had also warned about conditions in Evin Prison.

She reiterated concerns about reports of unrest and instability in the prison following the transfer of inmates, stating that this situation has created a dangerous environment.

Meanwhile, political prisoner Golrokh Iraee, in a letter from Evin Prison, warned against society’s “numbness” to news of executions, following the transfer of Hamid Hosseinnezhad Heydaranlou for execution.

Criticizing the general response to the issuance, confirmation, and enforcement of death sentences in Iran, she wrote: “We who oppose the death penalty, sitting freely in our homes or behind our desks, watching every move from our high-security phones lest we be identified.”

The UN Special Rapporteur noted the broad impact of executions, emphasizing that the harm goes beyond the direct victims—it devastates families, causes psychological harm to other prisoners, and triggers waves of grief and anxiety throughout society. She described these impacts as “immeasurable.”

Iran: Behrouz Ehsani Said; I Have Never Bargained Over My Life with Anyone

Sato concluded by highlighting the ongoing concerns over the Iranian regime’s use of the death penalty, stating that these cases once again underscore the need for oversight and accountability. She added, “I will closely follow this situation. The international community must not remain silent in the face of these events.”

Five Political Prisoners at Risk of Execution

Meanwhile, warnings have been issued that a group of political prisoners held in Evin Prison may be transferred to Ghezel Hesar.

Among them are five political prisoners—Babak Alipour, Vahid Bani-Amerian, Pouya Ghobadi, Mohammad Taghavi, and Ali-Akbar Daneshvarkar—who have been sentenced to death on charges of “supporting the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK).”

History PMOI/MEK – 1979 Iran Revolution

Security forces had planned to transfer these five-death row political prisoners from Evin to Ghezel Hesar, but the transfer was halted due to protests from other prisoners.

If these prisoners are transferred to Ghezel Hesar, the risk of their execution increases.

Executions Double in Recent Months

In the first three months of 2025, the Iranian regime hanged at least 230 prisoners across its prisons. This figure is more than double the 110 executions recorded during the same period last year.

According to Amnesty International’s annual report, Iran accounted for over 64% of all documented executions worldwide in 2024, with at least 972 recorded cases, placing the Iranian regime at the top of the global execution ranking.

 

Organ Trafficking Crisis in Iran

Sia Rajabi
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Organ Trafficking Crisis in Iran

A group of people were caught selling vital organs such as kidneys, ears, or corneas from desperate individuals for exorbitant amounts—up to 700 billion rials (approximately $700,000)—to wealthy Iranian families.

According to the regime-run Hamshahri newspaper, the sellers included five Iraqi and four Iranian men. Exploiting legal loopholes and using false promises, they brought foreign nationals—including citizens of Iraq, Syria, Sudan, and Bangladesh—into Iran.

These individuals were from extremely impoverished backgrounds in their home countries and agreed to sell their vital organs in hopes of receiving dollar payments. However, the bulk of the profit went to middlemen and traffickers in the ring.

The amounts this trafficking ring received for organ sales ranged from 100 to 700 billion rials (approximately $100,000 to $700,000).

Iran: Sale of Body Organs Spikes as Poverty Increases

If the target had a highly compatible blood type and passed all medical tests, the price of their organs increased.

On the other side, brokers usually identified families with financial means who were seeking kidneys for sick relatives.

In such cases, the patients’ families were willing to spend billions of rials to purchase a kidney matching their relative’s blood type in an attempt to save their life.

This case is particularly significant due to its organized structure and the extensive network involved.

The group began by identifying individuals from Iraq, Sudan, and Syria who were willing to sell their organs and negotiated with them.

They then arranged passports, handled embassy procedures, and finally obtained plane tickets for their entry into Iran.

The suspects transported their victims to locations in the Dolatabad district of Shahr-e Rey and kept them in unsanitary conditions until it was time for their surgery.

Notably, these surgeries were performed in officially licensed hospitals under the supervision of Iran’s Ministry of Health, which itself is a sign of regulatory failure and systemic corruption within Iran’s healthcare system.

In recent months and years, numerous reports have been published in Iranian media about workers and citizens who, in protest of unpaid wages or due to worsening living conditions, resorted to selling their organs and later suffered death or severe physical complications.

As poverty continues to spread rapidly across Iran, many people have turned to selling body parts such as kidneys and corneas to cover basic living needs. In some cases, individuals have even offered to sell their hearts—effectively agreeing to die—in a desperate attempt to lift their families out of poverty.

In the past year, the growing market for the sale and purchase of sperm, eggs, embryos, and surrogate wombs has also come under increasing scrutiny.

Social experts and medical professionals have repeatedly warned that this situation is a direct result of poverty, unemployment, and the drastic decline in people’s ability to afford basic living expenses.

The response of official and governmental institutions in Iran to this crisis has been entirely ineffective and contradictory.

While advertisements for kidney sales are easily found on platforms like Divar (a popular Iranian classifieds app) and on social media, the laws related to organ transplantation remain vague and incomplete.

According to a report by the state-run Tejarat News website, several teenagers and young adults between the ages of 16 and 22 told the outlet that they have turned to selling their kidneys or bone marrow out of financial desperation.

The report notes that younger age is considered an advantage for organ donors, making it easier for these youth to find buyers and receive the amount they seek.

Currently, kidneys are priced between 3 to 6 billion rials (approximately $30,000 to $60,000) in Iran’s organ sales market.

A 16-year-old named Hamid, who is one of the kidney sellers, told Tejarat News that he is even willing to sell his organ “a bit cheaper” due to his extreme financial need.

 

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