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UN Special Rapporteur Warns About Threat of Rape and Murder Against Female Iranian Prisoners

Mehdi Hosseini
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UN Special Rapporteur Warns About Threat of Rape and Murder Against Female Iranian Prisoners

The UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders called for the immediate release of six women’s human rights activists in Gilan who were recently imprisoned.

Mary Lawlor expressed her concern over the long prison sentences and reports of violent arrests, torture, and threats by Iranian security agents to rape and kill these prisoners during interrogation in a post on Twitter, calling for an end to the repression of women’s human rights activists.

Six civil and women’s rights activists in Gilan province reported to Branch 5 of the Rasht Execution of Sentences office on Saturday, July 13, to begin serving their prison sentences.

Forough Samiinia, Jelve Javaheri, Shiva Shahsiah, Negin Rezaei, Matin Yazdani, and Azadeh Chavoshian were transferred to Lakan Prison in Rasht.

In her latest Instagram post, Forough Samiinia, referring to the start of her and her friends’ prison sentences, stated, “We have not forgotten our dreams and we fight to achieve them.”

The prison sentences for Zohreh and Zahra Dadras, two other prisoners convicted in the case of 11 Gilan activists, were executed on July 10.

In this case, 11 civil and women’s rights activists from Gilan have been sentenced to over 60 years in prison collectively.

These activists have reported being tortured and beaten during their detention.

Zohreh Dadras was sentenced to nine years and six months in prison on charges of “forming a group with the intent to disrupt national security” and “assembly and collusion,” of which six years and one day are enforceable.

Forough Samiinia, Sara Jahani, Yasamin Hashdari, Shiva Shahsiah, Negin Rezaei, Matin Yazdani, Azadeh Chavoshian, and Zahra Dadras were each sentenced to six years, three months, and 17 days in prison on charges of “membership in a group” and “assembly and collusion.”

Two other defendants in this case, Jelve Javaheri and Hooman Taheri, were each sentenced to one year in prison on charges of “propaganda against the regime.”

The issuance of over 60 years of prison sentences for 11 women’s rights defenders and civil activists in Gilan province has faced widespread criticism from hundreds of activists and civil and human rights organizations, including the Iranian Writers Association, the Center for Human Rights Defenders, and the Iranian Teachers’ Trade Association.

U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller also condemned these sentences as “unjust” and “an attempt to intimidate and silence activists.”

The majority of the U.S. Congress stands with the Iranian Resistance

Sia Rajabi
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The majority of the U.S. Congress stands with the Iranian Resistance

The majority of the U.S. Congress has issued a resolution condemning the Iranian regime, calling for support for Iranian Resistance, and recognizing the right of the Iranian people to choose their own government. This bipartisan resolution, supported by 223 members from both the Democratic and Republican parties, is titled “Condemnation of Iran’s Regime Terrorism, Regional Proxy Wars, and Domestic Suppression.” The resolution, numbered 1148, includes signatures from 11 committee heads and 53 subcommittee leaders in Congress, including the heads of the Intelligence, Budget, and Security Committees.

The resolution asserts that since October 2023, the Iranian regime has increasingly acted as the epicenter of terrorism and regional conflict. It highlights that ignoring Tehran’s direct involvement in various conflicts only encourages Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and the Revolutionary Guards to escalate these tensions. The survival of the Iranian regime heavily relies on internal suppression and terrorist activities abroad through its proxies.

The U.S. Congress has expressed its support for Maryam Rajavi’s 10-point plan for Iran’s future. The significant protests in 2022, 2019, and 2017 reflect the Iranian people’s rejection of clerical rule and their demand for a republic based on popular vote. The Iranian people have been deprived of their fundamental freedoms and as seen in their slogans, reject both monarchical and religious dictatorships.

The resolution also addresses the repression of religious and ethnic minorities in Iran, emphasizing that the Iranian people’s protests often involve taking control of symbols and power centers of the Revolutionary Guards and the Supreme Leader. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that human rights must be protected by the rule of law to prevent people from resorting to rebellion against oppression and tyranny. Similarly, the U.S. Declaration of Independence stresses the right and duty of people to overthrow a tyrannical government and establish new safeguards for their future security.

The Iranian regime is increasingly concerned about the activities of rebellious groups against the Revolutionary Guards and the Basij forces, particularly during the widespread protests in 2022. The regime has also intensified its use of hostage diplomacy as a primary foreign policy tool, using it against Western countries to secure the release of its criminals and terrorists.

In another section of the resolution, the U.S. Congress condemns the release of Asadollah Assadi, an Iranian diplomat implicated in terrorism. It notes that in 2023, the Iranian regime began a sham trial of 104 resistance members, mostly residing in Europe, to fabricate a legal pretext for its terrorist plots against them. The resolution also mentions the 1988 massacre of over 30,000 political prisoners, ordered by Khomeini, targeting those loyal to the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI) organization, with Ebrahim Raisi being one of the key figures involved.

Among those affected by the 1988 massacre are over 900 residents of the PMOI headquarters in Ashraf 3, Albania. These are former political prisoners who witnessed the Iranian regime’s atrocities firsthand. Many of these individuals are crucial witnesses to Raisi’s crimes and should be fully protected for any potential testimony before international courts investigating these killings. In November 2021, Sweden’s judiciary relocated the Stockholm court to Albania for two weeks to facilitate the testimonies of seven former Iranian political prisoners now residing in Ashraf 3, vital witnesses in trials related to the 1988 massacre.

 

Power Outages in Iran Reach Pharmaceutical Units

Jubin Katiraie
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Power Outages in Iran Reach Pharmaceutical Units

After power outages in some industrial units due to electricity shortages in Iran and unprecedented consumption records in the summer heat, the head of the Tehran Chamber of Commerce has now reported power cuts to pharmaceutical factories.

According to ILNA news agency, Mahmoud Najafi-Arab announced on Sunday, July 14, that the pharmaceutical industry, like other industries in the country, has been affected by electricity imbalances and spends the hot days of the year with power outages.

The head of the Tehran Chamber of Commerce also pointed to the currency supply problems of pharmaceutical companies, stating that these companies are even facing challenges in securing rials and cannot obtain the financial resources needed to provide working capital.

He mentioned that under such conditions, production units in this industry experience power outages for two days a week.

Earlier, the Tehran Electricity Distribution Company had announced that with the unprecedented increase in electricity consumption, on Wednesday, July 10, the power of 65 high-consumption administrative subscribers in Tehran was cut off due to their refusal to reduce electricity consumption.

According to the company’s statement, these offices did not adhere to the government decree requiring at least a 30% reduction in electricity consumption during working hours and 60% during non-working hours, leading to the power cut.

However, with the continued imbalance between electricity production and consumption in Iran and the daily increase in consumption, Mostafa Rajabi Mashhadi, the CEO of Tavanir, the national electricity provider, again reported the possibility of power outages in Tehran.

This comes as some areas in Tehran experienced an unprecedented five-hour power outage on Thursday, July 11.

The increase in temperature and record-breaking electricity consumption have also led to the closure of several provinces.

Media outlets announced, “To prevent widespread blackouts and scheduled power cuts, Thursday has been declared a holiday in 15 provinces to manage the grid by reducing electricity consumption in offices and avoid blackouts.”

At the end of last week, the average temperature in the country increased by about two degrees compared to the same period last year.

According to the Ministry of Energy, the country’s electricity consumption this week increased by about 6,000 megawatts compared to the previous week and was 8% higher than last year’s peak consumption.

On Friday, July 12, Mostafa Rajabi Mashhadi announced that the total consumption was 77,514 megawatts, stating that “this number has not been recorded before, and this year we have exceeded last year’s peak consumption for the fifth time.”

According to the CEO of Tavanir, for every one degree increase in temperature in the country, about 1,800 megawatts is added to the electricity consumption, which is due to air conditioners and cooling devices.

Due to repeated delays in the development of power plants and extensive electricity wastage in the aging grid, Iran faces a deficit of 14,000 megawatts of electricity during the hot seasons, and the electricity deficit increases each year.

The Iranian government had targeted the launch of more than 6,000 megawatts of new power plants last year, but only 2,000 megawatts were realized.

The Minister of Energy had previously announced that the “most important” step for the government to address the electricity deficit is to change office hours and control the electricity consumption of office cooling systems.

Reza Riahi, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of power generation companies, stated that if the imbalance in the electricity grid continues in this way, in the next 10 years, 33% of the consumption needs, or in fact, one-third of the country’s electricity needs, will not be met.

Retirees Gathering and Protests in Several Cities in Iran

Hoshang Amiri
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Retirees Gathering and Protests in Several Cities in Iran

The economic protests in Iran continued on Sunday, July 14, with gatherings of retired steel industry workers in Tehran and Isfahan and retired national and social security workers in several cities.  

According to reports, published on social media on Sunday, protests by retirees took place in at least the cities of Tehran, Isfahan, Kermanshah, and Shush.  

In addition to protesting the lack of attention to their professional demands by the authorities, retired protesters in Tehran also objected to the violation of women’s rights and the pressures to impose mandatory hijab by the regime. They chanted: “Let go of the headscarf, think of us,”  

The protesting retirees also chanted: “Men and women are equal, united and brave,” and “Oppression and cruelty to women are doubled here.”  

In Kermanshah, protesting retirees objected to the arrest and issuance of the death penalty for Sharifeh Mohammadi, a civil activist, chanting: “Sharifeh Mohammadi must be freed.”  

At this gathering, attended by retirees from organizations such as the telecommunications company, the Social Security Organization, and national retirees, other slogans included: “Unity, unity, against poverty and corruption,” “Gathering and protesting is our absolute right,” “Imprisoned teacher must be freed,” and “Imprisoned worker must be freed.”  

Retired steel industry workers in Isfahan also gathered and marched in front of the Steel Retirement Fund.  

In addition, retired protesters in Shush held a protest gathering, chanting: “Promises are enough, our table is empty.”  

The spread of professional protests by various groups, including retirees, workers from different industries, teachers, those who have lost their savings, and nurses and healthcare workers, indicates the increasing economic problems in Iran and the disregard of the Iranian regime’s officials.  

Experts say the living conditions and economic situation will worsen beyond what they are now.  

Additionally, a regime’s economist Hossein Raghfar recently stated that changing the head of government in the Iranian regime is ineffective, saying that there are two governments in the ruling system in Iran: one has “weapons and force” and its actions affect people’s livelihoods, while the other “has no power at all.”

Water Crisis in Iran: 200 Villages in Golestan Province Facing “Water Stress”  

Jubin Katiraie
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Water Crisis in Iran: 200 Villages in Golestan Province Facing “Water Stress”  

Due to the ongoing water shortage crisis in Iran, water has been cut off or become unusable in several cities, and 200 villages in Golestan Province are experiencing water stress.  

Reports indicate that drinking water in the cities of Damavand, Khash, Genaveh, Harris, and Mahshahr has either been cut off or is experiencing a decline in quantity and quality.  

Based on images published on social media, residents in Hersin County, Kermanshah Province, are also deprived of access to potable water.  

Additionally, due to the emergence of water stress in 200 villages in Golestan Province, the drinking water shortage in some rural areas of this province has reached a critical point, and water is being supplied by tankers.  

The state news agency ILNA mentioned that Golestan Province is among the provinces with water stress, adding that 46% of the population in this province lives in rural areas. Ninety percent of the water in Golestan Province is used in agriculture.  

In recent days, some residents of the village of “Esfidan” in the city of Bojnurd, North Khorasan Province, protested the cut-off of drinking water.  

The World Resources Institute, in a report in March 2024, identified Iran as one of the 25 countries facing the most severe water scarcity and water stress, describing it as a consequence of “decades of poor water management and unsustainable water use for agriculture.”  

The continuation of drought and the water crisis in Iran comes as heavy rainfall in some parts of the country has so far caused flooding, resulting in widespread damage and the deaths of dozens of citizens.

Summer, Heat, and Power Outages in Iran; Government Asks People to “Save” Without Explanation  

Esmaeil Mohades
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Summer, Heat, and Power Outages in Iran; Government Asks People to “Save” Without Explanation  

While the Iranian regime has spent a significant portion of the country’s capital over the past 20 years on its nuclear programs under the pretext of “power generation” and the “completion of the Bushehr power plant,” people are facing the recurring problem of widespread power outages as summer temperatures rise in Iran.  

The Bushehr nuclear power plant, which has cost billions of dollars to build and has led to numerous sanctions-related issues for the country, has a capacity of only 1,000 megawatts of electricity, whereas the country’s electricity consumption in recent days has been around 77,000 megawatts.  

Despite the Iranian regime’s propaganda over the past years and the vast amounts of money spent, the Bushehr nuclear power plant is only able to supply one percent of the country’s electricity needs. This amount of electricity could have been supplied at much lower costs through clean energy sources.  

Meanwhile, on Friday, July 12, Mostafa Rajabi Mashhadi, the CEO of Tavanir, the national electricity provider, denied any “planned blackouts,” saying: “We have no plans to publish blackout schedules, and with the cooperation of the people, we will get through this summer without blackouts.”  

However, domestic media have reported widespread power outages in 13 provinces on Thursday and more than five-hour outages in some areas of Tehran on Friday.  

Experts cite the lack of planning and the government’s actions outside economic frameworks in developmental issues as the main reasons for the energy sector’s imbalance, and they believe that with this style of governance, there is no hope for improvement.  

Earlier, the “Donya-e-Eqtesad” newspaper wrote about the reasons behind the current situation: “The discrepancy between income and expenses has led to investors showing little interest in the electricity industry and preferring to invest in other industries. Additionally, the government, which pays heavy subsidies to residential and agricultural consumers, is unable to construct power plants or even pay the claims of power plant owners, contractors, and equipment manufacturers in the electricity industry.”

Iran: 85 Political Prisoners on Hunger Strike in Protest of Sharifeh Mohammadi’s Death Sentence

Sia Rajabi
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Iran: 85 Political Prisoners on Hunger Strike in Protest of Sharifeh Mohammadi’s Death Sentence

In continuation of the protests against the death sentence issued for labor activist Sharifeh Mohammadi, 85 political prisoners in Evin Prison went on a hunger strike on Thursday, July 11. A number of imprisoned labor activists also described the sentence as “unjust, shocking, insane, and unacceptable” in a statement.

Eighty-five political prisoners held in Evin Prison began their hunger strike at 11 PM on Wednesday, July 10, protesting the “unjust sentence” of Sharifeh Mohammadi and in solidarity with the campaign supporting her.

Thirty of these political prisoners are in the women’s ward, 30 in ward eight, and 25 in ward four of Evin Prison.

These prisoners announced that they would continue their hunger strike until 11 PM on Thursday, July 11.

They had previously called on other prisoners and the general public to join them in this protest movement.

Sharifeh Mohammadi, a labor activist held in Lakan Prison in Rasht, was sentenced to death on charges of “rebellion” by Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of this city on July 4.

The judge cited Mohammadi’s opposition to executions under the Iranian regime and a Ministry of Intelligence report about her membership in the “Coordination Committee to Help Form Labor Organizations” as grounds for this accusation.

The issuance of the death sentence for Mohammadi has sparked widespread reactions from labor, civil, and political activists, as well as a number of independent labor unions.

On Tuesday, July 9, social media users expressed their protest against Mohammadi’s sentence using the hashtag #FreeSharifeh, calling for the unconditional release of this labor activist.

Previously, on July 4, sixteen female political prisoners in Evin Prison joined the campaign to defend Sharifeh Mohammadi by publishing a letter and demanding the annulment of her sentence.

They emphasized that Mohammadi, after seven months of temporary detention, enduring torture and interrogation in various detention centers, was sentenced to death “in a threadbare scenario with baseless charges,” and declared that they stand with her and other prisoners whose lives are in danger.

Mohammadi was arrested on December 5, 2023, on charges of “propaganda against the regime” and later faced the charge of rebellion.

More than a month after her arrest, on January 13, 2024, Mohammadi was beaten by Ministry of Intelligence interrogators to extract a forced confession against herself.

Since coming to power, the Iranian regime has consistently arrested, tortured, and imprisoned civil, labor, and political activists critical of the government.

Since the start of nationwide protests against the Iranian regime in September 2022, the repression of civil, labor, and political activists, as well as other protesters by the government, has intensified and continues to this day.

New Zealand Imposes New Sanctions Against Iran’s Regime

Hoshang Amiri
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New Zealand Imposes New Sanctions Against Iran’s Regime

On Thursday, July 11, New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Winston Peters announced in a statement the imposition of sanctions on individuals and entities associated with the Iranian regime involved in the production and supply of drones for Russia’s use in the Ukraine war.

The statement named three individuals and four entities affiliated with the Iranian regime.

According to New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abbas Abdi Asjerd and Seyed Mohsen Vahabzadeh Moghadam, senior officials of several Iranian entities, including Bonyan Danesh Shargh, which is involved in the construction and supply of drones to Russia, have been included in the sanctions list.

The New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs also identified Ehsan Rahat as a senior scientist and former CEO of Chakad Sanat Asmari, a cover company for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and included him in its sanctions list.

In addition to these three individuals, Alvand Motor Company, Bonyan Danesh Shargh, Pishro Sanat Aseman Sharif, and Saad Sazeh Faraz Sharif (also known as Darya Fanavar Borhan Sharif) have all been sanctioned for their involvement in the construction and distribution of drones.

Ehsan Imani Nejad, CEO of Saad Sazeh Faraz Sharif, had already been sanctioned by the New Zealand government on May 17, 2024.

Iran’s Regime on Verge of Obtaining Nuclear Weapons

Mehdi Hosseini
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Iran’s Regime on Verge of Obtaining Nuclear Weapons

A coalition of well-known think tanks and activist groups in the United States, including the Vandenberg Coalition and the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, have warned that the Iranian regime’s nuclear program has reached a critical stage, and the Iranian government could produce enough enriched uranium to build several nuclear weapons within a few days.

This comes as global attention is focused on the war between Israel and Hamas, a group supported by the Iranian regime in the Gaza Strip, and also on the U.S. presidential elections this year, 2024. Meanwhile, Tehran has continuously increased its nuclear activities and uranium enrichment.

These groups have published a report, urging the next U.S. president to rapidly develop “credible military options” to prevent the Iranian regime from acquiring nuclear weapons and to adopt a “coherent and comprehensive strategy” to counter the threats posed by Iran’s nuclear program and its destabilizing activities.

In their joint report, they further emphasize that the time for diversion and ignoring these threats is over and that the policies of Joe Biden’s administration towards the Iranian regime have been ineffective.

This report, supported by nine think tanks and activist groups in the field of foreign policy, highlights growing concern among a broad segment of the U.S. foreign policy community about the Biden administration’s reluctance to confront Iran’s regime.

The suggestions of these groups for the next U.S. president include the following:

  • Gathering other Western countries to sanction Tehran’s nuclear activities and reimposing a set of economic measures that were initially lifted by the United Nations as part of the 2015 nuclear deal.
  • Preparing the United States Department of Defense, the Pentagon, to swiftly implement military options if deterrence fails.
  • Countering Tehran’s foreign influence campaign by disclosing classified information and prosecuting Iranian regime officials involved in efforts to kill Iranian dissidents and American officials.
  • Paying more attention to the Iranian regime’s proxy terrorist groups and holding Iran accountable for their actions.
  • Increasing public support for opposition forces against the Iranian regime within Iran.

The report warns that the Iranian regime’s advanced nuclear program, along with its full range of destabilizing activities, demonstrates the urgent need for a coherent and comprehensive strategy to counter these threats.

Iran’s Regime Can’t Provide Electricity to 13 Provinces

Mehdi Hosseini
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Iran’s Regime Can’t Provide Electricity to 13 Provinces

According to the state-run ISNA news agency, 13 provinces in Iran will be closed on ursday, July 11, due to what it called an “imbalance between electricity production and consumption as well as rising temperatures and record-breaking consumption.”

As reported by ISNA, the provinces of Semnan, Zanjan, Khuzestan, Qom, Bushehr, Markazi, Isfahan, Yazd, Sistan and Baluchestan, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari, Kerman, South Khorasan, and Lorestan will be closed on Thursday due to the electricity shortage.

This state news agency wrote that the demand for electricity consumption in Iran reached over 77 gigawatts, and with the predicted increase in temperature, the consumption trend is likely to continue rising.

According to this report, to prevent widespread blackouts and scheduled power cuts in the 13 provinces, Thursday has been declared a holiday so that “by reducing electricity consumption in offices, the network can be managed and blackouts avoided.”

Tavanir Company (Iran Power Generation, Transmission, and Distribution Management Company) sent a nationwide warning SMS to subscribers on Monday, July 8, and a consumption warning for Tehran was also issued on Wednesday.

In this regard, according to the regime’s Young Journalists Club (YJC), the electricity of 65 high-consumption administrative subscribers in Tehran was cut off due to their refusal to reduce electricity consumption.

In recent days, there have been many protests on social media regarding power outages in various cities in Iran.

In this context, according to Telegram channels, the residents of “Kuye Mashali” in Ahvaz, southwest Iran, do not have electricity for 12 hours a day, while the city is “struggling with unbearable heat above 50 degrees Celsius.”

According to this report, the frequent and unannounced power outages have disrupted the daily lives of Ahvaz residents.

The power outages are occurring despite Homayoun Haeri, the regime’s Deputy Minister of Energy for Electricity and Energy Affairs, telling ISNA on May 4 that “with the measures and planning in place and the cooperation of electricity industry subscribers, we will not have blackouts this year.”

However, in mid-June, the Deputy Minister of Industry, Mining, and Trade announced in a letter to the Minister that the electricity restrictions for industries this summer will be intensified, and consequently, the activities of industries such as steel and cement will be severely disrupted, ultimately leading to reduced production and increased prices.

The state-run ILNA news agency also published a letter from Reza Mohtashamipour, the Deputy Minister of Industry, Mining, and Trade, addressed to the minister, stating: “The nominal power capacity of the country has reached 90,000 megawatt-hours, and while we have not yet approached the hot months of the year, the peak electricity consumption has reached 70,000 megawatts.”

Meanwhile, the regime’s Khabar Online website reported that power outages in some central areas of Tehran have reached four hours.

Khabar Online emphasized that in previous years, with the start of the hot season, the maximum power outage duration was two hours, and this is the first time that residents have experienced nearly four-hour power cuts.

According to media reports, power outages have become a major problem for industries, causing protests from industrial owners.

Reports indicate that yesterday, the electricity of the SAIPA car manufacturing plant was also cut off for at least five hours, causing serious problems in the production process, leaving workers idle and uncertain for hours.

According to published news, consecutive power outages in Tehran’s industrial hub, Jaddeh Makhsous (special road), which houses many long-established and old factories, have caused major problems for industries.

The state-run ILNA news agency, quoting the Vice President of the Industry Commission of the Iran Chamber of Commerce, wrote that one-day-a-week power outages in industrial towns across the country are extending to a second day.

The regime’s Donya-e-Eqtesad newspaper reported on Wednesday that power outages cause serious damage to industries, and each time the industries are turned on and off, it takes about 24 hours, with each 24-hour power outage causing increased damages.

Donya-e-Eqtesad pointed out the private sector’s request to the government to move the one-day-a-week power outage to Friday and wrote that Ministry of Energy officials have informed industrial owners that “solving this issue is not within the Ministry of Energy’s authority, and security agencies control this sector.”

Experts consider the lack of planning and behavior outside economic frameworks in development issues as the main factor in the energy sector’s imbalance and believe that with this method of governance, there is no hope for improving conditions.

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