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Rising Dairy Prices Send New Shock to Lives of People in Iran

Mehdi Hosseini
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Rising Dairy Prices Send New Shock to Lives of People in Iran

The state-run Hamshahri newspaper published a report on May 23 regarding a new wave of price increases in dairy products. The report shows that rising dairy prices have once again entered an upward trend. According to the Dairy Products Association, increased production costs have reached a critical stage. This situation has made rising dairy prices an unavoidable outcome. At the same time, discussions over currency liberalization and supplying livestock feed with free-market currency have created additional pressure. This trend has turned rising dairy prices into one of the main issues in the food market.

The Collapse of Investment in Iran, the Shutdown of Production, the Downward Spiral of Life

Rising Dairy Prices Are the Result of Pressure on the Production and Consumption Chain

The increase in exchange rates and changes in the method of supplying livestock feed have raised production costs. Under such conditions, according to industry activists, rising dairy prices are the direct result of pressure on the production chain. Factory owners also speak of shrinking profit margins and pressure from the consumer market. They believe that continuation of this trend could reduce production capacity in some facilities. Amid this trend of rising dairy prices, exports have been raised as a compensatory option. Increased transportation costs have also contributed to higher final prices.

According to the state-run Hamshahri newspaper, dairy industry experts warn that the pricing structure has become unstable. This instability has placed additional pressure on both producers and consumers. The dairy market has experienced repeated fluctuations in recent weeks. These fluctuations have increased concerns about price stability. Some production units have also reported declining demand in the domestic market. Changes in currency policies have played a key role in these economic developments. Some economic analysts consider this trend the result of a flawed distribution structure. Ultimately, both the production and consumption chains have come under pressure.

Rising Dairy Prices and Reduced Consumption Among Low-Income Families

Rising dairy prices have reduced consumption among many low-income families. This decline in consumption carries significant nutritional and health consequences. Reports indicate that rising dairy prices could affect public health. Reduced access to dairy products has increased concerns about diseases related to calcium deficiency. Health experts emphasize the importance of dairy consumption in the diet. However, rising prices have limited the purchasing power of many households.

This situation has made the economic divide in the consumption of essential goods more visible. Citizens in urban markets are expressing concern about rapid price changes. These concerns have also led to declining confidence in economic stability. Some reports indicate reduced demand in local stores. Changes in household consumption patterns in the food sector are becoming increasingly noticeable.

The report by the state-run Hamshahri newspaper presents a picture of increasing pressure on the dairy market. The report shows that the pricing structure is facing serious challenges. Rising production costs and currency fluctuations play the main role in this situation. The consumer market has also experienced declining demand in response to these changes. This cycle of pressure has affected both producers and consumers. Overall, this trend is a sign of instability in the market for essential goods. Reports indicate that this situation is likely to continue in the coming months.

Italian Parliament Conference Condemns Executions in Iran, Voices Support for NCRI

Jubin Katiraie
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Italian Parliament Conference Condemns Executions in Iran, Voices Support for NCRI

Italian lawmakers and human rights advocates gathered at the Italian Parliament on May 21 for a conference with Maryam Rajavi, the president-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), where speakers condemned the Iranian regime’s use of executions and called for stronger international support for democratic change in Iran.

The event in Rome brought together members of parliament, former officials, and rights activists who framed the situation in Iran as both a domestic political crisis and an international security concern. Throughout the conference, participants repeatedly criticized what they described as years of Western appeasement toward Tehran while voicing support for the NCRI and Rajavi’s Ten-Point Plan for a future democratic republic.

Opening the session, moderators pointed to the scale of executions carried out in Iran, describing the issue as one that receives only intermittent international attention despite its persistence. Speakers argued that executions, torture, and repression remain central tools used by the Iranian regime to maintain control.

Maryam Rajavi used her keynote address to emphasize what she called the “fundamental conflict” between the Iranian regime and the Iranian people. Referring to ongoing protests and underground opposition activity inside Iran, she said the struggle had continued for more than four decades and was now being carried forward through “popular uprisings and the activities of the Resistance Units,” a reference to networks affiliated with the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK).

Rajavi argued that the increase in executions reflected fear within the ruling establishment. “These daily executions are driven by the regime’s sheer fear of the Iranian people and their uprisings,” she said.

She also sought to position the NCRI as an organized political alternative capable of replacing the current system. In doing so, she rejected both the ruling clerical establishment and attempts to revive the former monarchy. Rajavi criticized what she described as efforts to construct “a pseudo-alternative out of the remnants of the monarchical dictatorship,” referencing demonstrations by monarchist supporters in Europe carrying symbols associated with SAVAK, the Shah’s former secret police.

Addressing European governments directly, Rajavi called on the European Union to formally recognize “the right of the Iranian people and their resistance to overthrow this regime.”

Naike Gruppioni, a member of the Italian Chamber of Deputies and organizer of the event, focused her remarks on the importance of defending political freedoms and human rights. She argued that democratic societies often take liberty for granted until it is threatened or removed.

Gruppioni highlighted the case of Vahid Bani-Amerian, described during the conference as a Resistance Units commander who was executed following what speakers characterized as a sham trial. She quoted his final reported words: “Even if you kill us, we multiply.”

She described Rajavi’s Ten-Point Plan as “a concrete political project for a future of a free Iran, a democratic, non-nuclear Republic,” and said the Iranian people had already rejected both religious authoritarianism and a return to monarchy.

“The Iranian people have already rejected every form of authoritarianism,” Gruppioni said, adding that opposition to the current system did not translate into support for restoring the monarchy.

Former Italian Foreign Minister Giulio Terzi di Sant’Agata, who currently chairs the Senate’s European Affairs Committee, delivered one of the conference’s sharpest criticisms of Western policy toward Tehran. Drawing on his diplomatic background, Terzi argued that international engagement with the Iranian regime had enabled repression and regional destabilization.

He credited the PMOI with exposing Iran’s nuclear activities years earlier and contrasted the sacrifices of activists operating inside Iran with opposition figures living abroad whom he described as disconnected from events inside the country.

Terzi specifically criticized Reza Pahlavi, the son of Iran’s last Shah, accusing him of promoting a political transition that would preserve parts of the current security apparatus, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the Ministry of Intelligence, and the Basij paramilitary force.

According to Terzi, the NCRI represented the only organized alternative with a defined political framework for democratic transition.

Calls to blacklist the IRGC were repeated throughout the event. Several speakers urged the European Union to formally designate the IRGC as a terrorist organization and to adopt a firmer stance toward Tehran.

Antonio Stango, president of the Italian Federation for Human Rights, argued that the policy commonly described as “appeasement” amounted to political “condescension” toward a government responsible for systematic abuses.

Stango also linked Iran’s domestic repression to regional conflicts, describing the Iranian regime as an “aggressor regime.” He accused Tehran of directing or supporting militant groups across the Middle East, including Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis.

Referring to the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, Stango claimed the operation had been directed by Tehran, while attacks carried out by Hezbollah and Houthi forces were “coordinated, armed, financed” by the Iranian regime.

He argued that regional stability required a policy of “ayatollah regime zero,” rejecting the possibility of long-term compromise with Tehran.

Another contribution came from Senator Marco Scurria, who was unable to attend in person due to official commitments in Belgrade but submitted a written statement that was read during the conference.

Scurria described the repression in Iran as a moral challenge for the international community and argued that economic or geopolitical considerations should not outweigh human rights concerns.

“One cannot witness in silence the repressions and killings that strike men and women, and even children,” he wrote.

The conference concluded with repeated calls for greater international recognition of Iranian opposition movements and stronger action against Tehran’s security institutions. Speakers presented the debate not simply as a foreign policy issue, but as part of a broader discussion over democratic accountability, political repression, and the direction of international engagement with Iran.

The Collapse of Investment in Iran, the Shutdown of Production, the Downward Spiral of Life

Mehdi Hosseini
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The Collapse of Investment in Iran, the Shutdown of Production, the Downward Spiral of Life

The collapse of investment in Iran means the halt of production, widespread unemployment, capital flight, the destruction of job security, and the decline in the quality of life for millions of citizens. Official statistics and statements by economic activists show that the Iranian regime is not only incapable of rebuilding the engine of production but has also pushed the economic environment into a stage of chronic instability through ineffective policies.

Lack of investment causes businesses to first reduce production capacity, then lay off workers, and ultimately shut down. Reports published in recent months provide a clear picture of this downward spiral.

Iran’s Economy Beneath the Rubble of War and Structural Collapse

Investment Stopped, Unemployment Began

According to published data, gross fixed capital formation fell to negative 4.3% from March to September 2025. This means the halt of new projects, deterioration of machinery, a decline in construction, and the destruction of employment capacity. Investment in machinery has also dropped from positive growth to negative 2.5%, while construction investment has entered negative territory as well.

This trend has directly targeted the labor market. In the summer of 2025, the number of employed people in the country declined by about 171,000, while at the same time the inactive population increased by more than one million. This means a large portion of society no longer has hope of finding work and has withdrawn from the economic cycle.

The collapse of investment in Iran’s economy is not merely the result of sanctions or war. The crisis is deeper than these simple explanations. Over the years, the economic structure under the control of the Iranian regime, through systematic corruption, a rent-seeking economy, suppression of the genuine private sector, and political uncertainty, has destroyed the motivation for investment. Capital grows in an environment where legal security, economic stability, and predictability exist — elements that have long disappeared from Iran’s economy.

Reports concerning the country’s industries show that around 80% of production units have faced declining activity. Many factories have laid off part of their workforce due to shortages of raw materials, export disruptions, energy outages, and liquidity crises. This situation is not limited to industry; agriculture has been equally affected by collapse.

In agriculture, producers who for years cultivated export products are now facing collapsing prices and the closure of foreign markets. Farmers who once considered production profitable now prefer to lease out their land. When income from renting land exceeds income from production, it means the productive economy no longer has the ability to survive.

A Worn-Out Economy Surrounded by Inflation and Uncertainty

The collapse of investment is impossible without chronic inflation. Inflation exceeding 60% in Iran’s economy has not only destroyed people’s purchasing power but has also eliminated any possibility of economic planning. An investor enters production only when they can predict future costs, exchange rates, and sales markets.

The result of this situation is the growth of speculation and the weakening of production. Instead of entering factories and industry, capital flows into currency markets, gold, housing, and brokerage activities. In such a structure, genuine producers effectively become victims of the Iranian regime’s rent-seeking and inflationary policies.

The energy crisis has also become one of the major factors behind the destruction of investment. Severe electricity and gas imbalances have caused many factories to operate at half capacity or temporarily shut down. How can a producer who faces daily power outages and gas restrictions plan to expand operations?

At the same time, the banking network has effectively ceased playing its developmental role. Although the volume of bank loans has increased, most of these resources are being used to repay previous debts or cover current expenses. Banks are no longer engines of investment; they have merely become mechanisms to prevent the complete collapse of indebted businesses.

On the other hand, the sharp reduction in development spending shows that the Iranian regime has even lost the ability to make public investments. The share of the development budget has fallen to around 4.6%, a figure that reflects the paralysis of infrastructure and development projects. Without investment in infrastructure, the private sector also has no possibility for growth.

The Collapse of Livelihoods Under a Rent-Seeking Economy

The ultimate consequence of the collapse of investment is the destruction of household livelihoods. Widespread unemployment, declining real incomes, and severe inflation have rapidly shrunk the middle class and turned poverty into a widespread phenomenon.

This is the same cycle that economists describe as a widespread recession — a situation in which crisis spreads from one sector to the entire society.

The Research Center of the regime’s Majlis (parliament) has also acknowledged that economic growth had sharply declined even before the recent war. Internet shutdowns, the energy crisis, political uncertainty, and financing problems have caused growth in the services and agricultural sectors to turn negative. This issue shows that the roots of Iran’s economic crisis are not merely in external tensions, but in a worn-out political and economic structure that has lost the ability to generate stability and development.

Over the years, the Iranian regime has destroyed the foundations of economic development by suppressing independent institutions, expanding the rent-seeking economy, and prioritizing political and security objectives.

Inflation, Economic Crisis, and the Silent Collapse of Iran’s Middle Class

Hoshang Amiri
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Inflation, Economic Crisis, and the Silent Collapse of Iran’s Middle Class

The state-run Khabar Fori website wrote on May 22 that the phenomenon of “poor billionaires” has become one of the latest signs of the economic crisis in Iran. Economists say the uncontrolled rise in asset prices, alongside the collapse of people’s purchasing power, has created a society in which many citizens appear wealthy on paper but in practice are unable to manage their daily lives.

In recent years, chronic inflation and the collapse of the national currency’s value have caused housing, automobiles, and durable goods prices to increase severalfold. These price increases have turned millions of people into owners of billion-rial assets. Nevertheless, a large portion of these same individuals face financial crises when trying to pay for basic living expenses, car repairs, home maintenance, or even essential goods.

40 million Iranians Below Poverty Line

Economists describe this situation as the rise of “poor billionaires,” a term that reflects the obvious contradiction in today’s Iranian economy — a society in which the apparent value of assets has expanded while the real ability to live has collapsed. Amir Hossein Khaleghi, an economist, told the state-run Fararu media outlet on May 14: “We are now facing a type of poverty that cannot be measured solely by income or wealth indicators. A phenomenon gradually revealing itself is the emergence of poor billionaires — people who may appear to own cars or homes, but cannot afford their maintenance, repairs, and ongoing expenses.”

The sharp rise in housing prices is one of the most important factors behind the emergence of the poor billionaire class. Today, even a small apartment in Tehran is worth tens of billions of rials. However, many owners of these homes have incomes that do not even cover ordinary living expenses.

The same situation can be seen in the automobile market. Cars that until a few years ago were among the cheapest products on the market now carry billion-rial price tags. Yet the owners of these vehicles struggle to pay for insurance, repairs, or even replacement of consumable parts.

The economic crisis has also spread to household appliances and consumer goods. Many families can no longer afford to replace worn-out appliances. Repairing a refrigerator, washing machine, or air conditioner has become a heavy expense for part of society.

Experts say the phenomenon of poor billionaires is the direct result of structural inflation and failed economic policies. Under such conditions, the increase in the nominal value of assets not only fails to create prosperity but also imposes greater psychological and economic pressure on people.

The Erosion of the Middle Class Under the Pressure of Crisis

At the same time as poverty expands, Iran’s middle class is rapidly eroding. A social group that once played an important role in cultural, social, and economic activities now spends a large portion of its income merely on survival.

Many teachers, engineers, office employees, doctors, and professionals who until a few years ago were considered part of the middle class are now crushed under the costs of housing, food, healthcare, and transportation. Living expenses have risen so sharply that a large segment of society no longer has the ability to participate in cultural and social activities.

Economists warn that the destruction of the middle class confronts any society with deep political and social crises. This class usually plays a balancing and reformist role. However, economic pressure has pushed it closer to the lower classes.

Meanwhile, many analysts speak of the emergence of a state of social suspension in Iran — a situation created by the regime in which people neither have hope for the future nor see any clear prospect for change.

The Regime’s Economic Deadlock

Experts trace the roots of the current crisis to decades of structural corruption, mismanagement, ineffective policies, and heavy government spending. Chronic inflation, the collapse of the national currency’s value, sanctions, and political crises have pushed Iran’s economy to a point where even asset owners feel poor.

Alongside these problems, uncertainty and regional crises have also pushed the economy into a deep recession. Many businesses remain in a state of limbo, and people have stopped making non-essential purchases.

It must be emphasized that a structure which for decades has spent the country’s resources on corruption, repression, and political projects has now brought society to a stage where even owning assets is no guarantee of a quality life. Under such conditions, millions of citizens are struggling merely to preserve the minimum necessities of life.

40 million Iranians Below Poverty Line

Mehdi Hosseini
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40 million Iranians Below Poverty Line

Iran’s economy entered the year 2026 while many economists and regime-affiliated research institutions warned that the country has entered an unprecedented stage of livelihood crisis, chronic inflation, and expanding poverty. According to experts, this situation would not be easily controlled even if conflict were to stop and external pressure were to decrease.

At the “Iran Economy Outlook 2026” conference, reported by the state-run daily Donya-e-Eqtesad, economists presented a bleak picture of the country’s economic future, in which recession, inflation, unemployment, and the collapse of household purchasing power have reached a dangerous level.

Gasoline Price Hikes in Iran Trigger a New Battle Over People’s Livelihoods

Masoud Nili, a regime-affiliated economist and former government economic advisor, warned that Iran’s economy has moved beyond chronic crisis and has now entered a stage where crises are openly emerging. Citing official data from the Statistical Center of Iran, he said inflation in some sectors has exceeded 100%, and even if conflicts end and political tensions ease, Iran’s economy will not return to normal conditions any time soon.

According to Nili, Iran’s inflation structure has entered a phase in which controlling it is far more difficult than in previous periods. He stressed that reducing inflation from very high levels is no longer possible through conventional monetary and fiscal policies, and that Iran’s economy is entering a dangerous cycle of inflationary expectations and continuous devaluation of the national currency.

At the same time, the labor market crisis has taken on new dimensions. Nili stated that in a country with a population of about 87 million, the number of employed people is less than one-third of the population, and between 2019 and 2025, despite an increase of nearly five million people in working age, net employment has remained almost unchanged. He added that more than 5.5 million people have joined the inactive population, a figure indicating widespread despair in finding jobs and the withdrawal of a portion of society from the labor market.

In the same meeting, Hojjat Mirzaei warned about Iran’s economic growth outlook and predicted that the country’s economic growth in 2026 would be between -8.8% and -10%, a figure that could worsen further if oil exports decline further.

He emphasized that intensified sanctions, disruption in foreign trade, currency shocks, import restrictions, government budget deficits, rising transportation costs, and internet outages have all led to a new wave of inflation and unemployment—a wave that directly targets Iranian households’ livelihoods.

Mirzaei also warned that if the current situation continues, between 3.5 million and 4.5 million more people will fall below the poverty line, and the number of poor people in Iran will exceed 40 million—a figure that could involve nearly half of the country’s population in poverty.

Official reports and economic studies in recent months have also provided clear signs of worsening living conditions. Continuous increases in food prices, housing rent, medicine, and healthcare services have pushed a large part of the middle class toward poverty. In many cities, the cost of renting a small apartment exceeds the average wages of workers and employees, forcing households to spend most of their income on necessities.

At the same time, the depreciation of the rial and the continuous rise in exchange rates have imposed a new wave of price increases on markets. Experts say that continuing this trend could lead to the closure of more production units, rising unemployment, and a deeper economic recession.

Meanwhile, the situation of informal labor has also been described as critical. According to statistics presented at the conference, about 39% of Iran’s workforce is employed in the informal sector—a group without insurance, job security, or social protection, and more vulnerable than others to economic shocks.

Hossein Rajabpour also stated at the meeting that after the 12-day war in June last year, the positive trend in the labor market stopped, and the industrial sector experienced the largest decline in employment.

Taken together, these indicators show that Iran’s economy is no longer facing a temporary recession or ordinary crisis but has entered a stage of structural crisis whose consequences are visible in the daily lives of millions of citizens—from shrinking household livelihoods and rising labor migration to expanding poverty, inequality, and social despair.

Telecommunications Employees in Tehran Protest Four Years of Unpaid Claims

Esmaeil Mohades
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Telecommunications Employees in Tehran Protest Four Years of Unpaid Claims

Four years of non-payment of overdue telecommunications wages have pushed employees’ livelihoods to the brink of collapse. According to a report by the state-run ILNA news agency on May 21, the Tehran Province Telecommunications Workers’ Association, in a letter addressed to the CEO of the Telecommunications Company of Iran, requested payment of the frozen monthly and annual welfare benefit differences from the past four years and their full, unconditional payment based on personnel employment regulation 89/24 from the beginning of the year. Continuing the wave of labor protests across various worker and service sectors, telecommunications employees in Tehran Province demanded payment of overdue claims and the full implementation of employment regulations.

Urban Poverty in Iran: The Collapse of the Economy of Life in Major Cities

The issue of overdue telecommunications wages has repeatedly become one of the main subjects of protests by the company’s employees in recent years. Workers say that part of their legal compensation has not been paid over the past four years, and company management has not provided a clear answer regarding when these claims will be settled.

The association’s letter referred to the difficult living conditions of employees. Rising living costs, severe inflation, and declining purchasing power have caused many telecommunications employees to face serious economic hardship. This is while a significant portion of their benefits and welfare payments remain unpaid.

Overdue Telecommunications Wages and the Livelihood Crisis of Employees

Telecommunications employees say their income does not even match minimum living expenses. According to published reports, the salary ceiling of many workers and employees in private and state companies is several times below the poverty line. Nevertheless, even those limited wages are often paid late or incompletely.

The protests over overdue telecommunications wages come as various labor groups in the oil, steel, education, transportation, and telecommunications sectors have repeatedly protested their wage conditions in recent months. Many of these protests have centered on unpaid wages, elimination of benefits, and declining job security.

The protesting employees believe that the Telecommunications Company has refused to fully implement its legal obligations. They emphasize that welfare payments and wage benefits are part of employees’ legal rights, and eliminating or freezing them violates employment regulations.

Meanwhile, labor activists say the absence of independent labor unions and restrictions on the right to strike are among the reasons this situation continues. According to them, many workers and employees lack the ability to independently pursue their demands, allowing employers and managers to ignore wage rights.

Protests Over Overdue Telecommunications Wages Continue

Tehran telecommunications employees have warned that continued disregard for wage demands will create broader dissatisfaction. They are demanding the immediate payment of all overdue claims and the full implementation of employment regulations.

The protest over overdue telecommunications wages is not merely a labor demand. It is part of the broader livelihood crisis among workers and salaried employees in Iran. Economic crisis, inflation, and structural corruption have placed heavy pressure on the lives of millions of families.

In recent years, labor protests have become one of the most important manifestations of social discontent. Many employees and workers believe that the country’s resources, instead of being used to improve people’s livelihoods, are being spent on networks of power and government corruption. This issue has further deepened the divide between society and the ruling structure.

US Prepares for Another War with the Iranian Regime

Sia Rajabi
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US Prepares for Another War with the Iranian Regime

Images released from the U.S. Navy’s Carrier Strike Group 11, led by the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz, show that the strike group has been deployed in the Persian Gulf, a move that comes amid rising tensions between Washington and Tehran.

Axios news website and CBS reported that U.S. President Donald Trump held a confidential meeting on Friday, May 22, with his closest advisers in the Oval Office at the White House.

Axios, citing sources who have been in direct contact with Trump, wrote that the U.S. president is seriously considering the option of new attacks against Iran’s regime unless progress is achieved in negotiations at the last moment.

According to the report, the meeting reviewed the latest status of talks with Iran and possible scenarios in the event that negotiations fail.

CBS also reported, citing several informed sources, that a number of members of the U.S. military and intelligence agencies have canceled their vacation plans, a move that according to these sources could be related to preparations for possible new operations.

It is also reported that U.S. defense and security officials are reviewing and updating the list of standby forces at military bases outside U.S. territory.

Trump had previously written on Truth Social that due to the current situation, he might not be able to attend the wedding ceremony of his son, Donald Trump Jr.

Referring to the ongoing conflicts and the Iran issue, he said that he is trying to attend the private ceremony, but his packed schedule and political and security developments have made his attendance difficult.

Meanwhile, Axios, citing a Pakistani security source, reported that Asim Munir’s trip to Tehran took place within the framework of efforts to achieve an agreement between the United States and Iran, reduce tensions, and begin broader negotiations.

More Than 300 Global Figures Urge UN Action Over Rising Executions in Iran

Sia Rajabi
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More Than 300 Global Figures Urge UN Action Over Rising Executions in Iran

A coalition of more than 300 international legal experts, former United Nations officials, Nobel Prize laureates, judges, and human rights advocates has issued an open letter calling on the United Nations to take immediate action over what they describe as a sharp escalation in executions and political repression in Iran.

The letter, dated May 18, 2026, was addressed to UN Secretary-General António Guterres and warns that Iranian authorities are increasingly using capital punishment as a means of suppressing dissent. The signatories include several internationally known figures, among them former President of the UN Human Rights Council Joachim Rücker, former International Criminal Court President Sang-Hyun Song, former UN Special Rapporteur on Iran Javaid Rehman, and Nobel Peace Prize laureates Oleksandra Matviichuk and Jody Williams.

“We write to express grave concern over the accelerating use of the death penalty in Iran as an instrument of political repression,” the signatories stated in the letter.

The appeal comes amid a broader crackdown that the signatories say has intensified since regional tensions escalated on February 28, 2026. According to the document, Iranian authorities have expanded arrests, executions, and restrictions on civil liberties during the period of unrest.

The letter alleges that the Iranian government has launched what it describes as a coordinated campaign involving “mass arrests, torture, and state-sanctioned killing,” while also restricting internet access across the country in an effort to contain dissent and limit the flow of information.

At the same time, the signatories warned that the pace of executions has accelerated significantly.

“The scale of executions has reached levels not seen in nearly four decades,” the letter stated.

Particular concern was raised over the treatment of political prisoners and detainees accused of connections to opposition groups. The document specifically referred to individuals linked to the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK).

“At least eight political prisoners have been executed solely due to affiliation with the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK), while at least 11 others currently face execution on similar grounds,” the signatories wrote.

The letter also highlighted the cases of protesters who were reportedly sentenced to death after expedited judicial proceedings. According to the document, some detainees were executed on charges such as baghi (“armed rebellion”) following what the signatories described as summary trials.

The appeal drew attention to statements attributed to senior Iranian judicial officials, citing findings from the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Iran. According to the signatories, those statements reflected official support for harsher punishment against demonstrators and political dissidents.

“The Prosecutor General declared that all protesters had committed moharebeh (‘enmity against God’), a capital offence, while the Head of the Judiciary instructed judges to show ‘no mercy’ in protest-related cases,” the letter stated.

The document also referenced estimates from the Fact-Finding Mission indicating that more than 50,000 protesters have been arrested during recent unrest across Iran.

Beyond the current wave of arrests and executions, the signatories argued that the situation reflects a longer pattern of impunity inside the Iranian system. The letter connected recent developments to the 1988 mass executions of political prisoners, which remain a central focus of international human rights concerns related to Iran.

“This wave of executions cannot be separated from Iran’s long-standing culture of impunity, rooted in the 1988 massacre,” the letter stated.

The comparison to the events of the late 1980s was presented as part of a broader warning that the absence of accountability over past abuses has contributed to the continuation of severe punishments against political opponents and protesters.

The signatories urged the United Nations and member states to pursue concrete measures aimed at halting the current crackdown. Their demands included an immediate suspension of executions, the release of political prisoners, the restoration of unrestricted internet access, and the establishment of international accountability mechanisms to investigate alleged violations.

The appeal concluded with a warning directed at the international community.

“Silence in the face of these atrocities only reinforces impunity,” the letter stated.

The intervention by the group of international figures comes as Iranian judicial authorities continue to call for faster implementation of sentences in security-related cases. The letter was released following months marked by executions, widespread arrests, and internet disruptions in the aftermath of anti-government unrest across the country.

In recent years, international human rights organizations and UN experts have repeatedly raised concerns about Iran’s use of the death penalty, particularly in cases involving political detainees and protesters. The latest appeal places renewed pressure on the United Nations to address allegations of systematic repression and to consider additional mechanisms aimed at monitoring and investigating developments inside Iran.

The involvement of former UN officials, international judges, and Nobel laureates has added further international visibility to the issue, while the letter itself reflects growing concern among human rights advocates over the direction of Iran’s internal security policies and judicial response to dissent.

As calls for accountability continue to grow, the letter signals an effort by prominent international figures to place the issue of executions and political repression in Iran more firmly on the agenda of the United Nations and the broader international community.

Iranian Citizens Struggle to Cover Expenses as Housing Crisis Deepens

Mehdi Hosseini
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Iranian Citizens Struggle to Cover Expenses as Housing Crisis Deepens

In recent months, the housing crisis has become one of the country’s most important economic and social concerns. Continuous price increases, declining purchasing power, and surging construction costs have pushed this crisis to a point where many families no longer have hope of becoming homeowners. What is seen today is a deep and structural crisis that is affecting people’s daily lives.

In recent years, the decline in the national currency’s value has played an important role in intensifying the housing crisis. With the currency’s depreciation, land and housing prices have surged dramatically. This has turned the issue of homeownership from an economic problem into a widespread social issue. Many young people who until a few years ago had some hope of buying a home now feel trapped in the face of this housing crisis.

Iran’s Housing Market Under the Rubble of War

In fact, the housing catastrophe in Iran has reached an acute stage in which runaway growth in purchase prices and rents has pushed a large part of society below the housing poverty line, to the point that phenomena such as living in small rooms, shared rentals, and forced migration to city outskirts have sharply increased.

The crisis of rising construction material prices

The increase in construction material prices has also put additional pressure on the market. Builders complain about rising costs, and this has directly affected the final price of housing units. As a result, the housing crisis has intensified not only on the demand side but also on the supply side. The higher construction costs rise, the greater the gap between people’s incomes and housing prices becomes, meaning a deepening of the crisis.

On the other hand, the role of speculation in the land and housing market cannot be ignored. A significant portion of housing units are held as investment assets. This trend has led to a reduction in real supply and an artificial increase in prices. In such conditions, the housing crisis has moved out of an economic cycle and turned into a speculative one.

Migration to city outskirts

In large cities, the situation is more severe. Rents have risen unprecedentedly, and many families have been forced to move to city outskirts. These relocations have themselves created new social consequences. The housing crisis in these areas is not only about high prices but also about lifestyle changes and widespread psychological pressure on families.

The important point is that the homelessness crisis is no longer limited to lower income deciles. Even the middle class has gradually been pushed out of the housing market. This situation shows that the crisis has become a widespread issue and has crossed class boundaries.

Housing crisis and social hope

From a social perspective, the consequences of this situation are very extensive. An increase in marriage age, a decline in birth rates, and growing psychological insecurity are among the direct results of this crisis. When access to housing becomes difficult, planning for the future is also disrupted. In fact, the housing catastrophe has directly affected social hope.

Alongside these conditions, the continuous increase in prices in other markets such as food and services has doubled the pressure. However, among all these pressures, the housing problem has a special place, as housing is considered the most basic human need. Lack of access to adequate housing means weakening the economic security of families.

In conclusion, what is seen today is not a simple housing crisis, but a deep and structural housing crisis rooted in a combination of economic, managerial, and speculative factors. If this housing crisis continues, it will widen the class gap and confront society with even greater challenges.Top of Form

Iran: Death Sentence of Political Prisoner Manouchehr Fallah Reconfirmed

Hoshang Amiri
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Iran: Death Sentence of Political Prisoner Manouchehr Fallah Reconfirmed

As pressure against political prisoners in Iran intensifies, reports indicate that a court in Rasht has once again confirmed the death sentence of Manouchehr Fallah, a political prisoner accused of membership in the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK).

According to the report, the relevant branch of the regime’s court in Rasht, presided over by Ahmad Darvish Goftar, reconfirmed the death sentence of the 36-year-old prisoner during the third week of May. This comes despite the fact that the regime’s Supreme Court had previously returned the case to the lower court for reconsideration.

Manouchehr Fallah Sentenced to Death on the Pretext of Causing Damage to the Rasht Courthouse Building

Manouchehr Fallah was arrested in June 2023 and has since been held in the Mithaq ward of Lakan Prison in Rasht. Human rights sources say the handling of his case has been accompanied by extensive ambiguity and heavy security pressure.

In another case, Roozbeh Alipour, the brother of Babak Alipour, a member of the PMOI/MEK who was executed on March 31, has reportedly been subjected to pressure and mistreatment in Ghezel Hesar Prison and deprived of access to medical care. Reports indicate that he is in poor physical condition and continues to face medical restrictions in prison.

At the same time, the Iranian regime’s judiciary has also increased pressure on female political prisoners. Forough Taghipour, a 30-year-old political prisoner and accounting graduate, has once again been targeted with a new fabricated case in the regime’s Revolutionary Court in Tehran.

According to published information, Judge Sharifi Nasab sentenced her to an additional one year in prison for publishing a message marking Student Day in 2025. Forough Taghipour, who was arrested in August 2023, had previously been sentenced to 15 years in prison and is now facing retrial and new sentences.

The increase in heavy sentences, denial of medical treatment, and fabrication of new cases against political prisoners have once again heightened concerns in recent weeks about the intensifying repression of political opponents by the Iranian regime.

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