The Conflict Armament Research (CAR) center, in its latest report, stated that the Houthis in Yemen continue to rely on foreign support, and much of the equipment seized from smuggled arms shipments shows strong links between this group and supply networks connected to the Iranian regime.
The UK-based CAR center, in its September report, wrote that Houthi forces remain dependent on foreign support to strengthen their air defenses and conduct attacks, including against ships in the Red Sea.
In July 2025, CAR investigators documented a sample of a major maritime interdiction by Yemen’s National Resistance Forces of a dhow carrying a large quantity of advanced weapon systems bound for a Houthi-controlled port. 🧵 (1/4) pic.twitter.com/kKAH2v6NQf
According to the report, the seizure of a large maritime shipment by Yemen’s National Resistance Forces just two days after the ceasefire between the Iranian regime and Israel was “the largest capture of advanced Iranian conventional weapons” in their history.
The center added that document analysis revealed an unprecedented number of advanced missiles and anti-ship systems, most of which were directly linked to supply networks affiliated with the Iranian regime.
The CAR report also stated that in the shipment’s accompanying documents, which covered an unprecedented scale of various missiles, the contents were listed as “agricultural products, machinery, and chemical fertilizers,” with no mention of weapons.
The Iranian regime has consistently denied sending weapons directly to Yemen and insists that the Houthis are capable of producing their own long-range missiles and drones.
On August 14, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced the interception of weapons shipments bound for the Houthis, noting that the seizures were carried out by Yemen’s National Resistance Forces.
Warnings from think tanks
The Washington-based Middle East Forum warned, based on the CAR report, that Western—particularly U.S.—strikes on Houthi positions, no matter how precise, will be futile unless Iran’s arms supply lines to the Houthis are cut.
The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) has warned that the Houthis’ technical capabilities are increasing.
The Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) also stated that tactical missile interceptions alone cannot address the widening strategic gap.
The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) highlighted the resilience of the Iranian regime’s smuggling networks, which enable the Houthis to constantly replenish and modernize their arsenal.
Mohammad Banazadeh Amirkhizi, a 79-year-old political prisoner and a survivor from the justice-seeking families of the 1980s, is still being held under very difficult conditions in the Qom Ministry of Intelligence detention center. Despite multiple illnesses and a critical physical condition, he not only has no access to medical care, but is also kept in solitary confinement under interrogation and severe psychological pressure.
Sudden and unlawful arrest
On the morning of Monday, July 28, security forces entered the home of Mohammad Banazadeh Amirkhizi in Tehran without presenting a judicial warrant and forcibly took him away. After his transfer to the Ministry of Intelligence detention center in Qom, his family was left in complete uncertainty and has only been able to have a few short phone calls with him under the control of security agents.
Informed sources have reported that Mr. Mohammad Banazadeh Amirkhizi suffers from severe health problems, including heart disease, a torn knee meniscus, prostate cancer, and general weakness due to old age. Doctors had previously emphasized that he requires specialized and continuous medical care. However, judicial and security authorities have so far prevented any form of treatment or medical follow-up and have even denied him permission to undergo basic tests. This has effectively placed him at serious risk of a slow death.
Since his arrest, Mohammad Banazadeh Amirkhizi has been denied access to a lawyer. His long-term solitary confinement, deprivation of family visits, lack of medical facilities, and repeated interrogations all constitute clear examples of psychological torture. Human rights activists emphasize that such treatment is incompatible with both international human rights laws and even Iran’s own domestic laws.
He was also arrested in 2009 and 2016 for supporting the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) and spent about 10 years in Evin and Gohardasht prisons. On July 15, 2021, he was released from Gohardasht Prison in Karaj after completing his sentence, but he remained under restrictions, including a forced exile order.
Arrest as part of systematic repression
The arrest and torture of Mohammad Banazadeh Amirkhizi must be seen in the broader context of the Iranian regime’s repression of dissidents, especially the justice-seeking families of the 1980s. His re-arrest sends a clear message from the regime to other justice-seeking families: “Stay silent or pay a heavier price.”
The latest data from Iran’s Water Resources Management Company shows that between September 22, 2024, and September 6, 2025, the reserves of five major dams in Iran have fallen to zero.
With the worsening water crisis and the regime’s inability to manage resources, new official reports indicate that 19 large dams in the country are facing severe drought.
Voshmgir, Golestan, and Boostan dams in Golestan province, Rudbal Darab dam in Fars, and Shamil and Niyan dams in Hormozgan have completely dried up.
In Gilan, the Sefidrud dam holds only 3% of its capacity, while in Zanjan, the Taham dam has reached a warning level with just 9% of reserves.
The Tanguieh dam in Sirjan and the Nesa dam in Kerman are also in critical condition, with only 7% capacity.
In recent months, frequent water and power outages have severely affected citizens’ daily lives and disrupted industrial production and economic activities.
While Iranian regime officials call on people to save water and change consumption patterns, they have proven incapable of addressing the structural and managerial roots of the water and electricity crises.
Data from the Water Resources Management Company also shows that in eastern Iran, the Chahnimeh reservoirs in Sistan and Baluchestan are at 13% capacity, and the Nahrin dam in South Khorasan is at 12%, ending the water year with minimal reserves.
The Lar dam in Tehran province is only 3% full, while the Latian and Mamloo dams have 14% reserves, both in poor condition.
In Razavi Khorasan, the Doosti and Torogh dams are also in a critical state, with only 5% capacity.
On September 7, the state-run daily Ham-Mihan reported that with reservoirs running dry, the likelihood of water rationing by late September has increased.
According to the report, although Masoud Pezeshkian’s government has planned to transfer water from the Taleghan dam, the volume is “insufficient to meet Tehran’s needs.”
On September 4, the ISNA news agency wrote that consecutive years of drought, declining rainfall, and the water shortage crisis have affected agricultural production, including wheat.
Earlier, on August 12, the spokesperson of Iran’s water industry warned of the unprecedented severity of the crisis, stating that 70% of Iran’s plains are in “prohibited” or “critically prohibited” status, with more than 300 plains—including Tehran—facing the serious threat of land subsidence.
On August 11, the Water Resources Management Company reported that a total of 58% of the country’s dam reservoirs were empty.
In the 85th week of the “No to Execution Tuesdays” campaign, political prisoners in 52 prisons across Iran are on hunger strike to protest the widespread and unjust issuance of execution sentences. In a statement issued by the political prisoners on this occasion, referring to the execution of political prisoner Mehran Bahramian and the protests of the people of Semirom, it read:
“We invite all honorable and freedom-loving people, following the example of the justice-seeking families and the noble people of Semirom, to raise the flag of ‘No to Execution’ in every city and every street.”
This 85th week of the “No to Execution Tuesdays” campaign was marked by the participation of Sabzevar Prison, bringing the campaign to 52 prisons. With the expansion of this campaign, we are witnessing widespread resistance from prisoners and society against the policy of repression and executions.
Expansion of the “No to Execution Tuesdays” campaign with the addition of Sabzevar Prison to 52 prisons in the 85th week
The cruel and inhuman execution of political prisoner Mehran Bahramian in the city of Semirom not only deprived one person of the right to life, but also ignited flames of anger and protest in the hearts of his family and the noble people of the city. The dignified strike by shopkeepers and justice-seeking people of Semirom is proof that our people will not remain silent in the face of these crimes and will continue their struggle until they achieve their rights.
In another criminal act by the ruling religious dictator, in silence and without media coverage, two Sunni prisoners of conscience, Eskandar Bazmandegan and Mohammad Kashfi, were hanged in Adel Abad Prison in Shiraz.
Shocking statistics show that since August 23, 92 prisoners, including four women, have been executed. In just the past week alone, the execution-driven regime took the lives of 46 individuals. According to available figures, since March 21, a total of 756 people have been executed, with 100 of those executions carried out in Ghezel Hesar Prison—meaning more than 13% of executions occurred there.
According to reports, a group of prisoners in Sabzevar Prison have announced that, in protest against the regime’s wave of executions, they are joining the “No to Execution Tuesdays” campaign and will go on hunger strike every Tuesday.
The members of the “No to Execution Tuesdays” campaign wholeheartedly declare:
Execution is a tool for the blatant violation of human rights and the suppression of freedoms and they demand the immediate and complete halt of executions across the country.
The voice of this campaign is the voice of solidarity and support for all the victims of inhumane policies in Iran, and until justice, freedom, respect for human rights, and human dignity are achieved, this voice will continue to resonate and multiply inside prisons. We invite all honorable and freedom-loving people, following the example of the justice-seeking families and the noble people of Semirom, to raise the flag of “No to Execution” in every city and every street.
Life is a fundamental right of every human being, and no government has the right to take it away. In honor of the blood that has been shed and the families drowned in grief, it must be shouted: No to executions, no to dictatorship and repression, yes to justice and the sovereignty of the people.
On Tuesday, September 9, 2025, in the 85th week, the members of the “No to Execution Tuesdays” campaign will be on hunger strike in 52 prisons.
On Sunday, September 7, Iran witnessed a series of widespread protests in different cities. Retirees, workers, students, border residents, and young doctors each held separate demonstrations to voice their objections.
Protest of Steel Retirees and Social Security Pensioners
Dozens of steel retirees and teachers gathered in front of the Social Security Organization in Tehran. They chanted against the trampling of their rights: “Steel worker, cry out! Shout for your rights — we will not live under oppression; we sacrifice our lives for freedom — Social Security must be freed from government monopoly.”
Retirees’ Protest in Front of Social Security in Kermanshah
Retirees from various pension funds in Kermanshah also gathered in front of the Social Security Organization. They chanted: “Retiree, rise up, this is no time to sit — without water, without electricity, life is destroyed — worker, teacher, victims of inflation.”
Social Security Retirees’ Protest in Shush, Haft Tappeh, and Karkheh
Social Security retirees from Shush, Haft Tappeh, and Karkheh held a protest march. They chanted: “Only on the streets can we claim our rights — neither the parliament nor the government care for the people — retirees’ pensions only last a week — from Khuzestan to Tehran, death to these managers.”
Gathering of Retirees and Teachers in Ahvaz
Social Security retirees in Ahvaz also gathered, like other retirees, to pursue their demands.
Protest of Contract Oil and Gas Workers in Gachsaran
A group of contract workers from the Gachsaran Oil and Gas Company gathered in front of the company’s headquarters. They protested against meager wages, discrimination, and the atmosphere of repression.
Protest of Tarbiat Modares University Students
Students at Tarbiat Modares University gathered to protest against the very poor quality of food in the cafeteria and the disorder in its distribution.
Baluch Citizens’ Protest in Front of the Repressive Salman IRGC Unit
Baluch citizens gathered in front of the Salman IRGC unit to demand the reopening of the border crossing. They described the IRGC’s “tanker plan” as a source of corruption and profiteering that has destroyed the livelihoods of border residents.
Young Doctors’ Protest in Tehran
Volunteer participants of the medical specialty board exam gathered for the second consecutive day in front of the Ministry of Health in Tehran. Their main slogan was: “Employment justice is everyone’s right, not a special privilege for a few!”
Protest of Farhan Diesel Fraud Victims in Tehran
Victims of the fraudulent company “Farhan Diesel” gathered in front of Tehran’s Economic Crimes Court. They asked: “Are there any officials in this country who are not thieves or accomplices of thieves?!”
The Iranian regime has failed to provide even the most basic livelihood needs. The protests of different segments of society show that any change in people’s lives under this regime is nothing but an illusion.
The Iranian regime’s failure in providing electricity has set the Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of Energy against each other
Ebrahim Sheikh, deputy minister of Industry, Mining, and Trade of Iran’s regime, criticized the Ministry of Energy’s policies on cutting electricity to industries, saying that despite a sixfold increase in electricity costs for industrialists, the “imbalances” have not been reduced.
On Saturday, September 6, Sheikh said in a meeting: “We have serious disagreements with our brothers in the Ministry of Energy, and we have completely lost our trust in this ministry’s policies and do not accept their words.”
He added that the Ministry of Energy should provide stable electricity for industries, but not only has this not happened so far, the problems have worsened every year.
Sheikh criticized electricity pricing for industries, saying this process should be based on guarantees, but in the past six years, the cost of electricity for industrialists has increased sixfold, and despite all these costs, the “electricity imbalance” has not decreased.
According to a study by the Institute for Trade Studies and Research published on August 24, industrial electricity prices in 2025 compared to 2018 officially increased about 12 times and, in practice, about 30 times.
Contrary to the regime officials’ common comparisons about Iran’s lower electricity rates compared to other countries, the study showed that electricity prices for energy-intensive industries in Iran are about three times higher than the average of the Persian Gulf countries.
Deputy Minister of Industry: Instead of industries, cut electricity in “other places”
The deputy minister of Industry further said that with the continuation of electricity outages, the Ministry of Energy should not expect payments from industrialists and should not increase industrial electricity tariffs.
Referring to the “disruption of industrialists’ plans due to blackouts,” Sheikh asked the “brothers in the Ministry of Energy” to “also consider other places for power cuts.”
In addition to industries, power and water outages in households across Iran began earlier this year than in previous years, starting in May.
The continuation of power outages and fluctuations in recent months has claimed the lives of at least five citizens.
In addition to constant blackouts, some citizens have reported receiving electricity bills amounting to tens of millions of rials for their homes and businesses.
In recent months, officials of Iran’s regime have portrayed the people as responsible for the energy shortage in the country and, in dealing with the crisis, advised citizens to “consume less” and “turn off lights.”
For years, Iran has faced an energy crisis due to mismanagement, but the crisis has been worsening every year.
The spokesperson of the Presidium of Iran’s regime Majlis (parliament): The triple-urgency bill on withdrawal from the NPT will be reviewed without delay
Abbas Goudarzi, the spokesperson of the Presidium of Iran’s regime Majlis, said that the report of the National Security Commission regarding proposals and bills on Iran’s withdrawal from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) will be reviewed in the Sunday session of the Majlis.
On Sunday, September 6, Goudarzi stated that this bill carries a triple-urgency status and will be placed on the Majlis’ agenda without delay, and if approved, both its general framework and details will be reviewed in the same open session.
Goudarzi added: “During the review of the bill, members of the Guardian Council will also be present in Majlis so that, in case of final approval, they can review and declare whether or not it contradicts Sharia law and the constitution.”
Tehran MP Kamran Ghazanfari had earlier, in an interview with the state-run Hamshahri Online website, announced that the bill would be discussed in the Sunday session. He had said: “Some suggest that if the Majlis’ triple-urgency bill is approved, the endorsement of the Supreme National Security Council must also be obtained; however, such a requirement does not exist. Majlis’ approvals become enforceable after being passed and confirmed by the Guardian Council.”
According to Ghazanfari, the bill includes withdrawing from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and cutting off cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Since it is presented as a triple-urgency bill, it does not require separate submission to the Guardian Council, and the council’s members will give their opinion during the same session.
On August 28, the European Troika — France, the United Kingdom, and Germany — announced in a letter to the UN Security Council their decision to begin the process of activating the snapback mechanism and reimposing UN sanctions against Tehran.
Following this move, officials of Iran’s regime have adopted a dual stance: on the one hand, raising the possibility of withdrawal from the NPT, and on the other, declaring Tehran’s readiness to continue the diplomatic path.
Ali Akbar Salehi, former head of the Iranian regime’s Atomic Energy Organization and former foreign minister, stated that the Majlis cannot make decisions on measures such as withdrawal from the NPT without the opinion of regime supreme leader Ali Khamenei.
He considered withdrawal from the NPT to be within the “authority” of regime leader Ali Khamenei and added: “Governmental bodies like the Majlis, as a rule, cannot express their opinion in such matters without consulting the leader.”
Also, on September 4, Ismail Kowsari, a member of the Majlis’ National Security Commission, announced that the issue of withdrawal from the NPT had been raised in Majlis, but “the final decision in this regard rests with the Supreme National Security Council.”
On September 6, 2025, tens of thousands of Iranians and NCRI supporters rallied in Brussels, Belgium, to celebrate the PMOI’s 60th anniversary. The event, organized by the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), gathered international dignitaries including:
Mike Pence – Former U.S. Vice President
Guy Verhofstadt – Former Belgian Prime Minister
John Bercow – Former Speaker of the UK Parliament
Kris Van Dijck – Belgian MEP
Patrick Kennedy – Former U.S. Congressman
Alejo Vidal-Quadras – Former Vice President of the European Parliament
Maryam Rajavi’s Keynote
NCRI President-elect Maryam Rajavi called sixty years of PMOI struggle “sixty years without a single day or even an hour of pause.” Despite torture and executions, she declared: “The Shah fell, the mullahs will fall too.”
Tens of thousands of Iranians and NCRI supporters rallied in Brussels, Belgium
She said the movement “wants nothing for itself” but seeks “freedom and the transfer of sovereignty to the people of Iran,” stressing that “there is an alternative — well-organized, fully prepared, and perfectly qualified.”
Presenting her vision, she called for democracy, gender equality, secularism, and a republic based on human rights. Highlighting women’s leadership as “the foundation for the Iran of tomorrow,” she urged the West to “designate the IRGC as a terrorist organization, enforce UN resolutions on the regime’s nuclear program, and support the Resistance Units.” She ended: “The time for uprising has arrived. You will liberate Iran. It can be done — and it must be done.”
Mike Pence
Former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence praised six decades of PMOI’s resilience: “Today, that movement — the PMOI — is stronger, more inspired, and more powerful than ever.”
Addressing Iranians inside the country, he said: “You are not alone. You are not forgotten. The day of your freedom is closer than ever.” He hailed the Resistance Units as “the driving engine of change, igniting uprisings and sustaining protests.”
Pence warned: “The greatest threat to this regime is not America, not Israel — it is the Iranian people themselves. We will not be silent. We will support the Resistance with everything we have.”
Guy Verhofstadt
Former Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt said the massive rally proved “there is effectively a democratic alternative to the cruel and criminal mullahs’ regime.”
He condemned decades of appeasement: “Talking to the regime about everything, even nuclear weapons, has only made things worse.” He urged Europe to adopt a new strategy based on three steps: designate the IRGC as terrorist, expand sanctions, and engage with the democratic opposition using Rajavi’s Ten-Point Plan.
John Bercow
Former UK Parliament Speaker John Bercow called claims of “no alternative” to dictatorship “an abominable insult.” He dismissed monarchy: “We don’t mean some baby Shah… Not needed, not wanted, not of any use whatsoever.”
He praised NCRI’s strength, saying its Resistance Units are “greater in number, bigger in scale of activity, and superior in reach… than at any time.” He described Maryam Rajavi as one who has “sacrificed everything to serve the cause of a free Iran.” Closing, he pledged: “For as long as I have breath in my lungs, I will support the cause of freedom for Iran.”
Kris Van Dijck
Belgian MEP Kris Van Dijck praised Iranians fighting for freedom: “Wherever people have the courage to fight for human rights, I stand on their side.” He demanded release of political prisoners, condemned hostage-taking, and said, “We are pushing the EU to blacklist the IRGC.” He added: “My dream is your dream: a free Iran.”
Patrick Kennedy
Former U.S. Congressman Patrick Kennedy praised decades of sacrifice: “Every single year, MEK members have been tortured, jailed, and murdered — but have they stopped? No, they haven’t.”
He warned: “Appeasement never gets us security. Appeasement invites fascism to prevail.” Framing the struggle as universal, he declared: “This isn’t just an Iranian issue. This is a human rights issue.” He closed: “President Kennedy said, ‘Ich bin ein Berliner.’ Today… I proudly say, ‘Man Irani hastam’ — I am Iranian.”
Alejo Vidal-Quadras
Former European Parliament Vice President Alejo Vidal-Quadras told the crowd: “You are not a fringe… You are the heartbeat of a nation.”
He praised Rajavi’s Ten-Point Plan, rejected monarchy, and highlighted the Resistance Units: “I have seen them inside Iran — fearless, challenging.” He pledged loyalty despite surviving an assassination attempt: “I will remain a proud soldier in your ranks all the way to a free Iran.”
Iranian Voices
Young supporter Andrin Mohseni said: “Sixty years later, the organization is stronger than ever. Today, it terrifies the regime.”
Farzaneh Hosseini honored her family’s sacrifices, saying, “Under Maryam Rajavi’s motto, ‘we can and we must,’ generations of women have risen to lead a movement daring to challenge the world’s most misogynistic regime.”
Vida Niktalean, an Iranian-German community leader, called PMOI “the national treasure of 90 million Iranians… poised to break every bond of this regime.”
The Brussels rally underscored growing international recognition of NCRI and PMOI as the democratic alternative to Iran’s regime. From global leaders to young activists, participants echoed Maryam Rajavi’s declaration: “Uprising and overthrow are on the way. You will liberate Iran. It can be done — and it must be done.”
Amid ongoing warnings about the growing wave of school dropouts among children and teenagers in Iran, the regime’s minister of education announced that the number of children deprived of education in the country has reached 950,000.
Alireza Kazemi, in an interview with the state-run ILNA news agency, said that according to official system records and documents, around 950,000 students are considered either deprived of education or school dropouts.
Kazemi stated that the Ministry of Education has individual-level data on students deprived of education and dismissed the claims of some officials that two million students are out of school as “false.”
In October 2024, Farshad Ebrahimpour, a member of the regime’s parliamentary education commission, revealed hidden statistics on children deprived of education, saying that in the 2024-2025 academic year, around two million students were not registered for school, largely due to economic problems preventing families and students from completing the enrollment process.
Regarding claims that students drop out of school to join the workforce, the education minister insisted that this is not true.
In May, the state-run daily Donya-e-Eqtesad reported that financial hardship and child labor to support household income were among the main causes of the rising number of children deprived of education in Iran.
In recent years, repeated warnings have been issued regarding the wave of school dropouts among Iranian children and teenagers, mainly due to family economic hardships.
In November 2024, Kazemi identified family, economic, and social factors as the main reasons students are deprived of education.
He said that dropping out of school for about 3% of the 950,000 deprived students was related to educational conditions.
Data from Iran’s Statistics Center, published in July 2024, showed that the dropout rate among elementary and lower secondary students increased in the 2023-2024 academic year compared to the previous year.
Declining student performance
Continuing his interview, Kazemi stressed that part of the decline in educational quality directly relates to the Ministry of Education itself. He cited “overcrowded and substandard classrooms, dependency on smartphones, disconnection between families and schools, language gaps in bilingual areas, and inadequate preschool coverage” as causes of declining student performance.
The minister of education, noting the drop in students’ average grades, added that “academic decline” must be seen as “multi-causal”: “Try teaching in a class of 50 students with no standards and see what results you get. Our teachers work with all their effort, but many factors are simply beyond their control.”
In November 2024, Gholamali Afrooz, a professor at Tehran University, stated that only 70% of Iranian students who enter elementary school eventually graduate from high school.
He added that 30% of students in the country fail to obtain a high school diploma, leaving the education system before graduation and joining the labor market instead.
The conflicting reports—ranging from 950,000 to 2 million deprived students—alongside declining learning quality, clearly reflect that the education crisis is serious and will not be solved through denial.
Mizan news agency, affiliated with Iran’s judiciary, announced that the execution of Mehran Bahramian, one of the detainees from the nationwide 2022 protests in Semirom, Isfahan, had been carried out. Just hours earlier, the Iran Human Rights Society had reported that Bahramian’s family was summoned to Isfahan for a final visit.
This citizen, after spending several years in prison and enduring torture, had been released on heavy bail but was later rearrested and sentenced to death.
In February 2024, the Semirom Revolutionary Court of Appeals, presided over by Judge Tavakoli, upheld the death sentences of Mehran and Fazel Bahramian, two brothers arrested during the 2022 protests.
In the same case, Younes Bahramian and Dariush Saedi were each sentenced to 16 years in prison, and their sentences were upheld on appeal. Additionally, Bahareh Shiri, the mother of Ali Abbasi, a protester killed during the demonstrations, was sentenced to eight years in prison.
At that time, the atmosphere in Semirom was heavily securitized. Families of prisoners were pressured to refrain from speaking out. Many relatives of the detainees even feared posting simple messages on social media, as they could be arrested immediately.
The daughter of Morad Bahramian disabled her Instagram account, while Ali Abbasi’s mother, despite limited activity, was sentenced to prison in absentia.
On November 16, 2022, during widespread protests in Semirom, three citizens — Ali Abbasi, Morad Bahramian, and Moslem Houshangi — were shot dead by security forces. Their 40th-day memorial on December 31, 2022, turned into a large anti-regime protest. During the clashes that day, a member of the Basij paramilitary force, Mohsen Rezaei, was killed, which immediately triggered a wave of arrests.
Special forces were deployed throughout the city and raided the homes of the victims’ families. Ali Abbasi’s sister and two of Morad Bahramian’s brothers were arrested at that time.
Ten days later, Mehran and Fazel Bahramian were transferred to the IRGC intelligence detention center in Dolatabad, Isfahan, where they were tortured in solitary confinement until March 2023. They were later moved to Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan but were only allowed brief phone calls.
From these calls, it became evident that Mehran had suffered broken ribs and a ruptured eardrum due to torture, while Fazel sustained severe head and facial injuries.
In March 2023, Dariush Saedi was arrested while returning from Boroujen, and Younes Bahramian was detained at the same time. Both were held in IRGC intelligence solitary cells and denied access to lawyers. Their families were only allowed one short visit in June 2023.
After the news broke that Mehran and Fazel had been sentenced to death on charges of “enmity against God” (moharebeh), shopkeepers and merchants in Semirom went on strike.
