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Iran’s Regime Plans to Execute 100 People on Charges of Spying for Israel

Mehdi Hosseini
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Iran’s Regime Plans to Execute 100 People on Charges of Spying for Israel

The British newspaper Sunday Times reported on the crackdown on female prisoners in Iran following Israel’s attack on Evin Prison on June 23, during the 12-day war. It wrote that there are concerns that 100 people may be executed on charges of spying for Israel.

The UN Human Rights Office announced on Friday, August 29, that at least 841 people have been executed in Iran this year. According to this report, just last month 110 people were executed in Iran, a figure that has doubled compared to the same month last year.

A former student activist had previously written in a series of Instagram stories that regime agents in Evin Prison, at the time of Israel’s attack, intended for the prisoners to be buried under the rubble of war.

UN Human Rights Office: At Least 841 People Executed in Iran This Year

She explained that after the explosion, the security agents first transferred them to the quarantine section of Qarchak Prison, and after two days, sent them to a safe house belonging to the Ministry of Intelligence at an undisclosed location.

The Sunday Times wrote that it independently confirmed that before Israel’s attack, an early warning had been given to a prison guard at Evin. He, along with some of his colleagues, left the area but did not evacuate the prisoners or other staff.

Asghar Jahangir, spokesperson for the Iranian regime’s judiciary, announced on June 29 that in Israel’s attack on Evin Prison, 71 people were killed, including administrative staff, soldiers, convicted inmates, families of prisoners who had come for visits or legal follow-ups, and neighbors living near the prison.

Possible execution of 100 political prisoners

The Sunday Times added that for the surviving prisoners, the Iranian regime has launched a revenge campaign after the war, seemingly using the prison attack as an excuse to harass and abuse them. Lawyers fear that more than 100 of them may now face execution.

A human rights lawyer from Tehran, who did not wish to be named, told the newspaper that a spirit of revenge dominates the judiciary. “A judge told me: our commanders and officials have been killed and we must take revenge. He didn’t even allow me to speak,” the lawyer said.

The lawyer added that the Iranian regime’s judiciary is confirming executions unusually fast and without following legal procedures. Some of those accused of spying for Israel were initially imprisoned for participating in anti-regime protests, but now, without any evidence against them and solely based on fabricated cases by security agents and confessions extracted under torture, they are being sent to their deaths.

The Sunday Times wrote that Evin Prison is internationally recognized as a symbol of the Iranian regime’s oppression, a highly secure facility notorious for torture and abuse of detainees.

Increased pressure on female prisoners after the Evin attack

According to the Sunday Times, the day after Israel’s airstrike, authorities transferred 61 female political prisoners to Qarchak Prison on the outskirts of Tehran. Qarchak lacks clean water, toilets, ventilation, and medical care.

The women live there in 40-degree Celsius (104°F) heat, with 65 of them crammed into five small rooms in a ward originally designed for temporary holding of new arrivals.

Human rights lawyers believe the Iranian regime is using accusations of spying for Israel as a means to exact revenge on innocent individuals who, under torture by intelligence agencies, have confessed to crimes they never committed.

On August 9, the spokesperson for the Iranian regime’s judiciary introduced 20 citizens arrested after the 12-day war with Israel as “spies and supporters of Mossad,” saying they had been arrested by the Ministry of Intelligence in Tehran and other provinces and that their cases were under review.

In his Saturday press conference, he said that the cases of these individuals were immediately opened and were under review, but he provided no details such as their identities or locations of detention.

Under such circumstances, there is no guarantee of fair trials, especially in cases where defendants have been subjected to physical and psychological torture.

Protests By Various Social Groups Against Poverty And Injustice Are Escalating

Esmaeil Mohades
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Protests By Various Social Groups Against Poverty And Injustice Are Escalating

On Sunday, August 31, Isfahan witnessed protests by retired steel and mining workers. Dozens of retirees voiced their anger at their dire living conditions and the neglect of regime officials.

One of the main chants of the protest was “Hey, Mr. President, you lied to the nation,” which was repeated several times by the demonstrators.

The participants stressed that after years of hard labor in the steel and mining industries, they are now struggling with empty tables and severe livelihood problems. They declared that remaining silent in the face of oppression and injustice is no longer possible, and their presence in the streets is a direct response to officials’ indifference.

Protest of Loshan residents against the water crisis

Residents of Jamalabad in Loshan, Gilan Province—one of Iran’s rainiest regions—blocked the old road by burning tires to protest the lack of drinking water. This crisis, which has persisted for years, symbolizes the authorities’ failure to provide even the most basic needs of the people. Despite repeated promises from regime officials, no operational plan has been presented to resolve the problem. In a province with abundant water resources, this failure is not only shocking but also a sign of systemic neglect of people’s livelihoods.

Gathering of Refah store employees in Hamedan

On August 30, employees of the Refah store in Hamedan staged a protest over the non-payment of three months’ wages and insurance. This store is affiliated with regime-linked institutions. Their protest reflects the broader struggles of workers across the country who are grappling with wage arrears and a lack of job security.

Protest of Paband villagers in Zanjan against the solar power plant project

Residents of Paband village in Zanjan gathered along the route of the energy minister’s convoy to protest the forced seizure of their farmland for the construction of a solar power plant. They emphasized that these lands are their only source of livelihood and that they would not accept forced handover. Notably, the minister avoided confronting the protesters and chose an alternate route.

Protest of Arghavan-Gostar petrochemical workers in Ilam

Laid-off workers of Arghavan-Gostar Petrochemical in Ilam gathered in front of the governor’s office to protest unfair employment exams and unjust layoffs. These protests are part of a broader wave of dissatisfaction with economic and employment policies that have endangered workers’ livelihoods.

Protest of teacher recruitment applicants

On August 29, applicants for the teacher recruitment exam in Tehran and Mashhad gathered in front of the Ministry of Education buildings. They protested sudden changes in exam conditions and the allocation of special privileges to a certain group. With passionate chants, they demanded an immediate review and the removal of the employee coefficient from the exam results, highlighting deep dissatisfaction with non-transparent and discriminatory processes.

Protest of medical interns in Shahr-e Kord

Medical interns in Shahr-e Kord gathered in the courtyard of Kashani Hospital to protest the third incident of their colleagues being assaulted. They declared that their job security and physical safety are at risk and that they can no longer remain silent. This protest reflects the unsafe working conditions of healthcare workers and the system’s disregard for protecting this vital sector.

Protest of victims of the 12-day war

The victims of the 12-day war, whose homes were destroyed since June 13 and who had been sheltered in hotels, staged protests after receiving eviction orders. They gathered first in front of the judiciary’s Public Communications Center and then in Tehran’s Pasteur Square. Carrying placards that read “Our homes and lives are destroyed; for 60 days we have been displaced in hotels,” they demanded compensation and housing. This protest illustrates how war victims have been abandoned in critical conditions.

UN Human Rights Office: At Least 841 People Executed in Iran This Year

Mehdi Hosseini
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UN Human Rights Office: At Least 841 People Executed in Iran This Year

The UN Human Rights Office reported that at least 841 people have been executed in Iran this year. According to the report, in the past month alone, 110 people were executed in Iran, which is double the number compared to the same month last year.

On Friday, August 29, the UN Human Rights Office issued a statement warning about the unprecedented rise in executions in Iran, declaring that officials of Iran’s regime continue the widespread use of the death penalty despite repeated calls from the international community to halt it.

Iran’s Regime Lays Groundwork for Expanded Executions

Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, said that from the beginning of this year until August 28, at least 841 people have been executed in Iran—figures that show Iran’s regime is disregarding its international obligations.

According to her, in July alone, 110 people were executed in Iran, a figure more than double that of the same period last year, confirming the continuing upward trend in executions in the first half of 2025.

She warned that due to lack of transparency, the real number may be even higher.

On August 23, the human rights website HRANA, in its latest monthly report on human rights violations in Iran, wrote that in July this year, at least 160 people were hanged in prisons across the country.

Execution as a tool of intimidation

The UN Human Rights Office emphasized that these figures demonstrate the systematic use of the death penalty by Iran’s regime as a tool to instill fear and intimidation, disproportionately targeting ethnic minorities and migrants.

The office also reported at least seven public executions in Iran, stressing that this is a further insult to human dignity and has severe psychological impacts, especially on children.

According to the report, currently, the death sentences of 11 people with political charges are pending execution, including six accused of “rebellion” for “membership in the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK)” and five others in connection with the nationwide uprising of 2022.

Additionally, on August 16, Iran’s Supreme Court upheld the death sentence of Sharifeh Mohammadi, a labor rights activist.

According to reports from human rights organizations, around 70 prisoners across Iran are currently at risk of having their death sentences confirmed or carried out for political and security-related charges.

Call for immediate halt to executions

The spokesperson of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights stressed that the death penalty is incompatible with the right to life and human dignity, warning that it always carries the risk of executing innocent people and should never be applied to acts protected under international law.

The UN Human Rights Office once again urged Iran’s regime to immediately halt executions.

Volker Türk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, also called for the immediate suspension of these sentences as a first step toward the complete abolition of the death penalty.

Tehran-Backed Hackers Carried Out a Cyber Intrusion Against Mediators in the Gaza Ceasefire Negotiations

Staff Writer
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Tehran-Backed Hackers Carried Out a Cyber Intrusion Against Mediators in the Gaza Ceasefire Negotiations

The cybersecurity company “Dream” announced that it had uncovered a sophisticated cyberattack originating from Iran. According to the company, the attack was “designed to undermine mediation processes and trust between countries” and even infiltrated the Cairo negotiations over a ceasefire in Gaza.

According to this report, published on Friday, August 29 in Israeli media, Iranian hackers managed to infiltrate the real email account of an employee at the Omani embassy in Paris. Through this, they gained the ability to send messages that appeared identical to official diplomatic correspondence.

Iranian Regime Hackers Threaten to Release Emails of Trump’s Close Aides

According to the company, which develops artificial intelligence platforms to protect governments and national assets, messages were sent from that account to diplomatic networks. These included Microsoft Word files that appeared harmless but contained advanced malware that activated when opened.

In this way, the cyberattack directly penetrated Egyptian mediators who were in the midst of the Cairo ceasefire talks.

Dream, which develops AI-based systems to protect governments and critical infrastructure, described this attack as “one of the most advanced cyber operations identified in recent months.”

Iranian hackers targeting Israel

Israel’s Channel 12 television broadcaster reported on August 14 that Iran’s regime hacked the phone of Ayelet Shaked, Israel’s former Justice Minister, during the 12-day war.

This move is part of Tehran’s ongoing efforts to spy on and infiltrate the devices of current and former Israeli officials.

According to the report, hackers from Iran’s regime made several attempts to hack the phone of the former leader of the Yamina party and eventually succeeded in tricking her into clicking a link that gave them access to the device.

Israel’s internal security agency, Shin Bet, announced in a statement on May 28 that since the beginning of this year, it had foiled 85 cyberattacks attributed to Iran’s regime targeting Israeli security officials, politicians, academics, and journalists.

According to the statement, these attacks mainly consisted of “phishing” attempts aimed at infiltrating victims’ devices and digital accounts to obtain sensitive personal information.

Widespread Blackouts in Iran Paralyze Half of Production and Industries

Jubin Katiraie
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Widespread Blackouts in Iran Paralyze Half of Production and Industries

Abdolvahab Sahlabadi, head of Iran’s Chamber of Industry, Mining, and Trade, told the state-run Mehr news agency about the state of production and industries: “The biggest crisis today for production units, in addition to economic pressures, is repeated power outages which have practically taken half of the country’s production capacity out of service… nearly 50% of factories in the country have gone out of service due to blackouts, and the constant switching on and off of electricity imposes enormous financial damages on industries.”

Power outages and the paralysis of industry and production: dimensions of an economic catastrophe

According to the state-run Mehr news agency on August 20, Sahlabadi said: “About 50% of the country’s factories have been taken out of productive operation due to repeated blackouts. These blackouts, which in areas such as Kashan and Aran va Bidgol are scheduled from August 26 until further notice, three days a week (Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays) from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., have imposed enormous financial damages on industries.” This situation has not only disrupted the production chain but also destroyed raw materials and left workers in a state of livelihood uncertainty.

The Real Price of Electricity for Industries in Iran Has Increased Up To 30 Times

Roots of the crisis: decaying infrastructure and mismanagement

A large portion of industrial machinery in Iran is outdated and worn out, and raw materials are often low-quality and supplied with delays. These factors, along with low efficiency and high energy consumption, have caused industrial units to operate at best only 14 to 17 days a month, with just two to three days of effective work per week.

Power outages have exacerbated this vicious cycle and pushed the country’s industrial economy to the brink of collapse. These blackouts have not only halted production but also endangered the economic security and livelihoods of millions of Iranians.

Sahlabadi also stated about natural gas cuts for industries: “Just as industries and production suffer from blackouts in the summer, in the winter the problem of gas shortages will recur. This issue existed last year and will be much worse this year; for example, cement factories are forced to work several hours or even several days less each week, which also affects people’s daily lives.”

Structural corruption and the role of the regime in deepening the crisis

The roots of this crisis go beyond technical problems and stem from entrenched structural corruption and mismanagement in the government. Non-transparent policies, misallocation of resources, and prioritizing the interests of power-linked groups over infrastructure development have trapped the country in a whirlpool of inefficiency. A regime that has for decades spent national resources on repression, censorship, and unnecessary projects has lost the ability to meet society’s basic needs, including providing reliable electricity and modern industrial infrastructure.

The ineffectiveness of reforms within Khamenei’s oppressive rule

Past decades of experience show that Iran’s regime, because of power concentrated in the hands of one dictator, is not reformable. Today’s environmental, economic, and social crises—including power outages, water shortages, and the collapse of production—are the direct result of the regime’s policies. Widespread blackouts, which have paralyzed half of the country’s production, are only one sign of the crisis.

The current situation in Iranian society, with accumulated economic, social, and political discontent, is extremely explosive. Blackouts, lack of water, and the collapse of production are only part of the hardships that the people of Iran have endured under the current regime.

Warnings About a Wave of Worker Layoffs in Iran Intensify as Industrial Power Outages Continue

Esmaeil Mohades
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Warnings About a Wave of Worker Layoffs in Iran Intensify as Industrial Power Outages Continue

Labor activists in Iran have warned about rising unemployment, bankruptcies of production units, and the expansion of informal jobs as the energy crisis deepens. At the same time, the growth of informal work and inflationary pressures on workers’ livelihoods have further darkened the outlook of the labor market.

The state-run newspaper Jahan Sanat, on Monday, August 25, in a report warning about the consequences of the energy crisis on employment in Iran, wrote that electricity shortages and repeated blackouts in factories have “shut down the engine of the economy” and pose a serious threat to jobs and production.

The report emphasized that the energy shortage crisis not only destroys the labor market but also, by reducing investment, severely threatens future employment and exposes society to dangerous social consequences.

Water And Electricity Supply Crisis; Efforts for the Rapid Transfer of Water to Tehran

In recent weeks, following repeated power outages in various Iranian cities, several citizens reported on social media that the blackouts disrupted their businesses and economic activities.

Industrial blackouts and the threat to workers’ jobs

Power outages have hit energy-intensive industries such as steel, cement, aluminum, petrochemicals, and automotive, causing production line shutdowns, reduced efficiency, and higher costs, and in some cases, leading to factory closures and workers losing their jobs.

According to Jahan Sanat, the blackouts have increased industries’ reliance on diesel generators, leading to “higher commodity prices, reduced demand, and ultimately lower production and workforce downsizing.”

Hamid Hajesmaeili, a labor market expert, told this newspaper that blackouts caused by the energy crisis have severely pressured businesses and industrial units, resulting in a 40% reduction in production capacity.

On August 5, industry activists also warned that with widespread blackouts imposed since May, steel production is expected to decline by 33% this year.

Warnings from experts and labor activists about a wave of unemployment

Tasnim News Agency, affiliated with the IRGC, also wrote in a report that repeated power outages and the ongoing energy crisis in recent months have created serious problems for both large industries and small- and medium-sized workshops, warning that the unemployment rate may rise in the coming months.

Tasnim noted that many workshops, due to repeated power cuts, have been forced to reduce working hours or shut down part of their production lines, warning that continued energy outages will directly affect unemployment rates.

At the same time, Fathollah Bayat, head of the Union of Contractual and Temporary Workers, warned that with ongoing power outages in Iran, many factories and companies will be forced to lay off workers and downsize.

Meanwhile, Mohammadreza Tajik, a member of the Supreme Labor Council, pointed to high inflation and the sharp rise in living costs, saying that the minimum wage of workers must be revised for the second half of the year.

Malek Hosseini, deputy labor minister in the government of regime president Masoud Pezeshkian, also stated that 57% of Iran’s labor market is in the hands of informal jobs, with workers in these sectors mostly lacking insurance coverage.

How The IRGC Eliminated The Private Water Sector In Iran

Jubin Katiraie
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How The IRGC Eliminated The Private Water Sector In Iran

The former head of Iran’s Department of Environment warned about the water crisis in the country, saying that the mismanagement of water resources threatens Iran’s seven-thousand-year-old civilization. He referred to Mahab Ghods Company as the policymaker of the “water mafia” and said that Khatam al-Anbiya Construction Headquarters (controlled by the IRGC) and “SEPASAD” (an IRGC-linked engineering firm) have destroyed the private water sector in Iran.

Isa Kalantari, on Monday, August 25, in an interview with the state-run Didban Iran website, discussed issues such as the water crisis, dam construction, the water mafia, mismanagement of water resources, water waste in agriculture, mismanagement by the Energy Ministry, land subsidence, air pollution, and other water and environmental problems.

Water Reserves in 19 Major Iranian Dams Fall Below 20%

He said that the country’s water problems have been building over recent decades and were predictable: “All the problems we are facing today were mentioned 20 years ago, but everyone was chasing water extraction, water transfer, deep-water and shallow-water withdrawal, brokerage, mafia games, and so on.”

The former head of the Department of Environment, in response to a question about the existence of a water mafia in the country, said: “Our water policymakers, water consultants and contractors, along with their colleagues in the Ministry of Energy, are the ones who impose the policies. How can we dry up all our rivers and build dams? Yes, there is a dam-construction mafia, but this stems from the weakness of the water policymakers in the country.”

A multi-layered mafia that plays a role in policymaking, exploitation, and project implementation is the main factor behind Iran’s water and energy crisis.

In this context, the former agriculture minister described Mahab Ghods Company as the “policymaker of the water mafia and the hidden hand behind water shortages, dam construction, and water projects in the country,” adding: “This is a monopolistic company under whose supervision all dam constructions are carried out.”

He added: “Before this company was transferred to Astan Quds Razavi (a powerful religious-economic conglomerate) and later returned to the Energy Ministry, all the country’s water studies were given to Mahab Ghods. This company operated at 1,500% capacity, distributing studies among other companies, taking its cut, and becoming a monopoly.”

Khatam al-Anbiya and SEPASAD

In another part of the interview, when asked about the role of Khatam al-Anbiya and Sepasad in water transfer projects, Kalantari said: “They are contractors, and a contractor is basically like a gravedigger; they take the plan and budget from someone else and just execute the project. But the problem is that they have also become monopolies, and the private sector has almost disappeared.”

This former environmental official described policymaking contractors as the “main culprits of today’s water situation” and added: “Our decision-makers are not very knowledgeable and only repeat a few social and populist slogans like such-and-such a city needs water or such-and-such a city needs agricultural development.”

He added that in the water sector, the policymakers have mainly been water consultants and contractors who have prioritized their personal interests over national interests: “They present projects in this field to the Energy Ministry, and the minister then takes them to the government and parliament for approval and implementation.”

Kalantari stressed that the contracting mafia is certainly behind the water transfer projects from the Sea of Oman to central Iran, including Isfahan, Kerman, and Yazd, saying: “The same applies to deep-water projects, which have already been rejected worldwide.”

In May, U.S. President Donald Trump, during his trip to the Middle East, described Iran’s regime as a “corrupt regime,” “destructive for the region,” and “trapped in a water mafia.” He said that due to decades of mismanagement, Iran has sunk into darkness and that the water mafia has caused drought.

Overnight Queues Outside the Chinese Embassy in Iran

Hoshang Amiri
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Overnight Queues Outside the Chinese Embassy in Iran

Photos published of Iranians queuing overnight outside the Chinese embassy in Tehran once again drew public attention to one of the most important social realities in Iran today: the widespread desire among people to leave the country.

Hossein Selahvarzi, former head of Iran’s regime Chamber of Commerce, reacted to these images by calling them “a source of shame” and criticizing the situation. He wrote: “A nation whose country imports more than 70% of its goods from China should not have to sleep on the ground to get permission to travel.”

He also called on Masoud Pezeshkian, the president of Iran’s regime, to “order the removal of these humiliating queues” before his upcoming trip to Beijing.

Growing Wave of Professor Migration Poses Serious Challenge To Iran’s Scientific Future

These images were published while the Iranian regime has consistently emphasized strengthening strategic ties with Eastern countries, including China, in its official propaganda. Yet at the same time, scenes of people waiting overnight for visa appointments show the growing desire among Iranians to emigrate—even to countries such as China.

Experts believe that rising inflation, systemic corruption, political deadlock, and the lack of job and welfare prospects—especially for the youth and middle class—are among the main factors driving this widespread desire to emigrate. The increasing demand in recent months for student, work, and even tourist visas to Asian and European countries reflects this reality.

Masoud Pezeshkian’s upcoming trip to China has now come under the shadow of such criticism and public pressure. Many social media users have demanded that instead of expanding symbolic political relations, the government should find real solutions to Iran’s economic and social crises so citizens do not have to spend the night on sidewalks outside embassies just to leave the country.

In this regard, on August 22, Rahim Zare, a member of the parliament’s Budget and Planning Commission, referred to the consequences of the 12-day war between the Iranian regime and Israel, stating that many Iranians had put their houses up for sale as they seek to emigrate.

Zare said: “If we look at the reality, many Iranians have put their houses up for sale and are seeking to emigrate due to the current conditions, and this is one of the factors contributing to the rise in currency exchange rates.”

He added: “Within 48 hours, 240,000 housing units in Tehran were put up for sale, which is alarming and is one of the factors with a significant impact on the rising price of the dollar.”

Escalation of emigration from Iran

The wave of emigration from Iran had already been accelerating long before the recent war between the Iranian regime and Israel, and various institutions and organizations had previously warned of its consequences.

On July 28, Bahram Salavati, the former head of Iran Migration Observatory, said that nearly 4% of Iran’s educated population and students had left the country.

He had previously reported that the number of Iranian students abroad had reached over 100,000, and only 1% of them return to Iran.

The emigration of elites, healthcare workers, university professors, and skilled laborers in recent years has sparked widespread concern among experts and the Iranian public.

The Real Price of Electricity for Industries in Iran Has Increased Up To 30 Times

Esmaeil Mohades
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The Real Price of Electricity for Industries in Iran Has Increased Up To 30 Times

The results of a study show that the real price of electricity for industries in Iran is up to seven times higher than the official rates. Between 2018 and 2025, the official price of industrial electricity rose about 12 times, while in practice the real increase has been around 30 times.

According to a study by the Institute for Trade Studies and Research, published on Sunday, August 24, in the current conditions of the country, industrial electricity bills include not only the base rate but also additional costs such as obligations under Article 16, non-green electricity purchases, fuel price differences, and transit costs.

Unprecedented Energy Crisis and Government’s Inability Force Shutdowns in 27 Provinces in Iran

These additional charges ultimately increase the electricity cost up to seven times the base rate.

A review of changes in industrial electricity rates between 2018 and 2025 shows that over six years, while the base price rose 12 times, the actual increase has been about 30 times.

Meanwhile, contrary to the Iranian regime officials’ frequent claims that electricity prices in Iran are lower than in other countries, the study shows that the average price of one kilowatt-hour for energy-intensive industries in the Persian Gulf countries is 4.3 cents, while for Iran it is set at 11.86 cents. In other words, the electricity price for energy-intensive industries in Iran is nearly three times higher than the regional average.

Between 2018 and 2025, industrial electricity prices increased by 3.7% in India, 19% in Turkey, and remained unchanged in the United Arab Emirates. But in Iran, the official increase in industrial electricity prices reached 1,223%.

The domino effect of industrial electricity, from factories to markets and workers’ livelihoods

The shock from this severe price hike, along with frequent power outages, has affected the final prices of industrial products. For instance, in June 2025, cement prices in the Iranian market rose by up to 228% compared to the previous year due to production halts in manufacturing units.

Industrial sector representatives have warned that due to widespread power outages starting in May, steel production in 2025 is expected to decline by 33%.

The electricity crisis in industries has created a domino effect on other sectors as well. On August 1, Mahmoud Najafi-Arab, head of the Tehran Chamber of Commerce, said: “Electricity in industrial units is cut off three days a week, and despite having assets, including human resources, we cannot achieve the necessary productivity from the industry.”

In these conditions, labor activists across different provinces have warned about the collapse of workers’ livelihoods following the closure or partial shutdown of industrial units.

According to them, reduced shifts, the elimination of production bonuses, and the possibility of layoffs have put the lives of thousands of workers at risk.

Akbar Showkat, executive secretary of the Workers’ House in Qom province, stated that some industrial towns in this province are without electricity for up to two days a week, and reduced shifts have led to lower wages for workers.

Australia Closes Embassy in Tehran and Expels Iranian Regime Ambassador

Hoshang Amiri
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Australia Closes Embassy in Tehran and Expels Iranian Regime Ambassador

The Prime Minister of Australia announced that after confirming the Iranian regime’s role in at least two antisemitic attacks, Australia expelled the regime’s ambassador, suspended the operations of its embassy in Tehran, and intends to designate the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization.

On the morning of Tuesday, August 26, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Home Affairs, and the Director-General of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), attended a press conference at the country’s parliament and stated that the Iranian regime had directed at least two attacks against Australia’s Jewish community.

He described the two “terrorist attacks” on the Adass Israel synagogue in Melbourne and the Louis Continental restaurant in Sydney as “extraordinary and dangerous aggressions” and said that the Iranian regime had likely carried out more attacks on Australian soil.

He called the Iranian regime’s terrorist actions an attempt to destroy social cohesion and sow division in Australian society, adding that his government would take immediate and decisive measures in response to these subversive acts.

The Australian Prime Minister also announced that Australia’s embassy in Tehran had been closed, and all Australian diplomats previously stationed there had now left Iran and were safe in a third country.

The Iranian regime’s ambassador is the first ambassador expelled from Australia since World War II.

The Australian Foreign Minister announced that Iranian regime officials have seven days to leave Australia.

Penny Wong said that there was no doubt these extraordinarily dangerous and aggressive actions had crossed all red lines, and therefore, Australia has declared the Iranian regime’s ambassador in Australia a persona non grata.

Wong added that this was the first time since World War II that an ambassador had been expelled from Australia, and the reason was Iran’s completely unacceptable conduct.

The Foreign Minister described Australia’s embassy in Iran as a channel for pursuing national interests and protecting Australian citizens but added that the government had now decided to recall its ambassador from Iran and suspend embassy operations in order to safeguard its diplomats and protect Australia’s border security.

Use of proxy groups for sabotage in Australia

Mike Burgess, Director-General of ASIO, said that the IRGC had used a “sophisticated network of proxy groups” to conceal its role in antisemitic attacks on Australian soil.

He added that he did not believe the Iranian regime was responsible for all antisemitic attacks in Australia but said it might be responsible for more than the two announced that day.

He also called the Iranian regime’s actions “completely unacceptable,” adding that they endangered lives, terrorized society, and targeted Australia’s social fabric. He said that the Iranian regime and its proxies, both literally and figuratively, lit the matches and stoked the flames.

In an interview with ABC Australia, the ASIO chief confirmed that the Iranian regime was among “at least three or four” countries involved in foreign interference in migrant communities in Australia.

The ASIO chief said that publicly naming all the countries interfering in Australia would shock the public.

He added that since a federal minister had already confirmed the Iranian regime’s involvement, Tehran’s role had become public.

Burgess did not name the other countries but warned that if the threat posed a serious danger to Australians, their names would be disclosed.

Last month, the Australian federal government unveiled plans to introduce several new measures to combat the growing threat of foreign interference.

These plans include making permanent the task force established four years ago to counter foreign interference, which has since expanded to agencies such as the Australian Taxation Office.

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