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Escalating Human Rights Violations in Iran: Focus on Women’s Rights and Arbitrary Executions

Sia Rajabi
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Escalating Human Rights Violations in Iran: Focus on Women’s Rights and Arbitrary Executions

In a June 2025 article published on Opinio Juris, Melanie O’Brien, Associate Professor of International Law at the University of Western Australia, and Javaid Rehman, former UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran, examine two deeply concerning issues in the country: systemic discrimination against women and girls, and the state’s escalating use of arbitrary executions.

The authors note that these violations are not new. “The Iranian regime is and has been brutal and violent since its inception through the Iranian revolution of 1979.” Persistent patterns of abuse include “violation of the right to freedom of assembly through violence against and arrests of protestors; arbitrary detentions; torture and cruel treatment; discrimination against minorities; enforced disappearances; cruel and inhuman punishments; the use of the death penalty as a tool of political repression; and systematic discrimination against women and girls.”

Following the death of Jina Mahsa Amini in custody of security forces in 2022 and the emergence of nationwide protests, the UN Human Rights Council established the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on the Islamic Republic of Iran (FFMI). Originally focused on abuses related to the protests, the FFMI’s mandate was expanded in March 2025 to investigate broader, ongoing violations.

Gender Apartheid and Legalized Violence

Rehman observes that Iranian authorities “have maintained a system of gender apartheid,” marked by “draconian laws, policies and practices” that violate the rights of girls and women. Criminal liability for girls begins at nine lunar years for qisas (retribution) and hudud (fixed penalties), and the legal age for marriage remains 13, with even younger marriages permitted with judicial approval. “Child marriages are forced marriages and inherently destructive to the life of the girl child.”

14 Men and Women Hanged in a Single Day in Iran

Women face systemic barriers in public life. They cannot head the judiciary, and though they may sit on judicial panels, “Iranian law prohibits them from rendering a final judgment.” Moreover, the Iranian regime’s Penal Code “expressly permits a man who witnesses his wife committing adultery to kill or assault either or both parties.”

A 2024 law titled Protection of the Family through Promoting the Culture of Hijab and Chastity aimed to enforce strict hijab requirements through 71 articles. It imposed steep fines and potential imprisonment for women failing to comply, extended penalties to civil servants and business owners, and empowered intelligence agencies to enforce the rules. UN experts condemned the law, stating on 13 December 2024: “[t]he new hijab law marks an intensification of state control over women’s bodies in Iran and is a further assault on women’s rights and freedoms.” Following this criticism, Iran’s National Security Council paused the law, allegedly due to “ambiguity in the legislation,” though the authors argue international pressure played a key role.

Arbitrary Executions as State Repression

Iran remains “the highest known executioner per capita amongst all countries.” In 2024, “at least 901 people were reportedly executed,” a 6% increase from the previous year. The regime applies the death penalty for over 80 offenses, including moharebeh (taking up arms), efsad-e fel-arz (spreading corruption), and baghy (armed rebellion), along with drug offenses, apostasy, and repeated alcohol consumption.

Iranian Prisoners Sound Alarm as Regime Escalates Executions

Executions disproportionately target ethnic and religious minorities, juveniles, and women—many based on coerced confessions. “At least 31 women were executed in 2024, the highest number of executions of women in any country in the world.” The authors describe this as “the worst form of state-sanctioned violence against women and girls.”

Rehman also recalls past atrocities. In a 2024 UN report, he documented “summary, arbitrary and extra-judicial executions of thousands of arbitrarily imprisoned political opponents,” including the 1988 massacre. These acts, he argues, amount to “crimes against humanity of murder and extermination, as well as genocide.” Victims included many women and children; some women were reportedly raped before execution.

The Demand for Accountability

The authors call on Iran to “respect the fundamental human rights and dignity of all girls and women; end gender apartheid in Iranian society; eliminate in law and in practice all forms of persecution of and discrimination and violence against women and girls.” They further urge Iran’s regime to “immediately end the barbaric arbitrary practice of the death penalty.”

However, they emphasize that the absence of accountability remains a major obstacle: “If accountability is denied for abuses committed over 30 years ago, there is little to no chance of justice within the regime for recent and current abuses.” Their 2024 report drew sharp backlash from Iranian authorities, underscoring the regime’s resistance to scrutiny.

Still, international pressure has shown impact, as seen with the hijab law’s suspension. The authors urge continued support for Iran-focused UN mechanisms and direct diplomatic pressure: “There must be an end to the continuing impunity of this regime; all victims and their families deserve justice and accountability.”

 

Khamenei: U.S. Interference In Uranium Enrichment Issue Is Nonsense

Jubin Katiraie
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Khamenei: U.S. Interference In Uranium Enrichment Issue Is Nonsense

On Wednesday, June 4, Iranian regime supreme leader Ali Khamenei rejected the U.S. demand in nuclear negotiations that “Iran will not be allowed to enrich uranium,” during a speech at the 36th anniversary of the death of Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder of the regime.

Khamenei stated that “uranium enrichment is the key to the nuclear issue,” adding, “The enemies have also focused on enrichment.”

He continued with harsh language, saying: “Why are you interfering in whether Iran should have enrichment or not? What’s it to you! Who do you think you are?”

Khamenei was referring to the U.S. proposal for reaching a nuclear agreement, which had been delivered to Iran on May 31 by the foreign minister of Oman.

U.S. President Donald Trump stated on Truth Social on Monday, June 2, that as part of a potential nuclear agreement, Washington would not accept any uranium enrichment by Iran.

Khamenei further claimed that the Iranian regime had “experienced America’s unreliability in the 2000s when it came to 20% fuel,” and said: “America’s main point is that Iran should not have a nuclear industry, so you will depend on America. Our response to America’s nonsense is clear: they can’t do a damn thing about it.”

In his speech, Khamenei described the nuclear industry as a “mother industry” and claimed that “multiple scientific fields are influenced by the nuclear industry.”

The Iranian regime’s leader further added: “The nuclear industry is not just for energy. That’s only one of its benefits—this is a mother industry. If we have one hundred nuclear power plants but no enrichment, it’s useless.”

Uranium enrichment: Industrial use or a cover for building nuclear bombs

Khamenei’s claims about the scientific application of the nuclear industry come at a time when the United States and its Western allies fear that the Iranian regime, under the guise of ordinary nuclear activities, is enriching uranium to high levels in pursuit of building nuclear weapons.

These concerns have intensified because, according to the latest report by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the Iranian regime has increased its stockpile of 60%-enriched uranium to over 400 kilograms.

In this context, Rafael Grossi, Director General of the IAEA, had previously stated that if Iran enriches uranium to a higher purity level, its stockpile would be sufficient to build at least six nuclear bombs.

According to experts, 60% enrichment is only one technical step away from 90% enrichment, which is the level needed to produce a nuclear weapon. The IAEA report also emphasized that Iran is the only non-nuclear-armed country that has enriched uranium to this level.

Khamenei’s remarks also come after the Iranian regime has spent billions of dollars in national resources over the past two decades on nuclear programs, expanding uranium enrichment in a manner that, according to experts, lacks any economic or technical justification.

These statements are also made while Iran’s only nuclear power plant, located in Bushehr, currently imports its fuel from Russia. The nuclear program has produced no tangible results in meeting Iran’s energy needs, and in recent months, power outages due to energy imbalances have caused serious harm to both the industrial sector and the daily lives of citizens.

Medicine Shortages In Iranian Pharmacies And Online Sales

Sia Rajabi
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Medicine Shortages In Iranian Pharmacies And Online Sales

The power struggle between online sales platforms and pharmacies over the distribution of medicine online continues, as the “Deregulation and Business Environment Improvement Board” has declared the Food and Drug Administration’s directive banning pharmacies from cooperating with online platforms to be illegal and has demanded its cancellation.

On May 21, the Food and Drug Administration banned pharmacies from collaborating with online sales platforms. This reaction came after the Iranian Pharmacists Association accused online platforms of undermining drug distribution security by creating a virtual black market.

The association referred specifically to the sale of narcotic medications and rare or scarce drugs through black market channels.

Pharmacy owners and pharmaceutical companies, due to the Iranian regime’s policies, are entangled in complex financial difficulties, including 40 trillion rials (approximately $48.192 million) in bounced checks, and 290 trillion rials (approximately $349.397 million) in outstanding receivables from insurance companies and the Targeted Subsidy Organization.

Online drug sales, at a time when insurance companies and the Targeted Subsidy Organization delay for months in compensating the difference between the real and official prices of medicine, are seen as a temporary remedy for the deeply troubled finances of pharmacies.

Although the head of the Food and Drug Administration had promised in March 2025 that online drug sales would be implemented under full supervision and within new regulatory frameworks starting spring 2025, a new wave of opposition led the Pharmacists Association to submit a protest letter to the president regarding the activities of online sales platforms.

Ramin Moghadam, a digital health expert, told the state-run Mehr news agency that the Deregulation Board has no authority to intervene in health matters regarding online pharmaceutical delivery, stating: “A purely economic perspective from the Deregulation Board on online drug delivery is harmful.”

On the other hand, Marzieh Bazrafshan, legal deputy of the Iranian Pharmacists Association, has described the excessive insistence of platforms on selling medicine online as suspicious.

Many pharmacists and pharmacy owners believe that platforms like Snapp and Digikala, under the protection of the government—especially the Ministry of Information and Communications Technology—are bypassing the Ministry of Health and Medical Education’s oversight over healthcare standards and services.

Snapp and Digikala treat medicine like mobile phones and consumer goods

Many pharmacists and pharmacy owners support making medicine more accessible to patients, but emphasize that it must be done through a healthy and regulated process.

What has caused pharmacists to take a stance against pressure from platforms like Snapp and Digikala is that these companies are treating medicine the same way they handle mobile phones, refrigerators, electronic goods, and other consumer products.

These platforms want to create their own stockpile of medicine and fulfill requests for medication without considering whether a prescription is required.

Lack of pharmaceutical delivery standards; easy access to drugs like Tramadol

One of the points emphasized in the Pharmacists Association’s letter was the emergence of a black market for medicine through these platforms, which it referred to as a “virtual Naser Khosrow”—a reference to the infamous black market street in Tehran.

One outcome of the involvement of unrelated ministries in pharmaceutical delivery and the pressure from platforms is that drugs like Tramadol—a narcotic painkiller that must only be dispensed with a prescription—have been listed as available medications in online systems. Previously, a person without a prescription might have had to search multiple pharmacies to possibly obtain it, but now, they can simply place an order through the platform and easily purchase it.

Another critical issue—especially with specialized medicines—is how they are transported. Some medications must be handled with extreme care during transit to avoid any movement. Currently, there is no oversight on how these drugs are transported in online sales, which is a responsibility that the Food and Drug Administration must enforce, just as it does for physical pharmacies.

Maintaining the cold chain, where certain medicines must be stored at temperatures between 2 to 8 degrees Celsius, is another critical factor. Currently, there is no oversight on this aspect in online distribution, and due to frequent power outages, this issue can lead to spoilage of medications.

Are Negotiations Between Iran’s Regime and US Heading Toward a Deadlock?

Esmaeil Mohades
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Are Negotiations Between Iran’s Regime and US Heading Toward a Deadlock?

It appears that nuclear negotiations between the Iranian regime and the United States are moving toward a deadlock, with Tehran in a position of weakness and desperation. Recent remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump, stating that the Iranian regime would not be allowed any uranium enrichment, along with Tehran’s rejection of Washington’s offer, indicate a strategic failure for the regime in advancing its nuclear and diplomatic objectives.

On Monday, June 2, Donald Trump stated on Truth Social that under a potential agreement, “we will not allow any uranium enrichment!” This firm stance came after the Axios website reported that the U.S. had offered the Iranian regime a written proposal permitting limited low-purity enrichment (around 3%) for a defined period.

Iran’s Regime Dismisses IAEA Report About its Nuclear Program as “Biased and Baseless.”

Trump’s remarks signal a return to the “zero enrichment” policy, which had previously been emphasized by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff.

In response, Abbas Araghchi, the Iranian regime’s foreign minister, called the U.S. proposal “unacceptable” and stated that Tehran is preparing a response. A senior diplomat close to the Iranian regime’s negotiating team told Reuters that the Washington proposal is “one-sided” and lacks clear details about sanction relief. The diplomat added that the Iranian regime’s nuclear negotiations committee, operating under the supervision of the regime’s supreme leader, found the U.S. offer inadequate and not aligned with Tehran’s interests.

IAEA Reports and Pressure on the Iranian Regime

Two new reports by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), published on June 2, have further weakened the Iranian regime’s position. According to The Wall Street Journal, these reports show that since February 2025, the regime has increased its stockpile of 60%-enriched uranium by about 50%, an amount sufficient for building 10 nuclear weapons. This level of enrichment, which is close to weapons-grade purity, makes the Iranian regime the only non-nuclear country with such capabilities.

The second IAEA report also emphasizes the Iranian regime’s failure to meet its obligations regarding undeclared nuclear material research, indicating that Tehran continues to deceive in its nuclear program.

These reports have set the stage for the June 9 meeting of the IAEA Board of Governors, where the United States and European countries may propose a resolution against the Iranian regime for violating the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). The Wall Street Journal stressed that these reports provide sufficient evidence to justify the swift reimposition of international sanctions on the regime—an action that could intensify both economic and political pressure on Tehran.

Uncertainty Over the Continuation of Negotiations

CNN reported on June 3 that the holding of a sixth round of nuclear talks between the Iranian regime and the United States is shrouded in uncertainty and may not take place at all. Sources familiar with the matter told the network that the Iranian regime views the new U.S. proposal as irrelevant, unrealistic, and overly demanding.

A senior official of the Iranian regime stated that the repeated shifts in the U.S. position—including retreating from a limited enrichment offer to insisting on zero enrichment—have made the negotiations more difficult. The official added that the U.S. proposal contradicts the understandings reached during the fifth round of talks in Rome on May 23, 2025, which reflects a lack of coherent strategy from Washington.

The Iranian regime is in a position of weakness in the nuclear negotiations. On one hand, the IAEA reports and international pressure have placed Tehran at risk of broad sanctions being reinstated. On the other hand, the regime’s economy is on the brink of collapse under the weight of inflation, unemployment, and the continued devaluation of its national currency.

Pharmaceutical Corruption in Iran

Mehdi Hosseini
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Pharmaceutical Corruption in Iran

The profiteering of pharmaceutical distribution companies and the resulting humanitarian disaster from the shortage of vital medicines in Iran

One of the most serious crises in Iran’s healthcare system is the hostage-taking of medicine distribution by companies affiliated with regime institutions—an issue that threatens not only pharmacies but directly endangers people’s lives.

One of the most common pressure tactics is “basket selling” of medicine and rationing of widely-used, life-saving drugs. This begins under the pretext of “supporting domestic production.” For example, a medicine like warfarin is first completely removed from the import list. Then, due to insufficient domestic production, it is distributed in a trickle to certain individuals close to the regime and ultimately sold on the black market at several times its original price. Pharmacies can only obtain this medication if they also purchase other low-demand but high-profit drugs.

This method, which resembles pharmaceutical extortion, often results in medications expiring or becoming unusable while still in customs or the warehouses of distribution companies. Given the critical nature of some of these drugs, pharmacies and patients are forced to obtain them at any cost.

Another pressure tactic used by distribution companies is lowering the profit margin on essential medicines and shortening the repayment window for pharmacies. For instance, brand-name medications in fields such as chemotherapy, MS, and diabetes are offered with a minimal profit (around 6%) and short settlement periods (15 days to one month), while insurance organizations delay pharmacy payments for 6 to 8 months. This forces pharmacies to purchase Iranian or Chinese biosimilar products that offer higher margins and more lenient payment terms, a condition imposed by the distributors.

In the past two years of acute crisis and increased working capital requirements for pharmacies due to drug shortages, the legal departments of distribution companies have become more aggressive than ever. Exploiting the centralized banking system and market liquidity shortages, they seize bank accounts, confiscate the assets of pharmacy founders, and collect massive legal fees for even the slightest payment delays—without providing any formal notice or grace period for settlement.

Iranian Regime MP Warns About Intensified Medicine Shortages

What is noteworthy is that nearly all pharmaceutical distribution companies are directly or indirectly controlled by regime institutions. As a result, no independent body has the power to confront or oversee their actions. Consequently, the only victims of this corrupt and chaotic system are the people and patients.

As long as this regime-controlled structure persists, there is no hope for improvements in public health or equitable access to medicine. The only ultimate solution lies in moving beyond Iran’s regime, which is the root cause of this structural crisis.

 

Iranian Prisoners Sound Alarm as Regime Escalates Executions

Esmaeil Mohades
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Iranian Prisoners Sound Alarm as Regime Escalates Executions

Tehran, Iran – June 3, 2025 – In a stark warning issued on their 71st week of protest, participants in the “No to Executions Tuesdays” campaign have urgently called on families of death-row prisoners and the international community to break the silence surrounding the Iranian regime’s escalating use of capital punishment, a tactic increasingly seen as a desperate measure to quell dissent. The campaign, now active in 46 prisons across Iran, highlighted a horrifying surge in state-sanctioned killings.

The prisoners’ statement reveals that since May 21, 2025, (the beginning of the Persian month of Khordad), at least 67 prisoners, including three women, have been executed. This averages out to approximately seven executions per day. In a particularly brutal display, 20 prisoners were reportedly hanged on a single day, May 28, 2025.

The “No to Executions Tuesdays” campaign: Ongoing hunger strike in 41 prisons across Iran

These figures align with reports from outside opposition groups. The National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) stated on May 30, 2025, that 41 individuals were executed over just three days, from May 26 to May 28, 2025. This equates to nearly 14 executions daily, or one person killed less than every two hours. The NCRI also noted that since July 2024, during Masoud Pezeshkian’s presidential tenure, the number of executions has reached a staggering 1,275.

The “No to Executions Tuesdays” campaign statement asserts that this wave of executions is a deliberate strategy by the regime. “The regime of slaughter and execution, in its dungeons, executes prisoners en masse in complete secrecy,” the statement reads, adding that these actions, coupled with the “mockery of international laws and leveraging religion,” are aimed at “suppressing justice-seeking and popular uprisings.”

Saeed Masouri: 170 Executions In The Past Month In Iranian Prisons, Minute-Long Trials, And Death Sentences

The prisoners emphasize that this high level of capital punishment is accompanied by widespread violations of the right to a fair trial. They highlight specific cases to underscore the grave injustices. On Wednesday, May 28, 2025, Pedram Madani was reportedly hanged in Ghezel Hesar prison on charges of “espionage,” his execution carried out in “media silence.”

Furthermore, the statement raises alarm over the case of Mohammad Amin Mahdavi Shayesteh, previously sentenced to death for “espionage” by Judge Abolghassem Salavati, notoriously dubbed the “death judge.” Mahdavi Shayesteh’s appeal for a retrial has been rejected by the Supreme Court, placing him at “serious risk of execution.”

In light of these grim developments, the “No to Executions Tuesdays” campaign directly implores families of those condemned to death to act. “The campaign…advises the families of death-row prisoners to quickly publicize the case files of their loved ones and inform the people of Iran and human rights institutions,” the statement urges. The stated aim of this public disclosure is crucial: “so that with this enlightenment, we can stop and disable the machinery of slaughter and execution.”

The prisoners also issue a stark warning to these families: “and they should not be deceived by the tricks or threats of intelligence agents and interrogators, lest the government execute prisoners in media silence and, in a sense, trample their right to life through state-sanctioned murder.”

The “No to Executions Tuesdays” campaign itself demonstrates growing internal resistance. Having commenced in January 2024, it marked its 71st consecutive week on June 3, 2025. The recent inclusion of prisoners from Firuzabad prison in Fars province has expanded the campaign’s reach to 46 prisons across Iran, where participating inmates engage in weekly hunger strikes. The campaign also expressed solidarity with other protest movements, such as the ongoing strike by truck drivers, now in its twelfth day.

The prisoners’ message is one of both dire warning and resilient determination. They call upon the broader public, particularly families of those on death row, to support their campaign and ensure that “the voice of ‘No to Execution’ must resonate in every city and street.” They conclude with a powerful assertion: “Power lies in our unity and solidarity,” signaling that despite the regime’s brutal crackdown, the spirit of resistance remains unbroken.

 

Contradictory Reports on U.S. Opposition or Approval of Uranium Enrichment on Iranian Soil

Jubin Katiraie
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Contradictory Reports on U.S. Opposition or Approval of Uranium Enrichment on Iranian Soil

Donald Trump, the President of the United States, once again emphasized that in any potential agreement with the Iranian regime, he would not permit any form of uranium enrichment on Iranian soil. Prior to Trump’s statement, some U.S. media outlets had reported a shift in the U.S. position and claimed that Washington had agreed to allow limited enrichment inside Iran.

On the afternoon of Monday, June 2, Trump posted on Truth Social, criticizing Joe Biden’s policies and reiterated that in any potential deal with the Iranian regime, the U.S. would not permit any uranium enrichment by the regime.

This came just hours after the Axios website reported that the Trump administration had made a confidential proposal to the Iranian regime allowing limited uranium enrichment within Iran.

Axios: Secret U.S. Proposal to Iran Includes Permission for Limited Uranium Enrichment

Sources familiar with the matter told Axios that the proposal opens a new path toward reaching an agreement, though it carries the risk of backlash from U.S. allies.

CNN report on Tehran’s rejection of the U.S. proposal and possible collapse of the negotiations

On the other hand, a senior official from the Iranian regime told CNN on Monday, June 2, that the new U.S. proposal regarding the nuclear agreement was “incoherent and disjointed.”

CNN did not name the senior official but reported, quoting him, that the Iranian regime is rejecting the new U.S. offer.

The senior Iranian regime official also told CNN that the biggest obstacle to progress in the negotiations has been the United States’ constantly shifting positions.

CNN further reported, quoting sources familiar with the negotiations, that momentum toward a new agreement is collapsing.

The CNN report stated that the U.S. had altered its stance on uranium enrichment in the new proposal. According to the proposal, the U.S. might invest in Iran’s civilian nuclear energy program and join an international consortium tasked with overseeing low-level uranium enrichment on Iranian soil. This potential consortium would include Middle Eastern countries as well as the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Reuters also reported on Monday, June 2, quoting a senior Iranian regime diplomat, that the regime is on the verge of rejecting a new U.S. proposal aimed at resolving the decades-long nuclear dispute.

This diplomat also added: “Iran is drafting a negative response to the U.S. proposal, which could be interpreted as a rejection of the U.S. offer.”

The new U.S. nuclear proposal was delivered to officials of the Iranian regime on Saturday, May 31, by the foreign minister of Oman, who has been mediating between Tehran and Washington, during a brief visit to Tehran.

 

Uncontrolled inflation continues in Iran; sugar prices rise by 40%

Sia Rajabi
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Uncontrolled inflation continues in Iran; sugar prices rise by 40%

Bahman Danaei, secretary of the Sugar and Sugar Factories Association in Iran, announced a 40% increase in sugar prices in the country.

One-kilogram packaged sugar has also reached consumers with a 31% price hike.

He cited reasons such as “rising production costs, increased wages, and transportation expenses” for the surge in sugar prices.

In recent years, staple food items consumed by households have topped the list of goods most affected by inflation.

Iranian Families Forced To Consume Cheap Food To Stave Off Hunger

According to a report by the Research Center of the Iran Chamber of Commerce in November 2024, by March 2022, around 32 million people in the country were living below the food poverty line. The organization added that this trend is rapidly expanding due to the severe inflation of recent years.

The secretary of the Sugar and Sugar Factories Association also stated: “The aim of price adjustments is to ensure sustainable production and support the sugar supply chain in the country so that factories can continue operating and food security in this sector is maintained.”

In recent years, officials of Iran’s regime have frequently used the phrase “price adjustments” as a justification for the ongoing increase in commodity prices.

Following the intensifying economic crisis and the regime’s failure to control inflation, recent reports indicate a rise in bread prices across various provinces, with price-setting responsibilities handed over to provincial governors.

In mid-May, the price of raw milk in Iran rose by about 28%, and media outlets predicted that this would lead to a roughly 42% surge in dairy product prices and a significant spike in overall costs.

These price hikes continue in Iran at a time when inflation over the past years has steadily increased the number of people living in poverty.

The Minimum Wage for Iranian Workers in 2025 Announced

The state-run daily, Donya-e-Eqtesad reported in September 2024 that the poverty line for a three-person household in Tehran is around 200 million rials (approximately $240) this year. Field reports suggest that this figure can reach as high as 400 million rials (about $480) in the city. Meanwhile, the minimum wage of a worker with two children barely reaches 150 million rials (around $180).

Economic experts have warned that roughly one-third of Iran’s population is unable to meet their basic needs.

 

Iranian Families Forced To Consume Cheap Food To Stave Off Hunger

Mehdi Hosseini
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Iranian Families Forced To Consume Cheap Food To Stave Off Hunger

As reports continue to highlight chaos in Iran’s food market and the ongoing rise in food prices, Arash Anisian, Director General of Economics and Treatment at the Iranian regime’s Medical Council, stated that many families are forced to consume cheap, high-calorie foods with little to no nutritional value just to stave off hunger.

On Monday, June 2, in a radio interview, Anisian said: “More than 40% of Tehran residents are obese, and a significant portion of this figure is due to an unhealthy lifestyle and unbalanced diet.”

This official from the Medical Council referred to the sharp decline in the consumption of protein, meat, and chicken as a “bitter reality,” adding: “Rising prices and declining purchasing power have forced many families to eliminate or severely limit protein from their meals, and this threatens public health.”

168% Increase in Food Prices During the First Eight Months of Iran’s New Administration

Amid the rising prices of key food items in Iran’s markets, several trade officials have criticized the disorder in supply and the growing number of violations in the food market.

Bahman Danaei, secretary of the Sugar and Sugar Factories Association, announced on Monday, June 2, that sugar prices in Iran have risen by 40%.

He cited factors such as “rising production costs, increased wages, and transportation expenses” as reasons behind the hike in sugar prices.

While Iran’s economy is experiencing a minimum inflation rate of 40%, it is expected that food items would also see price hikes; however, the core economic problems lie in financial imbalance, budget deficits, and government inefficiency.

Meanwhile, media in Iran reported disruptions in the electronic ration coupon system over the past two days, stating that citizens were unable to use their available credits in some chain stores.

In addition to the issue of citizens being unable to access their ration credits, media outlets have also reported on the practice of forced or bundled sales of goods. In this regard, Hamidreza Rastegar, head of the Tehran Chamber of Guilds, stated that such sales are illegal and added that no store or business is allowed to force customers to buy multiple items together.

Reza Kangari, head of the Union of Food Wholesalers, also addressed the gap between official and market prices for cooking oil, stating that the price difference exceeds 80% to 90%. He further added that Indian rice is being sold to consumers at prices 20% higher than the approved rate.

The state-run newspaper Ham-Mihan, in a field report on June 1 titled “They want food but have no money,” wrote about restaurants, cafes, and fast food outlets in Tehran and the rising trend of unpaid tabs and customers skipping bills.

Ham-Mihan quoted the owner of a traditional eatery in central Tehran who said his daily sales had dropped from 200 servings in the winter to 140 servings—a 30% decline.

One part of the report reads: “A young woman and her daughter stood behind the refrigerator at a small eatery on Khayyam Street in Tehran and asked the vendor about the price of a sandwich. One million and two hundred thousand rials (approximately $1.4). The woman reconsidered and walked away without buying.”

The publication of such reports highlights how, with continuously rising inflation and prices, even the most basic meals have become difficult to afford for many citizens in Iran.

Over recent months, numerous reports have been published regarding the worsening economic crisis and the Iranian regime’s inability to curb inflation, which has led to widespread public dissatisfaction.

This comes while Iran is considered one of the richest countries in the world in terms of natural resources, but the regime’s rulers spend all the revenues from oil and other national assets on terrorist interventions and the nuclear bomb project.

 

Axios: Secret U.S. Proposal to Iran Includes Permission for Limited Uranium Enrichment

Hoshang Amiri
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Axios: Secret U.S. Proposal to Iran Includes Permission for Limited Uranium Enrichment

Axios reported in an exclusive piece that the United States has, in a confidential proposal to Iran’s regime, allowed limited uranium enrichment on Iranian soil—an action that contradicts the public positions of Trump administration officials, including Steve Witkoff, the White House special envoy, and Marco Rubio, the U.S. Secretary of State.

The proposal, which was reportedly delivered to Tehran on Saturday by Witkoff, would allow Iran to continue low-level uranium enrichment for a duration to be determined in upcoming negotiations.

Sources familiar with the matter told Axios that the proposal opens a new path toward reaching an agreement but creates the risk of giving the regime a path to obtaining nuclear weapons.

Grossi: Iran Seeking to ‘Sevenfold’ Its Production of 60% Enriched Uranium

According to these sources, under the proposal, Iran would be allowed to enrich uranium up to a 3% threshold, but it must temporarily shut down its underground facilities and halt the development of advanced centrifuges.

Strict monitoring by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is also expected to be implemented, along with the immediate enforcement of the Additional Protocol. Gradual lifting of sanctions will depend on verification of Iran’s compliance by both Washington and the IAEA.

Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told Axios “President Trump has made it clear that Iran can never obtain a nuclear bomb. Special Envoy Witkoff has sent a detailed and acceptable proposal to the Iranian regime, and it’s in their best interest to accept it. Out of respect for the ongoing deal, the Administration will not comment on details of the proposal to the media”.

In response, Esmail Baghaei, spokesperson for Iran’s regime foreign ministry, stated that Iran has not yet received sufficient guarantees regarding the timing and manner of sanction relief and is still reviewing the U.S. proposal.

He also rejected the White House’s assessment that the proposal is “acceptable” to Iran.

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