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Iranian Regime Parliament Issues New Plan to Counter ‘Infiltration’

Hoshang Amiri
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Iranian Regime Parliament Issues New Plan to Counter ‘Infiltration’

The general framework of the proposal titled “Countering the Infiltration of Intelligence Services and Foreign Governments or Institutions” was approved on Sunday, August 17, with 183 votes in favor in the Iranian regime’s Majlis (parliament). Beyond being a legal measure against espionage, the proposal carries a clear political message: expanding the securitization of society and increasing the cost of communication, information-sharing, and citizen organizing. However, only the general framework has been approved so far, and its articles and details have not yet received final approval.

In the proposed text, the scope of restrictions extends far beyond countering intelligence operations. Article 5, for example, would prohibit scientific cooperation with certain foreign universities and institutions and even the transfer of medical, research, and archaeological samples under certain circumstances, with prison sentences envisaged as punishment. Other sections of the proposal also impose restrictions and criminal penalties on communication and cooperation with foreign media outlets and certain non-Iranian organizations.

Iranian Regime Proxy Forces Face Decline After War with United States

If such a law is passed in its current form, it would not only target spies or intelligence agents; it could also transform the public sphere into an environment of suspicion and fear. Students, journalists, researchers, social activists, and ordinary citizens may find themselves worrying, before any contact with people outside the country, about how their actions could be interpreted by the regime’s security agencies.

At a time when the gap between society and the ruling establishment has widened and Iran’s younger generation relies more than ever on independent media, social networks, and cross-border communications, proposals like this could become tools for intimidating society and preventing the formation of communication networks and social organization.

The Iranian regime seeks to present “countering infiltration” as the official purpose of this proposal, but the practical result of expanding such regulations would be to restrict the very communications that allow people to receive news, share their experiences, make their voices heard internationally, and coordinate around common demands.

For example, if the family of a prisoner sentenced to death informs international media about their loved one’s sentence, the government could, under this law, prosecute them for communicating with what it considers hostile media outlets or suspicious organizations.

If a prisoner or their family tries to make their voice heard around the world, they could face the intimidating measures envisioned in this repressive proposal.

For this reason, the danger of this proposal is not limited to possible imprisonment or punishment for certain individuals; the greater danger is the creation of a society in which fear of being accused of infiltration replaces trust, dialogue, and social participation.

It appears that the regime’s purpose in introducing such a proposal under these circumstances is to send a message of strength both to foreign counterparts and to people who, in the normal course of life, business, and work, interact with foreign individuals or organizations.

People In Iran Can No Longer Afford to Repair Household Appliances

Sia Rajabi
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People In Iran Can No Longer Afford to Repair Household Appliances

The sharp rise in living costs in Iran has prevented many citizens from repairing household appliances, forcing them to either set these items aside or postpone repairs indefinitely.

The state-run Shargh daily reported on Sunday, August 16, in an article titled “Repair Poverty: Living with Broken Appliances” that rising prices have led many Iranians to abandon broken household and everyday items because they can neither afford the cost of repairs nor the purchase of new replacements.

According to the report, with prices continuing to climb, it remains unclear when citizens will be able to find the money needed to repair or replace these items.

Iran’s Economy in Critical Condition, Insider Warns

A bank employee took his car to a repair shop after its air conditioner broke down.

He said, “I thought I’d probably have to spend 50 million rials (about $26), but when the mechanic said I’d have to pay 120 million rials (about $64) just for the broken part, it felt like a bucket of cold water had been poured over my head. Then I realized I’d also have to pay another 50 million rials for his labor.”

He described the quoted price as shocking and said that after pausing for a few moments, he left the repair shop.

According to the bank employee, paying that amount would have left him with no money for the rest of the month, while rent, loan installments, and other expenses, such as his child’s class fees, take priority.

The citizen added that he has parked the car and decided to use public transportation until the weather becomes cooler. “I genuinely can’t understand the logic of paying nearly 200 million rials just to repair my car’s air conditioner. Just a few years ago, we could have bought a car with that amount.”

The minimum wage for a worker with two children in Iran is about $133 per month.

In recent months, the Iranian regime’s continued confrontational policies in the region, tighter sanctions, and the sharp decline in the value of the national currency have deepened Iran’s economic crisis.

Soaring inflation and declining purchasing power have placed unprecedented pressure on people’s livelihoods, making it increasingly difficult for a large segment of society to afford basic goods.

Rising repair costs and abandoning everyday belongings

Massoud, another citizen, told Shargh that his household iron broke several months ago.

He initially planned to repair it, but after asking about repair costs, he realized that by paying a little more, he could buy a new iron, albeit of lower quality.

However, financial difficulties forced him to postpone both repairing the old iron and buying a new one.

Complaining about the constant rise in prices, Massoud added, “Last week I took a piece of clothing to a tailor to fix the zipper. Can you believe the tailor quoted me 8.5 million rials (about $5)? I even told him that at that price I’d be better off buying a new pair of pants. Although, in reality, I can’t do that either.”

The surge in the price of parts and services has made buying a new item sometimes appear more economical than repairing an old one. Shargh described this trend as “the shift from repair to replacement,” writing that it is not the result of growing consumerism but of escalating prices.

Bloomberg reported on August 12, citing economists, that the continuation of the war could push Iran into one of the worst economic crises in its history.

According to the report, advertisements for interest-free installment purchases and “Buy Now, Pay Later” plans are now prominently displayed in the windows of many stores in Tehran.

Bloomberg added that installment purchasing, which was previously mostly limited to goods such as furniture and kitchen appliances, has expanded to essential goods since the war began and now even includes food.

Repair poverty and expanding deprivation among families

Ali Asghar Saeidi, an economic sociologist, told Shargh that under conditions of “repair poverty,” some households can neither afford to buy new goods nor pay the cost of repairing and maintaining the items they already own.

According to him, under such conditions, broken items remain unused for long periods, continue to be used despite technical defects and potential dangers, or return to use after temporary, low-quality repairs.

The sociologist continued, “If household income is not enough to cover more urgent needs such as food, housing, medicine, and education, repairs are postponed even when they make economic sense in the long term. When costs rise, the share of spending on food compared with non-food expenses increases.”

Shargh wrote that repair poverty has consequences that go beyond abandoning a single appliance and can lead to increased household labor, more difficult transportation, and deprivation of education or digital services.

Canadian Federal Court Rejects Salman Samani’s Request to Halt Deportation

Mehdi Hosseini
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Canadian Federal Court Rejects Salman Samani’s Request to Halt Deportation

The Federal Court of Canada has rejected Salman Samani’s request to halt his deportation from Canada. Samani served as deputy minister and spokesperson for the Iranian regime’s Interior Ministry during the regime’s bloody crackdown on the November 2019 protests.

According to the legal publication Law360 Canada, the judge ruled that “Canada’s public interest in preventing the country from becoming a safe haven for perpetrators of repression” outweighs the claims raised by Samani.

During the proceedings, Samani argued that he would face serious risks if returned to Iran and even said that suicide was a possibility. With his request denied, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) can proceed with enforcing his deportation order.

According to the CBSA, Samani held various government positions from 2007 to 2021 and demonstrated “commitment and loyalty to the regime” throughout his tenure.

The CBSA also stated that, as spokesperson for the Interior Ministry, Samani played a role in promoting the Iranian regime’s official narrative and countering opposing views.

After leaving the government in August 2021, Samani entered Canada on a tourist visa, and his deportation case was heard by the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada in 2024.

The rejection of the request to halt the deportation has cleared the legal path for Canadian authorities to remove the former Iranian regime official from Canada.

Middle Eastern Countries Seek Ways to Move Oil Through the Strait of Hormuz

Jubin Katiraie
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Middle Eastern Countries Seek Ways to Move Oil Through the Strait of Hormuz

An Iraqi government source told the Iraqi news outlet Shafagh News that Iraq’s State Oil Marketing Organization (SOMO) is holding intensive negotiations with foreign shipping companies to ensure the transport of the country’s oil through the Strait of Hormuz, and talks with a German company are close to reaching an agreement.

According to the report, the Iranian regime has agreed to allow oil tankers flying the Iraqi flag to pass through the strait, and Baghdad intends to use this authorization to transport its crude oil from southern Iraqi ports to global markets.

SOMO has entered negotiations with two shipping companies, one American and one German. The American company has refused to place the Iraqi flag on its tankers, while the German company has expressed its willingness to use the Iraqi flag when transporting oil from Iraqi ports through the Strait of Hormuz.

Ship Traffic Through the Strait of Hormuz Has Nearly Come to a Halt After Tanker Attacks

According to the source, under the understanding reached with the Iranian regime, Iraqi oil tankers will pay no transit fees to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.

However, Baghdad still needs U.S. approval or authorization to finalize this arrangement, and Iraqi officials hope that permission will be granted soon.

According to Iraq’s Oil Ministry, the country exported about 49 million barrels of oil in July, with more than 30 million barrels passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

Bloomberg: Saudi Arabia has turned to covert oil transfers through the Strait of Hormuz

Bloomberg reported that Saudi Arabia has begun offering oil cargoes off the coast of Oman, a move that could indicate increased shipments through the Strait of Hormuz using the so-called “shuttling” method and covert tanker movements.

According to the report, Saudi Aramco has supplied oil cargoes through ship-to-ship transfers at locations including waters near the Port of Sohar in the Gulf of Oman. Bloomberg said the crude oil cargoes were most likely loaded at Saudi facilities inside the Persian Gulf.

Under this method, tankers carry cargoes from inside the Persian Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz before transferring them to other tankers in the Gulf of Oman. Some of these voyages are carried out with ships’ positioning systems and transmitters switched off so that their routes cannot be tracked.

The United Arab Emirates has previously used this method extensively to transport oil through the Strait of Hormuz, and Bloomberg’s report now suggests that Saudi Arabia may also be shifting a larger share of its exports through this route.

According to satellite data, tankers with a combined carrying capacity of at least 9 million barrels loaded cargoes over the past week at the Ras Tanura export facilities and nearby locations. At the same time, a significant number of Saudi very large crude carriers have gathered outside the Persian Gulf.

Iran’s Regime Plans Fuel Rationing, Higher Gasoline Prices Within Next 15 Days

Jubin Katiraie
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Iran’s Regime Plans Fuel Rationing, Higher Gasoline Prices Within Next 15 Days

Esmail Saghab-Esfahani, a vice president of Iran’s regime, said on Saturday, August 15, that Iran’s daily gasoline consumption is about 135 million liters, while production by refineries and petrochemical plants is estimated at around 121 million liters. According to him, this has created a daily gasoline shortage of 14 to 15 million liters.

He emphasized that the proposed scenarios are no longer merely “solutions” but, in his words, have become a “necessity,” and the government is compelled to choose one of them.

According to the vice president of Masoud Pezeshkian, the president of Iran’s regime, one option is to distribute all domestically produced gasoline at fuel stations and halt supply once reserves are depleted. A second option is to allocate a fixed fuel quota to vehicles and charge any excess consumption at the market rate. Another scenario would allocate gasoline quotas directly to individuals, under which each person would receive 30 liters per month, with family members’ quotas placed under the control of the head of the household.

Saghab-Esfahani also said that the government will likely make a final decision on one of these scenarios within the next 10 to 15 days, describing this period as an opportunity to review and discuss the available options.

The official’s remarks come as rising domestic consumption and the widening gap between gasoline production and demand have once again made fuel rationing and multi-tier pricing one of the country’s major economic issues. Implementing any of these scenarios—particularly increasing the price of non-subsidized gasoline or reducing fuel quotas—could have direct consequences for transportation costs and the prices of goods and services.

Iranian Regime Drone Attack on Office of Prime Minister of Kurdistan Region of Iraq

Hoshang Amiri
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Iranian Regime Drone Attack on Office of Prime Minister of Kurdistan Region of Iraq

Masrour Barzani, Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, announced that his private office and the residence of the head of Parastin, the Kurdistan Region’s intelligence agency, were targeted in drone attacks by the Iranian regime.

According to published reports, the Kurdistan Region’s Counter-Terrorism Directorate announced that early Monday morning, August 17, two Hadid-110 explosive drones, launched from Iranian territory, targeted the private office of Masrour Barzani, Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region, and the residence of the head of Parastin, the region’s security and intelligence organization, in Pirmam, Erbil Governorate.

Advisor to IRGC Commander: Our Doctrine Has Changed from Defensive to Offensive

He strongly condemned the attacks, describing them as a dangerous escalation and a direct threat to the stability of the Kurdistan Region. According to the Kurdistan Region’s Counter-Terrorism Directorate’s investigation, the Iranian regime’s direct involvement in the drone attacks has been established. The military assault comes after the homes of other Kurdish regional leaders had previously been targeted in drone attacks by the regime’s proxy forces.

In a statement published on his X account, Barzani called the attacks “reckless and unacceptable,” saying that such an act represents a dangerous escalation and a direct threat to the security and stability of the Kurdistan Region.

The Iranian regime’s drone attack on Masrour Barzani’s private office and the residence of the head of the Kurdistan Region’s intelligence agency reflects a new phase of military aggression aimed at covering up its internal crises. While the people of Iran struggle with poverty and runaway inflation, the regime spends the nation’s resources on warmongering and terrorism. These attacks are not a sign of strength, but rather a reflection of the regime’s fear of collapse and its attempt to survive by creating instability across the region.

Iran’s Regime is Rebuilding the Security Circle Around Mojtaba Khamenei with New Security Figure

Mehdi Hosseini
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Iran’s Regime is Rebuilding the Security Circle Around Mojtaba Khamenei with New Security Figure

The return of Hossein Taeb to the Iranian regime’s security structures, at a time when the balance of power at the top of the government has shifted, has drawn the attention of political and security observers. Taeb is a veteran figure in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) intelligence apparatus. Over the past four decades, he has been involved in some of the Iranian regime’s most significant security cases.

His position within the security network close to Ali Khamenei’s office, his longstanding relationship with Mojtaba Khamenei, and his experience managing security institutions raise the question of whether Tehran is rebuilding an old security circle around a new center of power.

Advisor to IRGC Commander: Our Doctrine Has Changed from Defensive to Offensive

Hossein Taeb and the history of a security network

Hossein Taeb is one of the figures whose career dates back to the Iran-Iraq War. His connections with the IRGC, the Basij paramilitary force, and intelligence institutions were established during those years and later expanded. Taeb became commander of the Basij and later served as deputy head of IRGC intelligence. He then became head of the IRGC Intelligence Organization, which in later years became one of the Iranian regime’s most important repressive security institutions.

The IRGC Intelligence Organization has played a broad role in political, security, and social cases. Confronting political opponents, civil activists, and protesters has also been part of this institution’s record in recent years. Taeb’s name has repeatedly surfaced during protests in different years. Opponents and critics consider him one of the principal figures behind the Iranian regime’s security policy.

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the former president of the Iranian regime, also expressed his opposition to Taeb’s appointment as head of IRGC intelligence, saying: “I opposed Mr. Taeb becoming head of IRGC intelligence when I was president. I said he lacks balance; everyone knows it. Everyone knows what he has done. His whole job is fabricating cases.”

Why Taeb’s return matters

Hossein Taeb was removed as head of the IRGC Intelligence Organization in 2022. The change came after a series of security setbacks and reports of infiltration into intelligence structures. His return under new circumstances now carries different significance. A veteran security figure possesses an extensive network of connections within the power structure. Such a person can be especially valuable to any power center facing a security crisis.

The main issue is Hossein Taeb’s place within the power network. He has spent years working in intelligence structures and has maintained ties with parts of the IRGC, the Basij, and the Supreme Leader’s office.

Taeb’s relationship with Mojtaba Khamenei

Various reports and accounts have been published about the relationship between Hossein Taeb and Mojtaba Khamenei. Part of that relationship dates back to their involvement within the IRGC’s structure. In recent years, Taeb’s name has also appeared alongside other security figures in discussions about the future leadership of the Iranian regime.

A security calculation at the top of power

From a political and security perspective, any major change at the top of a political system is usually accompanied by a restructuring of security institutions. A new center of power seeks to place trusted individuals in sensitive positions. Under such circumstances, experience, loyalty, and networks of connections become highly important. Hossein Taeb possesses all three characteristics to a significant degree.

Therefore, if his return is part of a broader trend, it can be seen as a sign of efforts to repair security fractures and strengthen cohesion within the ruling circle. However, one important point remains. Security power alone cannot resolve a legitimacy crisis. A security apparatus may suppress protests for a period of time, but it cannot eliminate social discontent.

Ultimately, Taeb’s return may represent more than the return of a single individual; it may signal the growing importance of security networks in the struggle over the future of power within the Iranian regime.

Ship Traffic Through the Strait of Hormuz Has Nearly Come to a Halt After Tanker Attacks

Sia Rajabi
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Ship Traffic Through the Strait of Hormuz Has Nearly Come to a Halt After Tanker Attacks

Reuters, citing data from maritime tracking company Kpler, reported that commercial ship traffic through the international Strait of Hormuz waterway dropped sharply over the weekend and has effectively come to the brink of a standstill following recent attacks on oil tankers.

According to the data, only five cargo-carrying vessels passed through the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, and no crossings were recorded on Sunday, compared with 31 vessels during the previous weekend.

Among the vessels that crossed on Saturday were an empty very large crude carrier with its Automatic Identification System switched off and a very large gas carrier flying the Indian flag that was traveling via Iran’s route. A small tanker carrying Iranian regime fuel oil also exited the strait.

How the Strait of Hormuz Crisis Impacts the Livelihoods of the Iranian People

The sharp decline came after the United Arab Emirates announced that three vessels operated by the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) had been attacked while transiting the strait during the past week. The United States has also said it has the capability to continue its naval blockade of the Iranian regime indefinitely.

Kpler warned that some vessels may have crossed the strait with their transmitters switched off, but even taking that into account, current traffic remains far below the more than 130 ships per day seen before the war. Before the war, the Strait of Hormuz carried about one-fifth of the world’s crude oil and liquefied natural gas shipments.

Abbas Araghchi, the Iranian regime’s foreign minister, has also said that the resumption of shipping through this waterway depends on Washington accepting Tehran’s conditions. At the same time, traffic through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, the strategic waterway connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden, has also declined, with Kpler recording 49 crossings over the weekend. During that period, no Saudi Arabian oil cargoes appeared in the tracking data.

Execution of Shahram Sadeghi, a Protester from Iran’s January Uprising

Esmaeil Mohades
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Execution of Shahram Sadeghi, a Protester from Iran’s January Uprising

The Iranian regime’s Judiciary announced on the morning of Sunday, August 16, that Shahram Sadeghi had been executed. He was among those arrested during the nationwide protests in January 2026 in Karaj. Mizan News Agency, which is affiliated with the Judiciary, said the sentence was carried out after being upheld by the Supreme Court. Independent media outlets and human rights organizations also reported the execution.

Shahram Sadeghi’s Execution: What Was the Judiciary’s Version?

According to the Judiciary’s official account, Shahram Sadeghi was present at Golzar Intersection in Golshahr, Karaj, on the evening of January 8, 2026. Regime officials claimed that he drove a Pride car toward police officers. According to the same account, seven officers were injured in the incident, and one of them reportedly remained in a coma for three months.

EU And 26 Countries Around the World Condemn the Execution of Protesters in Iran

It should be noted that the basis for charges against protesters opposing the ruling dictatorship is fundamentally derived from statements by individuals affiliated with the government or from confessions obtained under torture, which is contrary to all established principles of due process and a fair trial.

The Judiciary also said that the Karaj Revolutionary Court had convicted Shahram Sadeghi on charges of “operational action in favor of Israel, the United States, and hostile groups.” According to state media reports, the sentence included execution and confiscation of his property. The Supreme Court also upheld the ruling.

Such inhumane sentences against young people and protesters who participated in demonstrations to demand their most basic rights, and the attribution of their actions to foreign countries, serve only to legitimize the rulings issued by the regime’s unjust courts.

Execution as a Tool of Intimidation

Over the past decades, the ruling regime has repeatedly used the death penalty in political and security-related cases. The execution of a protest detainee sends a clear message of intimidation to a society that has repeatedly taken to the streets against the status quo.

Iran’s Healthcare Services in Crisis with Shortage of 100,000 Nurses

Mehdi Hosseini
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Iran’s Healthcare Services in Crisis with Shortage of 100,000 Nurses

The shortage of 100,000 nurses in Iran’s healthcare system has now become one of the most serious crises facing the country’s medical services. Abbas Ebadi, the Deputy Minister of Health for Nursing Affairs, has also confirmed this figure. At the same time, the Ministry of Health has announced that it needs to recruit 60,000 personnel. However, Iran’s Administrative and Employment Affairs Organization has not yet responded to this request.

Abbas Ebadi, the Deputy Minister of Health for Nursing Affairs, spoke on August 14 about the state of the nursing workforce. He said that the Ministry of Health has formally announced its need to recruit new personnel. The request covers the entire healthcare system. However, the Administrative and Employment Affairs Organization has not yet announced the outcome of its review.

Iran’s Healthcare System on Verge of Crisis as Nurses Migrate En Masse

This situation continues even though the nursing shortage has been a serious issue for years. Officials at the Ministry of Health have repeatedly warned about the scale of the crisis. Despite these warnings, the recruitment process continues to face restrictions and delays.

The Erosion of the Healthcare System

According to the Deputy Minister of Health for Nursing Affairs, the process of recruiting personnel is time-consuming. He predicted that the recruitment quota would be determined during the second half of the current year. Once the Administrative and Employment Affairs Organization announces its decision, the quota will be finalized, after which the recruitment examination process will begin.

According to his remarks, between 45% and 50% of recruitment exam positions are typically allocated to nursing. Given the scale of the current crisis, that figure raises serious questions. The healthcare system faces a shortage of 100,000 nurses. At the same time, new recruitment must both replace departing staff and meet new demands.

Ebadi said that, at best, recruitment in recent years has only managed to keep pace with the number of workers leaving the healthcare system. Retirements and departures for various reasons account for part of this workforce decline. As a result, recruiting new personnel does not necessarily mean a real increase in healthcare capacity.

Meanwhile, newly built hospitals also require staff. Expanding the number of hospital beds without providing nurses does not create genuine treatment capacity. A hospital bed without a nurse is effectively an incomplete and unusable part of the healthcare system.

Why Does the Nursing Shortage Threaten Public Health?

The Deputy Minister of Health for Nursing Affairs distinguished between a shortage of personnel and the quality of the nursing workforce. However, he emphasized that the absence of either could endanger public health. That warning carries even greater significance in the context of a shortage of 100,000 nurses.

Nurses are the first link in continuous patient care across many hospital departments. Increased workloads, staffing shortages, and job burnout can reduce the quality of care. These conditions also place greater pressure on nurses who remain on the job.

Ebadi also spoke about the use of “piecemeal recruitment permits” to maintain the current situation. That description paints a clear picture of the state of hiring within the healthcare system. When recruitment merely offsets staff departures, the healthcare system cannot achieve sustainable growth.

The nursing shortage is not just a figure in administrative reports. It is directly tied to the capacity to care for patients. If this situation continues, pressure on both healthcare workers and patients will continue to grow.

 The Numbers Highlight the Healthcare Crisis

Ebadi had previously stated that Iran has approximately 0.9 to 0.95 nurses per hospital bed, while the Ministry of Health’s stated standard is 1.8 nurses per bed. At the same time, heavy workloads, financial hardship, unstable contracts, and delayed benefit payments have driven some nurses to leave their jobs or emigrate.

According to figures reported for 2025, around 3,000 nurses left the workforce, including 1,800 who quit their jobs, 800 who resigned, and 380 who emigrated. In addition, around 1,600 nurses retired.

The continuation of this trend, combined with mandatory overtime and long shifts, has placed additional strain on healthcare workers and heightened concerns about the quality of medical services and the ability of Iran’s healthcare system to meet the population’s treatment needs.

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