THIS PAGE WILL BE UPDATED WITH THE LATEST NEWS
UPDATE: 9:30 PM CEST
Europe Gives Iran Deadline to Contain Nuclear Programme Or See Sanctions Reinstated
The EU will start the process of reinstating UN sanctions on Iran from 29 August if Tehran has made no progress by then on containing its nuclear programme, the bloc has announced. Speaking at a meeting of his EU counterparts, the French foreign minister, Jean-Noël Barrot, said: “France and its partners are … justified in reapplying global embargos on arms, banks and nuclear equipment that were lifted 10 years ago. Without a firm, tangible and verifiable commitment from Iran, we will do so by the end of August at the latest.”
Europeans have been largely elbowed aside from the Iranian nuclear issue by Donald Trump, who ordered the bombing of Iran’s nuclear sites last month, and this intervention can be seen as an attempt to reassert Europe’s influence.
Alleged Spy for Iran Handed Over to Germany After Spying on Jewish Targets
Denmark has extradited to Germany a man accused of spying on Jewish institutions in Berlin on behalf of Iran, German prosecutors said on Tuesday. Germany’s Federal Court of Justice formally ordered the Danish national’s detention on Tuesday, the prosecutor’s office said in a statement. The suspect, identified only as Ali S., was extradited to Germany on Monday, nearly three weeks after his arrest in the Danish city of Aarhus, the office said.
Prosecutors allege that Ali S. in June gathered intelligence on three Jewish sites in Berlin, possibly in preparation for future attacks.
Suspected of acting on behalf of Iranian intelligence, Ali S. could face up to 10 years in prison if convicted.
His arrest followed intelligence provided by Germany’s domestic security agency, the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution. Germany’s Federal Criminal Police Office was also involved in the investigation.
Iran: Council Sanctions Eight Individuals and One Entity over Serious Human Rights Violations and Transnational Repression
The Council today imposed restrictive measures on eight persons and one entity under the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions regime. They are responsible of committing serious human rights violations and abuses on behalf of the Iranian state bodies outside of Iran, in particular extrajudicial, summary and arbitrary executions and killings, as well as enforced disappearances of persons deemed to be opponents or critical of the actions or policies of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Today’s listings confirm the EU’s concerns about transnational repression by Iranian state bodies through the use of proxy agents, in particular involving criminals and organised crime networks targeting dissidents and human rights defenders across the world, including on EU territory.
UPDATE: 1:30 PM CEST
Iran Doesn’t Need War — But Support for the People’s Resistance
Nuclear facilities, missile depots, and military command centers were destroyed in Tehran and other cities. Yet, the war showed that the regime cannot be toppled through bombing. Despite its weakening, it may still be able to rebuild its structures over time. The only force truly capable of overthrowing the clerical regime is the Iranian people themselves — and their organized resistance.
After more than four decades of failed strategies — whether war, sanctions, or appeasement — it is clear that a new path is needed. This is what Maryam Rajavi, leader of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), has called the Third Option: a popular and organized struggle for freedom and democracy. Today, this option appears more relevant than ever.
UPDATE: 8:00 AM CEST
Exclusive: Iranian Opposition Leader — ‘Regime Change Within Reach,’ Collapse ‘Closer Than Ever’
In the wake of last month’s unprecedented 12-day war between Israel and Iran — which saw Israeli and U.S. forces directly strike Iran’s nuclear infrastructure and military apparatus for the first time — Iranian opposition leader Maryam Rajavi declared that regime change in the Islamic Republic is “realistic,” “within reach,” and “long overdue,” laying out her exiled movement’s strategy to topple the clerical regime and usher in a democratic future.
In an exclusive interview, Rajavi — the Paris-based president-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), a political umbrella group representing a coalition of Iranian opposition movements led by the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) — addressed the growing uncertainty over Iran’s future as the regime faces an unprecedented convergence of crises and mounting calls for regime change.
Iranian youth launch fiery retaliation after regime kills two men in Hamedan
On Saturday, July 12, 2025, in response to the murder of two young men by the Iranian regime’s security forces in Hamedan, rebellious youth attacked the regime’s centers of suppression and repression in the cities of Tehran, Quchan, Rudbar, Khash, Karaj, Dezful, Dorud, Lordegan, Saravan, and Sarbaz as follows:
Fatemeh Mohammad-Zehi, 50, a Baloch Woman, Killed in Armed Attack on Her Home
On the evening of Friday, July 11, 2025, Fatemeh Mohammad-Zehi, a 50-year-old Baloch woman, was killed during an armed assault on her home in the village of Kohan-Karim, located in Paskouh District of Sib and Soran County, in Iran’s Sistan and Baluchestan Province. Two other members of her family were seriously injured in the attack. At approximately 11:30 p.m., unknown assailants arrived in a Peugeot vehicle outside the home of Shah-Hossein Domakzehi, a respected local Baloch elder from the Shanbeh-Zehi tribe. When Fatemeh Mohammad-Zehi, the mother of the household, came to the door, she was shot and killed at close range. The attackers then entered the home, opening fire on her children—Maryam Domakzehi (Shanbeh-Zehi), approximately 20, and Javad Domakzehi (Shanbeh-Zehi), around 30—leaving both seriously wounded.
Luxembourg: Iranian Resistance Supporters Back Maryam Rajavi’s Third Option – No to War, No to Appeasement
Luxembourg, July 12, 2025 – A rally in front of the city’s cathedral gathered supporters of the Iranian Resistance (NCRI and PMOI) who condemned the wave of executions and severe human rights abuses committed by Iran’s ruling regime. Protesters emphasized that neither foreign military intervention nor Western appeasement can solve the Iranian crisis. Their core message was clear: the only solution is the overthrow of the mullahs’ regime by the Iranian people and their organized resistance.
#Luxembourg: Iranian Resistance Supporters Back Maryam Rajavi’s Third Option – No to War, #No2Appeasement.#IranThirdOption #NCRIAlternative #StopExecutionsInIran #FreePoliticalPrisoners #FreeIran2025 https://t.co/NaiAblGzwI
— Iran Freedom (@4FreedominIran) July 14, 2025
The protest, which received coverage from RTL Luxembourg – the country’s main news outlet (full report here) – highlighted support for Maryam Rajavi’s “Third Option”: rejecting both war and appeasement, while advocating regime change led by the people of Iran and their organized resistance movement.
PMOI Supporters Gather in Gothenburg to Endorse NCRI and Maryam Rajavi’s Third Option to Democracy
Gothenburg, Sweden – July 12, 2025 – Supporters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) held a rally to reaffirm their steadfast support for the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), endorsing it as the sole democratic and viable alternative to Iran’s ruling theocracy.
The rally highlighted Maryam Rajavi’s Third Option, a vision that rejects both military intervention and appeasement, advocating instead for a democratic change led by the Iranian people and their organized resistance movement. Participants expressed unwavering solidarity with the Iranian people’s ongoing struggle for freedom, justice, and human rights. They urged the international community to formally recognize the NCRI as the legitimate voice of Iranian opposition and to back the aspirations of a nation seeking liberty.
Exhibition in Lugano Highlights Human Rights Abuses and Calls for Democratic Change in Iran
Lugano, Switzerland – July 12, 2025: Supporters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) organized an exhibition to express solidarity with the Iranian people’s struggle for freedom. The event also protested the escalating wave of executions carried out by the Iranian regime and demanded the immediate release of all political prisoners held in its prisons.
The exhibition highlighted support for Maryam Rajavi’s “Third Option” — a democratic alternative that rejects both war and appeasement, advocating regime change led by the Iranian people and their organized resistance under the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI).
Sydney Exhibition Backs Iranian Resistance and Denounces Human Rights Abuses in Iran
Sydney, Australia – July 12, 2025: Supporters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) held an exhibition to protest the Iranian regime and express support for a democratic alternative. Demonstrators endorsed the “Third Option” proposed by Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), which advocates for democratic change led by the Iranian people and their organized resistance—rejecting both military intervention and appeasement.
#Sydney Exhibition Backs #IranianResistance and Denounces #HumanRights Abuses in #Iran#StopExecutionsInIran #FreePoliticalPrisoners #FreeIran2025 #IranThirdOption #NCRIAlternative https://t.co/rqfR7rxmXP
— Iran Freedom (@4FreedominIran) July 14, 2025
Participants echoed Mrs. Rajavi’s message that the only viable solution for Iran is regime change by the people themselves, not through foreign military action or conciliatory diplomacy.
Supreme Court Rejects Mehdi Hassani’s Retrial Request for Fourth Time
Maryam Hassani, daughter of political prisoner Mehdi Hassani, who has been sentenced to death in Iran, has released an emotional public video message calling on people not to abandon her family. She urged all concerned individuals to stand together to defend human dignity and prevent the destruction of a family’s life. In this video message, directly addressing the public, Maryam Hassani stated: “I am Maryam Hassani, daughter of political prisoner Mehdi Hassani, who has been in prison for over four years. My father’s retrial request has been rejected for the fourth time, as his lawyer wrote on social media. They are proceeding with this case without even allowing access to the file, without reading it. I am recording this message for all those whose hearts beat for justice, for everyone concerned with humanity, for those who believe in ‘No to Executions’ for all. I hope you will stand by us, support us, and not allow the names of political prisoners to be forgotten. I may appear to be speaking only for my father, but my pain extends to all political prisoners. As all political prisoners are dear to me, I am active on their behalf both as part of the Daughters for Justice campaign and as Maryam Hassani myself. I ask you to stand with us and not leave us alone on this path.”
Increased Pressure and Severe Restrictions on Hashem Khastar
Reports from Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad indicate escalating pressure and harsh restrictions against Hashem Khastar, a prominent teachers’ union activist and political prisoner. Mr. Khastar, who is now in his seventies, is enduring conditions that clearly amount to human rights violations and psychological torture due to his years of activism defending educators’ rights and protesting oppression.
Mr. Khastar is held in ward 1/6 of Vakilabad Prison, in a small cell under constant surveillance by CCTV cameras. This ward houses around 15 political prisoners who are allowed only one hour of outdoor time per day—a time that is also strictly controlled and offers only limited opportunity for contact with family. Mr. Khastar’s situation is even harsher: he is often kept in solitary confinement and is denied the right to meet or closely interact with others.
Disclosure of Severe Torture against Karim Esmailzadeh
Karim Esmailzadeh, an Azerbaijani political and civil activist and world powerlifting champion, was temporarily released from Tabriz Central Prison on bail after spending nearly 50 days in solitary confinement at the Tabriz Intelligence Office. He was freed in a critical physical and psychological condition, showing visible signs of torture. According to reports from human rights sources and his family, this temporary release took place while Esmailzadeh had been subjected to severe physical and psychological torture during his detention and was deprived of his most basic human rights.
According to his family and informed sources, Esmailzadeh was held the entire time in solitary confinement, with his hands and feet tied and his face forced to the ground. During this period, he endured continuous beatings, threats of sexual assault, threats to harm his family members, and deprivation of sleep and medical care. According to those close to him, he lost over 40 kilograms in weight and continues to suffer from extreme physical weakness, persistent body tremors, and psychological trauma resulting from severe stress.
Iranian Regime Blamed as Main Culprit Behind Environmental Pollution
These days, Tehran and many other cities across Iran—from east to west—are engulfed by dust storms. According to experts, this phenomenon signals a much deeper environmental crisis.
In recent days, not only major cities such as Tehran but also most western and southwestern provinces of Iran have once again been affected by intense waves of dust and particulate pollution. At times, the air quality index has reached 500, triggering serious health warnings for the public. The head of Tehran’s Environmental Protection Organization has stated that the dust storms will persist in the capital and most provinces until the end of summer.
Iran’s Regime Confirms GPS Disruption and Moves Toward Chinese BeiDou Amid Security Concerns
Tehran confirms internal GPS disruptions and accelerates plans to replace U.S.-controlled systems with China’s BeiDou, raising concerns over civilian impact and digital isolation.
In a rare official acknowledgment, Iran regime’s Deputy Minister of Communications, Ehsan Chitsaz, confirmed deliberate disruptions to global positioning services (GPS) within the country and announced plans to transition toward the Chinese BeiDou satellite navigation system. His remarks, published on July 14 by HamMihan newspaper, highlight the regime’s increasing reliance on alternative technologies amid ongoing geopolitical tensions and domestic control measures.
So-called Reformists Gain Momentum in Tehran Amid Nuclear Negotiation Standoff
In the aftermath of a devastating 12-day war with Israel, Iran regime’s internal political dynamics appear to be tilting toward the so-called moderate factions that advocate renewed nuclear negotiations with the United States. But despite these diplomatic overtures, the core demands of the Iranian regime remain far from what Washington and its allies are willing to accept.
The Washington Post reported on July 13 that there is now a “consensus” among Iran’s political elite on the need to resume nuclear negotiations. While this may reflect a growing recognition within Iran’s leadership of the strategic costs of continued isolation, it does not signal a meaningful shift in Tehran’s negotiating stance.
Bread Prices Surge Across Iran, Deepening Economic Strain and Food Insecurity
Sharp price hikes on traditional breads across Iran fuel public outrage, strain household budgets, and threaten food security for millions amid deepening economic turmoil.
A new wave of price hikes in Iran has now reached the most basic of staples: bread. As the cost of traditional loaves surges across numerous provinces, public frustration is rising, and bakers are voicing protests. The sharp increase, coming amid broader economic hardships, threatens to further erode food security for millions of Iranian households. In Ilam province, Abbas Mirzad, deputy economic officer for the governorate, announced that bread prices have risen by 52% in the provincial capital and 42% in other cities. He attributed the hike to escalating transportation, energy, insurance, and raw material costs, insisting that “the increase has nothing to do with the elimination of subsidies.”
Iran’s Waning Influence in Iraq: New Political Realities Challenge Regime Control
Shift in Iraqi leadership, economic interests of militias, and Iran’s weakened command structure undermine Tehran’s grip
The Economist has published an analysis highlighting the steady decline of the Iranian regime’s influence in Iraq. The report points to Iraq’s deliberate neutrality during the recent 12-day conflict between Iran and Israel as a clear sign that Tehran’s sway—especially among Iraq’s youth and emerging political class—is fading.
The analysis outlines three core developments that have accelerated this decline. First is the rise of a new generation of Iraqi politicians, many of whom emerged from the mass protests of 2020. Unlike their predecessors, they are openly critical of Iran-backed militias and less willing to align with Tehran’s regional agenda.
Iran’s Regime Prioritizes Military Spending Amid Growing Poverty
Amid Rising Tensions with Israel, Iran’s Regime Channels Billions into Armed Forces While Public Needs Remain Unmet.
As tensions escalate with Israel, the Iranian regime is doubling down on military spending. On Sunday, July 13, 2025, Iran’s parliament approved the general framework of a bill aimed at significantly expanding the country’s armed forces. The move comes as the nation continues to grapple with sanctions, fiscal strain, and internal dissent.
The bill, titled “Strengthening the Armed Forces in a Comprehensive Confrontation,” was announced by Ebrahim Rezaei, spokesperson for the National Security and Foreign Policy Commission. High-ranking officials from the Ministry of Defense, the General Staff of the Armed Forces, the Islamic Republic of Iran Army, and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) participated in the parliamentary session, which resulted in the approval of a single-article bill with three clauses.