THIS PAGE WILL BE UPDATED WITH THE LATEST NEWS
UPDATE: 04:30 PM CET
Mai Sato, UN Special Rapporteur on Iran: ‘Military Action Is Not a Magic Solution’
Mai Sato, the U.N. Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Iran, speaks in the present tense about the repression against the recent demonstrations against the Islamic Republic. The reason, the Tokyo-born sociologist explains, is that arrests, the presence of security forces in the streets, and the searching of bystanders’ cell phones “are still happening,” a month after those demonstrations were brutally suppressed and thousands died in the streets.
In a video call on February 17 from London, Sato, who is also the director of the Institute for Crime and Justice Policy Research at Birkbeck, University of London, states her belief that the regime’s violence has been unprecedented more for its massive scale than for the oppression itself, which has been in place for decades.
UPDATE: 01:30 PM CET
Three Silicon Valley Engineers Charged with Stealing Google Trade Secrets and Sending Data to Iran
A federal grand jury indicted three Silicon Valley engineers on charges of stealing trade secrets from Google and other technology companies and transferring sensitive data to Iran, prosecutors said Thursday.
Samaneh Ghandali, 41, her sister Soroor Ghandali, 32, and Mohammadjavad Khosravi, 40 — all residents of San Jose — were arrested Thursday and appeared in a federal district court the same day.
The indictment identified the defendants as Iranian nationals. Soroor was in the U.S. on a nonimmigrant student visa. Samaneh later became a U.S. citizen, and Khosravi, her husband, became a U.S. legal permanent resident. Prosecutors said that Khosravi previously served in the Iranian army.
The trio faces charges of conspiracy to commit trade secret theft, theft and attempted theft of trade secrets, and obstruction of justice, according to the U.S. attorney’s office for the Northern District of California.
Denmark Detains Boxship Linked to Iran Questioning Registration
The Danish Maritime Authority confirmed to local media that it has placed a detention order on a shadowy containership until the vessel can prove its registry and certifications. The vessel was sanctioned in July 2025 by the United States as part of a network including more than 50 vessels that the U.S. said were part of the vast shipping empire controlled by Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani, the son of Ali Shamkhani, a top political advisor to the Supreme Leader of Iran.
When the U.S. sanctioned the vessel, which at that point was identified as Cerus, the report said it was registered in St. Kitts and Nevis. In October 2025, the ship changed names to Nora and falsely claimed it was registered in Aruba and two months later in Comoros.
UNICEF Calls for The Release of All Children Arrested In the Latest Public Unrest in Iran
AMMAN, 19 February 2026 – “UNICEF is deeply concerned by the reports that children arrested in connection with the recent public unrest in Iran remain in detention. “While the number of children currently detained, or the conditions of their detention cannot be verified, we urge that immediate, independent access be granted to all detained children to assess their situation, treatment, and well-being.
“The adverse impact of detention and incarceration on children is well documented. Children are not ‘little adults,’ they require special care. Deprivation of liberty entails life lasting consequences to the development of the child, but also for the future of the society overall.
“Children deprived of their liberty must be treated with humanity and dignity and enabled to maintain regular contact with their families. These are binding obligations under international law and must be upheld at all times.
Son of Iran’s Supreme Leader Khamenei Apparently Planned Multi-Million-Euro Deal in Vienna
A higher position of power within Iran’s regime is hard to imagine. Mojtaba Khamenei, 56, is not only one of the four sons of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei; he is also considered the family’s business and political mastermind. Mojtaba is said to be the favorite of his 86-year-old father and a possible successor.
That, of course, only applies if the regime does not fall: just now, the notorious Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps reportedly crushed a popular uprising with force, leaving thousands dead. Iran’s economy has collapsed, and fears of a U.S. military strike are spreading. Ali, the father, is reportedly hiding in bunkers.
Iran’s Diplomatic Window Is Closing, UN Atomic Watchdog Says
The US military build-up in the Middle East means Iran’s window to reach a diplomatic agreement over its atomic activities is at risk of closing, according to the head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog.
The International Atomic Energy Agency has discussed concrete proposals with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi to inspect sites bombed last year by Israel and the US, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi told Bloomberg Television on Thursday. Whether those plans can be finalized urgently is an open question.
Iran Rebuilding Nuclear Program Despite Trump Talks, Opposition Figure Claims
Iran is rebuilding nuclear sites damaged in previous U.S. strikes and “preparing for war,” despite engaging in talks with the Trump administration, according to a prominent Iranian opposition figure.
Alireza Jafarzadeh, deputy director of the Washington office of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), said newly released satellite images also prove the regime has accelerated its efforts to restore its “$2 trillion” uranium enrichment capabilities.
“The regime has clearly stepped up efforts to rebuild its uranium enrichment capabilities,” Jafarzadeh told Fox News Digital. “It is preparing itself for a possible war by trying to preserve its nuclear weapons program and ensure its protection.”
UPDATE: 08:00 AM CET
Tehran Officials Admit To ‘Coup De Grâce’ Executions as Regime Trembles Before Public Defiance
In a shocking admission that confirms long-standing accusations by the Iranian Resistance, a senior official of Iran’s regime has publicly acknowledged that security forces executed wounded protesters during the nationwide uprising of January 2026. The revelation comes as the regime struggles to contain a volatile society that has shifted from economic grievances to open calls for regime change. On February 19, Javad Tajik, the CEO of the Behesht Zahra Organization (Tehran’s main cemetery), held a press conference where he confirmed the “coup de grâce”—the practice of delivering a final, fatal shot to the wounded—was widely used during the suppression of the January protests.
Fortieth Day Commemorations of the Uprising’s Fallen Turn into Protest with Anti-Government Slogans
Fortieth day commemorations of uprising victims was held on February 16 and 17 with large memorial ceremonies and protest gatherings across multiple cities. Far from being solely acts of mourning, these events evolved into powerful displays of sustained public anger and political defiance. Notably, women played a leading and highly visible role throughout. In numerous cities, women stood at the front lines, organizing gatherings, and leading chants. Their prominent presence once again underscored the decisive role women continue to play in preserving the memory of those killed and in sustaining the momentum of dissent.
Iran: Lethal Suppression of the January 2026 Protests in Kermanshah
In Kermanshah province, the highest number of confirmed fatalities occurred within two days: 8 and 9 January 2026, corresponding to 18 and 19 Dey 1404. Within less than 48 hours, simultaneous reports of direct gunfire emerged from multiple neighborhoods across the city. Shahrak-e Moallem, Dareh Derazh, Sabouni, Taq-e Bostan Boulevard, Dowlatabad, Jafarabad, and Elahiyeh were among the areas where live ammunition was reportedly fired at protesters. The concentration of deaths within such a short time frame and across multiple locations indicates coordinated and simultaneous use of lethal force at the city level, rather than an isolated or sporadic confrontation.
Executions in Iran — Coincidence or Crackdown?
As Iran enters early February, human rights organizations report a dramatic surge in executions — a spike that comes just weeks after nationwide protests erupted in January and were met with a bloody crackdown. The timing has prompted renewed debate over whether the rise in executions reflects routine judicial enforcement or a broader effort to reassert state control during a period of unrest. According to Iranian human rights organizations, more than 1,100 executions were recorded over a recent three-month period, marking one of the highest quarterly figures in recent years. In a separate report, at least 58 prisoners were executed within just a few days, between Saturday and Tuesday of the same week.
Manchester Event Honors Iran Uprising Martyrs, Rejects Monarchical and Clerical Dictatorship
On February 17, 2026, members of the Academics in Exile Association in the UK, supporters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK), held a book display and photo exhibition in Manchester to express solidarity with the nationwide uprising in Iran.
Manchester Event Honors #IranUprising Martyrs, Rejects Monarchical and Clerical Dictatorship #No2ShahNo2Mullahs #FreeIran https://t.co/RbRj62MGtc
— Iran Freedom (@4FreedominIran) February 19, 2026
The event also commemorated the 40th day since the deaths of those who lost their lives in the January 2026 protests against the mullahs’ regime. It highlighted the resilience of the Iranian people and their unwavering demand for freedom, justice, and democratic governance.
Gothenburg Rally Marks 108 Weeks of “No to Execution Tuesdays” and Backs Iran Uprising
Gothenburg, Sweden — February 17, 2025 — Supporters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) held a rally to mark the 108th consecutive week of the “No to Execution Tuesdays” campaign, a movement protesting the Iranian regime’s escalating wave of executions and ongoing systematic repression.
Honoring Iran Uprising Martyrs at Paris Exhibition, Rejecting Monarchy and Mullahs Rule
Freedom-loving Iranians and supporters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) held a book table and photo exhibition in Paris on February 17, 2026, to express solidarity with nationwide uprising in Iran and honor the victims and fallen heroes of the uprising. The event highlighted the resilience of the Iranian people and their continued demand for freedom, justice, and democratic governance.
Children Detained During Iran’s January Uprising in Alarming Conditions
There are still no precise statistics on the number of children detained. The justice minister of the Iranian regime has stated that a number of teenagers aged 16 to 18 are being held in juvenile detention and rehabilitation centers. However, received reports indicate that many of these children and teenagers have been held in Tehran Greater Prison (Fashafouyeh), Amol Prison, Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad, as well as in secret detention centers in Kerman and Mashhad—facilities where, according to accounts, they have been subjected to various forms of physical and psychological torture and abuse. The families of some of these teenagers have still not been able to secure lawyers for their children and are deeply concerned about their condition.
Political Prisoners from Qezel Hesar and Yazd: “This Path, Though Blood-Stained, Will End in Victory”
Shahrokh Daneshvar Kar, a political prisoner on death row in Qezel Hesar Prison, and Parisa Kamali from Yazd Prison warn of crimes against humanity, secret detentions, and escalating repression, while urging international action and steadfast resistance. In February 2026, two political prisoners held in Iran’s prison system—one under a death sentence—issued powerful messages from behind bars, describing the regime’s repression, warning of escalating abuses, and expressing unwavering confidence in the ultimate victory of the Iranian people. From Qezel Hesar Prison, political prisoner Shahrokh Daneshvar Kar, currently under a death sentence, wrote that the nationwide uprising was neither spontaneous nor concluded.