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Iranian Political Prisoners Behrouz Ehsani and Mehdi Hassani Face Imminent Execution
On the morning of January 26, 2025, Iranian regime authorities forcibly transferred political prisoners Behrouz Ehsani and Mehdi Hassani from Wards 4 and 8 of Evin Prison to Ghezel Hesar Prison without prior notice. Both prisoners have been sentenced to death in sham trials and such transfers are usually the precursor of carrying out the sentence of death row prisoners. Following the news, inmates in Ward 4 of Evin Prison gathered in protest, chanting slogans against the regime, including “This is the final message; if you execute, there will be an uprising,” “Death to the dictator,” “By the blood of our comrades, we stand to the end,” and “I will kill the one who killed my brother.”
The death sentences for Ehsani and Hassani were initially issued on September 16, 2024, by the criminal judge Iman Afshari, head of Branch 26 of the regime’s so-called “Revolutionary Court” in Tehran. The charges included “rebellion against the state, enmity against God, spreading corruption on earth, membership in the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK), collecting classified information, conspiracy against national security, and illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.”
Iran’s Regime Faces Infighting over Negotiations With The U.S.
The debate over negotiations with the United States flared up again within Iran’s regime, and a day after regime president Masoud Pezeshkian made remarks in Ahvaz, on January 25, the Friday prayer pulpits of the regime erupted in controversy. On Thursday, January 24, Pezeshkian said at a meeting in Ahvaz: “I believe we should talk to the world with the language of peace, the language of greetings, not by picking fights with everyone.” He then brought up the “greatness” of China to mask the regime’s humiliation, adding: “China, with all its greatness, faces numerous threats from the U.S., yet it still cooperates with them because it seeks to maximize its benefits in the world it lives in.”
The following day, after this negotiation-leaning comment by the regime’s president, the representatives of regime supreme leader Ali Khamenei coordinated a fierce backlash during Friday prayers in many cities, sharply criticizing him.
Activities of PMOI Resistance Units in Zahedan Highlight Growing Anti-Regime Sentiment in Iran
The Resistance Units affiliated with the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) conducted anti-regime activities in Zahedan, the capital of Baluchestan province in southeastern Iran, on Friday, January 24. These efforts are part of a broader campaign aimed at rejecting all forms of dictatorship, whether under the Shah or the mullahs and emphasizing the people’s determination to achieve freedom.
In a city that has become a symbol of defiance, the Resistance Units amplified their calls for an end to the regime’s tyranny. They used slogans and public demonstrations to reiterate their commitment to the democratic revolution underway in Iran. The slogans highlight the unity between the people and the resistance and their shared goal of uprooting the ruling theocracy.
Iran Weekly Protests Roundup: Educators Attacked by Security Forces, Retirees Continue to Shout for Their Rights
In the past week, Iran has witnessed a surge in protests across various cities, with citizens voicing their anger and frustration over a wide range of issues, including government corruption, economic hardships, and social injustices. The widespread demonstrations highlight growing dissatisfaction among Iranians as they demand their rights and push back against the regime’s oppressive policies. Below is a recap of key events from the week.
Khamenei’s Claims of Progress Contradicted by Iran’s Harsh Economic Realities
In his latest speech, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei once again claimed that the country is progressing. He urged media outlets to publicize this supposed progress. However, these statements stand in stark contrast to the worsening economic realities faced by ordinary Iranians. While Khamenei insists on promoting a narrative of prosperity, the nation is plunging deeper into poverty. For the majority of Iranians, claims of progress ring hollow when their purchasing power erodes daily, and they struggle to afford basic necessities. True economic growth and development manifest through improvements in people’s livelihoods. When citizens have the financial means to fill their shopping baskets and provide for their families, then discussions of progress are meaningful. Conversely, if people’s tables are emptier than ever, such claims amount to mere propaganda.
Misallocation of Funds: Iran’s Oil Ministry Criticized for Mosque Construction Spending
Iran regime’s Jomhouri-e Eslami newspaper has revealed that the Ministry of Oil has allocated 287 billion tomans over the past three years for the construction of nine mosques in various cities across the country. This report has sparked widespread criticism regarding the ministry’s priorities and its spending under the guise of “social responsibility.”
In a piece published on Saturday, January 25, titled “What Does Building a Mosque Have to Do with the Ministry of Oil?” the newspaper disclosed that more than 50 trillion tomans from the ministry’s budget had been earmarked for social responsibility initiatives in the last three years. However, the article highlights a glaring issue: there is no transparent mechanism to account for how these funds are spent.
Rising Prices of Potatoes and Appliances in Iran Due to Supply and Exchange Issues
A month after the establishment of the commercial foreign exchange market, the exchange rate allocated for the import of non-essential goods has reached approximately 664,000 rials per dollar. These changes, due to the rising cost of imports, have caused a 5% to 20% increase in the prices of household appliances.
Meanwhile, the dollar’s price in the open market stands at approximately 840,000 rials.
According to the state-run Etemad Online newspaper, this change in the exchange rate over the past month has caused a roughly 22% increase in the cost of the dollar for importers. Producers and sellers of household appliances have also factored this increase into their product prices.
Decline in Rice Production and Rising Prices in Iran Amid Inflation Growth and Public Protests
The import of rice from March 21 to December 21, 2024, has decreased by approximately 20%, while the Ministry of Agriculture has claimed that with the production of 2.7 million tons of rice this year, the country’s need for imports has reduced. According to the state-run Tasnim News Agency, Shayegan Adibi introduced as an agricultural expert and the former “rice project manager” at the Ministry of Agriculture, stated that according to the latest official report by the ministry, the area under rice cultivation in 2023 was announced to be approximately 700,000 hectares. Including re-cultivation and ratoon harvests, this figure reached 790,000 hectares.
Corruption, Abuse, and Injustice in Ghezel Hesar Prison Highlight Systemic Failures
Ghezel Hesar Prison, located near Karaj, holds nearly 17,000 inmates, making it the largest prison in the Middle East. However, beyond its overcrowded conditions lies a deeper crisis involving systemic corruption and abuse within its administration. Ghezel Hesar operates as a self-contained city due to its size, forcing inmates to depend entirely on the prison’s Welfare Foundation (Bonyad Ta’avon) for basic necessities. This organization holds a monopoly over the supply of food, water, medicine, clothing, and other essentials. However, reports reveal that these items are sold at exorbitant prices and are often of poor quality, leaving prisoners with no alternative but to accept the exploitation.
Ships Carrying Rocket Fuel Ingredients Depart from China to Iran
On Wednesday, January 22, 2025, The Financial Times reported that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has acquired 1,000 tons of sodium perchlorate from China, a key component in producing rocket fuel.
According to the report, this amount of sodium perchlorate can yield 1,300 tons of fuel, sufficient for 260 medium-range missiles. Sodium perchlorate is a critical ingredient in solid rocket propellants, particularly for ballistic missiles.
The newspaper stated that two Iranian ships transported the material last Tuesday from Daishan Island in China to Bandar Abbas, a port city in southern Iran. These ships are expected to reach Iranian waters within three weeks.
Exhibitions in Sydney and Melbourne by MEK Supporters Condemn Human Rights Violations and Highlight Iran’s Struggle for Freedom
Australia – January 23-24, 2025: Supporters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) held exhibitions in Sydney and Melbourne to protest the Iranian regime’s ongoing crimes against its citizens and to express solidarity with the ongoing Iranian Revolution. These events also condemned the regime’s use of death sentences against political prisoners, including those associated with the PMOI.
Exhibition in Bucharest Condemns Iran’s Regime Executions and Expresses Support for the Iranian Revolution
Bucharest, Romania – January 25, 2025: Supporters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) held an exhibition to show solidarity with the Iranian Revolution and to condemn the Iranian regime’s escalating executions.