Iran News in Brief – May 13, 2026

May 9, 2026: Supporters of the Iranian Resistance in Oslo, rallied outside Norway’s Parliament in Oslo to protest the execution of political prisoners in Iran
May 9, 2026: Supporters of the Iranian Resistance in Oslo, rallied outside Norway’s Parliament in Oslo to protest the execution of political prisoners in Iran

THIS PAGE WILL BE UPDATED WITH THE LATEST NEWS

UPDATE: 08:00 AM CEST

Babak Alipour’s Defiance from Prison: Resistance Beyond the Gallows

For committed political dissidents in Iran, prison has never represented surrender. For those who remain steadfast in their beliefs, incarceration becomes a space where conviction is tested, refined, and strengthened. The recent prison message delivered by Iranian political prisoner Babak Alipour stands as a striking example of that reality. Recorded behind prison walls in December 2025, Alipour’s statement reflects the convergence of legal awareness and revolutionary commitment. A law graduate facing execution, he speaks not with hesitation or fear, but with unwavering certainty about what he considers the only viable path for Iran’s future: organized resistance against clerical dictatorship.

Throughout his remarks, there is no trace of retreat or remorse. Instead, his words amount to a renewed oath to continue resisting until the overthrow of the ruling system.

Born in 1991 in Amol, Babak Alipour entered political activism with an academic background in law, a discipline rooted in justice and legal legitimacy. Yet his experience inside Iran’s judicial system led him to reject the very institutions claiming legal authority over his life.

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Internal Rifts Deepen in Tehran as Regime Factions Clash Over U.S. Negotiations

Internal divisions within Iran’s regime have escalated sharply as competing factions intensify their conflict over possible negotiations with the United States. The dispute has now moved beyond political criticism into open threats, accusations of betrayal, and warnings of unrest from figures closely tied to the regime’s power structure.

The latest exchanges reveal growing tensions inside the Iranian regime at a time when economic pressure, regional instability, and political uncertainty continue to deepen the system’s internal crisis.

Mahmoud Vaezi, former chief of staff and spokesman for former regime President Hassan Rouhani’s administration, publicly attacked opponents of negotiations, including hardline parliamentarian Amir Hossein Sabeti and former nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili.

Vaezi accused anti-negotiation factions of exploiting the authority of the Supreme Leader for political purposes, arguing that if the leadership opposed talks with Washington, such opposition would be explicitly declared.

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From “Minor Despotism” to Modern Iran: The Long Struggle Between Society and Absolute Power

In Iranian political memory, the phrase “Minor Despotism” is not merely a historical reference to a short period during the Qajar dynasty. It has become a political metaphor — a symbol of those moments when power responds to popular demands for participation, accountability, and freedom with repression and violence.

The term originally referred to the period following Iran’s Constitutional Revolution in the early twentieth century, when hopes for representative government and the rule of law were abruptly crushed by authoritarian backlash. Yet the concept survived because the pattern itself never disappeared. Throughout modern Iranian history, whenever society has moved toward greater political awareness and public participation, entrenched centers of power have often treated those demands as existential threats.

That historical cycle remains deeply visible in Iran today.

Iran’s Constitutional Revolution of 1905–1911 marked the first major attempt to limit absolute monarchy and establish a parliament capable of representing the people. For the first time, Iranians experienced the possibility of constitutional governance and restrictions on unchecked authority.

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SAVAK Symbols Return to Europe: What Reza Pahlavi’s Silence Reveals About His Political Vision

The recent appearance of SAVAK symbols at rallies organized by supporters of Reza Pahlavi in Europe has once again exposed a central question surrounding his political project: does his movement genuinely seek a democratic future for Iran, or does it aim to rehabilitate the authoritarian legacy of the Pahlavi monarchy?

That question became even more urgent after Pahlavi recently refused to explicitly condemn torture and executions carried out by SAVAK, the Shah’s notorious secret police.

Now, the issue has moved beyond silence.

At a rally held by Pahlavi supporters in Regensburg on May 10, organizers reportedly distributed T-shirts bearing the emblem of SAVAK — the intelligence and security organization of Mohammad Reza Shah that became synonymous with torture, surveillance, political imprisonment, and the violent suppression of dissent.

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Food Inflation and the Erosion of the Middle Class in Iran’s Economy

Iran’s market no longer experiences stability. Prices are rising at a pace that wages cannot even begin to match. Food inflation has surpassed 110%, and many essential goods have multiplied in price in less than a year. Under such conditions, a collapsed economy is not merely a media expression; it is an accurate description of a reality that millions of Iranians experience every day.

For years, the Iranian regime concealed the economic crisis through manipulated statistics, repetitive promises, and staged meetings, but now the gap between the official narrative and the reality of people’s lives has become too deep to deny. Even media outlets close to the power structure have been forced to speak about record-high inflation and the collapse of living standards. When essential food items rise in price by 148% within a single year, the issue is no longer merely “high prices”; the issue is the collapse of the ability to live.

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Identity Melting Factory: From School Desks to Fundamentalist Barracks – Part 2

Iranian child soldiers are lined up before being dispatched to the frontlines during the eight year war with Iraq

The Safe Schools Declaration is an international political commitment aimed at protecting students, teachers, and educational institutions from attacks and military use during conflicts.

Prohibition of Military Use: Armed forces must not use schools for military purposes, barracks, or military training centers. The establishment of “Police High Schools” by a military entity (FARAJA) is a direct violation of the spirit of this protocol.
  • Safety and Dignity: Students must study in an environment free from fear and violence. The presence of police and security forces within the educational structure targets the child’s psychological security.
  • Iran’s Status: To date, the Islamic Republic of Iran is not a signatory to this declaration. This is a significant legal fact; why does the regime refuse to commit to keeping schools safe from militarization?

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Oslo Rally Condemns Execution of Political Prisoners by Iranian Regime, Urges Firm Action by Norway

Oslo, Norway – May 9, 2026: Supporters of the Iranian Resistance rallied outside Norway’s Parliament in Oslo to protest the execution of political prisoners in Iran, including PMOI members and protesters arrested during the January 2026 uprising.

Oslo Rally Condemns Execution of Political Prisoners by Iranian Regime, Urges Firm Action by Norway1

Demonstrators highlighted the ongoing struggle of the Iranian people against the ruling regime. They called on the Norwegian government to take immediate action to halt executions in Iran and strongly condemned the mullahs’ regime, describing the executions as a blatant violation of human rights.

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Exhibition in Lugano Condemns Executions in Iran, Urges Action Against Iranian Regime

Lugano, Switzerland – May 9, 2026: Supporters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) held a book stall and photo exhibition to protest the execution of PMOI political prisoners, along with protesters arrested in January 2026. The event also expressed solidarity with the “No to Execution” campaign.

Exhibition in Lugano Condemns Executions in Iran, Urges Action Against Iranian Regime

The exhibition backed the NCRI President-elect Maryam Rajavi’s “No to Executions” campaign, calling for its global expansion. It also reaffirmed the call for a secular, democratic republic—rejecting both theocracy and monarchy.

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Also, read Iran News in Brief – May 12, 2026