{"id":342669,"date":"2026-02-17T07:19:54","date_gmt":"2026-02-17T06:19:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/?p=342669"},"modified":"2026-02-17T09:03:16","modified_gmt":"2026-02-17T08:03:16","slug":"iran-news-in-brief-february-17-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/news\/iran-news-in-brief-news\/iran-news-in-brief-february-17-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Iran News in Brief \u2013 February 17, 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Iranian
Iranian Resistance calls for a democratic republic at Munich Security Conference: No to Shah, No to Mullahs\u2014 February 13, 2026<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

THIS PAGE WILL BE UPDATED WITH THE LATEST NEWS<\/h3>\n

UPDATE: 09:00 PM CET<\/strong><\/p>\n

Iran Operating Secret \u2018Black Box\u2019 Sites Holding Thousands in Detention: Reports<\/h3>\n

\"Fox-News\"<\/p>\n

Tens of thousands of Iranians are being held in\u00a0“black box” detention sites<\/a>\u00a0with no judicial oversight, official records, and no way for families to confirm whether their loved ones are alive, according to reports.<\/p>\n

The facilities \u2014 which the\u00a0National Council of Resistance of Iran<\/a>\u00a0(NCRI) says are modeled on prison camps from the 1980s \u2014 have sparked alarm among human rights advocates amid unrest across the country.<\/p>\n

“These sites were initially used in the 1980s in Iran and were residential compounds inside Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj, west of Tehran,” he added.<\/p>\n

“Female prisoners affiliated with MEK (Mujahedin-e Khalq) were confined and subjected to torture,” he added, describing how women were “forced to live in coffin-like boxes or sit in squatting positions, deprived of sleep and food.”<\/p>\n

Read more<\/a><\/p>\n

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UPDATE: 08:00 PM CET<\/strong><\/p>\n

Iran\u2019s Resistance Units Mark 1979 Anniversary with a Clear Message: Neither Shah nor Mullahs<\/h3>\n

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As the Iranian regime staged state-sanctioned events to mark the 47th anniversary of the 1979 anti-monarchical revolution, the true spirit of that historic movement was visible not in government rallies, but in the daring activities of the PMOI Resistance Units. On February 14 and 15, organized teams across the country carried out extensive anti-regime activities, reiterating a dual message: the rejection of the current clerical dictatorship and a firm refusal to return to the monarchical dictatorship of the past.<\/p>\n

The activities, which spanned major metropolitan areas including Tehran, Mashhad, Shiraz, Isfahan, and Tabriz, come in the wake of the bloody January 2026 uprising. This recent wave of protests has signaled that the countdown to the regime\u2019s overthrow has begun. While the mullahs attempt to co-opt the legacy of the 1979 revolution, the Resistance Units emphasized that the revolution\u2019s original goals\u2014freedom and independence\u2014are alive only in the rebellious youth who are shaking the foundations of the theocracy today.<\/p>\n

Read More<\/a><\/p>\n

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Social Security Retirees Voice Solidarity with Victims\u2019 Families<\/h3>\n

\"Retirees<\/p>\n

Social Security Retirees held a protest on Sunday, February 14, outside the local Social Security office in Kermanshah, western Iran. Demonstrators chanted, \u201cOur tables are empty of bread, stained instead with our blood,\u201d a stark slogan reflecting deepening economic hardship and anger over deteriorating living standards. Speaking at the gathering, one retiree delivered a sharply worded statement: \u201cThe bullets that should have been aimed at embezzlers, thieves, and the corrupt were instead fired into the chests of our children, children who took to the streets to demand a future for themselves. This is the voice of a generation that has nothing left to lose.\u201d<\/p>\n

Read More<\/a><\/p>\n

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Iran: Examination of Elements of a Widespread Attack on Civilians During January 2026 Uprising<\/h3>\n

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The attack on civilians during the January 2026 in Tehran represented the implementation of decisions taken at the highest levels of the ruling power structure. As the political, security, and judicial center of the country, Tehran hosts the highest decision-making and command authorities. What unfolded in the capital\u2019s streets reflected a policy that began in command rooms and extended into the streets, detention facilities, hospitals, and courtrooms. The January uprising emerged as a continuation of nationwide protests against the suppression of fundamental freedoms, widespread poverty, systemic corruption, and acute livelihood crises. It rapidly evolved into a nationwide challenge to the ruling authorities.<\/p>\n

Read More<\/a><\/p>\n

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US\u2013Iran Talks: Breakthrough or Breaking Point?<\/h3>\n

\"iran<\/p>\n

The February 17 Geneva talks could stabilize a fragile balance\u2014or mark the beginning of a far more dangerous phase. The second round of negotiations between the United States and Iran is set to take place on February 17, 2026, in Geneva\u2014a diplomatic effort that, on the surface, focuses on Iran\u2019s nuclear program. Behind the scenes, however, the talks sit at the intersection of shifting regional security dynamics, domestic political pressures, and global strategic competition. The core question is stark: Will this round produce a stabilizing agreement, or will its failure open the door to further escalation and even direct confrontation?<\/p>\n

Read More<\/a><\/p>\n

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Malm\u00f6 \u2014 MEK Supporters Rally in Support of Iran Uprising, Call for an End to Executions<\/h3>\n
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Sweden, Malm\u00f6\u2013MEK Supporters Rally in Support of Iran Uprising, Call for an End to Executions\u2013Feb 14<\/div><\/div>
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