{"id":345130,"date":"2026-05-17T08:36:36","date_gmt":"2026-05-17T07:36:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/?p=345130"},"modified":"2026-05-17T08:36:36","modified_gmt":"2026-05-17T07:36:36","slug":"iran-news-in-brief-may-17-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/news\/iran-news-in-brief-news\/iran-news-in-brief-may-17-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Iran News in Brief \u2013 May 17, 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Thousands of Iranians gathered in Washington, D.C., to protest the recent wave of executions in Iran and call for a free, democratic and secular republic<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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

UPDATE: 09:30 AM CEST<\/strong><\/p>\n

Message to the Demonstration by Iranians in Washington, D.C.<\/h3>\n

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Mrs. Maryam Rajavi<\/a>‘s message: “Dear compatriots, distinguished guests, and dear friends,
\nI extend my warmest greetings to you all. Your rally and march today convey a powerful and resonant message, both to the people of Iran and to the international community.
\nTo the Iranian people, you declare: ‘We stand in unwavering support of your resistance against religious fascism, and we champion your continued struggle and uprising until the overthrow of this malevolent regime.’<\/p>\n

“And to the world, you proclaim: ‘Stand with the people of Iran and their democratic alternative, the National Council of Resistance<\/strong><\/a>\u2014the sole entity that holds the key to the Iranian question.’<\/p>\n

“Today, the mullahs find themselves ensnared in an impasse; they can neither return to the status quo preceding the uprisings and the massacres of January 2026<\/strong><\/a>, nor do they have a path forward. Consequently, they have intensified their war against the Iranian people.”<\/p>\n

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

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PMOI Resistance Units in Zahedan Defy Executions and Reject Dictatorships<\/h3>\n

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On May 15, 2026, Resistance Units of the People\u2019s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI\/MEK) resumed their anti-regime activities in Zahedan, southeast Iran. Defying the regime\u2019s wave of political executions and severe security measures, these brave individuals held placards in public places, rejecting all forms of dictatorship and making it clear that the spirit of resistance cannot be extinguished.<\/p>\n

The activists held signs bearing slogans such as \u201cNo to shah, no to mullahs, yes to a democratic republic,\u201d \u201cA dictator is a dictator, whether with a turban or a crown,\u201d and \u201cFrom Zahedan to Tehran, down with the oppressor, be it the shah or the supreme leader.\u201d Their message underscored that no act of repression can save the ruling religious fascism from its unavoidable downfall.<\/p>\n

The Resistance Units\u2019 activities directly condemned recent state-sponsored atrocities committed against the Baluch people. On Monday, May 11, 2026, Ministry of Intelligence agents opened fire on a vehicle on the Pahreh\u2013Sarbaz road, killing four innocent Baluch civilians.<\/p>\n

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

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Thousands Gather For ‘Free Iran’ Rally Calling on Regime to Stop Killing Political Prisoners<\/h3>\n

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Thousands of people gathered for the “Free Iran” rally calling on the Iranian regime to stop executions of political prisoners, organizers said on Saturday.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The event<\/a>, organized by the\u00a0National Council of Resistance of Iran<\/a>, is being held near the U.S. Capitol building.<\/p>\n

According to several\u00a0reports<\/a>, about 30 political prisoners have been killed since the start of the Iran war. So far this year, about 50,000 have been arrested.<\/p>\n

Speakers at the rally included:<\/strong><\/p>\n