{"id":347416,"date":"2026-08-20T08:30:40","date_gmt":"2026-08-20T07:30:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/?p=347416"},"modified":"2026-08-20T08:42:49","modified_gmt":"2026-08-20T07:42:49","slug":"iran-news-in-brief-august-20-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/news\/iran-news-in-brief-august-20-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Iran News in Brief \u2013 August 20, 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"

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On August 18, 2026, members of the Iranian-American community in Irvine, California, held a rally in support of the \u201cNo to Execution Tuesdays\u201d campaign<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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

UPDATE: 9:00 AM CEST<\/strong><\/p>\n

Message to the Conference at the Parliament of Australia<\/h3>\n

\"\"Mrs. Maryam Rajavi\u2019s speech: \u201cThis conference is held to mark the 38th anniversary of the massacre of political prisoners in Iran<\/a>. In July 1988, Khomeini, the founder of religious dictatorship in Iran, issued the decree for the execution of members of the\u00a0People\u2019s Mojahedin Organization of Iran<\/a>\u00a0in prisons across the country. He ordered that PMOI prisoners who remained steadfast in their positions be executed immediately. This referred to those who, despite years of torture and abuse, refused to abandon the struggle for the freedom of the Iranian people. Subsequently, 30,000 people, 90 percent of whom were members of the PMOI, were hanged. This book contains the names of five thousand PMOI members who were massacred.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy did the regime commit this horrible crime? Because it saw, and still sees, the PMOI as the main threat to its existence. Because it was afraid of being overthrown, and this is a fear that continues to this day. Throughout the past thirty-eight years, the regime has maintained the pattern of the 1988 massacre.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

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Resistance Units Champion \u2018No to Executions Tuesdays\u2019 Campaign Across Iran<\/h3>\n

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Following the 134th<\/sup>\u00a0week of the \u201cNo to Executions Tuesdays\u201d campaign on August 18, PMOI\/MEK Resistance Units carried out a widespread wave of anti-regime activities across Iran carried out activities in support of the campaign, unintimidated by the state machinery of death.<\/p>\n

In their activities, the Resistance Units paid tribute to the victims of the regime\u2019s executions. In Kashan, activists laid a flower wreath honoring PMOI martyr\u00a0Mohammad (Nima) Massoum Shahi<\/a>, accompanied by the message: \u201cDear Nima, your memory and name is alive and lights the path to the future.\u201d\u00a0Nima Massoum Shahi<\/a>, a 38-year-old technical worker and PMOI member, was brutally executed on April 20, 2026, as the regime sought to eliminate dissidents amid recent uprisings.<\/p>\n

Similarly, in Shiraz, Resistance Units displayed placards condemning the recent execution of\u00a0Shahram Sadeghi<\/a>. Sadeghi was a brave protester arrested on February 5, 2026, shortly after the peak of the nationwide uprisings, and was hastily hanged on August 16, 2026, in a desperate display of state weakness.<\/p>\n

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

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Iran Healthcare Workers Protest Against Severe Livelihood and Structural Crises<\/h3>\n

\"Nurses<\/p>\n

In the summer of 2026, an Iran healthcare workers protest wave highlights how the\u00a0country\u2019s health system<\/a>\u00a0faces chronic financial backlogs, severe staffing shortages, and widespread labor discontent.<\/p>\n

Reports from state-run media show that this crisis extends far beyond hospitals and specialized wards, engulfing primary care networks and healthcare personnel across the nation\u2014a situation directly jeopardizing human capital retention and the quality of medical services provided to the public.<\/p>\n

On Monday, August 17, 2026, a group of primary healthcare staff gathered outside the Ministry of Health building in Tehran. This Iran healthcare workers protest centered on severe economic hardship and unfair wage structures.<\/p>\n

Female healthcare workers\u2014who form the backbone of primary care, vaccination drives, and preventative health services\u2014had a prominent presence at the rally. Carrying placards and handwritten banners, demonstrators voiced sharp criticism over low base salaries and an hourly overtime pay rate of approximately 30,000 Tomans (under 50 cents USD). Protesters emphasized that such meager compensation bears no proportion to their heavy responsibilities in safeguarding public health, demanding an immediate overhaul of\u00a0their living conditions<\/a>\u00a0and job security.<\/p>\n

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

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Nasrin Shahrabi: A Lifetime Dedicated to Fighting Religious Fascism in Iran<\/h3>\n

\"\"Nasrin Shahrabi Farahani, a prominent member of the Central Council of the People\u2019s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI\/MEK), a former commander in the National Liberation Army of Iran (NLA), and a longtime member of the\u00a0National Council of Resistance of Iran<\/a>\u00a0(NCRI), passed away on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, in London following a period of illness. Her death marks the end of a 47-year commitment to opposing religious extremism and advocating for freedom in Iran.<\/p>\n

Nasrin Shahrabi was born in Tehran in 1958 and held a bachelor\u2019s degree in Persian literature. She first joined the pro-democracy movement during the\u00a01979 anti-monarchical revolution<\/a>, eventually dedicating herself full-time to the PMOI following the fall of the Shah.<\/p>\n

In the\u00a0summer of 1981<\/a>, as the regime intensified its crackdown on political dissent, Shahrabi took on leadership roles within the resistance movement.<\/p>\n

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

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Iran\u2019s Unregulated Drug Trade: How Some Pharmacies of Pseudo-Science Are Putting Young Lives at Risk<\/h3>\n

\"Iran:<\/p>\n

Iran\u2019s herbal medicine shops, traditionally associated with medicinal plants, spices and herbal remedies, are increasingly being accused of serving a very different purpose: the retail distribution of narcotics and psychoactive drugs.<\/p>\n

Behind displays of herbal teas, spices and bottles of herbal extracts, some shops reportedly sell substances ranging from methadone and tramadol to buprenorphine, opium syrup, hallucinogenic pills and unknown mixtures marketed as treatments for addiction, weight loss or other ailments.<\/p>\n

The most disturbing aspect of these reports is the alleged accessibility of such substances to young people and even teenagers. According to accounts from addiction-treatment professionals and civil activists cited in Iranian reports, some of these shops have effectively become part of a street-level drug distribution network.<\/p>\n

One observer described the situation bluntly: \u201cThey hand methadone and tramadol to people\u2019s children like candy, and there is no one to stop them.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

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Iran\u2019s Fuel Crisis Deepens as Officials Warn of New Wave of Social Unrest<\/h3>\n

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Iran\u2019s worsening fuel crisis is generating growing public frustration as motorists face kilometers-long queues at gas stations while regime officials openly debate further gasoline price increases. Reports and videos from several provinces show people waiting for hours to obtain limited quantities of fuel, while regime-affiliated media and lawmakers warn that another price shock could trigger widespread unrest.<\/p>\n

On August 18, 2026, reports from Iranshahr described extremely long gasoline lines, with motorists reportedly waiting from overnight until the morning to obtain as little as 15 liters of fuel. A local account expressed anger that a country possessing enormous oil and gas resources has left its population struggling to obtain basic fuel.<\/p>\n

Similar scenes were reported in Javanrud, South Khorasan, and Hormozgan. In Hormozgan, a frustrated resident described having to wait in lengthy queues before going to work, while also facing electricity outages and other hardships. The comments reflected mounting exhaustion with what residents described as a succession of crises affecting daily life.<\/p>\n

The fuel shortages are emerging as the government prepares the ground for higher gasoline prices and reduced subsidized fuel allocations.<\/p>\n

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

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Tensions Rise Between France and Iran\u2019s Regime<\/h3>\n

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In response to the Iranian regime\u2019s decision to declare two former employees of the French Embassy in Tehran \u201cpersona non grata,\u201d France announced the expulsion of two Iranian diplomats from Paris.<\/p>\n

Jean-No\u00ebl Barrot, France\u2019s foreign minister, announced that the country will soon expel two Iranian diplomats from France in a reciprocal move.<\/p>\n

The decision came after the Iranian regime\u2019s Foreign Ministry declared two former employees of the French Embassy in Tehran \u201cpersona non grata\u201d over what it described as \u201cactivities contrary to international law, particularly the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations,\u201d and said they would not be allowed to return to Iran.<\/p>\n

The Iranian regime\u2019s Foreign Ministry had previously protested what it called the \u201cunconventional conduct of two French diplomats\u201d without disclosing their names or positions, and said they had been expelled from Iran.<\/p>\n

The French Embassy responded by stating that the two employees\u2019 assignments had ended and that they had already been preparing to leave Iran.<\/p>\n

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

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Cost of Living Basket Several Times Higher Than Iranian Workers\u2019 Wages<\/h3>\n

\"Man<\/p>\n

Workers\u2019 cost of living has come under pressure from inflation and low wages. July inflation data point to intensifying financial pressure on working-class households. Prices of essential goods have risen rapidly. Among these, food has placed the greatest strain on household budgets. Housing, healthcare, and education have also become more difficult to afford for many wage-earning families.<\/p>\n

According to official data from the Statistical Center of Iran, the Iranian regime\u2019s official statistics agency, point-to-point food inflation reached 128.1% in July. This means the price of the specified food basket has become 2.8 times higher than it was in July last year. The prices of at least eight food items have increased by more than 100% over the past year. These figures reflect only average price increases. The food basket used in the official calculations is itself very limited and minimal.<\/p>\n

Working-class households are mainly concentrated in the fourth and fifth income deciles. According to the calculations presented, food accounts for 38.05% of living expenses in these deciles. Faramarz Tofighi, a labor activist, calculated the cost of the food basket for an average 3.3-person family based on official data. He also used the Nutrition Institute\u2019s food basket in his calculations. According to these estimates, the cost of a working-class household\u2019s living basket reached about 900 million rials (approximately $479) in July. This amount creates an enormous gap with workers\u2019 monthly income. Meanwhile, a worker\u2019s minimum monthly income is about $133. This figure represents the total official earnings of a worker with one child and one year of work experience.<\/p>\n

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

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Iran: Zahra Shahbaz Tabari, 68-Year-Old Engineer, at Risk of Execution<\/h3>\n

\"\"Zahra Shahbaz Tabari is an electrical engineer and mother of two. She studied at Isfahan University of Technology and received a Master\u2019s degree in Sustainable Energy from the University of Bor\u00e5s in Sweden. Her son, Sorush Samak, 35, lives in Sweden. She was previously arrested in June 2022 and sentenced to 18 months\u2019 imprisonment.<\/p>\n

Security forces arrested Zahra Tabari at her home on 17 April 2025 without presenting a judicial warrant. She was interrogated for about one month in solitary confinement and, according to credible information, was pressured to confess to membership in an opposition group and to \u201ctaking up arms against the government\u201d, allegations she has denied.<\/p>\n

The first trial was held by video conference and lasted less than ten minutes. She saw the court-appointed lawyer for the first time on the screen during that hearing and has said that she could not even hear the lawyer\u2019s voice. On 25 October 2025, Branch One of the Rasht Revolutionary Court sentenced her to death for baghi. The two principal items cited against her were a piece of cloth bearing the slogan \u201cWoman, Resistance, Freedom\u201d and an unpublished voice message.<\/p>\n

After the case was referred to Branch Two of the Rasht Revolutionary Court, a new hearing was held on 27 April 2026 and lasted about half an hour. According to the available information, Mohammad Ali Darvish-Goftar, the judge in the case, left the courtroom during the hearing. Branch Two subsequently reissued the death sentence.<\/p>\n

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

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Criminalizing Communication with Foreign Media and Entities in Iran: A Legal and Human Rights Assessment<\/h3>\n

\"High-speed<\/p>\n

This report examines a bill whose general outlines have been passed by the Iranian Parliament, with the declared objective of \u201ccountering the influence of foreign intelligence services, foreign governments, or foreign entities.\u201d Based on information published in domestic media, the bill encompasses the criminalization of contact with foreign media, restrictions on academic and scientific cooperation with overseas institutions, and severe penalties for various forms of communication and collaboration with foreign entities.<\/p>\n

Focusing on the impact of this bill on freedom of expression, freedom of the media, freedom of association, and other fundamental rights, this report aims to provide a clear analysis of its potential consequences and evaluates it in light of Iran\u2019s international obligations.<\/p>\n

On August 16, 2026, the Islamic Consultative Assembly (Iranian Parliament) approved the general outlines of the \u201cForeign Influence Counteraction Bill\u201d with 183 votes in favor. Although the bill must still go through procedural article-by-article reviews and Guardian Council approval, the rapid passage of its general principles reflects the regime\u2019s definitive commitment to institutionalizing structural repression and completely severing information flows. Highlighting this legislative stage is not intended to appeal to a regime that systematically dismisses public opinion and escalates violence, but rather to urgently alert the international community, impose immediate diplomatic costs, and counter any normalization of a government that officially criminalizes freedom of expression.<\/p>\n

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

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Iran-U.S. 60-Day Negotiation Period Ends Without Deal as Divisions Emerge in Tehran Over Diplomacy<\/h3>\n

\"iran-flag-bushehr-nuclear-site-min\"<\/p>\n

Sixty days after Iran and the United States agreed to use a limited diplomatic window to pursue a broader agreement, there is still no final deal, no clear extension has been announced, and the two sides have no shared understanding of what comes next.<\/p>\n

The disagreement is no longer confined to Tehran and Washington. Inside Iran, the failure to turn the postwar pause into a political settlement has exposed\u00a0a widening divide<\/a>: should the government continue trying to revive diplomacy, or should\u00a0the existing framework<\/a>\u00a0effectively be regarded as over?<\/p>\n

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas\u00a0Araghchi has rejected<\/a>\u00a0the description of the arrangement as a \u201c60-day ceasefire,\u201d saying: \u201cThere was no 60-day ceasefire. What was referred to as 60 days was a 60-day opportunity for negotiations aimed at reaching a final agreement.\u201d<\/p>\n

The distinction matters because, according to Tehran\u2019s account, the broader negotiations that were supposed to take place during that period never actually began.<\/p>\n

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

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Judy Sgro Joins Iranian-Canadian Community at Queen\u2019s Park to Mark 38th Anniversary of 1988 Massacre<\/h3>\n

Toronto \u2013\u00a0Canadian Member of Parliament and former minister\u00a0Judy Sgro<\/strong>\u00a0joined members of the Iranian-Canadian community at Queen\u2019s Park for a\u00a0gathering and photo exhibition<\/a>\u00a0commemorating the 38th anniversary of the\u00a01988 massacre<\/a>\u00a0of political prisoners in Iran. They also condemned the continuing wave of executions targeting protesters and political opponents in the country.<\/p>\n

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Toronto Rally Marks 38th Anniversary of 1988 Massacre and Demands End to Executions in Iran - 2<\/div><\/div>