{"id":348989,"date":"2026-10-26T07:24:04","date_gmt":"2026-10-26T06:24:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/?p=348989"},"modified":"2026-10-26T07:24:04","modified_gmt":"2026-10-26T06:24:04","slug":"iran-news-in-brief-october-26-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/news\/iran-news-in-brief-october-26-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Iran News in Brief \u2013 October 26, 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"On
On October 6, 2026, NCRI supporters in G\u00f6ttingen, Germany, held a book stand and photo exhibition in support of the \u201cNo to Execution Tuesdays\u201d campaign inside Iran<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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

UPDATE: 7:30 AM CET<\/strong><\/p>\n

Iran Drops to 144th in Gender Gap Index; State Media Admits to the Crisis<\/h3>\n

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The World Economic Forum\u2019s annual report, titled \u201cGlobal Gender Gap 2026,\u201d paints a shocking picture of the critical condition facing women in Iran under the mullahs\u2019 regime. According to this official report, as reflected in state-run media, Iran ranks 144th among 145 countries with an overall score of 0.585, standing just above Chad<\/a> at the very bottom of the table.<\/h5>\n

These documented figures reveal that the deepening gender gap under the clergy\u2019s rule has prevented women<\/a> from securing an equitable share in the economy, management, and decision-making, despite achieving high levels of education.<\/p>\n

According to the data, Iran\u2019s educational attainment parity index stands at 98.4%, yet the parity score for female labor force participation is registered at a mere 20.9%, and for managerial and legislative positions at 25.5%.<\/p>\n

This vast disconnect demonstrates that the regime exploits female human capital merely as cheap labor, while erecting iron curtains around the distribution of income and wealth.<\/p>\n

Analyses indicate that the estimated earned income parity score for women relative to men has plummeted over the past two decades from 28.5% in 2006 to 16.3% in 2026, a decline of 12.2 percentage points.<\/p>\n

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

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Belgian Legal Scholars and Political Figures Warn Against Legitimizing Reza Pahlavi<\/h3>\n

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Sixteen Belgian political figures, legal experts, academics, and civil society leaders have warned their government against legitimizing Reza Pahlavi, the son of Iran\u2019s deposed shah, arguing that his political project risks replacing the current dictatorship with another authoritarian system.<\/div>\n
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In a letter addressed to Maxime Pr\u00e9vot, Belgium\u2019s deputy prime minister and foreign minister, the signatories expressed deep concern over the invitation extended to Pahlavi to speak at the Belgian parliament before the invitation and planned appearance were canceled. They urged the Belgian government to oppose such invitations and defend the Iranian people\u2019s right to determine their political future through an inclusive democratic process.<\/p>\n

The letter draws a clear distinction between supporting the Iranian people\u2019s struggle for freedom and granting political legitimacy to a figure whose family history and proposed transition arrangements, the signatories argue, raise fundamental questions about democracy and the concentration of power.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe stand firmly with the people of Iran in their struggle for freedom, democracy, and human rights,\u201d the letter states. \u201cPrecisely for this reason, Belgium should not legitimize an individual whose political project represents a return to another form of dictatorship.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

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Iran\u2019s Regime Faces Mounting International Pressure on Oil, Banking, and Nuclear Activities<\/h3>\n

\"London<\/p>\n

Iran\u2019s regime faced a widening range of international pressures this week, spanning oil exports, financial transactions, nuclear activities, regional armed groups, and human rights. The measures and warnings emerging across these fronts are adding to the constraints on Tehran\u2019s ability to finance its policies, maintain international economic links, and pursue its regional agenda.<\/div>\n
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The developments point to growing scrutiny of the regime\u2019s conduct across several distinct areas. Restrictions on oil revenues threaten a major source of foreign currency, European measures are tightening the financial environment, and international institutions are raising concerns about nuclear verification and support for regional armed groups. Meanwhile, executions, torture, and the repression of political opponents remain central to international criticism of the regime.<\/p>\n

Together, these pressures are creating a more restrictive environment for Tehran, limiting its options across economic, diplomatic, and security policy.<\/p>\n

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

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Iran Regime Revives Internet Control Plan as Power Struggle Deepens<\/h3>\n

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Iran\u2019s regime has revived a restrictive internet bill as the country continues to endure online restrictions imposed during the war, exposing a deepening struggle over who controls digital communications and how far the authorities should go to prevent the internet from becoming a tool for organizing opposition. The proposed legislation, officially titled the \u201cVirtual Space Regulation\u201d plan and also referred to in state media as \u201cPlan to Protect 3,\u201d would concentrate authority over cyberspace in institutions closely tied to the supreme leader and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).<\/div>\n
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The renewed initiative comes as internet access has yet to return fully to normal following months of restrictions. Rather than restoring unrestricted access, the regime is moving to institutionalize a more centralized system of surveillance and control, adding new layers of bureaucracy to an already heavily restricted digital environment.<\/p>\n

The bill revives the central objectives of an earlier internet-control initiative that encountered public opposition during the previous parliamentary term. Although the new version is reportedly shorter and contains fewer provisions, its key mechanisms would significantly strengthen the authorities\u2019 ability to regulate online activity.<\/p>\n

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

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Iran\u2019s Drug Crisis: Soaring Prices, Shortages, and Mounting Pressure on Patients<\/h3>\n

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Iran\u2019s pharmaceutical market faces a range of problems, including shortages of certain medicines, difficulties for patients in accessing the medications they need, rising prices, and the rationing of some drugs. These conditions have heightened concerns among patients with chronic illnesses, including diabetes, cancer, and neurological and psychiatric disorders.<\/p>\n

Mohammad Hashemi, spokesperson for Iran\u2019s Food and Drug Administration, responded to a question from Rokna, a state-run news agency, about problems with medicine supplies. Referring to restrictions that he said had intensified over the past year, he identified the growing delay in payments owed as one of the main challenges.<\/p>\n

He explained that some payments previously took around six to seven months to settle, but the period has now increased to 12 to 13 months.<\/p>\n

For patients, however, the main issue is not simply the rising cost of production or the final price of medicines. It is whether the medications they need are available, how much they cost, when they can be obtained, and in what quantities.<\/p>\n

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

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As Renewed War Fears Push Oil Above $117, Iranian Officials Debate Hormuz Strategy<\/h3>\n

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As preparations increase for a possible new round of attacks and Brent crude rises above $117, officials and media outlets within the Islamic Republic are offering different approaches to using the Strait of Hormuz, widening the scope of war and keeping diplomacy open.<\/p>\n

The growing risk of renewed attacks on Iran, alongside Brent crude moving above $117, has brought the debate over how Tehran should confront another round of war into the Islamic Republic\u2019s political establishment. Officials and media outlets close to ruling factions<\/a> are, on one side, emphasizing the use of the Strait of Hormuz<\/a> and an expansion of potential targets to raise the cost of war, while other voices are calling for restraint in maximalist rhetoric, the preservation of diplomatic channels and a defined path toward ending the crisis.<\/p>\n

Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran\u2019s Supreme National Security Council, has said that if diplomacy cannot convince the other side of the costs of military action, the range of Iranian targets in the next war could expand. Shargh reported him as saying that data centers<\/a>, communications cables and artificial intelligence facilities could also be included among potential targets in such a scenario.<\/p>\n

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

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PMOI Supporters in Paris Expose Iran\u2019s Executions Despite Stormy Weather<\/h3>\n

Paris, October 23, 2026 \u2014<\/strong> Despite rainy weather and strong winds, supporters of the People\u2019s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI\/MEK<\/span><\/a>) held a book table and photo exhibition in Paris, drawing attention to Iran\u2019s deepening human rights crisis and the regime\u2019s systematic executions of political prisoners and protesters detained during nationwide uprisings.<\/p>\n

Participants urged the French public and the international community to recognize the suffering of the Iranian people and their clear rejection of dictatorship in both its monarchical<\/a> and theocratic forms.<\/p>\n

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PMOI Supporters in Paris Expose Iran\u2019s Executions Despite Stormy Weather \u2013 Oct 23, 2026<\/div><\/div>