{"id":349309,"date":"2026-11-13T08:11:33","date_gmt":"2026-11-13T07:11:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/?p=349309"},"modified":"2026-11-13T08:11:33","modified_gmt":"2026-11-13T07:11:33","slug":"iran-news-in-brief-november-13-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/news\/iran-news-in-brief-november-13-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Iran News in Brief \u2013 November 13, 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"November
November 10, 2026: Supporters of the NCRI in Gothenburg, Sweden, held a rally in solidarity with the 146th\u00a0consecutive week of the \u201cNo to Execution Tuesdays\u201d campaign<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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

UPDATE: 8:00 AM CET<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Real Voices of Iran: From Prison Cells to the Front Lines of Resistance<\/h3>\n

\"Prisoners<\/p>\n

On November 7, 2026, Reza Pahlavi, the son of Iran\u2019s deposed Shah, stood at a ceremony in Frankfurt as the designated trustee of a Freedom Prize presented to the Iranian people. Two days later, a very different Iranian was announced as the recipient of the prestigious Magnitsky Human Rights Award: Mohammad Javad Vafaei Sani<\/a>, a political prisoner facing execution in Iran.<\/p>\n

The contrast raises a fundamental question: Who truly embodies the Iranian people\u2019s struggle for freedom?<\/p>\n

The answer is not found in royal titles or international ceremonies<\/a>. It is found in Iran\u2019s prisons, where political prisoners representing different generations and walks of life continue to challenge dictatorship at enormous personal cost. It is also found in the streets, where organized Resistance Units confront the regime despite the threat of imprisonment and death.<\/p>\n

A boxing champion and coach from Mashhad, Vafaei Sani has spent nearly seven years behind bars for his support of the People\u2019s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI\/MEK). Subjected to torture, solitary confinement, and repeated death sentences, he remains under the imminent threat of execution.<\/p>\n

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

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Iran\u2019s Regime Faces Mounting International Isolation as Economic Pressure and Human Rights Scrutiny Intensify<\/h3>\n

\"Iran<\/p>\n

Iran\u2019s ruling regime is facing mounting international pressure across several fronts, from restrictions on oil exports and difficulties circumventing economic sanctions to growing scrutiny of its human rights violations. While Tehran continues to project an image of regional power through threats, interference, and intimidation, developments in its economic and diplomatic relations point to increasingly constrained options.\u00a0The pressure extends beyond relations with the United States and European countries. Regional governments and international institutions are also taking positions on the regime\u2019s conduct, including its regional activities, threats, and systematic violations of fundamental rights.<\/p>\n

The contrast between the regime\u2019s public posture and its actual international position is becoming increasingly apparent. Its attempts to demonstrate strength have not removed the economic and diplomatic constraints it faces.<\/p>\n

The regime has repeatedly sought to portray itself as an actor capable of imposing its will on other countries and disrupting regional stability. Its methods have included threats, alleged terrorist operations, regional interference, missile attacks, and other forms of intimidation.<\/p>\n

Some of its more recent activities have also extended beyond conventional political and security pressure. Reports of interference with supermarket freezer electricity systems in France, for example, illustrate the nature of the disruptive operations attributed to the regime and its networks abroad.<\/p>\n

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

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Manufacturing the Shah: The Opposition Iran Wants You to See<\/h3>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

In April 2018, two intelligence officers visited Hashem Khastar<\/a> at his garden. Khastar was a teacher, a trade-union activist and an outspoken opponent of the Iranian regime. He had no reason to expect encouragement from the security apparatus. Yet the men who came to see him offered precisely that.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy don\u2019t you cooperate with Prince Reza Pahlavi?\u201d<\/p>\n

They offered to give him Pahlavi\u2019s telephone number.<\/p>\n

Months later, Khastar was approached again. This time, the request was different. Two security officers wanted him to issue a statement against the People\u2019s Mojahedin Organization of Iran, or MEK, after the group had expressed support for him. Their real sensitivity, they explained, was the MEK itself.<\/p>\n

The contrast was revealing. The Iranian regime\u2019s security apparatus did not appear to treat all of its opponents in the same way. One opposition figure could be recommended. Another was a red line.<\/p>\n

That distinction would become more visible over the following years. The first sign appeared in the streets.<\/p>\n

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

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Iran Records at Least 48 Protest Actions in October 2026 as Pensioners Lead Growing Wave of Discontent<\/h3>\n

\"Retired<\/p>\n

At least 48 protest actions involving different sectors of Iranian society were recorded across Iran in October 2026, according to a monthly assessment published by the Iran Freedom Association. The figures highlight the persistence of economic and social grievances under Iran\u2019s regime, with pensioners accounting for the largest share of demonstrations.<\/p>\n

The protests were driven by a range of unresolved problems, including deteriorating living conditions, unpaid wages and benefits, inadequate healthcare, job insecurity, restricted access to public services, and dissatisfaction with economic and administrative decisions.<\/p>\n

Although pensioners were at the forefront, the protests extended well beyond this group, involving workers, university students, merchants, farmers, drivers, and citizens facing various economic and social difficulties.<\/p>\n

The monthly assessment acknowledges that it was not possible to monitor every protest and demonstration across the country. Nevertheless, it provides a broad picture of the scale and composition of social protests during October.<\/p>\n

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

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Iran Ranks Among the World\u2019s Worst Countries for Gender Equality as Regime Propaganda Contradicts Reality<\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The Iranian regime continues to use women\u2019s public appearances in its propaganda, presenting selected images of female participation as evidence of popular support and progress in women\u2019s rights. Yet international indicators paint a dramatically different picture: Iranian women remain among the most disadvantaged in the world in terms of economic opportunity, political participation, and access to equal rights.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n

The contrast is particularly striking as the regime seeks to exploit the country\u2019s current crises and political tensions for its own propaganda purposes. The appearance of women in government-organized demonstrations, including women dressed in burial shrouds, is used to suggest widespread female support for the authorities. Such staged displays, however, reveal little about the actual social and economic conditions facing millions of Iranian women.<\/p>\n

The 2026 Global Gender Gap Report published by the World Economic Forum provides a more measurable picture of this reality. Iran ranks 144th among 145 countries, placing it near the very bottom of the global gender equality index.<\/p>\n

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

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Patients in Tehran Caught Between Soaring Prices and Drug Shortages<\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The medicine crisis has once again become a major concern in Tehran, Iran\u2019s capital. Shahin Shadnia, head of Tehran\u2019s Loghman Hospital, has warned that the costs of medical services, hospitalization, and particularly medicines have surged dramatically. According to him, a medicine that previously cost between 5 million and 6 million rials is now several times more expensive. Shadnia also reported shortages of certain critical medicines in the hospital pharmacy.<\/p>\n

<\/h2>\n

Shadnia says shortages of certain specialized medicines in the hospital pharmacy are clearly evident. According to him, medical staff are sometimes forced to refer patients and their families to the 13 Aban Pharmacy or pharmacies outside the hospital to obtain the medicines they need. He attributes the situation to mismanagement, incompetence, and damage to domestic pharmaceutical production lines. In his view, the lack of proper management of foreign currency allocation has prevented the direct import of some vital medicines. Shadnia emphasized that the resulting financial pressure falls most heavily on vulnerable segments of society.<\/p>\n

In addition to this account, pharmaceutical industry representatives emphasize the financial dimension of the crisis. Hadi Ahmadi, spokesperson for the Iranian Pharmacists Association, says pharmacies\u2019 outstanding claims against insurance companies and the Targeted Subsidies Organization have reached approximately 850 trillion rials (around $327 million). According to him, payment delays in some parts of the healthcare system have reached approximately 11 months. Reports indicate that more than 80 trillion rials (approximately $31 million) in bounced checks have been recorded so far.<\/p>\n

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

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Uncontrollable Inflation in Iran: Making the Poor Poorer and the Rich Richer<\/h3>\n

\"iran<\/p>\n

The former CEO of Bank Tejarat, a state-owned Iranian bank, emphasized that the main causes of inflation in Iran are the budget deficit and the continuous growth of liquidity. He said: \u201cOver the past three decades, the country\u2019s money supply has increased by 30% to 40% annually, and sometimes by more than 50%, without corresponding economic growth.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ahmad Hatami-Yazd, a regime-affiliated economist, discussed the reasons behind rising inflation and exchange rates, at a time when officials claim that the country has no shortage of foreign currency reserves. He stated: \u201cThere is no way to control inflation other than establishing fiscal discipline within the government. Fiscal discipline means that government revenues and expenditures must be aligned, and the government must not impose expenses on the budget without having clearly identified sources of revenue to cover them.\u201d<\/p>\n

Referring to the budget deficit and its consequences, he added: \u201cWhen the government approves expenditures without having the revenue to finance them, it is forced to print money without backing. This process increases liquidity and ultimately manifests itself in the form of inflation.\u201d<\/p>\n

He stressed that when the money supply increases by 30%, 40%, or even more than 50% annually without corresponding economic growth, the inevitable result is inflation.<\/p>\n

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

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Iran\u2019s Monetary Base Growth Reaches 90%, Sounding Alarm Bells for the Economy<\/h3>\n

\"Iran-stock-market-24012021\"<\/p>\n

An examination of monetary statistics for September 2026 shows that year-on-year growth in the monetary base has reached 89.9%, while year-on-year growth in money has reached 63.3%\u2014levels not seen since 2011.<\/p>\n

These staggering figures have been released at a time when Iran\u2019s Central Bank has refused to publish detailed, regular reports on monetary indicators since the beginning of the Persian calendar year (March 22, 2026), withholding official data.<\/p>\n

Nearly 90% growth in the monetary base means that Iran\u2019s economy is facing an enormous expansion in high-powered money compared with a year ago. This is happening against the backdrop of an ailing economy in which production, investment, and household purchasing power are severely constrained. According to research conducted by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Iran\u2019s economy, a 1% increase in the monetary base can lead to a 0.5% increase in inflation.<\/p>\n

Have banks turned to the Central Bank\u2019s resources to compensate for their severe financial imbalances? Has the Central Bank\u2019s foreign currency purchases, without neutralizing their impact on the rial supply, inflated the monetary base? Or has the government resorted, directly or indirectly, to the resources of the Central Bank and the banking network to cover its budget deficit?<\/p>\n

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

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Iran: Death-Row Boxing Champion Vafaei Sani Wins 2026 Magnitsky Human Rights Award<\/h3>\n

\"Mohammad-Javad-Vafaei-Sani\"<\/p>\n

In a prominent human rights event, the Magnitsky Human Rights Award foundation announced Mohammad Javad Vafaei Sani, a 31-year-old Iranian boxing champion and martial arts coach, as the recipient of the 2026 award in the category of \u201cOutstanding Human Rights Activist.\u201d<\/em> This international award, established in 2015 to honor courageous individuals standing against repression and tyranny, is scheduled to be presented on Thursday, November 12, 2026 (Aban 21, 1405), during an official ceremony in London by Bob Blackman, a Member of the British House of Commons and Chairman of the 1922 Committee.<\/p>\n

In its X (formerly Twitter) post on November 9, the foundation stated: The conferral of this award upon Mohammad Javad Vafaei Sani carries profound significance, as he is not a professional human rights defender, but an athlete and boxing coach facing execution due to his case\u2019s intersection with popular protests and political charges\u2014proceedings persistently marred by grave fair-trial concerns. This selection demonstrates that his case has transformed in the eyes of the international community into a symbol of political repression, the employment of capital punishment against dissidents and critics, and the ongoing violation of due process standards in the Islamic Republic of Iran.<\/p>\n

Mohammad Javad Vafaei Sani, a political prisoner incarcerated in Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad, receives this global accolade while facing a death sentence handed down by the judiciary of the Islamic Republic for the third time. Bestowing this international title upon him not only pays tribute to the resilience and steadfastness of a political prisoner against repression but also reflects the international community\u2019s escalating alarm over the Islamic Republic\u2019s deployment of capital punishment in political cases, reinforcing the surging demand for the immediate quashing of his death sentence.<\/p>\n

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

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Iran\u2019s Overland Trade Lifelines Face New US Pressure as Rail Sanctions and Border Restrictions Mount<\/h3>\n

\"Iran-South-Korean-vessel-05012021\"<\/p>\n

Iran\u2019s efforts to keep international trade moving through railways and land borders face growing pressure from Washington, as new US sanctions and restrictions on border access threaten the alternative routes Tehran increasingly relies on to circumvent its maritime blockade.<\/p>\n

The latest development came on November 8, when Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein said the US Treasury had asked Baghdad to close all but two border crossings with Iran<\/a>. Hussein said Iraq was discussing the request with Washington, warning that widespread closures would damage the Iraqi economy.<\/p>\n

The request followed Washington\u2019s October 1 decision to extend sanctions to Iran\u2019s railway sector<\/a>, targeting the state railway company, Raja Passenger Trains and a private freight operator.<\/p>\n

The pressure has also acquired a military dimension. On November 7, Reuters reported<\/a> that the US military had established Task Force Iron Gate to restrict the movement of advanced weapons, sanctioned goods and dual-use technology across Iran\u2019s land borders and the Caspian Sea.<\/p>\n

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

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Gothenburg Rally Supports 146th Week of \u201cNo to Execution Tuesdays\u201d in 66 Prisons Across Iran<\/h3>\n

Gothenburg, Sweden \u2014 November 10, 2026: Supporters of the People\u2019s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI\/MEK<\/span><\/a>) held a rally in solidarity with the 146th<\/span>\u00a0consecutive week<\/span><\/a> of the \u201cNo to Execution Tuesdays<\/span><\/a>\u201d campaign, a movement protesting the Iranian regime\u2019s escalating executions and systematic repression.<\/p>\n

Participants also highlighted the regime\u2019s intensifying crackdown, the rising number of executions, and broader repressive measures. They chanted slogans such as \u201cDown with the executioner regime\u201d and called for the immediate release of all political prisoners.<\/p>\n

Freedom-loving Iranians in Gothenburg expressed support for Mrs. Maryam Rajavi<\/span><\/a>, President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI<\/span><\/a>), and her call to expand the \u201cNo to Executions<\/span><\/a>\u201d campaign globally.<\/p>\n

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Gothenburg Rally Supports 146th Week of \u201cNo to Execution Tuesdays\u201d in 66 Prisons Across Iran\u2013Nov 10<\/div><\/div>