{"id":349341,"date":"2026-11-15T08:01:52","date_gmt":"2026-11-15T07:01:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/?p=349341"},"modified":"2026-11-15T08:01:52","modified_gmt":"2026-11-15T07:01:52","slug":"iran-news-in-brief-november-15-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/news\/iran-news-in-brief-november-15-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Iran News in Brief \u2013 November 15, 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"On
On October 24, 2026, NCRI supporters held a rally in Toronto calling for an end to executions in Iran<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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

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

PMOI Resistance Units in Zahedan Honor November 2019 Uprising, Reject Both Shah and Mullahs<\/h3>\n

\"MEK<\/p>\n

On November 13, 2026, Resistance Units affiliated with the People\u2019s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI\/MEK) marked the seventh anniversary of the November 2019 uprising with anti-regime activities in Zahedan, southeastern Iran, reaffirming their determination to continue the struggle for regime change and reject all forms of dictatorship.<\/p>\n

As part of their weekly activities, the Resistance Units displayed placards in public places, commemorating the more than 1,500 protesters killed during the November 2019 uprising and emphasizing that the struggle for freedom remains unfinished.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe November 2019 uprising will continue until the overthrow of tyranny,\u201d read one placard.<\/p>\n

Another declared, \u201cNo to mullahs, no to shah, yes to freedom and a democratic republic.\u201d<\/p>\n

The messages reflected two central themes of the activities: keeping the spirit of the November uprising alive and rejecting any attempt to replace the ruling religious dictatorship with a restoration of the former monarchy.<\/p>\n

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

\n

Political Prisoner Zahra Safaei Congratulates Mohammad Javad Vafaei Sani on Receiving 2026 Magnitsky Award<\/h3>\n

\"Political-prisoner-Zahra-Safaei\"<\/p>\n

On the evening of Thursday, November 12, 2026, the Global Magnitsky Justice Campaign presented its 2026 \u201cOutstanding Human Rights Activist\u201d award during a ceremony<\/a> in London to Mohammad Javad Vafaei Sani, a political prisoner on death row in Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad, northeastern Iran. Following the announcement, several political prisoners, including Zahra Safaei, speaking from the women\u2019s ward of Evin Prison<\/a>, congratulated him on receiving the honor.\u00a0Mohammad Javad Vafaei Sani, a martial arts and boxing champion and coach who holds a national championship silver medal, was arrested on February 8, 2020, in connection with the November 2019 nationwide protests. He has spent the past seven years in prison under torture and pressure awaiting execution, having been sentenced to death three times on charges of membership in the People\u2019s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI\/MEK).<\/p>\n

Considered one of the world\u2019s most prestigious human rights honors, the Magnitsky Award recognizes individuals who have stood up against human rights abuses and political repression. During the London ceremony, a message from the 31-year-old death-row prisoner<\/a> smuggled out of Vakilabad Prison was read aloud<\/a> to attendees. \u201cI remain steadfast in my pledge<\/a>, and I will not bow before oppression until the people of Iran are free,\u201d Vafaei Sani emphasized in his message.<\/p>\n

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

\n

Iranian Political Prisoners Send Messages of Solidarity to Death-Row Prisoner Mohammad Javad Vafaei Sani<\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Political prisoners across Iran have sent messages of congratulations to Mohammad Javad Vafaei Sani following his receipt of the 2026 Magnitsky Outstanding Human Rights Activist Award, describing his steadfastness under a death sentence as a testament to the determination of prisoners who refuse to abandon their convictions.<\/p>\n

Messages from political prisoners Mehdi Vafaei and Ali Moezi, both held in Qezel Hesar Prison, and Zahra Safaei, imprisoned in the women\u2019s ward of Evin Prison, were conveyed in solidarity with Vafaei Sani. Three other political prisoners\u2014Saeed Gharibi, Ruhollah Eskandarpour, and Reza Heydari\u2014also issued a joint congratulatory message from Adelabad Prison in Shiraz.<\/p>\n

Their statements emphasized a common theme: imprisonment, torture, and the threat of execution cannot extinguish the determination of those committed to political freedom.<\/p>\n

In an audio message recorded from Qezel Hesar Prison, political prisoner Mehdi Vafaei congratulated Mohammad Javad Vafaei Sani, describing the Magnitsky Award as both a distinction and recognition of the courage of a young man who has refused to surrender despite years of imprisonment.<\/p>\n

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

\n

Iran\u2019s Labor Market on the Brink of Crisis: Widespread Unemployment and the Growing Number of Working Poor<\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Rising unemployment, business closures, and collapsing wages have plunged Iran\u2019s labor market into crisis, a crisis that is pushing millions of employed people below the poverty line as well. This situation signals the onset of a dangerous phase in which having a job no longer guarantees an escape from poverty, and a university education can no longer provide young people with a secure future.<\/p>\n

According to published reports, the unemployment rate among the population aged 15 and older has risen by approximately 24.7%. The employment crisis has become an indication of deep structural dysfunction in the Iranian regime\u2019s economy. An even greater danger is that even those who have jobs are unable to meet their basic living needs because of meager wages.<\/p>\n

<\/h2>\n

Businesses facing shortages of working capital, production disruptions, and difficulties accessing bank loans have become vulnerable to even the slightest economic shock.<\/p>\n

Power and gas outages, the Central Bank\u2019s contractionary policies, and restrictions on manufacturers\u2019 access to financial resources are placing additional pressure on the production sector. Under these conditions, workforce reductions, cuts in production capacity, and even the closure of businesses have become survival strategies.<\/p>\n

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

\n

From Retirees\u2019 Poverty to Managers\u2019 Astronomical Bonuses in Iran<\/h3>\n

\"Retirees<\/p>\n

For more than half a century, Iranian workers have contributed a portion of their hard-earned wages to the Social Security Organization, building an intergenerational fund that was supposed to serve as a safety net for more than 55% of the country\u2019s population. To protect the value of these assets against inflation, the Social Security Investment Company (Shasta) was established to shoulder the organization\u2019s financial burden when needed.<\/p>\n

Today, however, Shasta and its subsidiaries, spanning industries from oil and gas to cement and pharmaceuticals, are not only failing to support the Social Security Organization but have also become political backyards for distributing spoils among regime factions. The Social Security Organization is now forced to borrow money or turn to the government for financial assistance to pay retirees\u2019 pensions.\u00a0The roots of this major contradiction lie in four principal factors:<\/p>\n

\u2013 Paper Profits and Real Losses: A large proportion of Shasta companies operate at a loss in their core business activities. The profits announced at the end of the year are not generated through production but result from \u201casset revaluation\u201d and inflation. These accounting gains generate not even one rial in actual cash for the Social Security Organization, yet they become the basis for awarding astronomical bonuses to board members.<\/p>\n

<\/h2>\n

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

\n

Iran: The Gap Between the Official Narrative of \u201cIslamic Prison Management\u201d and Prison Reality<\/h3>\n

\"Entrance<\/p>\n

Judicial authorities of the Islamic Republic of Iran frequently speak of \u201cIslamic prison management,\u201d respect for prisoners\u2019 dignity, reducing prison populations, and attending to prisoners\u2019 welfare. In contrast, reports emerging from various prisons across the country, including Greater Tehran Penitentiary, Karaj Central Prison, Birjand Prison, and Maragheh Prison, present a markedly different picture. This picture includes severe overcrowding, prisoners sleeping on floors, food shortages, denial of adequate medical treatment, restricted access to hygiene facilities, prolonged solitary confinement, allegations of torture, and degrading treatment.<\/p>\n

\n
\"\"<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

This report argues that there is a profound gap between the official narrative promoted by the Islamic Republic regarding prison conditions and the reality described by prisoners, family members, and informed sources. This discrepancy not only affects the fundamental rights of detainees but also raises serious concerns regarding the Islamic Republic of Iran\u2019s compliance with its obligations under international human rights law, particularly in relation to the prohibition of torture, the humane treatment of persons deprived of liberty, and the right to access adequate medical care.<\/p>\n

In official documents and public statements, the Islamic Republic of Iran has consistently emphasized concepts such as \u201cIslamic prison management,\u201d \u201cpreservation of prisoners\u2019 dignity,\u201d \u201crehabilitation and reform,\u201d and \u201crespect for prisoners\u2019 rights.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

\n

Who Controls Iran\u2019s US Talks? Ghalibaf and Rezaei at Center of Diplomatic Power Struggle<\/h3>\n

\"Iranian<\/p>\n

Iran\u2019s leadership is facing renewed questions over who controls negotiations with the United States after Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf reaffirmed his role as chief negotiator while Supreme National Security Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaei assumed a prominent position in diplomatic exchanges with Washington.<\/p>\n

The uncertainty intensified after US Vice President JD Vance addressed a letter to Rezaei rather than Ghalibaf, prompting speculation that the parliamentary speaker was being sidelined.<\/p>\n

Iranian officials have rejected suggestions that the negotiating team has changed. Yet the episode has exposed competition among conservative factions over diplomatic influence<\/a> as Tehran considers proposals to end its confrontation with Washington.<\/p>\n

The distinction matters because Iran\u2019s negotiators must operate within a security establishment that retains ultimate authority over major foreign policy decisions.<\/p>\n

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

\n

Paris Photo Exhibition Honors Martyrs of Iran\u2019s November 2019 Uprising<\/h3>\n

Paris, November 13, 2026 \u2014 Supporters of the People\u2019s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI\/MEK<\/a>) and the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI<\/a>) held a photo exhibition at Place de la R\u00e9publique in Paris on Friday to mark the anniversary of Iran\u2019s November 2019 uprising<\/a> and honor its more than 1,500 martyrs.<\/p>\n

The exhibition also displayed photographs of victims of Iran\u2019s nationwide uprisings in 2022 and 2026, as well as political prisoners and protesters executed by the Iranian regime, particularly in recent months.<\/p>\n

Photographs of the victims were shown to passersby in the heart of Paris. Their faces, silent but striking, recalled the lives of men and women who sacrificed their lives for freedom and democracy in Iran.<\/p>\n

<\/div>
Paris Exhibition Honors Iran\u2019s 2019-2026 Uprising Martyrs & Executed Protesters - November 13, 2026<\/div><\/div>