Evin prison: Iran’s detainees in ‘unbearable’ conditions after Israeli strikes
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Diverging Reports Breakdown
Brit couple’s ‘terrifying’ life caged in Iran prison unable to walk properly
Brit couple’s ‘terrifying’ life caged in Iran prison unable to walk properly. Lindsay and Craig Foreman have spent over six months detained in Iran. They were arrested on charges of espionage whilst on a trip of a lifetime. Their terrified family still don’t know what conditions they are enduring. The couple were due to be transferred to Tehran’s infamous Evin Prison in early June, before Israeli strikes hit the facility. Their children didn’t have any confirmation for weeks about their parents’ whereabouts, including if the planned transfer had gone ahead, or if they were even safe or alive. They have since been told through the Foreign Office that they are in Kerman Prison. The main information we have about what conditions are like inside the Iranian prison system is from former hostages like Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Anoosheh Ashoori – who were detained for six and five years respectively.Nazanin, who was released in 2022, described his time in Evin as ‘unbearable’
It has been over six months since Lindsay and Craig Foreman were detained in Iran on charges of espionage whilst on a trip of a lifetime – and their terrified family still don’t know what conditions they are enduring
Little is known about the conditions in which Lindsay and Craig are being detained
British couple Lindsay and Craig Foreman have spent over six months detained in Iran after being arrested on charges of espionage – despite the fact their family insists they are “not spies”.
The couple embarked on what was supposed to be the adventure of a lifetime, taking a motorcycle trip across the world from Spain to Australia to learn about what makes a good life, from forging connections and building strong communities.
Lindsay and Craig’s frantic four children have been tirelessly campaigning for their “generous and fun” parents’ release, and are determined to do everything they can to bring the couple home.
But adding to their fear, the family knows very little about the conditions Lindsay and Craig are facing, but they believe they are currently held in Kerman Prison. The couple was due to be transferred to Tehran’s infamous Evin Prison in early June, before Israeli strikes hit the facility.
The couple were due to be transferred to Evin Prison before Israeli strikes against the facility (Image: AP )
Their children didn’t have any confirmation for weeks about their parents’ whereabouts, including if the planned transfer had gone ahead, or if they were even safe or alive – however, they have since been told through the Foreign Office that they are in Kerman.
Craig’s son Kieran has described the family’s situation to the Mirror as feeling “like you are falling down a pit and you can’t get up” – as they struggle with “limited” information about their mum and dad.
“We are limited on the information we are given on the condition and we were told they are in a rather small cell together. We think they had a bed, but before they were sleeping on the floor and apart,” Joe and Kieran have told the Mirror.
“They are trying to keep fit by running in a figure of 8 around that room, but we know that at one time Mum (Lindsay) had problems with her back and Dad (Craig) also wasn’t walking right.”
The main information we have about what conditions are like inside the Iranian prison system is from former hostages like Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Anoosheh Ashoori – who was released alongside Nazanin in 2022 – who were detained in Iran for six and five years respectively.
Anoosheh bravely gave a “glimpse” of what he endured during his ordeal to the Mirror, describing his time in Evin Prison as “unbearable”.
Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Anoosheh Ashoori were freed from Iran in 2022 (Image: Getty Images )
“The food was foul and sub-standard, especially for those who couldn’t afford to pay for slightly better meals through the prison shop,” he said. “The rooms were cramped – around 15 people per room, though numbers would rise significantly during times of crisis. We battled constant infestations of bed bugs, cockroaches, and even rats. Sometimes, rat droppings and body parts of cockroaches would even end up in our food.
“Sanitation was poor, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Medical care was severely lacking – the so-called clinic was little more than a façade. Medicine was scarce. Prisoners had to rely on loved ones to bring medications, and even then, some of it would mysteriously go missing before reaching us.”
The former hostage explained that, “The regime created an environment of chronic pressure. Tensions ran so high that arguments and fights among prisoners became common. I call it ‘passive torture’ – a method of inflicting suffering indirectly by fostering an atmosphere where inmates, under extreme stress, begin to turn on each other.”
Anoosheh added, “I was fortunate that, after being moved from the interrogation centre to the main prison, I could call my wife Sherry almost every day. But during interrogation, communication is nearly impossible.
“You are completely at the mercy of your captors. If you’re allowed a short call, a guard stands beside you, dictating what you’re allowed to say – and warning you about what not to say. Every word is monitored.”
Anoosheh described Evin Prison as ‘unbearable’ (Image: U. Baumgarten via Getty Images )
In a moving lecture she gave last year, Nazanin – who was detained in both Kerman and Evin Prisons – explored the differences between the two facilities.
When she was first arrested, she spent 45 days in solitary confinement in Kerman Prison. “The cell had tall walls and cold floor. There was no bed but only thin blanket. I didn’t shower for days as I wasn’t allowed to leave the cell. The walls were towering and the constant light in the cell was blinding. I was terrified, lost and emotionally traumatised.”
She described Kerman as incredibly overcrowded, with “the number of prisoners living there was almost three times more than its actual capacity,” and only enough showers for every prisoner to wash for a few minutes. However, once she was moved out of her solitary cell, she found kindness amongst the other women, and was able to phone her parents, though she told how, devastatingly, “the majority of women in Kerman Prison had given up.”
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When she was transferred to Evin, she again found solidarity amongst the prisoners – who she said often had higher education levels than those in Kerman and were determined to find routes to hopefulness to bring each other strength.
Lindsay and Craig’s family hope that people will join their campaign and write to their MPs to help secure the release of the couple.
Sign the petition at https://www.change.org/freelindsayandcraig or to learn more, visit www.freelindsayandcraig.com
Iran News in Brief – July 2, 2025
Iranian state-backed hackers are borrowing from the Russian cyber playbook and sharing tools with ideologically aligned hacktivist groups. Why it matters: Leaning on these hackers allows Iran to amplify its reach while maintaining plausible deniability and staying below the threshold of what’s considered war. The U.S. Department of the Treasury has updated multiple Syria-related sanctions entries to include designations that highlight the clerical dictatorship’s extensive entanglement in the Syrian conflict. The updates issued on June 30, the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS) was explicitly flagged for its role in human rights violations, hostage-taking, and cyber operations, with a clear link to activities in Syria. This action reflects Washington’s continued focus on countering Iran’s destabilizing influence in Syria through proxy networks, and economic backing of sanctioned actors. The Treasury’s update reinforces the message that Iran’s support for the Assad regime and other sanctioned entities in Syria will carry significant financial and diplomatic consequences. The update also reinforces that the Treasury will continue to push back against Iran’s influence in the Middle East.
THIS PAGE WILL BE UPDATED WITH THE LATEST NEWS
UPDATE: 4:00 PM CEST
Iran Leans on Hacktivist Proxies in Wake of Israeli, U.S. Strikes
Iranian state-backed hackers are borrowing from the Russian cyber playbook and sharing tools with ideologically aligned hacktivist groups in the wake of a series of military strikes, experts tell Axios.
Why it matters: Leaning on these hackers allows Iran to amplify its reach while maintaining plausible deniability and staying below the threshold of what’s considered war.
Driving the news: Iran-linked hackers threatened last night to publish emails purportedly stolen from Trump allies, including White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, lawyer Lindsey Halligan and adviser Roger Stone.
CISA and the FBI released an advisory yesterday warning U.S. critical infrastructure, and particularly defense contractors, are at increased risk for potential Iran-linked cyberattacks.
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UPDATE: 9:00 AM CEST
Suspected Iranian Spy Arrested – Were Attacks on Jews Being Planned?
Germany’s Federal Public Prosecutor has ordered the arrest of a Danish citizen on suspicion of spying for Iran. According to authorities, the man was tasked with gathering information in Berlin on Jewish locations and specific Jewish individuals. In response, the German Foreign Ministry summoned the Iranian ambassador.
According to the Federal Prosecutor’s Office, the suspect was allegedly recruited by an Iranian intelligence service earlier this year. In June, he is believed to have surveilled three locations in the German capital. This activity is thought to have supported further intelligence operations on German soil—possibly even preparing attacks on Jewish targets.
Federal Interior Minister Dobrindt stated after a briefing at the Federal Criminal Police Office that the man may have been preparing arson attacks on behalf of Iran. He also allegedly attempted to recruit others to carry out such attacks. The lead on the suspect reportedly came from a friendly intelligence service.
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U.S. Treasury Targets Iranian Intelligence and IRGC Links in Syria Sanctions Update
In a notable move reinforcing its pressure campaign on Iran’s regional activities, the U.S. Department of the Treasury has updated multiple Syria-related sanctions entries to include designations that highlight the clerical dictatorship’s extensive entanglement in the Syrian conflict.
Among the updates issued on June 30, the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS) was explicitly flagged for its role in human rights violations, hostage-taking, and cyber operations, with a clear link to activities in Syria. The MOIS now faces secondary sanctions under multiple executive orders, underscoring its designation as a terrorist-affiliated entity.
Also listed is the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force (IRGC-QF), a key arm of Iran’s extraterritorial military operations. The IRGC-QF, already under U.S. sanctions, remains central to Iran’s strategic depth in Syria, providing military, intelligence, and financial support to the Assad regime.
Additionally, Iranian individuals such as Mohsen Chizari, identified as a commander in IRGC-QF operations and training, were re-listed with updated identifiers and explicit secondary sanctions warnings under Executive Order 13224.
This action reflects Washington’s continued focus on countering Iran’s destabilizing influence in Syria through proxy networks, intelligence coordination, and economic backing of sanctioned actors. The Treasury’s update reinforces the message that the clerical dictatorship’s support for the Assad regime and other sanctioned entities in Syria will carry significant financial and diplomatic consequences.
UPDATE: 8:00 AM CEST
Berlin Exhibition Condemns Iran’s Human Rights Abuses, Calls for Global Support to End Violations
Berlin Exhibition Condemns Iran’s Human Rights Abuses, Calls for Global Support to End Violations.
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Berlin, Germany – June 28, 2025 – Supporters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) held an exhibition to denounce the Iranian regime’s escalating human rights abuses, particularly the increasing number of death sentences imposed on political prisoners.
Participants demanded the immediate abolition of these death sentences and the unconditional release of all political detainees in Iran. They condemned the regime’s ongoing repression and expressed steadfast solidarity with the Iranian people’s courageous struggle for democratic change.
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Zurich Exhibition Condemns Iran Regime’s Executions and Demands Release of Political Prisoners
Zurich, Switzerland – June 28, 2025 – Supporters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) held an exhibition to protest the Iranian regime’s escalating human rights abuses, with a special focus on the recent surge in executions across the country.
The demonstrators demanded the immediate abolition of these death sentences and the unconditional release of all political prisoners in Iran. They condemned the regime’s ongoing human rights violations and expressed solidarity with the Iranian people’s struggle for democratic change.
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A Regime Propagandist’s Confession: Tehran’s Main Threat Is the Unbroken Spirit of the PMOI and Its Supporters
In a moment of startling candor on state television, a regime-linked propagandist has inadvertently confessed to Tehran’s four-decade failure to extinguish its main opposition, the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK). The comments reveal a deep-seated fear within the ruling establishment, confirming that the PMOI remains the principal and most organized threat to its survival.
On June 25, 2025, documentary maker and security apparatus mouthpiece Javad Mogoui appeared on state television and compared the regime’s current precarious state to 1981, a year he described as “the worst year in the history of the revolution.” He recounted the era with a sense of dread, reminding viewers of the PMOI’s formidable power.
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Arghavan Fallahi Held in Solitary, Location Still Unknown Despite Phone Call
Several days after political prisoner Arghavan Fallahi was transferred from Ward 209 of Evin Prison to an undisclosed location, her exact whereabouts and condition remain unclear.
According to informed sources, Arghavan Fallahi has been held in solitary confinement following her removal from the IRGC Intelligence Ward, without any notification to her family or legal representative. In a brief phone call on June 29, 2025, she told her family that she is being kept in solitary confinement but does not know where she is being held. She speculated that she might be in Qarchak Prison in Varamin.
Reports suggest that several detainees were forcibly transferred to undisclosed locations, accompanied by a complete severance of communication and a troubling lack of information for their families.
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Families of Political Prisoners Demand Their Freedom
Amid a growing wave of public opposition to death sentences and executions in Iran, today, Tuesday, July 1, 2025, the families of political prisoners, Vahid Bani-Amerian and Pouya Ghobadi, have released a protest video urgently warning of the imminent risk of execution faced by their sons. In the video, they call for an end to state repression and the immediate release of all political prisoners. The video, a poignant expression of courage and resistance by the families of repression victims, features the parents, holding placards with slogans such as “No to Execution,” “Free Political Prisoners,” and “Stop the Executions.” They denounce the appalling conditions inside Iranian prisons, especially the notorious Fashafouyeh Prison, and appeal to the public conscience and international attention.
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Bloody Raid on Gonich Village, Leaves 1 Baluch Woman Dead, 11 Others Injured
In the early hours of Tuesday, July 1, 2025, the Gonich village, located in Iran’s southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchestan, was the target of a violent and large-scale military assault by the Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and other security forces of the Iranian regime. The raid began at 5 a.m. and involved dozens of armored vehicles, aerial surveillance by military drones, and the deployment of heavily armed ground units. The operation was launched despite the complete absence of men in the village—only women and children were present at the time.
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Political Prisoners Held in the Greater Tehran Prison Are Enduring Unbearable Conditions
Nine days after the Israeli army’s airstrike on Evin Prison and the subsequent transfer of a group of political prisoners to the Greater Tehran Prison and Qarchak Varamin Prison, reports indicate that political detainees in Greater Tehran Prison are being held in extremely poor and unbearable conditions, deprived of even their most basic rights. According to the PMOI’s network, conditions inside Evin Prison were in complete disarray. Fearing riots and the possibility of widespread unrest leading to the release of political prisoners, authorities began relocating inmates. The prison’s notorious chief, Hedayat Farzadi, was reportedly so overwhelmed that he lacked even a basic list of those being transferred.
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Iran’s Regime Arrests European Nationals in Connection with the 12-Day War
Amid an increasingly repressive security atmosphere in Iran, Asghar Jahangir, the spokesperson for Iran’s judiciary, announced that in several provinces, “individuals of European nationality” who, according to him, “were in some way collaborating with Israel,” had been arrested and that legal cases had been opened against them.
In a press conference on Monday, June 30, Jahangir did not specify the identity or number of European detainees but announced that special judicial branches had been ordered to be established throughout the country to handle the cases of individuals labeled as “traitors and mercenaries.”
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UK Probes Iranian Regime’s Hidden Network Amid Growing Fears of Tehran’s Hybrid Warfare
The UK Treasury is investigating nine suspected violations of sanctions related to Iran’s nuclear program in 2024—infractions that have gained greater sensitivity amid tensions following the recent 12-day war with Israel.
According to the Telegraph, these cases represent only a small part of Iran’s regime’s extensive covert financial and political influence network in Britain—a network fostered by years of inattention from London’s policymakers to Tehran’s “hybrid warfare.”
In June 2009, the Iranian regime’s supreme leader called the UK the “most evil” foreign power, and the slogan “Death to Britain” was chanted during Friday prayers in Tehran—a symbol of the regime’s long-standing hostility toward the UK.
The Telegraph reports that Tehran has targeted British public opinion in an effort to undermine the UK’s support for human rights in Iran and retaliate against sanctions.
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Day 19: Tehran Rejects Peace Narrative as Global Powers Push for De-Escalation
On Day 19 following the Iran-Israel ceasefire, Iranian officials continued to reject de-escalation efforts as global powers pushed for renewed diplomacy. Accusations of espionage against workers, nurses, and border porters intensified amid reports of nuclear secrecy, cyber threats, and casualties among security forces. New international developments and tightened internal security regulations reflect a regime preparing for prolonged confrontation.
The G7 foreign ministers issued a joint statement supporting the ceasefire and urging the resumption of verifiable negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program. They also warned against actions that could further destabilize the region.
French President Emmanuel Macron held a phone conversation with Iran’s president, emphasizing the need to protect French nationals, resume nuclear and ballistic talks, and uphold the Non-Proliferation Treaty.
U.S. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce reiterated that the Iranian people control their destiny and emphasized the administration’s readiness to ensure regional peace through all necessary means.
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Also, read Iran News in Brief – July 1, 2025
Families of Iranian detainees express fear after Israeli strike on Evin prison
Footage shows gutted facades, torn metal structures, collapsed walls and piles of shredded furniture and twisted sheet metal. Evin houses about 70 female political detainees and some 300 political prisoners in total. Eyewitness accounts suggest the death toll could be high, creating mounting anxiety among friends and relatives of detainees.
The footage released on Wednesday, June 25, showed gutted facades, torn metal structures, collapsed walls and piles of shredded furniture and twisted sheet metal: Proof of the intensity of the Israeli strikes two days earlier on Evin prison in Tehran, where many political prisoners are held. Iranian authorities have not disclosed any figures on casualties from these strikes on what Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz described as a “symbol of the Iranian regime.” Eyewitness accounts suggest the death toll could be high, creating mounting anxiety among friends and relatives of detainees.
“A large number of soldiers performing their military service [at the facility] and prison staff, as well as several ordinary prisoners and civilians who were visiting the Evin court, were killed,” reported the Coordinating Council of the Iranian Teachers’ Trade Associations, which has reliable sources within the prison. “The infirmary, the visiting room, as well as the high-security wards 209 (…) and the Evin court [which handles political cases] were hit and severely damaged. The women’s [political] prisoners’ ward was also struck.” Evin houses about 70 female political detainees and some 300 political prisoners in total.
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Iran News in Brief – July 12, 2025
The Ahl al-Bayt Society of Scotland, a Glasgow-based Islamic center, is under investigation after receiving over £400,000 in public funding. The center organized a memorial for the regime’s slain president Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian after their deaths in 2024. The event was led by Azzam Mohammed, a senior figure with past links to Iranian officials and state events. The group received Scottish government grants between 2014 and 2022 under the Climate Challenge Fund, meant to support emissions reduction in local communities. A UK parliamentary intelligence committee has warned that Iranian-linked cultural centers may act as platforms for ideological influence or interference. New UK regulations now require anyone acting under foreign state direction — including Iran — to register or face legal action. An Iranian national and U.S. permanent resident has been arrested on a four-count federal indictment charging him with unlawfully exporting electronics used in railway signaling and telecommunications systems from the United States to Iran, in violation the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.
THIS PAGE WILL BE UPDATED WITH THE LATEST NEWS
UPDATE: 10:00 AM CEST
Scottish Islamic Center Faces Scrutiny Over Funding and Ties to Iranian Regime
The Ahl al-Bayt Society of Scotland, a Glasgow-based Islamic center, is under investigation after receiving over £400,000 in public funding for environmental initiatives — despite alleged ties to the Iranian regime.
According to The Times, the center organized a memorial for the regime’s slain president Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian after their deaths in 2024. The event was led by Azzam Mohammed, a senior figure with past links to Iranian officials and state events.
The group received Scottish government grants between 2014 and 2022 under the Climate Challenge Fund, meant to support emissions reduction in local communities.
A UK parliamentary intelligence committee has warned that Iranian-linked cultural centers may act as platforms for ideological influence or interference. Conservative MP Andrew Bowie has called for an inquiry, demanding transparency on public funds spent.
The Scottish government has defended the vetting process, while the Iranian embassy dismissed the concerns as “baseless.” New UK regulations now require anyone acting under foreign state direction — including Iran — to register or face legal action.
CEO of an Iranian Engineering Company Arrested for Allegedly Shipping Sophisticated Electronics from the U.S. to Iran in Violation of U.S. Sanctions
An Iranian national and U.S. lawful permanent resident has been arrested on a four-count federal indictment charging him with unlawfully exporting electronics used in railway signaling and telecommunications systems from the United States to Iran, in violation the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and the Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations (ITSR).
Bahram Mohammad Ostovari, 66, a resident of Santa Monica and Tehran, Iran, was arrested Thursday afternoon upon his arrival at Los Angeles International Airport.
Ostovari is charged with one count of conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and three counts of violating the IEEPA.
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UK-France Leaders Declaration
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and the President of the French Republic met today in Downing Street for the 37th UK-France Summit. The United Kingdom and France share a commitment to peace, democracy, the rule of law, the rules-based international order, and human rights. In an international context in which these values are increasingly jeopardised, France and the United Kingdom share a responsibility to stand up for these aims and values, as major European countries, permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, major world economies, and open democracies. Our relationship and cooperation are fundamental.
We reaffirm our determination that Iran can never have a nuclear weapon. We will continue our cooperation, including in the E3 format with Germany, working with the US to ensure a robust deal on Iran’s nuclear programme that takes into account our shared security interests. We will continue to advocate for the resumption of Iran’s full cooperation with the IAEA.
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UPDATE: 8:00 AM CEST
Exhibition in Paris Highlights Iran’s Escalating Human Rights Abuses and Calls for Global Action
Exhibition in Paris Highlights Iran’s Escalating Human Rights Abuses and Calls for Global Action
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Paris, France – July 10, 2025 – Supporters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) organized an exhibition to denounce the Iranian regime’s worsening human rights violations, with a particular focus on the recent surge in executions across the country.
The event featured striking photographs and detailed documentation exposing the regime’s intensified crackdown on dissent. It drew attention to the growing number of political prisoners—many affiliated with the PMOI—who face imminent execution. Eyewitness testimonies revealed the regime’s systematic use of arbitrary arrests, torture, and death sentences as instruments of repression.
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Exhibition in Bucharest Condemns Iran Regime’s Executions and Demands Release of Political Prisoners
Exhibition in Bucharest Condemns Iran Regime’s Executions and Demands Release of Political Prisoners
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Bucharest, Romania – July 5, 2025: Supporters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) held an exhibition to protest the Iranian regime’s escalating human rights abuses, with a special focus on the recent surge in executions across the country.
The organizers demanded the immediate abolition of these death sentences and the unconditional release of all political prisoners in Iran. They condemned the regime’s ongoing human rights violations and expressed solidarity with the Iranian people’s struggle for democratic change.
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Iranian Bakers Revolt Against Regime-Induced Bankruptcy
A powerful symbol of protest is sweeping across Iran, rising not from political rallies but from the heart of daily life: the nation’s bakeries. In cities from Rasht to Tehran and Mashhad, bakers are taking to the streets, returning state-mandated equipment, and warning of mass strikes. This is not a simple labor dispute. It is a nationwide cry of desperation against the regime’s disastrous “Nanino” digital system, a policy that has pushed a vital segment of society to the brink of collapse.
The protests reveal that a change of face in the government means nothing when the systemic corruption, incompetence, and oppressive policies, all dictated by the ailing supreme leader Ali Khamenei, remain unchanged. The people’s demand for bread is rapidly becoming an undeniable demand for an end to the entire ruling theocracy.
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Political Prisoners in Qarchak Prison Commemorate 1999 Student Uprising
On the anniversary of the bloody crackdown on the student uprising of July 9, 1999, a group of women political prisoners in Qarchak Prison courageously held a memorial ceremony to honor the victims, the disappeared, and the injured of that historic uprising—despite heightened security measures and intense pressure from prison authorities.
In a symbolic and defiant act of remembrance, the political prisoners in Qarchak Prison reflected on the harrowing memories of those days, discussed the historical context of the student protests, and paid tribute to the resilience of the students who bravely stood up to state repression. They also expressed solidarity with the grieving families who continue to seek truth and justice for their loved ones.
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Transfer of Three Arab Political Prisoners to Solitary Confinement in Sepidar Prison, Ahvaz
In recent days, a wave of concern and warnings has emerged regarding the fate of three Arab political prisoners in Sepidar Prison, Ahvaz. These concerns intensified after the prisoners were suddenly and without prior notice transferred to solitary confinement—an action which, based on past experience, is usually a sign that their execution may be imminent.
These three had previously been sentenced to death by Branch 4 of the Ahvaz Revolutionary Court on charges of “collaboration with opposition groups,” “acting against national security,” and “moharebeh” (enmity against God). According to informed sources, their death sentences were recently upheld by the Supreme Court, significantly increasing the likelihood of the sentences being carried out.
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Ainollah Rezazadeh Jouybari’s Ongoing Hunger Strike in Fashafouyeh Prison
Ainollah Rezazadeh Jouybari, a dissident cleric currently held in Fashafouyeh Prison, has entered the 19th day of his hunger strike. According to sources close to his family, Rezazadeh Jouybari’s physical condition has become extremely critical. This political prisoner, who suffers from heart, liver, and kidney diseases, has been denied medical care and even access to essential medication.
Previously, this dissident cleric was imprisoned in Evin Prison. However, following the bombing of Evin Prison on June 23, 2025, he was transferred, along with dozens of other prisoners, to Fashafouyeh Prison. Instead of providing greater security, this transfer has subjected him to far harsher and more inhumane conditions. Fashafouyeh Prison, also known as the Greater Tehran Prison, has repeatedly been criticized by international human rights organizations due to severe overcrowding, very poor food quality, lack of proper sanitation facilities, and the practice of housing political prisoners alongside inmates convicted of violent crimes.
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Six Prisoners, Including a Woman, Executed in Qom, Nahavand, Rasht, and Ahvaz
Iran’s judiciary executed at least six more prisoners, including a woman, in various prisons across the country. These executions—carried out in the prisons of Qom, Nahavand, Rasht, and Ahvaz—have raised further concerns about the sharp rise in death sentences and the unfair judicial process in Iran. At dawn on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, three prisoners were executed in Qom prison. Two of them were men named Hadi Nasri and Fereydoun Naziri: Hadi Nasri, 26 years old and from Robat Karim, had been arrested three years earlier on charges of murder and sentenced to death. Fereydoun Naziri, 36 years old and from Mehrshahr, Karaj, had also been arrested three years earlier on similar charges and sentenced to death. The identity of the woman who was executed alongside them has not yet been confirmed.
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Iranian Regime Confirms Arrest of French-German Tourist Lennart Monterlos
Abbas Araghchi, the foreign minister of Iran’s regime, confirmed in an interview with Le Monde that Lennart Monterlos, an 18-year-old French-German tourist, has been arrested in Iran. This young French citizen has had no contact with his family since June 15. On Thursday, July 10, Araghchi told Le Monde that the cyclist had been arrested for committing a crime, and that a notice had been sent to the French Embassy. He did not provide further details. The French Foreign Ministry also stated that it is in contact with Iranian regime officials and Monterlos’s family. The ministry, stressing that his life may be in danger, declined to make any further comment.
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Political Prisoners Held in Inhumane Conditions in Iranian Regime Prisons
Eighteen days after the Israeli strike on Evin Prison, which resulted in the transfer of male and female political prisoners to Greater Tehran Prison and Qarchak Varamin Prison, reports continue to describe the unbearable and inhumane conditions in these facilities. Despite prisoners’ protests, their dire circumstances remain unaddressed. The political prisoners transferred to Greater Tehran and Qarchak prisons are being held in severely harsh and degrading conditions. They report severe overcrowding in their cell blocks, undrinkable salty water, unbearable heat, a lack of basic supplies and medication, and poor sanitary and ventilation conditions. Following Israel’s strike on Evin Prison in Tehran on June 23, male and female political prisoners were forcibly transferred to Greater Tehran and Qarchak prisons.
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Iran’s Parliamentary Speaker Admits Surprise at Israel’s June 3 Strikes That Decapitated Regime’s Military Leadership
Ghalibaf acknowledges Israeli surprise attack targeted top commanders and exposed internal vulnerabilities as Khamenei remained absent from public view for over three weeks.
Iranian regime officials continue to grapple with the shockwaves of Israel’s devastating June 3 strikes, which marked the beginning of a 12-day war and led to the death of several of Iran regime’s most senior military and intelligence leaders. In a rare and unusually candid statement, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the Speaker of the Iranian regime’s parliament, admitted that the nature and precision of Israel’s operation caught the regime by surprise.
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U.S. Issues Strong Warning to Americans: Avoid Travel to Iran Amid Rising Hostage Detentions
US Department of State launches urgent travel advisory amid Iran’s growing hostage-taking tactics. Washington, D.C., July 10, 2025 — The U.S. Department of State has issued a stark warning to all Americans, particularly Iranian-Americans and dual citizens, urging them to avoid travel to Iran due to escalating security threats and the Iranian regime’s ongoing practice of detaining foreign nationals as political hostages.
At a press briefing on July 10, Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce announced a new awareness campaign designed to highlight the severe risks of traveling to Iran. “The Iranian regime does not recognize dual nationality and routinely denies consular services to detained U.S. citizens,” Bruce said. “While recent bombings in the region have ceased, that does not mean it is safe to travel to Iran. It is not.”
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Post-War Political Rift Deepens in Iran’s Regime over Nuclear Talks and US Relations
Internal divisions deepen as Iran’s so-called reformists warn of U.S. retaliation and hardliners demand maximalist terms for nuclear talks.
Divisions within Iran’s regime have widened in the aftermath of the 12-day Iran-Israel War, as so-called reformists and hardliners clash over the future of nuclear negotiations and Tehran’s stance toward the United States. The growing rift has exposed contrasting visions among regime factions, with hardliners embracing confrontational maximalism and moderates advocating for de-escalation to avoid further conflict.
On July 9, the reformist-aligned newspaper Ham Mihan published a strongly worded editorial warning that public threats against foreign leaders—particularly US President Donald Trump—risk provoking American retaliation. The editorial criticized the Iranian regime Judiciary’s apparent “double standards” for prosecuting “minor dissent” while failing to address public calls for assassination. It referenced Trump’s 2023 assassination attempt, cautioning that similar incidents could serve as a justification for US retaliation “regardless of Iranian denials.”
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UK Parliament’s Intelligence Committee Warns of Rising Iranian Threat in Landmark Report
The Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament (ISC) has published a landmark report titled “Iran”, revealing a comprehensive and urgent assessment of the threats posed by the Iranian regime to the United Kingdom and its interests. Based on an extensive two-year inquiry that concluded in August 2023, the report paints a sobering picture of Iran’s broad and increasingly aggressive activities against the UK, spanning espionage, cyberattacks, physical threats, and interference operations.
Committee Chairman Lord Beamish described Iran as posing a “wide-ranging, persistent and unpredictable threat” to the UK and its nationals. The report highlights Tehran’s extensive use of asymmetric tactics and proxy actors—including criminal networks, terrorist groups, and private cyber actors—to advance its goals while maintaining plausible deniability.
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Also, read Iran News in Brief – July 11, 2025
Nobel laureate warns Iran is increasingly repressing its own citizens
Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi says Iran is using war with Israel to “spread fear and terror” She is serving a 13-year, 9-month sentence in Iran’s notorious Evin Prison. She is defying a government order to return to the prison following urgent, life-saving surgery. She and other activists have expressed particular concern over the condition and fate of Evin’s prisoners following Israel’s June 23 missile strike on the facility, which killed 71 people, including many dissidents and political prisoners. She warned that the regime, “now weakened,” has tightened its grip on civil liberties, turning on alleged traitors from within. “We are now witnessing the intensification of the war between the Islamic Republic and the people of Iran,” she said. “I believe our situation has become even more dangerous for the people than it was before the war,” she told ABC News, calling for international scrutiny of Iran’s treatment of its citizens. “Our work and our fight have now became even more difficult,” she added.
Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi, in a video message to ABC News, warned that a surge in executions and widespread arrests since the war began shows that the regime is using the moment to deflect from decades of alleged repression and failed policy, with the aim to “spread fear and terror.”
“We are now witnessing the intensification of the war between the Islamic Republic and the people of Iran — a war that’s been going on for 46 years,” Mohammadi said.
While Iranian authorities have publicly celebrated what they call a “victory” over Israel, Mohammadi rejects that claim.
“I simply don’t believe this,” she said. “War weakens the very tools needed to achieve human rights and democracy — like civil society. I believe that with the Islamic Republic still in power after this war, our work and our fight have now become even more difficult.”
She warned that the regime, “now weakened,” has tightened its grip on civil liberties, turning on alleged traitors from within.
Iranian authorities, while acknowledging damage to parts of their nuclear facilities and infrastructure, insist they remain strong and unified. State-affiliated media have framed the recent wave of arrests and executions as necessary measures to protect national security, alleging infiltration and espionage linked to Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency.
Mohammadi spoke from her home in Tehran, where she is defying a government order to return to Iran’s notorious Evin Prison following urgent, life-saving surgery. Mohammadi, who is serving a 13-year, 9-month sentence, was granted a medical furlough from the prison, where many of the country’s dissidents and political prisoners are held.
She and other activists have expressed particular concern over the condition and fate of Evin’s prisoners following Israel’s June 23 missile strike on the facility. According to Iran’s judiciary spokesperson, at least 71 people were killed in the strike, which the United Nations Human Rights Office condemned as a “gross violation” of international law. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Israel hit “regime targets and agencies of government repression” across Tehran, including Evin.
While Mohammadi also condemned the strike, she warned that what has followed may pose an even greater human rights threat.
Mohammadi, who was on furlough at the time of the attack, told ABC News she has spoken extensively with prisoners and their families.
“After the attack, the situation inside Evin became extremely securitized,” said Mohammadi, who all told has been handed more than 36 years of prison time on multiple charges including committing “propaganda activity against the state” and “collusion against state security” — vaguely defined national security offenses commonly used by authorities to criminalize peaceful dissent.
“Prisoner transfers are now happening under heavily militarized conditions.” Mohammadi said, “with full sniper coverage [and prisoners] shackled with both handcuffs and leg irons.”
Following days of uncertainty, Iran’s Prisons Organization announced that detainees had been transferred to other prisons across Tehran Province. State media reported that many were moved to facilities including Qarchak Prison and Greater Tehran Prison.
“The situation inside both prisons is extremely worrying,” Mohammadi said, describing the transferred inmates as “war-affected detainees” now subjected to what she called “severe repression.”
A source close to the families of several political prisoners, who asked that their name not be used due to fear of reprisals, told ABC News that conditions in Qarchak Prison are “unbearable” and “akin to torture,” citing overcrowding, a lack of food and drinking water, poor sanitation, and insufficient access to basic necessities.
Three political prisoners — Golrokh Iraee, Reyhaneh Ansari and Varisheh Moradi — issued a joint statement from Qarchak Prison, saying, “We do not consider today’s suffering of our own to be greater than the suffering imposed on the people of Iran.”
Mohammadi told ABC News that she is calling for renewed international scrutiny of Iran’s treatment of its own citizens.
“I believe our situation has become even more dangerous for the people than it was before the war, and we must expand our human rights activities,” she said. “I hope international human rights organizations will refocus their special and particular attention on the repressions now being carried out in Iran after the war — including the issue of arrests, prisons, torture, forced confessions, and then the executions.”
Mohammadi also warned that based on “clear evidence and reports,” she expects that the government’s crackdown on civil society, particularly young people and activists, is likely to “become even more severe” in the coming days.
Despite the regime’s efforts to silence dissent, Mohammadi said she remains committed to her activism, even as pressure mounts on her, her family, and friends. A member of her support team told ABC News that she has received repeated phone calls demanding her return to prison, and that intelligence agents have summoned, interrogated, and harassed her friends and family in what appears to be an effort to isolate her.
Her team also says Iranian financial authorities issued an official order to seize Mohammadi’s Nobel Peace Prize award money — 17 billion toman or approximately USD $400,000 — echoing a similar tactic used against fellow Nobel laureate Shirin Ebadi in 2009.
“I want to see an end to the Islamic Republic — a repressive, theocratic, and authoritarian system that is misogynistic, unreformable, and fundamentally dysfunctional,” Mohammadi’s said. “But I am against war — because it drains the strength and capacity of the Iranian people, civil society, and pro-democracy activists.”
Still, she remains hopeful.
“For decades, we’ve been fighting for freedom, democracy, and equality — enduring repression, imprisonment, executions, and torture. But we’ve never backed down,” she said. “Until the day democracy is achieved — I will not stop.”