Iranian Commander Asserts Military Readiness

The association has demanded the "immediate and unconditional" cancellation of the sentence, which includes property confiscation, highlighting a broader trend of crackdowns on freedom of expression within the country.

In a public statement, the association, of which Rasoulof is an honorary member, labeled the verdict as part of a "new wave of intimidation and suppression" of individual freedoms in Iran.

The group asserted that Rasoulof has not committed any offenses warranting such punishments, criticizing the regime for protecting those "who have been busy plundering the wealth, security, and freedom of the people" for over four decades.

This latest sentence continues a history of penalties for Rasoulof, who was first imprisoned in 2010 and banned from filmmaking for creating work deemed anti-regime by the authorities. His sentence was later reduced on appeal.

Despite state intimidation, Rasoulof continued to create impactful cinema, including his 2020 film There Is No Evil, which won the Golden Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival. The film critiques the oppressive measures of the Iranian regime.

In 2022, Rasoulof was again arrested after he publicly criticized the military and security forces for their role in suppressing dissent and urged them not to act against protesters.

His latest film, The Seed of the Sacred Fig, is set to be screened at this year's Cannes Film Festival, highlighting his ongoing commitment to addressing social issues through cinema.

He is one in a long line of artists including death-row rapper Toomaj Salehi to be give disproportionate sentences for dissent amid the regime’s crackdown which has worsened since the 2022 uprising.

The run-off elections were held for 45 of the 290 seats in the Islamic Consultative Assembly (Majles), with voting taking place in the capital and 21 other constituencies. This included two seats in Mashhad, Iran's second-largest city, four seats in Tabriz, and two seats in Shiraz, both ranking as the fifth-largest cities in the country.

In Tehran, candidates vied for sixteen of the city’s total 30 seats. The preliminary results show a turnout of between 7 and 8 percent, marking the lowest voter participation in the history of the Islamic Republic. In the Greater Tehran Area alone, 7.75 million people were eligible to vote.

This voter apathy stems from widespread dissatisfaction in recent years, particularly following the severe crackdown on the Woman, Life, Freedom protests from 2022 to 2023, and the extensive disqualification of candidates not considered insiders by the current regime. The deepening of poverty also has convinced many that the Islamic Republic is simply incapable of governing for the good of citizens.

The election watchdog, the Guardian Council, not only barred political rivals such as reformists, but also many conservatives in these elections, leaving the battle to the most hardline among supporters of the Islamic Republic and its Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

The frontrunner in the run-off elections of Tehran, Bizhan Nobaveh who is a member of the ultra-hardliner Paydari Party has only gained around 270,000 votes, or 3.5 percent of eligible voters.

Nearly all candidates who have been elected so far were nominated by supporters of President Ebrahim Raisi.

Seyed Mahmoud Nabavian was the front runner in Tehran in the March elections with 597,000 votes, the least for a Tehran frontrunner in all elections since the Islamic Revolution of 1979.

Nabavian was among the fourteen candidates whose number of votes was over the minimum required to be elected in the first round on March 1, with 100,000 less than his own votes in 2016 when he came 52nd among the candidates in the capital. In the 2016 elections the 30th ranking candidate had over a million and the frontrunner, reformist Mohammadreza Aref, was elected with 1.6 million votes.

Turnout in Mashhad, Shiraz, and Tabriz is so far around 8, 15, and 8 percent, respectively.

Concerned about possible adverse consequences if they do not vote, in recent years many eligible voters, particularly civil servants, have voted, but cast blank or void ballots in protest to absence of acceptable candidates or to the general political, cultural, and economic policies of the regime. In the presidential elections of 2021, blank and void votes amounted to 3.7 million, around 13 percent of all votes.

The regime has always been deeply concerned about low turnout because officials, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, have always boasted that higher turnout in Iranian elections in comparison with some Western countries was proof of the regime’s legitimacy and popularity with its citizens.

Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi, however, has thanked the Iranians for “creating an epic” as Iranian officials including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei usually say about turnout in elections.

“We return the currency generated from these projects to the country and we do not work for free for any country,” Abdolreza Abed stated during a press conference on Saturday.
Iran has entered into barter agreements involving oil and gas to circumvent financial and sanctions-related hurdles. Specifically, Iran has agreed to provide natural gas and electricity to Iraq in exchange for crude oil and mazut.

Additionally, Iran has negotiated a separate barter agreement with China, where it provides oil in exchange for infrastructure development projects, such as the expansion of Imam Khomeini Airport in Tehran.

Founded during the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq War, Khatam al-Anbiya Construction Headquarters has grown to become one of Iran’s most significant industrial and development contractors, showing the intricate ties between the military and political arms of the regime.

The organization has expanded into diverse fields such as mechanical engineering, energy, mining, and defense.

Abed also claimed that a major project in Sri Lanka was inaugurated three weeks ago.

“The president of Sri Lanka recognized the Islamic Republic as a significant contributor to their development during this period,” Abed said.

Abedi’s comments follow significant financial expenditures and a lack of transparency regarding the organization's operations in Syria.

Reports suggest that Syria, where Iran has invested heavily in support of President Bashar al-Assad, owes Tehran more than $30 billion, while its own economy is in crisis.

With Iran holding a relatively small share of Syria’s trade and facing severe economic pressures at home, the likelihood of recovering these funds appears uncertain.

The prince who is a top opposition leader, also mentioned that extremist factions on both the right and left within the Iranian opposition are hindering unity among groups with different persuasions.

While the Pahlavi family seems to enjoy a large measure of popularity in Iran, many among the Iranian opposition call themselves republicans and are opposed to the restoration of monarchy. Prince Reza Pahlavi has not advocated a return to constitutional monarchy, always insisting that after the downfall of the Islamic Republic, the people should decide the type of the democratic political system they prefer.

Prince Pahlavi was speaking in London at "The Future of Iran: Challenges and Solutions”, with several political activists in attendance in London.

At the beginning of the meeting, he stated, "The countries of the world should know that if diplomacy has failed, the main solution [to the Middle East crisis] is not military action but rather support for the people of Iran."

Israel has threatened to attack Iran's nuclear facility if the Islamic government obtains nuclear weapons, but Mr. Pahlavi in his speech ruled out the option and urged support for the people to overthrow the Islamic Republic.

He highlighted the disagreements among the political groups opposing the Islamic Republic, saying, "In a place where we know there are differences of opinion and taste, the people will make the final decision. It is the people who will decide the future of Iran."

However, he highlighted the importance of adhering to "rules of the game," stating that there are certain basic principles, among which "human rights are the most important."

He identified a secular political system and the territorial integrity of the country as other basic principles essential for uniting Iranian secular democratic forces.

Prince Reza Pahlavi emphasized that extremist factions on both the right and left of the opposition to the Islamic Republic prevent unity among the forces opposing the current regime in Iran.

After the 2022 nationwide uprising against the Islamic Republic, the Council of Solidarity for Democracy and Freedom in Iran held its first meeting at Georgetown University in Washington DC on February 10, 2023.

This council, which included diaspora members like Prince Reza Pahlavi, Hamed Esmaeilion, Shirin Ebadi, Abdullah Mohtadi, Masih Alinejad, and Nazanin Boniadi, published its "Charter of Solidarity and Organization for Freedom" on March 10, 2023.

The council eventually disbanded due to the departure of some of its members.

Masih Alinejad, a journalist and civil activist, previously commented on the breakdown of this coalition, saying, "Not only do Westerners have this question, but the people of Iran too, wondering how foreign governments can trust an opposition that is scattered like driftwood."

In February 2024, Hamed Esmaeilion spoke to Iran International about the reasons for his withdrawal from the Solidarity Council, stating that while the majority wanted to advance plans through the formation of specialized committees, a constitution, and mechanisms, there was "resistance from Mr. Pahlavi."

However, Prince Reza Pahlavi stated, "We must be able to show the countries of the world that we are not lacking in capability and management," adding, "We can show the world that there is another way besides attacking Iran's nuclear facilities."

He referred to the changing positions of the reformist forces in Iran, saying, "Even the reformists have become disillusioned with this regime and are looking for a point of connection with the opponents of the regime. Those whose hands are not stained with the blood of the people should have guarantees for the day after the regime's collapse."

In June 2022, the son of Iran's last Shah once again called for the unity of the people to overthrow the Islamic Republic, emphasizing respect for the diverse opinions and groups of the people, saying, "We should disavow those who engage in obscenity and confront ugly behavior with obscenity."

During recent years' nationwide protests, many protesters supported the Pahlavi regime, especially the founder of the dynasty, Reza Shah, chanting slogans like "Reza Shah, may your soul be joyful."

According to a report from the rights group Human Rights in Iran, a recent visit by the 54-year-old's mother revealed that her daughter is experiencing psychological issues due to her imprisonment conditions.

The group claims, "The prosecutor and the Ministry of Intelligence have opposed the conditional release of the Christian convert. Given the circumstances, there is an urgent need for her to be sent to a medical center for specialized neurological examinations."

Arrested in February, Sa'ati was sentenced in March to two years in prison and a two-year travel ban, convicted of "acting against national security through association with Zionist Christian organizations."

The trial was conducted without the option for Sa'ati to choose her own lawyer, charges based on her religious activities after returning to Iran in 2017 from Malaysia, where she converted and sought refugee status. Evidence found on her mobile phone such as a baptism video and participation in church activities abroad was used against her.

In 2021, 53 Christian converts were arrested, according to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Iran, Javaid Rehman, with numbers rising ever faster in the wake of the 2022 uprising.

The 2023 annual report from London-based Article18 shows a rise in the arrests of Christians in Iran, either for the practice or spreading of the faith, increasing from 134 in 2022 to 166 last year. 

In Iran, where Shia Islam predominates, only the Abrahamic faiths—Christianity, Islam, and Judaism—are officially recognized. However, under Sharia law, it is illegal in Iran for Muslims to convert to Christianity.