Category: News

Iranian Foreign Minister Confirms Arrest of Franco-German Citizen

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News
Abbas Araghchi, HRANA, Lennart Monterlos

HRANA– Abbas Araghchi, Iran’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, confirmed in an interview with a French magazine that Lennart Monterlos, a Franco-German national, has been arrested in Iran. He claimed that the individual was detained for committing a crime.

According to ISNA, in an interview with a French publication, Araghchi stated that the arrest was due to “committing a crime.” According to him, “an official notice regarding this individual’s status has been sent to the French embassy.”

A while ago, a German-language news outlet covering news related to France and the world reported that Lennart Monterlos, an 18-year-old French citizen, had traveled to Iran by bicycle. He went missing on June 16 , and there has been no news of him since.

Prisoner Executed in Nahavand Prison

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Executions, News
Ahmadali Mahdinejad, Nahavand, Sahneh County

HRANA – On Wednesday, July 9, 2025, a prisoner previously sentenced to death on murder charges was executed in Nahavand Prison.

HRANA has identified the executed prisoner as Ahmadali Mahdinejad, a resident of Sahneh County, Kermanshah province.

Mahdinejad had been arrested on charges of murder and later sentenced to death by a criminal court.

As of the time of this report, the execution has not been officially announced by prison authorities or other responsible institutions.

In 2024, according to 812 reports compiled by HRANA, the Iranian regime executed 930 individuals in its prisons—marking the highest number of executions in the past 12 years. Despite the scale of these executions, prison officials and other relevant authorities publicly acknowledged only 6% of them, highlighting the regime’s lack of transparency and accountability.

Two Prisoners Executed in Qom Prison

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Executions, News
HRANA, Qom prison

HRANA News Agency – At dawn on Thursday, July 10, two prisoners previously sentenced to death on murder charges were executed in Qom Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, the executions took place early this morning, with both individuals hanged after being convicted of murder in criminal courts.

Efforts by HRANA to confirm the identities of the executed prisoners and obtain further details are ongoing.

As of the time of this report, prison authorities and relevant institutions have not officially announced the executions.

In 2024, according to 812 reports compiled by HRANA, the Iranian regime executed 930 individuals in its prisons—marking the highest number of executions in the past 12 years. Despite the scale of these executions, prison officials and other relevant authorities publicly acknowledged only 6% of them, highlighting the regime’s lack of transparency and accountability.

Arrest of Alleged Israeli Agents Accused of Disrupting Iran’s Gold and Currency Markets

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News, Other
Fatemeh Maghsoudi, HRANA

HRANA– The spokesperson for Iran’s Parliamentary Economic Commission has announced the arrest of several individuals she described as “Israeli operatives” accused of disrupting the country’s gold and currency markets.

According to HRANA, quoting ILNA, Commission spokesperson Fatemeh Maghsoudi claimed that the detainees were arrested for “links to Israel and for destabilizing the gold and currency markets.”
She alleged that “the turbulence in Iran’s gold and currency markets has been caused by foreign interference,” and said: “Israeli agents were entering the markets with large sums of money and triggering extreme volatility. They were previously unknown figures who played a major role in the economic imbalance. These spies were the key cause of the disruptions, but now they’ve been neutralized.”

Maghsoudi offered no details on the judicial proceedings or legal status of the detainees. She added: “Many of them have been identified and arrested. Security agencies are continuing efforts to locate and remove these individuals from the market.”

The report did not mention the number or identities of those arrested.

In recent years, Iranian officials across various branches of government have frequently attributed political and economic crises to the interference of “foreign enemies” or “infiltrators.” Currency and gold rates remain key indicators of Iran’s economic health and are closely watched by both citizens and economic actors.

Concern Over Imminent Executions: Three Political Prisoners Moved to Solitary in Ahvaz’s Sepidar Prison

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News, Prisoners
Adnan Ghobishavi, Ali Mojaddam, and Mohammadreza Moghaddam, Habib Deris, Moein Khanfari, Salem Mousavi, Sepidar Prison, Sheiban Prison

HRANA– Ali Mojaddam, Moein Khanfari, and Mohammadreza Moghaddam, three political prisoners on death row in Sepidar Prison, Ahvaz, were transferred to solitary confinement on June 26, 2025. Their move has heightened their families’ fears that the executions may be carried out soon.

According to HRANA, prison authorities shifted the men from the general ward to solitary cells on that date, without giving any explanation.

Ali Mojaddam, Mohammadreza Moghaddam, Moein Khanfari, Habib Deris, Adnan Ghobishavi, and Salem Mousavi were arrested by security forces in Khuzestan Province in February 2019.

Feb-Mar, 2023, the Ahvaz Revolutionary Court sentenced: Mojaddam and Moghaddam to death for “leadership and membership in the military wing of the Harakat al-Nidal (in Iran),” deemed an armed rebellion against the Islamic Republic. Khanfari, Deris, Ghobishavi, and Mousavi to death for membership in the same group on the same charge. All verdicts are currently under review by the Supreme Court.

In October 2023, Mojaddam, Moghaddam, Khanfari, and Ghobishavi were moved from Sheiban Prison to Sepidar Prison.

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Six Months On, No Word From Detained British Couple in Iran

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News, Prisoners
Asghar Jahangir, Craig Foreman, irgc, Joe Bennet, Kerman, Lindsay Foreman

HRANA – Joe Bennet, the son of Craig and Lindsay Foreman, the British couple arrested in Iran about six months ago on espionage charges, has voiced concern over his parents’ situation, saying they have had no contact with him since their detention.

According to HRANA, quoting BBC Persian, Bennet said he learned of his parents’ arrest roughly six months ago and has not heard their voices since. He added that, based on what he has been told, his father and mother are being held “in a three-by-three-metre cell.”

In late February, Judiciary spokesperson Asghar Jahangir stated that the couple had been arrested by Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) intelligence agents and were accused of “espionage.” The family rejects the allegation.

On February 13, 2025, the Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office of Kerman Province announced in a statement that Hugo Shorter, the British ambassador to Iran, met with the two security detainees at the prosecutor’s office in the provincial capital.

The 52-year-old couple were detained in Kerman about six months ago. They had entered Iran on a round-the-world motorcycle trip and intended to travel on to Pakistan after a few days.

Iranian authorities have arrested numerous foreign nationals in recent years on charges such as espionage or cooperating with hostile states. While some have been released after prolonged negotiations, human-rights organizations and several Western governments accuse Tehran of using these detentions as political leverage—an accusation Iranian officials consistently deny.

Prisoner Executed in Karaj Central Penitentiary on Drug-Related Charges

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Executions, News
Amin Shokripour, Ilam, Karaj

HRANA – Today, July 9, a prisoner previously sentenced to death on drug-related charges was executed in Karaj Central Penitentiary.

HRANA has identified the individual as Amin Shokripour, approximately 42 years old, a resident of Helilan County, Ilam Province.

According to information received by HRANA, Mr. Shokripour was arrested about six years ago on drug-related charges and was later sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court.

As of the time of this report, prison authorities and relevant institutions have not publicly announced the execution.

According to HRANA’s report, in 2024, over 52 percent of executed prisoners had been convicted on drug-related charges. Over the past ten years, individuals convicted of drug trafficking have accounted for 40 percent of all executions. Unfortunately, HRANA’s statistics show no progress in reducing executions for drug-related offenses.

Details on the Current Condition of Political Prisoner Omid Fathi in Vakilabad Prison, Mashhad

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News, Prisoners
HRANA, Omid Fathi, Vakilabad prison, امید فتحی

HRANA – Omid Fathi, a political prisoner, is serving his sentence in Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad without being held separately from prisoners convicted of non-political crimes, in violation of the principle of separation of crimes.

Based on information received by HRANA, Mr. Fathi is being held in Ward 104, designated for general crimes, without regard for the principle of separating prisoners based on the nature of their charges. On June 11, 2025, Branch 1 of the Mashhad Revolutionary Court sentenced him to a fine of 50 million tomans in lieu of six months in prison. Due to his inability to pay the fine, he is now serving the prison sentence.

A source close to Mr. Fathi’s family confirmed to HRANA: “After his arrest, Omid Fathi was interrogated at Branch 901 of the Mashhad Prosecutor’s Office and faced charges such as ‘propaganda against the regime,’ ‘disturbing public opinion,’ and ‘calling for an election boycott on social media.’ The charge of insulting judicial officials was also raised. Another part of his case, which includes charges such as insulting the Supreme Leader, was supposed to be handled in a separate court session. However, due to the timing of Israel’s attack on Iran, that session was not held.”

It is worth noting that Omid Fathi suffers from a Lumbar disc pain. According to the same source, due to sciatic nerve pressure, he walks with a stoop and is in poor physical condition.

Omid Fathi was arrested by security forces in Mashhad on June 3, 2025, and was later transferred to Vakilabad Prison.

Fathi, a resident of Mashhad, has previously faced security-related pressures due to his activism.

Four Citizens Arrested by Security Forces in Oshnavieh

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News, Other
Jamal Hosseinnejad, Kaveh Khakinejad, Mahmoud Ghaderi, Mansour Farash, Oshnavieh

HRANA– Kaveh Khakinejad, Mahmoud Ghaderi, Mansour Farash, and Jamal Hosseinnejad, all residents of Oshnavieh, were arrested by security forces in this city and taken to an undisclosed location.

According to HRANA, quoting Kurdpa, Khakinejad, Ghaderi, and Farash were arrested at their homes early Wednesday morning, July 9, 2025, by security forces. Jamal Hosseinnejad was also arrested early Monday morning, July 7, at his home, by security agents without a court warrant.

As of now, the reasons for their arrest, the charges against them, and their place of detention remain unknown.

Miandoab: Prisoner Executed in Public

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Executions, News
Baruq, HRANA, Miandoab

HRANA– On Wednesday, July 9, a prisoner previously sentenced to death for the murder of four women was executed in public in the Baruq District of Miandoab County.

According to Mizan News Agency, the Chief Justice of West Azerbaijan Province stated: “The convict was accused of committing four counts of premeditated murder of Muslim women in the Baruq District of Miandoab. After proceedings in the prosecutor’s office and criminal court—with the presence of the defendant, their attorney, and the victims’ families—the Criminal Court Branch One issued a death sentence, which was later upheld by the Supreme Court.”

Nasser Atabati added: “At the request of the victims’ families, the death sentence was carried out at dawn today in public in the Baruq District of Miandoab County.”

In 2024, according to 812 reports compiled by HRANA, the Iranian regime executed 930 individuals in its prisons—marking the highest number of executions in the past 12 years. Despite the scale of these executions, prison officials and other relevant authorities publicly acknowledged only 6% of them, highlighting the regime’s lack of transparency and accountability.