Post-War Unemployment: 2,000 Workers Laid Off in Rasht, 135,000 Jobs Lost Nationwide

HRANA – Iran’s labor market, due to the consequences of war, has faced a significant rise in unemployment and workforce reductions. In Rasht alone, at least 2,000 workers have lost their jobs over the past one to two months. Nationwide, the loss of approximately 135,000 jobs, the exit of nearly one million people from the labor market, and the registration of at least 191,000 unemployment insurance claims all point to a deepening employment crisis and increasing pressure on workers’ livelihoods.

According to ILNA, at least 2,000 workers in Rasht have become unemployed. Based on this report, labor sources in Rasht County have reported an increasing trend of layoffs in production, industrial, and service units in the region. According to these sources, over the past one to two months, at least 2,000 workers have lost their jobs. Among these cases are approximately 490 workers at the “Pink” company, 500 at “Paya Modern,” 190 at “Gilara,” and 55 at a poultry unit.

Additionally, layoffs, albeit on a smaller scale, have also been reported in other units, including “Darougar Rasht” and “.” According to labor sources, shortages of raw materials and reduced financial resources due to declining sales are among the main reasons cited for these layoffs. Many workers have reportedly referred to the labor office to apply for unemployment benefits.

At a joint meeting of labor and employer organizations, participants highlighted the widespread impact of the war on the labor market.

Based on a report by ILNA, statements made during the meeting indicate that approximately 135,000 jobs have been directly lost during the war. Even prior to the recent military attacks, following the 12-day war, nearly one million people had exited the labor market, of whom only about 300,000 have returned to formal employment. It has also been reported that around 200,000 new applicants have been added to those seeking unemployment insurance.

According to HRA’s annual report, in 2025, there were reports of delayed or unpaid wages amounting to at least 638 months across 182 industrial and service units, 2,458 cases of dismissals or layoffs and 3,761 workers left in uncertain employment conditions.

Seven Citizens Arrested on Accusations of “Connections with Foreign Media and Disturbing Public Opinion”

HRANA – Gilan police announced the arrest of seven citizens in the province on charges described as “connections with foreign media outlets and disturbing public opinion.”

According to IRNA, the Gilan Police Information Center claimed that these individuals were affiliated with foreign media outlets and had been disturbing public opinion by publishing content and images on social media.

The report states that they were arrested over the past 48 hours and, after cases were filed, were referred to judicial authorities for legal proceedings.

As of the time of this report, no information is available regarding their identities or place of detention.

It is worth noting that the U.S. and Israeli military attacks on Iran began on February 28, 2026, and on April 8, 2026, a two-week ceasefire between the parties was announced. Since the beginning of these attacks, HRANA has been documenting and recording related incidents across different parts of the country on a daily basis. For further information, readers may refer to HRANA’s detailed reports covering the forty days of the conflict.

At Least 45 Citizens Arrested by The Ministry of Intelligence Across 7 Provinces

HRANA – At least 45 citizens have been arrested by agents of the Ministry of Intelligence in the provinces of Khuzestan, Gilan, Isfahan, Hormozgan, Hamedan, Kerman, and Kermanshah. Alleged links to Israeli and U.S. intelligence services, as well as media outlets based outside the country, were cited among the reasons for these arrests. A video containing the forced confession of one of these citizens has also been released, although the circumstances under which it was recorded remain unclear.

According to Tasnim News Agency, the Ministry of Intelligence of Iran claimed that 11 citizens, including the main network leader allegedly linked to Israeli intelligence services, were identified and arrested in Isfahan Province.

The statement further alleged that these citizens are accused of killing a Basij member and one Ministry of Intelligence agent in Khuzestan, as well as injuring several other Basij members. It also claimed that over the past two months, 11 other members of this “terrorist group” had been arrested, while five others were killed during an armed clash with security forces.

Separately, a video of the forced confession of one of these citizens has been published, though the conditions under which it was recorded are unknown.

The Ministry of Intelligence also announced the arrest of four citizens in Khuzestan and Kermanshah Provinces. The agency alleged that these individuals intended to carry out “sabotage” operations and were identified and arrested in the cities of Andimeshk and Qasr-e Shirin. According to the Ministry, “a number of weapons were discovered and seized from these citizens.”

In the same statement, the Ministry of Intelligence reported the arrest of 30 more citizens in four provinces, describing them as “members of a terrorist group linked to Israeli intelligence services.”

According to the agency, four citizens were arrested in Gilan Province, eight in Kerman Province, six in Hamedan Province, and 12 in Hormozgan Province. It also claimed that quantities of homemade bombs and weapons were discovered and confiscated from them.

The report did not provide further details, including the identities of these citizens or their place of detention.

It is worth noting that the U.S. and Israeli military attacks on Iran began on February 28, 2026, and on April 8, 2026, a two-week ceasefire between the parties was announced. Since the beginning of these attacks, HRANA has been documenting and recording related incidents across different parts of the country on a daily basis. For further information, readers may refer to HRANA’s detailed reports covering the forty days of the conflict.

Arrest of 23 Citizens on Accusations of Foreign Contacts and Anti-Government Activities

HRANA – Iranian domestic media have reported the arrest of 23 citizens in the provinces of Lorestan, Hormozgan, Mazandaran, and Gilan on accusations including “sending information to foreign countries and links to groups opposed to the government.”

According to IRIB, 19 citizens were arrested by forces of The Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility. In a statement, Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence announced that seven individuals accused of “communicating with pages attributed to Israel on social media and sending information about sensitive, military, and infrastructure sites” were arrested in the provinces of Lorestan and Hormozgan.

Officers of this institution also arrested eight citizens in Mazandaran Province and four individuals in Gilan Province, who were alleged to have intended to “take action against law enforcement centers and security forces.”

Separately, according to Fars, four citizens were arrested in Tonekabon. The county’s law enforcement command claimed that these individuals were “affiliated with groups opposed to the government,” and that a number of unauthorized hunting weapons were also discovered in their possession.

These reports did not provide further details, including the identities or places of detention of these citizens.

It should be noted that the military attacks by the United States and Israel on Iran began on February 28, 2026. Since the beginning of these attacks, HRANA has been documenting and recording events related to these conflicts across various parts of the country on a daily basis. For more information, you may refer to HRANA’s detailed report on the 40th day of the conflict, which was published last night.

At Least 67 Citizens Arrested in Connection with the War

HRANA – Domestic media outlets have reported that at least 67 citizens have been arrested in connection with the war: one in Robat Karim, two in Naein, ten in Tabriz, and 54 in the provinces of Tehran, Gilan, Fars, and Kermanshah.

According to Ham-Mihan, the Robat Karim prosecutor claimed that a citizen who had “recorded and sent footage expressing happiness over the attack on the Saba Battery factory to foreign media outlets” was identified and arrested.

In another report, Ham-Mihan announced that 10 citizens were arrested in Tabriz by police forces. According to the report, these individuals had allegedly been “sending information about the locations of security forces, as well as images and videos of projectile impact sites, to foreign media outlets.” It is further claimed that four of them were arrested on charges of espionage for countries involved in the war, including the United States and Israel.

Separately, Mehr News Agency reported that two citizens were arrested in Naein County. The Naein police commander stated that two citizens who had been “communicating with and sending information to foreign media outlets” were identified and detained.

In another report, IRIB News announced that 54 citizens were arrested in four provinces by the Ministry of Intelligence. According to the Ministry, 41 were arrested in Tehran, five in Fars Province, and eight in Gilan and Kermanshah Provinces.

According to this report, these individuals were arrested on allegations including “communication with countries involved in the war and opposition groups, intent to carry out terrorist acts, sending images of missile strike locations, filming and photographing such sites, and sending the material to Iran International.”

The same report added that during the arrests, authorities allegedly discovered and seized several homemade bombs, bladed weapons, a handgun, three organizational communication devices, one pistol, and one Starlink satellite internet device.

The reports did not provide further details, including the identities of those arrested, the exact dates and locations of the arrests, or where they are being held.

It should be noted that the military attacks by the United States and Israel against Iran began on February 28, 2026. Since the beginning of these attacks, HRANA has been documenting and recording related incidents across different parts of the country on a daily basis. For more information, readers may refer to HRANA’s detailed report on the thirty-first day of the conflict, published last night.

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Dozens Arrested as Truckers’ Strikes Spread Across Iran

HRANA News Agency –At least 20 truckers and supporters have been arrested in connection with a wave of truckers’ strikes that began on May 22 in cities across Iran, including Sanandaj, Eslamabad-e Gharb, Kermanshah, Rasht, Bandar Imam Khomeini, Bandar Lengeh, and Shiraz.

The strikes, launched in protest of longstanding grievances over working conditions and economic pressures, have drawn a strong security response. Among those detained are Sediq Mohammadi and Shahab Darabi, arrested in Sanandaj and Eslamabad-e Gharb respectively. The whereabouts of Mohammadi remain unknown.

The National Union of Truckers and Drivers has released several statements confirming the arrest of at least 11 drivers in Kermanshah and several others in Sanandaj. The union also reported violent police tactics, including the use of pepper spray against striking drivers at the Sanandaj terminal.

In Rasht, the IRGC’s Gilan provincial office announced the arrest of a citizen for allegedly supporting the strike. The individual was accused of “disrupting the order and security of road transport” and “aiding opposition groups” through negative portrayals of the situation.

The IRGC in Khuzestan Province reported the arrest of two individuals in Bandar Imam Khomeini on similar charges. State media later aired what appeared to be their forced confessions.

Authorities in Bandar Lengeh also arrested a citizen for allegedly producing and distributing videos encouraging strike participation. Police claimed the videos were shared with foreign media outlets.

In Shiraz, the local prosecutor confirmed the detention of several drivers, accusing them of “deliberate and organized disruption” of the transportation system. No specific number of detainees was disclosed.

HRANA previously published a detailed report on the first week of the truckers’ strike, outlining its causes, scale, and the government’s response, including arrests and repression.

Evin Prison: Medical Care and Medical Leave Denied to Layan Darvish

HRANA News Agency – Layan Darvish, a political prisoner held in Evin Prison, is being denied essential medical care and transfer to a hospital despite suffering from a severe kidney and bladder infection.

According to information obtained by HRANA, Darvish is in urgent need of medical treatment, yet prison authorities have blocked her transfer to external medical facilities.

A source close to her family told HRANA, “Ms. Darvish’s request for conditional release has been approved and is legally due for implementation, but prison officials continue to withhold her release. Her application for short-term medical leave was initially approved but has yet to be carried out. These repeated broken promises are taking a serious toll on her mental health.”

Darvish was transferred to the women’s ward of Evin Prison on February 21, 2024, to begin serving her sentence.

A mother in her early 40s from Gilan Province, Layan Darvish was sentenced to a total of five years in prison on charges of “assembly and collusion against national security,” “insulting the Supreme Leader,” and “propaganda against the regime.”

Six Months of Detention Without Trial: Ongoing Uncertainty for Peyman Farah-Avar in Lakan Prison

HRANA News Agency – Peyman (Amin) Farah-Avar, a political detainee and poet from Gilan, has been detained for over six months and remains in Lakan Prison in Rasht without a trial or formal charges.

HRANA has learned that more than 180 days have passed since Farah-Avar’s arrest, and he is facing charges including “propaganda against the regime,” “armed rebellion (baghi),” and “enmity against God (moharebeh).” However, his case remains in legal limbo, and no court hearing has been scheduled yet. His detention order has been extended until May 2025.

Farah-Avar was arrested in September 2024 by security forces and, after completing interrogation at the Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility, was transferred to Lakan Prison in Rasht.

Peyman (Amin) Farah-Avar is a father to a 10-year-old son and a resident of Rasht. He has been arrested in the past due to his activism.

Prolonged Detention of Gilan Poet Peyman Farah-Avar Without Trial in Lakan Prison

Peyman (Amin) Farah-Avar, a poet from Gilan Province, remains in detention at Lakan Prison in Rasht more than five months after his arrest, with no resolution to his case.

A source close to his family confirmed to HRANA: “Mr. Farah-Avar faces charges including ‘propaganda against the regime,’ baghi (armed rebellion), and moharebeh (enmity against God). He has been detained for over five months in a state of limbo at Lakan Prison in Rasht, with no court hearings held to address his charges.”

Mr. Farah-Avar was arrested by security forces in August 2024 and initially taken to The Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility. After completing the interrogation process, he was transferred to Lakan Prison in Rasht.

Peyman (Amin) Farah-Avar, a poet from Gilan and the father of a 10-year-old son, has previously been arrested due to his activities.

Peyman Farhangian’s Suspended Sentence Changed to 7 Years of Imprisonment in the Appeals Court

Peyman Farhangian, a poet and workers’ rights activist, has had his 7-year suspended prison sentence converted to an enforceable sentence by Branch 18 of the Gilan Province Appeals Court. This decision followed his conviction in a separate case, which added an additional one-year prison term and led to the revocation of his suspension.

Branch 18 of the Gilan Appeals Court, presided over by Judge Mohammad Mehrani and Counselor Hossein Gholizadeh, replaced Peyman Farhangian’s 7-year suspended sentence with an enforceable prison sentence. This decision followed his conviction in another case, where he was sentenced to one year in prison, in accordance with Article 54 of the Islamic Penal Code.

Based on Article 54 of the Islamic Penal Code, “If the convict commits any intentional crime punishable by hudud (punishment by sinful action), qisas (punishment by retaliation), diya (punishment by payment), or ta’zir (punishment not spedified in Islam but enforced by a Sharia Judge) up to degree seven during the suspension period, upon finalization of the new sentence, the court revokes the suspension and orders the execution of the previously suspended sentence, notifying the court that issued the suspension order.”

On May 15, 2021, Farhangian was sentenced by the aforementioned judicial authority to five years in prison for “insulting the sanctities of Islam,” two years for “insulting the founder and Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic,” two separate one-year sentences for “propaganda against the regime and in favor of opposition political groups,” five years for “inciting people to disturb national security by spreading information about the November 2019 protests,” one year for “inciting people to violent acts via social media,” and two years for “forming and leading a group of more than two people with the intention of disrupting national security.” Additionally, he was sentenced to complementary punishments, including the blocking of his Instagram account and a two-year travel ban.

Judge Mehrani had initially suspended the 7-year prison sentence, the most severe and enforceable punishment, for five years. However, the suspension lasted only a few months, and the order for its execution has now been issued.

Peyman Farhangian later faced another legal case. On August 15, he was sentenced by Branch 102 of the Criminal Court 2 of Astaneh Ashrafieh to one year of imprisonment for “propaganda against the regime,” two years of forced residency in Zabol, a two-year travel ban, and the blocking of his Instagram account. This sentence was upheld by Branch 11 of the Gilan Appeals Court.

On January 3, Farhangian was arrested and transferred to Azbaram Prison in Lahijan to serve his sentence. He was granted temporary leave from prison on March 6, 2024.