Iran Sentences Another Political Prisoner To Death

RFE
25 Aug 2026, 09:47 GMT+10

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16:04

Iran Sentences Another Protester To Death

Iran's Supreme Court has upheld the death sentence of political prisoner Arghavan Fallahi, raising renewed concerns over the use of capital punishment against political detainees, according to the Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA).

Fallahi, 24, was sentenced to death in July by Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, headed by Judge Abolqasem Salavati, on a charge of "baghi," or armed rebellion, according to HRANA. The Supreme Court has now upheld that sentence.

Arghavan Fallahi

The case dates back to Fallahi's arrest in early 2025, when Iranian security forces detained her and transferred her to Ward 209 of Evin Prison, according to HRANA. She was subsequently held in Wards 209 and 241, both associated with Iran's security and intelligence apparatus.

According to an informed source cited by HRANA, Fallahi was subjected to attempts to force her to confess to involvement in the January 2025 killings of two senior Iranian judges, Mohammad Moghiseh and Ali Razini.

Rights groups have also reported that Iranian authorities accused Fallahi of links to Mojahedin-e Khalq. The allegations have not been independently verified.

Fallahi had previously been arrested during the nationwide protests that followed the death in custody of Mahsa Amini in September 2022. She was later sentenced to prison, according to rights groups.

Her death sentence can now be carried out unless she receives a judicial reprieve or another form of intervention.

The charge of "baghi" is defined under Iranian law as an armed uprising against the Islamic republic and can carry the death penalty. Iranian courts have increasingly used national-security charges, including "baghi," against political activists and people accused of involvement in anti-government protests.

The confirmation of Fallahi's sentence comes amid growing concern from rights organizations about executions in Iran following the nationwide protests in December and January. Human rights groups have documented death sentences against protesters and political prisoners, while warning that those already sentenced to death face an imminent risk of execution.

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15:08

Trump: Iran Killing Protesters 'Even When They Are Not Protesting'

US President Donald Trump said Iran's "failing" regime is killing protesters "even when they are not protesting" at an unprecedented rate.

In a post on Truth Social on August 25, Trump wrote: "The failing Islamic Republic of Iran is not paying large segments of their military, while at the same time killing protesters, even when they are not protesting, at levels not seen before. It is a humanitarian crisis of epic proportions, and must be stopped, NOW."

Trump did not provide further details or evidence for his claim. It was unclear whether he was referring to people killed during the mass crackdown on protests earlier this year or to new, unreported killings.

The protests began on December 28, 2025, and continued into January, prompting a deadly crackdown by Iranian security forces.

Iran has since executed protesters and others arrested in connection with the uprising. The UN human rights chief said earlier this month that Iran had executed at least 56 people on national-security charges since March 19, including 27 people linked to the anti-government protests.

In total, Iran has executed 494 people this year, according to the latest data.

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15:04

Qatar Calls US Sanctions Against Iran 'Unilateral'

The Qatari government considers the new US sanctions against Iran "unilateral," but Doha supports continued mediation efforts to resolve the dispute between the US and Iran, said a spokesman for the Qatari Foreign Ministry on August 25.

Despite being the target of missiles by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps in recent months, Qatar, along with Pakistan and Turkey, has tried to bring Tehran and Washington closer together through mediation.

"Across the globe, our goal is to cut off all the economic arteries that sustain this tyrannical regime until Tehran is completely alone," US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said at a press conference on September 2, about the new pressure campaign against Iran.

Alongside the renewed economic pressure, efforts at mediation continue. On September 24 , the Pakistani Army chief Asim Munir traveled to Tehran, and on September 25 Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi arrived in the Iranian capital to meet with officials.

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14:52

USS Abraham Lincoln To Dock In Thailand After Long Iran War Deployment

The USS Abraham Lincoln (file photo)

The US aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, which left the Middle East on August 22 after a prolonged deployment supporting US military operations against Iran, is scheduled to dock in Thailand next week for crew rest and recreation, a Thai official said.

The ship, carrying roughly 5,000 sailors and Marines, has gone more than 200 days without a port call, setting a modern-day record for consecutive days at sea. The carrier has been deployed for 274 days since leaving its home port of San Diego in November.

Reports in recent weeks have cited food and water shortages, plumbing problems, disrupted mail, and deteriorating morale among the crew. Families of sailors have also raised concerns about mental health. The Pentagon has disputed reports that conditions aboard the ship have significantly deteriorated.

Democratic lawmakers have demanded answers from the Pentagon over the prolonged deployment and conditions aboard the carrier. Senator Richard Blumenthal, a Connecticut Democrat, sent Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth a list of questions about the deployment and its impact on the crew.

US President Donald Trump has downplayed concerns about the sailors, saying the ship was "beautifully maintained and beautifully taken care of," while Hegseth said reports of deteriorating conditions had "completely misrepresented" the situation.

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14:48

US Suspends Sports Exchanges License for Iran

Jayson Tatum of the United States and Mike Rostampour of Iran compete during the men's basketball group-stage game at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics in Saitama, Japan, in July 2021.

The US Treasury Department has indefinitely suspended a general authorization for professional and amateur sports activities and exchanges between the United States and Iran, effective August 24.

General License F previously authorized certain services supporting sports activities and exchanges between the two countries, including sports matches and events, sponsorship of players, coaching, refereeing, and training. The suspension means activities that are not otherwise authorized will require a specific license from the US Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control.

OFAC also indefinitely suspended General License G, which covered certain academic exchanges and educational services, as well as separate authorizations covering certain educational activities in third countries, noncommercial personal remittances to or from Iran, and services related to conferences.

The suspensions are part of the Trump administration's broader campaign to increase economic pressure on Iran. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has warned that Washington intends to cut off Iran's economic lifelines.

OFAC issued a separate general license allowing transactions ordinarily incident and necessary to wind down activities that had previously been authorized under the suspended provisions through September 8.

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14:37

US Secret Service Says Aware of Iran Video 'Appearing to Threaten' Trump's Son

The US Secret Service said on August 24 that it was aware of a video aired by Iran's state broadcaster that appears to threaten Barron Trump, the youngest son of President Donald Trump.

The video, which was aired on Iran's state broadcaster IRIB, purported to show information about Barron Trump's whereabouts and movements in New York City, including his university, escort vehicles, and the positions of Secret Service personnel. It also claimed that his movements were "fully monitored." The claims in the video could not be independently verified.

Barron Trump

A Secret Service spokesperson told CNN that the agency "investigates anything that can be perceived as a threat" toward its protectees, but declined to discuss protective intelligence for operational-security reasons.

CNN reported that Iranian hard-line media have repeatedly featured content threatening Trump and members of his family since the assassination of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several members of his family at the outset of the US-Israeli war with Iran in February.

In late July, Tasnim, an Iranian news agency affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, published a video discussing alleged vulnerabilities in the security of first lady Melania Trump and suggesting ways she could be attacked. The video also included a threat directed at Barron Trump.

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14:31

China Says New US Sanctions Won't Disrupt Business With Iran

In response to the latest US sanctions against Iran, China's Foreign Ministry said on August 25 that cooperation between Beijing and Tehran is conducted within the framework of international law and should not be interfered with or disrupted.

Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said China was closely following developments and would take "all necessary measures" to firmly safeguard its rights and interests.

He reiterated China's opposition to what it calls illegal unilateral US sanctions, saying economic warfare and maximum pressure "will only further fuel conflicts."

The United States on August 24 imposed sanctions on nearly 60 individuals, entities, and vessels linked to Iran, as part of a campaign Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said was aimed at cutting off the Islamic republic's economic lifelines.

"Our objective is to sever every economic lifeline that sustains this tyrannical regime until Tehran stands alone," Bessent said at a press conference on August 24.

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11:10

Washington's $10 Million Wanted List Has A Dead Man On It

By

Kian Sharifi

The US State Departments Reward for Justice program is offering up to $10 million for information on five senior Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) commanders it says are responsible for attacks on US personnel and infrastructure.

But at least one of the men pictured in its latest appeal has been dead for months.

The program posted the appeal on X on August 24, describing the five as IRGC leaders who command units involved in attacks against US personnel and malicious cyber operations.

Among them is Majid Khademi, the former head of the IRGCs notorious Intelligence Organization. Khademi was killed in an Israeli air strike in Tehran on April 6, during the US-Israeli war against Iran. His death was confirmed by both the IRGC and Israel.

Another man pictured, Saeed Aqajani, the IRGC Aerospace Forces drone commander, was also reported killed in an Israeli strike in northern Iran on March 2,1 though Iran has not confirmed his death.

The other names on the list include Ahmad Vahidi, who now commands the IRGC, Ali Abdollahi, who was recently promoted to chief of staff of Irans armed forces, and Hamidreza Lashgarian, who leads the IRGC's cyber electronic command.

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10:07

Oil Tanker Disabled By Projectile Off Coast Of Oman, Says Shipping Monitor

An oil tanker was struck and disabled by an unknown projectile in the Strait of Hormuz off Oman early on August 25, a British shipping security monitor said, in the latest incident to hit shipping in the strategic waterway.

United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said the projectile damaged the vessels engine room, leaving it disabled, but that its crew was safe. The incident occurred nine nautical miles (16.7 kilometers) northeast of Ash Shishah, Oman. UKMTO did not identify the tanker or what flag it was sailing under.

Tehran has largely restricted passage through the strait since the United States and Israel struck Iran in late February, attacking vessels it accuses of circumventing its preferred shipping route.

The attack comes amid persistent threats to shipping during the six-month conflict.

The International Maritime Organization hasconfirmed 68 incidentsin the Persian Gulf and nearby waters -- an average of one every 2.6 days -- with at least 20 seafarers or port workers killed, 35 wounded, and one missing.

Around half the incidents involved tankers. The rate slowed during peace talks but has risen since their collapse to one incident every 2.8 days.

With reporting by AFPShare

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06:35

US Not Ruling Out Military Force Against Iran, Hegseth Says

(file photo) US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth speaks during a cabinet meeting on July 31.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said that the United States was not ruling out the use of military force against Iran, as Washington imposed new sanctions on nearly 60 entities, individuals, and vessels as part of a major effort to economically pressure Tehran.

By no means are we foreclosing using kinetic strikes anywhere in the Strait of Hormuz or around Iran, Hegseth told reporters on August 24, adding that Iran would not be able to withstand the economic pressure being placed on it.

Earlier this month, Hegseth said that US forces could maintain the naval blockade of Iran indefinitely, adding that Washington could rotate its military ships in and out of the region as needed.

Hegseths latest comments came as the US Treasury Department announced the launch of an economic D-Day against Iran and warned that countries continuing to support Tehran risked becoming a global pariah.

Washington says the campaign is intended to sever the economic lifelines that sustain the Iranian government and further isolate Tehran internationally.