Iranian president to visit Pakistan on July 26
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The Hindu
6 minutes ago
- The Hindu
United Nations alarmed by ‘worrying surge' in Iran executions
The United Nations urged Iran on Monday (July 28, 2025) to stop using the death penalty, citing a 'worrying surge in executions' this year. 'Reports that there have been several hundred executions in Iran so far this year underscore how deeply disturbing the situation has become and the urgent need for an immediate moratorium in the country on the use of the death penalty,' U.N. Human Rights chief Volker Turk said in a statement. According to information gathered by the U.N. Human Rights Office, at least 612 people were reportedly executed in the first half of 2025. The figure is more than double the number during the same period in 2024, when the Iranian authorities reportedly carried out at least 297 executions, the statement said. Minorities are disproportionately affected, it added. 'It is alarming to see the reports that indicate there are at least 48 people currently on death row — 12 of whom are believed to be at imminent risk of execution,' said Mr. Turk. The U.N. High Commissioner for human rights said information gathered by his office indicated that judicial proceedings were, in a number of cases, held behind closed doors and had consistently failed to meet due process and fair trial guarantees. Also read: Iran hangs man convicted of Israel spying, activists slam 'unfair' trial More than 40% of those executed this year were convicted of drug-related offences, his office said. Others were tried on 'broad and vague charges such as 'enmity against God' and 'corruption on Earth', which are often used by the authorities to silence dissent'. Tehran 'striving' to limit use Iran defended its use of the death penalty, saying it applied only to the most serious offences. 'The death penalty is recognised under Iran's domestic laws for a range of the most serious crimes,' said Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei. He said Tehran was 'striving to limit the use of this punishment to only the most severe crimes'. Mr. Turk said the authorities in Tehran were reviewing a draft espionage bill that would redefine 'collaboration with hostile states' — punishable by the death penalty — to include acts such as online communication, collaborating with foreign media and 'ideological alignment'. 'This bill dangerously broadens the scope of capital punishment for espionage and I call for it to be rescinded,' said Mr. Turk. Also read: Iran executes man convicted of rape Several NGOs say that Iranian authorities have arrested hundreds of people and executed dozens in a wave of repression following the 12-day war with Israel. They have accused the Islamic republic of using fear to compensate for weaknesses revealed by the conflict. Mr. Turk said, 'The death penalty is incompatible with the right to life and irreconcilable with human dignity. Instead of accelerating executions, I urge Iran to join the worldwide movement abolishing capital punishment, starting with a moratorium on all executions.' Iran ranks as the world's second-most prolific executioner after China, according to human rights groups including Amnesty International. Executions in Iran are typically carried out by hanging at dawn. Mr. Turk's call came the day after Iran executed two men, having convicted them of carrying out armed operations for the exiled opposition People's Mujahedin of Iran (MEK). 'This brutality only intensifies the outrage of the Iranian people and reinforces the determination of Iran's courageous youth to bring an end to this theocratic tyranny,' MEK leader Maryam Rajavi said on X. Rajavi is president of the National Council of Resistance of Iran, the political wing of the MEK, which Tehran regards as a 'terrorist' group.
United News of India
2 hours ago
- United News of India
Iran slams Europe's threats to renew UN sanctions over its nuclear programme
Tehran, July 28 (UNI) Iran has slammed Europe's threats at reimposing UN sanctions on Tehran if the tries to pursue its nuclear programme following the recent negotiations in Istanbul, with the Iranian Foreign Ministry stating that Brussels and London lack the legitimacy to go through with such an action. According to Iran International, Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei while addressing the media said 'We have clearly said, and we stress, that the European parties do not have the legitimacy or the authority to invoke the so-called snapback mechanism.' During the first round of negotiations in Türkiye, leaders from the UK, Germany, and France – collectively called the E3 – met at the Iranian Consulate in Istanbul and discussed the nuclear program in its first round of negotiations with foreign parties, following Iran's 12-day war Israel and the bombing of its key nuclear facilities by the US. Iran conveyed its opposition directly to its European counterparts to any snapback effort, according to Baghaei. 'Such a right does not exist for them, and we fundamentally reject the move,' he added. Under the terms of the 2015 nuclear deal, known formally as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, the snapback clause allows for the reimposition of UN sanctions if a participant claims significant non-compliance. Baghaei also dismissed European narratives of the recent negotiations. 'The European side has presented its own version of events, but this account does not align with the facts and differs from the viewpoint of the Islamic Republic of Iran,' he said. France has further threatened Iran, and said it will call for a sweeping global embargo on Iran, unless it doesn't reach a deal by the end of August covering not jut its nuclear program, but also its missile program and regional activities. Baghaei stated that Iran's nuclear negotiations with European powers remain narrowly confined to sanctions relief and atomic issues, rejecting the statements on any other matters or broader deals being put to table. 'These talks have a clear and limited focus: the lifting of sanctions and matters related to the nuclear program,' Baghaei said. 'Any attempt by some Western states to introduce unrelated issues only reflects their confusion and lack of coherence.' \\\\ The Foreign Ministry official said that Iran's defence issues are non-negotiable and can't put to table. 'Especially under current conditions, Iran is more determined than ever to maintain and enhance its deterrent capability.' Tehran has further ruled out any talks with Washington currently, stating that there are no negotiations are planned for the recent future as well, with Foreign Ministry adding that the Islamic Republic will take whatever action it deems appropriate, as demanded by its national demands. UNI ANV SSP
India Today
4 hours ago
- India Today
Iran's Khamenei on drugs, sleeps all day, alleges Mossad-linked account
A social media account reportedly linked to Israel's national intelligence agency, Mossad, stirred controversy with a sharply worded post aimed at Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, accusing him of being unfit to rule and using drugs. The verified Persian-language account, known as @MossadSpokesman, is widely seen as an official Mossad channel targeting Iranian audiences, though Israel has not officially confirmed its account has been a pain in the neck for Iran, provoking the regime by revealing classified information and even quizzing the public to guess top-secret details."How can a leader lead when they sleep half the day and spend the other half high on substances? Water, electricity, life," posted the Persian account called @MossadSpokesman account on X on Friday. While the message stopped short of explicitly naming Khamenei, its meaning was widely understood, especially given the account's history of addressing Iran's political leadership. The phrase "Water, electricity, life" apparently referred to mounting frustrations within Iran over long-standing infrastructure problems, including severe water shortages and rolling blackouts – issues that have fuelled waves of domestic protests in recent post had drawn over 180,000 views within 48 last month's 12-day Israel-Iran conflict, the account publicly challenged Iran's secrecy over the identity of a new military commander, correctly revealing Ali Abdollahi Aliabadi as the ACCOUNT HAS BEEN 'PROVOCATIVE' IN THE PAST TOOEarlier, the social media account questioned the leadership's suitability over alleged drug use."Consuming drugs and conversing with spirits are not desirable traits for someone leading a country," the account wrote on July 9, US's Fox News the post did not mention Ayatollah Khamenei by name, its tone and content were broadly understood to target the 86-year-old Supreme posts are originally written in Persian and auto-translated for wider account, also known as "Mossad Farsi", has shown an increasingly provocative online presence. Though Israel has not officially confirmed its ownership, the account is widely regarded as an official messaging channel of the Mossad targeting Iranian audiences, a Rishon Lezion-based Israeli news outlet, Ynetnews, WAS ACTIVE DURING ISRAEL's OPERATION RISING LIONDuring Israel's Operation Rising Lion last month, another post from the account stirred a Israel's opening strike during the conflict, which killed Gholam Ali Rashid, the head of the Khatam al-Anbiya military command, and with his successor Ali Shadmani also eliminated shortly after, Tehran declined to disclose the identity of the new appointee. In a provocative move, the Persian account responded by saying that it knew his actual name and asked netizens to guess the appointee's Tasnim news agency announced that the Iranian regime will not publish the name of the new commander of Khatam al-Anbiya in order to protect him. Know that we know his actual name and are well acquainted with him. Unfortunately, such basic information is being hidden from the Iranian people. Please send us your guesses regarding his name," the post than 2,300 users responded. Some offered guesses, including high-profile Iranian officials and even Mojtaba Khamenei, the Supreme Leader's son. Others responded with threats or ridicule, according to following day, the Persian account replied to Iranian social media user Behnam Golipour, who accurately identified the new commander as Ali Abdollahi Aliabadi – a former deputy head of the IRGC Air Force and a sanctioned figure from Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's presidency."The lucky winner who successfully guessed the 'secret' name is Mr. Behnam. Please contact us privately to receive your prize," the account wrote.- EndsMust Watch
