Latest news with #IslamicRepublic
New York Times
4 hours ago
- Politics
- New York Times
After Israeli Attacks, Iran Hunts Enemies From Within
Ever since Israel's attack, the Iranian authorities have asked citizens to alert them to anyone carrying bags, wearing sunglasses at night or even donning hats — an uncommon accessory in Iran. They have urged the public to report stolen license plates, pickup trucks with covered beds, or vans traveling at odd hours. All of these, they warn, could be the telltale signs of enemies operating from within. Reeling from the scope and scale of the Israeli strikes this month, Iran is conducting an intensive manhunt for suspected infiltrators and spies, and enlisting the public in the campaign. As authorities have swept up hundreds of people, the government has sped up trials and executions of alleged spies, and fast-tracked a law to broaden the use of the death penalty for anyone convicted of espionage. Given the scale of the arrest campaign even after this past week's cease-fire, some in Iran fear this could become another crackdown on political opponents by a government with a long history of repressing dissent. 'Like a wounded animal, the Islamic Republic is going after every perceived threat in the country with deadly force,' Hadi Ghaemi, the director for the Center for Human Rights in Iran, said in a statement on Thursday. Iranian officials are not simply paranoid. Israel has a history of successfully infiltrating Iran to gather intelligence and carry out assassinations and sabotage. Officials on both sides say that in the recent war, Israel flaunted its ability to build networks and launch widespread attacks from within Iran. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Telegraph
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Telegraph
Iran moves female prisoners to ‘hellhole' cattle farm jail
Iran moved female inmates to a 'hellhole' detention centre in the wake of an Israeli air strike on Tehran's notorious Evin prison. Missiles struck the site, where dissidents are jailed to silence them, on Monday morning, the day before Israel and Iran agreed to a ceasefire ending their 12-day war. The Telegraph has learnt that guards moved prisoners from the facility after the strike, with women being taken to Qarchak prison, a former livestock facility that has been converted into a detention centre 40 miles south of the Iranian capital. Humanitarian groups have issued frequent alerts about the centre, which is sanctioned by the US on the basis of extrajudicial killings, torture and other violations of human rights. Iranian authorities have launched a wave of arrests across the country since the fragile truce was struck, detaining more than 700 people on espionage charges. The Islamic Republic has used international tensions as a cover while it cracks down on dissent at home and steps up retributions. The regime has been significantly weakened, and clerics are said to have become paranoid and wary of a challenge to their grip on power. However, since Israel's war with Iran started, the Tehran regime has stopped arresting women for not wearing headscarves, with analysts saying it wanted public support as it was put under pressure by the bombing campaign by Israel and the US. But women protesters still suffer in prison. Many women arrested during the 2022 Mahsa Amini protests were moved to Qarchak prison, where some remain. In an audio recording, a woman named Sayeh Seydal described being moved from Evin prison to Qarchak in the wake of Monday's air strike. 'The American and Israeli bombing didn't kill us, but the Islamic Republic has brought us to a place where it's practically killing us,' Ms Seydal said in the recording smuggled out of the country. 'They've brought us to a place where humans don't live. It's a gradual death.' Ms Seydal is serving three years for social media posts deemed unacceptable to the Iranian regime, and had been imprisoned at Evin since October 2024. After the explosion, special guards reportedly attacked prisoners and began to move them. Men were transferred to Fashafoyeh prison outside Tehran, while women were handcuffed and transported to Qarchak. According to Ms Seydal's recording, the conditions defy basic human dignity. 'They've crammed everyone into a quarantine ward – a real hellhole,' she said. 'The toilets are like outdoor latrines. The showers? Like outdoor showers. The stench of filth has taken over everywhere. Even the water – the water you splash on your face – is salty. The food? It absolutely cannot be eaten. A terrible situation. 'The Islamic Republic has brought us to a place where it seems they want to get revenge for Israel and America and just kill us off easily.' Qarchak lacks prison standards that even the livestock once enjoyed. There is no proper sewage system or access to clean water, according to human rights groups There are no windows, and when the iron gates to outdoor areas close at 5pm, inmates stare at walls with only two small holes, 'the size of lentils,' for glimpses of the sky. Between 1,500 and 2,000 women are held at Qarchak throughout most of the year. Each hall was designed for fewer than 100 people, but they typically house over 150. At times, the number has reached 600, leaving prisoners without space to sleep, even on the floor. The detention centre is infested with cockroaches, rats, salamanders, lizards, water bugs and venomous tarantulas, according to human rights activists and former prisoners. Medical care is severely limited, with only five prisoners per ward allowed daily medical visits, and while prison authorities claim budget constraints prevent the provision of essential medications, they freely distribute sleeping pills and tranquillisers to keep prisoners sedated. Most of Qarchak's inmates are women from marginalised and impoverished backgrounds, among the most vulnerable sectors of Iranian society. Qarchak also holds children up to the age of four with their imprisoned mothers. The children endure the same harsh conditions, and having seen no men during their imprisonment, often become frightened when encountering men after leaving prison 'Qarchak prison is a symbol of the blatant denial of humanity and human dignity,' said Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, the director of Norway-based Iran human rights organisation. 'The continued operation of such facilities is a stain on the conscience of the world.' Iran's judiciary said the transfers were conducted to 'respect prisoners' rights' and 'provide better services'. The conditions in Evin prison were already dire. Established in 1972, it has become notorious for its use by the Tehran regime to detain political prisoners, including British mother Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, who was released from Iran in 2022. After the Israeli strike, family members of other foreign detainees expressed concerns about their loved ones' safety, with relatives saying they had no information about their status. While Iran's judiciary confirmed the strike, Iran has not released official casualty figures or disclosed the current status of transferred prisoners. One prisoner who was able to call his family was Ahmadreza Djalali, an Iranian-Swedish academic who has been on death row since 2017. But his wife Vida Mehrannia said she has not spoken with her husband since after the strikes on Monday, when he called to say he had survived. She is increasingly worried. 'He called and said he was OK, but parts of Evin had been destroyed and they were being moved somewhere,' she said. 'I've had no news from him since.' Mr Djalali was arrested in 2016 and sentenced to death the following year on charges of espionage for Israel's Mossad. Six people, including alleged Mossad spies, have been executed over the past week. Asked how worried she is about the latest developments, Ms Mehrannia asked The Telegraph: 'Are they going to execute him? He was very worried and said that two of his cellmates have so far been executed.' She added: 'The situation in Iran is not good, but ours is worse than anyone else's. They've taken our lives away for the past nine years. I just hope they leave us alone.' 'Why do they insist someone is a Mossad spy when he isn't,' she asked. 'He is not a Mossad spy, but they keep insisting he is – and it's punishing.'
Al Arabiya
a day ago
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
A pause or a prelude? The fragile ceasefire between Iran and Israel
On June 25, 2025, a ceasefire between Israel and Iran came into effect, bringing a sudden and dramatic halt to twelve days of direct and unprecedented military confrontation. The truce surprised many observers around the world. For weeks, tensions had escalated rapidly after Israel launched airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, followed by a wave of Iranian missile and drone retaliation. The ferocity of the exchange, coupled with long-standing hostilities between the two states, led many analysts and politicians to assume that Israel would pursue the campaign until Iran's nuclear infrastructure was completely dismantled or until the Islamic Republic's central authority was irreparably shaken. Many expected Israel to press its military advantage and continue striking; There were even speculations that the broader goal might be to destabilize or collapse the Iranian government altogether. Yet the ceasefire, as unexpected as it may have seemed to some, was ultimately the product of deeper historical patterns, strategic calculations, and logistical realities. First, a look at the history of Israel's military conflicts reveals that temporary ceasefires are a consistent feature of its wartime strategy. During past wars with Hezbollah in Lebanon or in operations against Hamas in Gaza, ceasefires were accepted at key junctures. These pauses have rarely signaled the end of conflict. Instead, they have served multiple purposes – providing breathing room for the population, allowing the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) to assess battlefield performance, and giving political leaders time to navigate shifting diplomatic and military conditions. In that context, the current ceasefire with Iran should not come as a shock. Though the stakes and geography are dramatically broader in this case, the strategic logic remains consistent. Ceasefires could be tactical pauses. For Israel, this ceasefire most likely offers significant, albeit temporary, advantages. First and foremost, it allows the government and military command to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the effectiveness of their twelve-day aerial campaign. With advanced surveillance, satellite imaging, and digital tracking systems, Israel can now measure the success of its strikes, identify which Iranian assets remain intact, and prepare for any future engagements. These kinds of reassessments are critical in an era of high-tech, multi-front warfare. Second, the truce enables Israeli civilians to return to a semblance of normalcy. Throughout the conflict, cities like Tel Aviv, Haifa, and Beersheba were subjected to repeated Iranian missile and drone attacks. For many residents, life had ground to a halt. The ceasefire now allows citizens to reemerge, regroup, and recover from the psychological strain of continuous alerts and air raid sirens. The return to normal life – no matter how temporary – is a crucial relief for the country. Third, the ceasefire grants Israel a valuable diplomatic opportunity. By agreeing to halt its military operations – even after successfully striking key targets – Israel projects to the international community that it is not pursuing escalation for its own sake. This move can help mend some of the frayed ties with Europe and parts of the Global South, where criticism of Israeli military policy has grown. At the same time, it reinforces Israel's image as a responsible actor, capable of restraint even in the face of provocation. Fourth, the IDF now has time to replenish its resources, repair any damage to bases or weapons systems, and evaluate operational weaknesses. Despite Israel's superiority in the air, the Iranian counterattacks – especially the use of longer-range drones – provided Israel with a sobering glimpse into Iran's evolving tactics. This ceasefire gives the Israeli military the space to adapt, train, and integrate new technologies into their defense apparatus. Fifth, and no less important, the ceasefire allows Israel to redirect its focus to other strategic concerns. With the Iranian front on pause, Israel can recalibrate its posture and attend to other critical theaters. From Iran's perspective, the need for a ceasefire was even more urgent. For nearly two weeks, Israeli air dominance over Iran was overwhelming. Precision strikes targeted military installations, air defense systems, radar units, and multiple nuclear-related sites in Natanz, Fordow, and Arak. In addition, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) suffered major losses, including several high-ranking commanders. The Iranian public – already under severe economic pressure from international sanctions – faced further hardship as oil refineries and power grids were damaged. More than 100,000 residents fled Tehran in a matter of days, fearful that the next wave of Israeli strikes would devastate the capital. Internally, the government faced growing frustration: How could a country with one of the region's largest militaries be so vulnerable? Why had the government not anticipated the scale of Israeli retaliation? The Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, reportedly faced intense pressure from within the elite circles of the IRGC and clerical establishment. In such a climate, agreeing to a ceasefire was less about diplomacy and more about necessity. Iran needed to stop the bleeding – militarily, politically, and psychologically. The pause offers Tehran a chance to evaluate the damage, regroup its forces, and attempt to fortify what remains of its nuclear infrastructure. It also gives the leadership time to address domestic unrest, recalibrate messaging, and possibly shift blame onto external enemies to consolidate control. Yet the key question remains: will the ceasefire hold? If past history is any indicator, the prospects are not encouraging. Ceasefires in this region are rarely long-lasting. They are fragile by design – stopgaps between rounds of fighting, not solutions to the underlying tensions. In this case, the balance of power has shifted dramatically, and that creates an incentive for renewed confrontation. For Israel, walking away from a conflict while the Iranian government is at its weakest point in decades might be seen as a strategic blunder. This is a rare window – one where Iran's command structure has been shaken, its nuclear plans disrupted, and its population demoralized. Some in the Israeli cabinet may argue that allowing Iran to recover from this moment would be tantamount to leaving a wounded enemy alive on the battlefield. Moreover, from a strategic standpoint, Israel now faces the risk that Iran – having experienced such a devastating attack – will accelerate its push for nuclear weapons. Even if Iran had not made the political decision to pursue a bomb before, this war may have changed that calculus. The logic of deterrence could now dominate Iran's thinking: Only by acquiring a nuclear weapon, Iranian strategists may argue, can the country prevent another catastrophic strike. Iran has already announced the suspension of cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), a worrying signal that transparency is no longer a priority. In this environment, trust is virtually nonexistent. Finally, the ceasefire's fragility is also reinforced by the broader geopolitical context. Proxy forces aligned with Iran – particularly Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen, and various militias in Iraq – remain active. They can resume attacks on Israel or US allies at any time, either with or without Tehran's direct orders. Any incident along these fronts could easily unravel the ceasefire. Similarly, internal politics in both countries can lead to escalation. An assassination, a rogue militia strike, or even a political crisis could reignite hostilities overnight. In conclusion, while both Israel and Iran found compelling reasons to agree to this ceasefire – strategic breathing room, humanitarian concerns, and domestic stability – the truce rests on shaky foundations. It is, in many ways, a pause born of exhaustion rather than reconciliation. As history has repeatedly shown, these kinds of ceasefires in the Middle East are inherently unstable. Unless profound diplomatic engagement follows – and there is little sign of that at present – the risk of renewed war remains not only possible, but probable.
The National
a day ago
- Politics
- The National
The Middle East is rooting for a better, wiser Iran
Iran is exhausted. At last. Again. War weary and feeling defenceless, it has once more been forced into accepting a ceasefire with an enemy. History does not repeat itself exactly, but as the saying goes, it often rhymes. When Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini agreed to a ceasefire with Iraq in 1988, he famously described it as 'worse than drinking poison'. The octogenarian leader, who died a year later, urged Iranians to accept his decision and be grateful for the sacrifices of the war. One million lives were lost in the eight-year conflict. It was a moment of deep humility for a regime born in defiance. The Islamic Republic's dream of swiftly exporting its 1979 revolution through the battlefield collapsed under the weight of economic strain, human cost and strategic overreach. Now, four decades later, another poison pill is being passed around in Tehran. This time, it is the 86-year-old supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, confronting the bitter taste of necessity. The recent ceasefire with Israel feels like deja vu, but with higher stakes and broader regional implications. After the war with Iraq, the establishment adopted a policy of 'forward defence', projecting power beyond its borders to prevent future wars at home. What began as a shield became a spear. Over time, Iran's ideological mission turned into geopolitical ambition: proxy militias; missile stockpiles; covert operations; and a nuclear programme. What was once a doctrine to protect the revolution evolved into a campaign to dominate parts of the region. To some extent, it worked. Iran came close to building a strategic arc of influence from Tehran to the Mediterranean. But the latest conflict has exposed the limits of that strategy. The myth of invulnerability was shattered in a matter of hours. Tehran's deterrence was tested and found wanting. The old playbook of raising the stakes then stepping back with a calculated calm no longer worked. Tehran was caught off guard, assuming war was off the table as it pursued nuclear negotiations with the US. Instead, it was hit hard. It retaliated swiftly, unleashing a wave of devastating missile strikes on Israeli cities. For the first time, both cities were under direct, heavy fire. No proxies. No buffers. What began as an effort to contain Iran's nuclear programme soon revealed a deeper aim: a quiet campaign to destabilise or even shift the balance of power in Tehran. As Iran's regional alliances crumbled and with Hezbollah overstretched, Syria's Bashar Al Assad gone and air defences faltering, Israel escalated its operations inside Iran with assassinations and drone strikes. Iran had to defend its own soil, from its own soil. Again. Tehran faces a new reality in the Middle East, while inside the country, millions of voices are calling for peace, prosperity and rebuilding Sensing an opportunity, the US stepped in. American bombers struck major nuclear sites deep inside Iran, a bold show of support for Israel that stopped short of total war. Iran hit back with a precision strike on a US base in Qatar, sending a message: cornering its ruling class could ignite the whole region. That strike was a warning: Iran may be battered, but it won't go down quietly and it is ready to defend the Islamic Republic, even at the cost of its regional ties. Now Tehran faces a new reality in the Middle East, while inside the country, millions of voices are calling for peace, prosperity and rebuilding. They are tired of sacrifice without progress, and slogans without solutions. They want passports that open doors, not raise suspicions. They want to join the world, not fight it. Iran has long prided itself on thinking 50 years ahead. But is that still true? Or is it stuck, chained to the logic of defiance, even as the region changes? What cards are really left on the table? Oil? Uranium? Ideology? The real card was, and it still is, Iran's own potential – a young, educated population of 92 million people, vast natural resources, rich culture and strategic geography. The risk now is that this new poison pill becomes just another loop in an old cycle: lick the wounds; regroup; rebuild for the next round. That would be a mistake. The real lesson is not just restraint – it is to know when to stop, when to pivot and when to listen. The truth is that much of the Middle East is rooting for a better Iran. Not a weaker Iran, but a wiser one. One that is realistic, co-operative and open. One that sees compromise not as defeat but as a strategy. One that builds strength through trust, not fear. 'With all that clamour, with all those claims, the Zionist regime, under the blows of the Islamic Republic, has almost collapsed and been crushed,' said Mr Khamenei in a defiant speech after the ceasefire. But the reality is far more complex. His poison pill could turn out to be not a bitter dose for the man at the top, but a potential remedy for the whole nation.
Times of Oman
a day ago
- Politics
- Times of Oman
Iran's Supreme Leader threatens to target US bases again, says America was "dealt a severe slap to the face"
Tehran: Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei claimed US President Donald Trump had "exaggerated" the effect of strikes on Iranian nuclear sites and threatened to target American military bases again, The Times of Israel reported. In a televised speech on Thursday, Khamenei claimed Iran's victory in the 12-day air war launched by Israel and inflicting a "severe slap" to the US. He made these remarks in his first speech since a ceasefire was declared between Iran and Israel. He said, "The American president exaggerated events in unusual ways, and it turned out that he needed this exaggeration." Khamenei said the US "has gained nothing from this war," adding that American strikes "did nothing significant" to Iranian nuclear facilities. Claiming victory in the conflict, he said, "The Islamic Republic won, and in retaliation dealt a severe slap to the face of America," referring to Iran's missile launch targeting US military base in Qatar, according to The Times of Israel report. He threatened, "Such an action can be repeated in the future, too" and mentioned that Iran has "access to key US centers in the region and can take action whenever it deems necessary." Tensions escalated in West Asia after the US conducted precision airstrikes early Sunday morning on three key Iranian nuclear facilities under "Operation Midnight Hammer." Iran retaliated by launching multiple missiles at US military installations in Qatar and Iraq, including the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, CNN reported. His remarks came two days after a ceasefire ended the war between Iran and Israel. He asserted that Iran will "never" surrender and the "enemy will definitely pay a heavy price" if "any aggression occurs." He said, "Should any aggression occur, the enemy will definitely pay a heavy price." Khamenei said, "Surrender will never happen. Our nation is powerful." Iran's Supreme Leader said that the US had intervened in the war only because "it felt that if it did not intervene, the Zionist regime would be utterly destroyed." Congratulating Iran for securing a win against Iran, he said, "I want to congratulate the great Iranian nation... for its victory over the fallacious Zionist regime, The Times of Israel reported. Khamenei has not been seen in public since taking shelter in a secret location after the conflict started on June 13, when Israel carried out an attack on Iranian nuclear facilities and targeted top military commanders and scientists. Reports have indicated that Khamenei was stopped from communicating with the outside world due to fears of giving away his location. A state funeral will be held in Tehran on Saturday for top commanders and nuclear scientists killed in the conflict, as per the report. Khamenei also issued a threat to Israel on the social media platform X. "The Zionist regime must know that attacking the Islamic Republic of Iran will result in a heavy cost for them," he posted on X.
