Amnesty International has called on Iranian authorities to allow the commemoration of those killed during the 2022 protests and to stop the harassment and intimidation against victims’ families. Despite the crackdown, no officials have been held accountable for the deaths. The international community is urged to support victims’ families and press Iran to respect their rights. Amnesty detailed human rights abuses against 36 families by Iranian law enforcement. Concerns are heightened as women's rights activists are detained ahead of the anniversary of Mahsa Amini's death. The U.S. has warned Iran against attacking American troops in response to a suspected Israeli strike. Iran has pledged retaliation for the deaths of IRGC members in a suspected Israeli strike in Syria. Imprisoned Iranian sociologist Saeed Madani has been transferred to further isolate him, and imprisoned Islamic scholar Sedigheh Vasmaghi has been moved to a hospital. Executions in Iran hit an eight-year high in 2023, with a disproportionate impact on marginalized communities. Clashes in Sistan-Baluchistan resulted in deaths on both sides. Iran's deterrence strategy against Israel has been challenged, and Tehran may be compelled to take direct action. Iran vows revenge after an air strike on its consulate in Damascus kills several, including an IRGC commander.

The United States has expressed concern over the potential expansion of the conflict between Israel and Hamas into a wider Middle East war, involving other groups like Hizballah and Iran. U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan highlighted the risks of escalation, while Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian warned Israel against invading Gaza. The Biden administration is pushing for military aid for Israel and has deployed additional military assets to the region. French President Macron also cautioned Iran against escalating the conflict. The Middle East's significant oil production could be affected if the conflict expands, driving up oil prices during a time of global inflation concerns. Iran has vowed retaliation for the deaths of IRGC members in suspected Israeli strikes, and the annual Al Quds Day in Tehran saw anti-Israeli and anti-American sentiment. Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Blinken is touring Middle East capitals seeking a resolution to the conflict and aid for Gaza refugees.

The Taliban plans to invest $35 million in Iran's Chabahar Port to reduce Afghanistan's reliance on Pakistani ports and access international markets. This strategic move comes amid deteriorating relations with Pakistan, which has intermittently closed borders and increased taxes on Afghan exports. The World Bank has resumed work on the Afghan section of the CASA-1000 project, which will enable Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan to sell excess energy to Afghanistan and Pakistan. The completion of CASA-1000 would benefit the Afghan economy by providing cheap hydropower and transit fees.

Eleven women's rights activists in Iran's Gilan province have been sentenced to a collective total of over 60 years in prison by an Islamic Revolutionary Court. The activists were charged with involvement in women's rights campaigns and detained ahead of the first anniversary of Mahsa Amini's death in police custody. The sentences range from one to six years on charges including 'assembly and collusion' and 'forming an illegal group.' The activists reportedly faced intense interrogation and physical abuse, and their arrests are part of a broader crackdown on dissent following nationwide protests sparked by Amini's death.

Ebrahim Rigi, a 24-year-old medical intern, died in police custody in Zahedan, Iran, after allegedly being beaten following his rearrest in connection with protests. The rights group HAALVSH reported that Rigi had been released on bail but was rearrested and died an hour later at the police station. The local police described his death as an 'arbitrary act' with no police role. Protests in Sistan-Baluchistan Province have been ongoing since the 'Bloody Friday' massacre in Zahedan, where security forces killed almost 100 people during demonstrations sparked by Mahsa Amini's death and the alleged sexual assault of a 15-year-old girl by a police commander. The unrest represents a significant threat to the Islamic government since the 1979 revolution. The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency reported that at least 527 people had been killed during the unrest, including 71 minors.

Iranian security forces have intensified their crackdown on families seeking justice for loved ones killed in protests, with at least 21 family members detained ahead of the anniversary of Mahsa Amini's death. Amini's death in police custody sparked nationwide protests, and her family denies claims of a preexisting health condition contributing to her death. Human rights organizations report numerous arrests of family members demanding justice, and the UN Human Rights Council has categorized actions against women as crimes against humanity. Additionally, Iran's economy is suffering, with a significant increase in school dropouts due to poverty, and the government has denied imprisoned rapper Toomaj Salehi's early release request. Iran also confirmed the death of an IRGC member in Syria following air strikes blamed on Israel. Meanwhile, Iranian teacher and union activist Jafar Ebrahimi remains imprisoned despite completing his sentence, and nearly 40 faculty members of the Tehran University of Medical Sciences have been ordered reinstated after being dismissed or forced into retirement.

An Iranian labor group reports that teachers and classmates of Armita Garavand, a student in a coma after an assault by morality police, are being pressured by security authorities. Garavand and friends were confronted by police for not wearing hijabs, leading to Garavand's critical condition. Her mother has been detained, and there are efforts to suppress information about the incident. This case draws parallels with Mahsa Amini's death, which sparked protests. The article also discusses geopolitical tensions in the South Caucasus, with Iran concerned about losing influence due to Azerbaijan's actions and alliances.

In 2023, Iranian security forces detained over 300 women for political or ideological reasons, with more than 100 still imprisoned. Hengaw reported that detainees included students, journalists, artists, and teachers, facing charges like propaganda against the system and espionage, resulting in harsh sentences including life imprisonment and lashes. The crackdown follows widespread protests sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody for an alleged head-scarf violation.

Less than a month after the death of Ayatollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and the introduction of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as the new leader, a member of parliament, Abdulmajid Sharafuddin, was attacked, arrested, and deprived of his position after expressing concerns about the political future of the country, ambiguities about future governance, and the people's uncertainty about their destiny. Despite constitutional protections for parliamentary immunity, Sharafuddin was detained for over 40 days and interrogated, likely by Saeed Emami. He was eventually expelled from the parliament, a move that was not legally justified according to the internal regulations of the Islamic Consultative Assembly. Sharafuddin, now a retired teacher, reflects on the severe restrictions and surveillance he faced following his expulsion.

The article examines the fate of the members of the Assembly of Experts for Constitution, who were responsible for drafting the constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran from August to November 1979. It highlights the diverse political backgrounds of the members, including the Islamic Republic Party, Freedom Movement of Iran, People's Mujahedin of Iran, Tudeh Party, and other religious and non-religious groups. Many of these groups were later pushed out of power, and their leaders and members were severely suppressed. The article details the different fates of the members, including assassination, imprisonment, house arrest, or withdrawal from political and managerial spheres. It also discusses the circumstances surrounding the deaths of some members and the political suppression they faced.

Faezeh Hashemi, former member of the Iranian Parliament and daughter of Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, faced severe backlash from conservative factions and media after a photo of her with Fariba Kamalabadi, a Baha'i community leader in Iran, was published. In an interview with Euronews, Hashemi stated she has done nothing wrong and is not regretful. She emphasized that her visit to Kamalabadi, who was on leave from prison, was a normal human interaction. Hashemi, who was previously imprisoned and shared a cell with Kamalabadi, views the relationship as a result of shared experiences and not a religious endorsement. She criticized the Islamic Republic's treatment of Baha'is and reformists, framing it as a human rights issue rather than a religious one. Despite the pressures, she remains unapologetic and believes that the conservative reactions ultimately work against those who perpetuate them.