The Farda Briefing

Welcome back to The Farda Briefing, an RFE/RL newsletter that tracks the key issues in Iran and explains why they matter. To subscribe, click here.

I'm Frud Bezhan, regional desk editor for Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. Here's what I've been following and what I'm watching out for in the days ahead.

The Big Issue

Fewer Iranians have protested on the streets in recent days, more than three months after the nationwide antiestablishment demonstrations erupted.

From the outset, the authorities responded to the rallies with lethal force and mass arrests. But in recent weeks, the government has used increasingly brutal tactics, including the public execution of protesters, in a bid to curb the rallies.

But that has not stopped some Iranians from risking their lives and taking to the streets, especially in the western Kurdistan region, which has been the epicenter of the demonstrations. Three days of protests and strikes were held on December 19-21, following a call for action by protesters.

More Iranians have moved their protests to their rooftops and windows as the risk of arrest and physical harm has increased on the tightly controlled streets.

Videos widely shared on social media appear to show protesters shouting from rooftops and windows late into the night in major Iranian cities in recent weeks. The practice is not new but has become more widespread recently.

Why It Matters: During the protests, Iranians have found new and creative ways to continue the demonstrations. Besides resorting to shouting antiestablishment slogans at night from their rooftops and windows, some protesters have turned to protest art and graffiti.

While less dangerous, those protesting from their homes are not completely safe. Security forces have shot at and broken the windows of apartment buildings where residents have chanted antiestablishment slogans. Security personnel have also damaged cars parked outside these residential buildings.

What's Next: These acts of dissent are likely to continue and increase as the government clampdown intensifies. They are difficult for the authorities to stop and allow protesters to sustain the demonstrations with fewer risks.

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• An Iranian political activist imprisoned in the western city of Bukan and subsequently transferred to hospital after falling into a coma died on December 18.

Hengaw, a Norway-based group that monitors rights violations in Iran's Kurdish regions, said Mohammad Haji Rasoulpour was arrested in October during antiestablishment protests in Bukan.

After being rearrested in November, Rasoulpour fell into a coma and later died due to severe injuries he suffered as a result of being tortured, his family said.

• Activis 15-year-old Iranian teenager imprisoned in the central city of Karaj was released on December 15 after an interview with his mother went viral on social media.

Amirhossein Rahimi’s mother told the Tehran-based Etemad newspaper that her son has been in prison for two months even though he still had pellets in his head and chest from wounds inflicted by security forces shooting at crowds during an antiestablishment protest.

She told Etemad that the judge would not reduce bail to an amount she could afford. Following the interview, the teenager was released from detention on a reduced bail.

What We're Watching

Iran's national currency, the rial, has fallen to record lows against the U.S. dollar in recent days. The rial traded at 396,700 to the dollar on December 20, according to traders in Tehran and the Bonbast.com foreign-exchange website.

The antiestablishment protests have worsened the already bleak economic situation in Iran, where the economy has been crippled by years of U.S. sanctions and government mismanagement. During the protests, businesses and state employees have staged dayslong strikes that have hit the economy.

The rial has lost nearly 20 percent of its value since the protests erupted in mid-September. ​

Why It Matters: The plunging value of the rial will add more pressure on the authorities in Iran, where protests over economic grievances preceded the latest nationwide demonstrations.

The rallies have yet to bring large parts of the economy to a halt. But if the protests continue and larger and more regular strikes by public employees are held, observers say there could be significant consequences for the clerical regime.

That's all from me for now. Don't forget to send me any questions, comments, or tips that you have.

Until next time,

Frud Bezhan

If you enjoyed this briefing and don't want to miss the next edition, subscribe here. It will be sent to your inbox every Wednesday.

Welcome back to The Farda Briefing, an RFE/RL newsletter that tracks the key issues in Iran and explains why they matter. To subscribe, click here.

I'm Hannah Kaviani, a senior broadcaster and editor at RFE/RL's Radio Farda. Here's what I've been following and what I'm watching out for in the days ahead.

The Big Issue

Iran has publicly executed two young men over their involvement in the ongoing antiestablishment protests that have rocked the country since September. Mohsen Shekari and Majidreza Rahnavard were both convicted of "waging war against God" and "corruption on Earth."

Shekari, who was hanged on December 8, was accused of "intentionally injuring" a security officer with a weapon and blocking a street in Tehran.

Rahnavard was hanged in the holy Shi'ite city of Mashhad on December 12. He was accused of killing two members of the Basij paramilitary force. Rights groups have said the men were tortured and forced to confess.

Why It Matters: Iran is one of the world's top executioners. But the recent hangings have triggered more anger and outrage than usual. Iranians have taken to social media and the streets to vent their fury. Some street protesters have chanted, "We will avenge the blood of the innocent" following the executions. In Tehran University, a noose was attached to a sheet of paper that read "Hope cannot be hanged," one of several symbolic acts of protest across the country.

The executions have also triggered criticism from senior clerics in Iran. Molavi Abdolhamid, an outspoken cleric, has said the death sentence against Shekari violated Islamic law. Morteza Moqtadaei, a member of the Assembly of Experts, an 88-member chamber of theologians which oversees the work of the country's supreme leader, also criticized the judiciary for handing down the death sentence to Shekari.

What's Next: Iran is likely to continue carrying out executions, which rights groups have said are part of the authorities' crackdown on the ongoing protests. Activists have warned that another young man sentenced to death over the unrest -- Sahand Nourmohammadzadeh -- is at imminent risk of execution. Iran's judiciary says it has issued death sentences to 11 people in connection with the protests, although campaigners said that at least 21 protesters could potentially face the death penalty.

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Iran placed sanctions on over two dozen individuals and entities in Europe on December 12, including RFE/RL's Radio Farda. The announcement came ahead of the European Union's decision to impose new sanctions on Tehran. According to the Iranian Foreign Ministry, 32 people and entities have been added to the sanctions list for "interfering in the domestic affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran." RFE/RL President and Chief Executive Officer Jamie Fly described the designation of Radio Farda as "an absurd manipulation of the truth, straight out of every authoritarian playbook."

Omid Moayidi, a university student, was shot in the back and then in the head by security forces after participating in an anti-regime protest in the city of Shiraz, according to eyewitnesses who spoke to Radio Farda. Sources with knowledge of the situation told Radio Farda that the authorities had pressured his family to push their official line: that Moayidi was not protesting at all but a "martyr" of the clerical regime who was shot by "rioters" as he was driving his car.

What We're Watching

In a rare move, Iran summoned the Chinese ambassador to Tehran on December 11 to express its "strong dissatisfaction" with a joint statement issued by Chinese leader Xi Jinping and leaders of Arab states of the Persian Gulf. The statement, among other things, calls on Iran and the United Arab Emirates to resolve their dispute over three islands in the gulf through negotiations.

But Iran's Foreign Ministry said the islands of Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb, and Abu Musa were an "integral part" of the country's territory, which "have never and will never be subject to negotiations with any country."

Why It Matters: Since the joint statement was released, Iranian state media affiliated with different political factions have criticized Beijing, with some expressing "distrust" of China. In an apparent bid to repair the damage, Chinese Vice Premier Hu Chunhua met Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in Tehran on December 13. During the meeting, Chunhua expressed support for Iran's national integrity, state media reported.

Since then-U.S. President Donald Trump withdrew Washington from the Iran nuclear deal and reimposed sanctions in 2018, Tehran has followed a policy of "looking to the East," turning to allies Russia and China. Given the importance of the alliance to both countries, Beijing and Tehran are likely to smooth over any ill-feeling over the recent controversy.

That's all from me for now. Don't forget to send me any questions, comments, or tips that you have.

Until next time,

Hannah Kaviani

If you enjoyed this briefing and don't want to miss the next edition, subscribe here. It will be sent to your inbox every Wednesday.