President-elect's press conference cancelled

Jul 6, 2024, 11:17 GMT+1

President-elect Pezeshkian’s press conference, scheduled to be held on Saturday afternoon Tehran time, has been canceled.

The event was supposed to take place in Tehran with both domestic and international journalists in attendance.

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Khamenei praises voter turnout, congratulates Pezeshkian’s win

Jul 6, 2024, 11:09 GMT+1

Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has thanked all candidates and people involved in holding the presidential elections, saying that the nearly 50-percent voter turnout neutralized calls to boycott the elections.

“This grand act of defiance against the fabricated uproar of election boycott, which the enemies of the Iranian nation had orchestrated to instill despair and deadlock, is a brilliant and unforgettable feat,” he said.

After a lackluster voter turnout in the first round of elections on June 28, Khamenei admitted that the participation rate was disappointing and “less than expected.” After he cast his vote in the runoff, he expressed hope that more people would show up for the second round."I have heard that people's enthusiasm and interest is higher than before (the previous round), I hope it is true" he said trying to sound positive.

In his message on Saturday, Khamenei also called on the newly elected president to continue the path of the late President Ebrahim Raisi.

Syria’s Assad sends message to the new president

Jul 6, 2024, 10:18 GMT+1

Syrian President Bashar Assad congratulated Masoud Pezeshkian on his election as the Iranian president.

In his message, Assad said that Syria and the Islamic Republic would work towards "strengthening strategic relations and opening new horizons for bilateral cooperation."

Putin congratulates Pezeshkian on election victory

Jul 6, 2024, 10:14 GMT+1

Russian President Vladimir Putin has congratulated Masoud Pezeshkian on his election as the new president of Iran, the Kremlin said on Saturday.

"I hope that your activities as president will contribute to further building up constructive bilateral cooperation in all areas for the benefit of our friendly peoples, in the interests of simplifying regional security and stability," the statement said.

Saudi Arabia calls for bolstering ties following Pezeshkian's election

Jul 6, 2024, 10:06 GMT+1

Saudi Arabia's king and crown prince congratulated Masoud Pezeshkian on his election as Iran's president, state news agency SPA reported on Saturday.

"I affirm my keenness on developing and deepening the relations between our countries and people and serve our mutual interests," SPA quoted Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as saying.

In March 2023, Iran and Saudi Arabia signed a landmark China-brokered deal to re-establish relations after years of regional rivalry. Since then, officials from both sides continued talks to bolster ties.

Iranian political prisoner Jalalian denied medical care in 17th year

Jul 6, 2024, 10:03 GMT+1

Zeinab Jalalian, one of the longest-serving female political prisoners in Iran, is in her 17th year of life imprisonment in the central city of Yazd, enduring severe health issues without proper medical care.

On Friday, the Human Rights Activist Network in Iran (HRANA) reported that Jalalian, despite suffering from multiple physical ailments, has been consistently denied the necessary medical attention and hospital transfers.

“Ms. Jalalian suffers from pterygium (an eye disease) as well as kidney and gastrointestinal diseases. Recently, due to pain in her right side, she was transferred to the prison infirmary. She was examined by the prison doctor, but no specialized treatment was provided. This political prisoner requires hospitalization and specialized care, yet the relevant authorities continue to prevent her transfer,” wrote HRANA.

Jalalian was arrested on February 26, 2008, while traveling on an intercity minibus in western Iran. Agents of the Ministry of Intelligence apprehended her at the entrance to the city, in front of dozens of passengers. During her detainment, Jalalian was subjected to severe physical and psychological torture, as reported by multiple rights groups.

In December 2008, she was sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court in Kermanshah on charges of “enmity against God” (moharebeh) through “armed action against the Islamic Republic, membership of PJAK, possession and maintenance of military weapons and equipment, and propaganda activities in favor of anti-state groups” according to Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN). Her sentence was commuted from execution to life imprisonment in October 2011.

In 2016, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention determined that she was detained for the peaceful exercise of her rights to freedom of expression and association and denied her right to a fair trial. Amnesty International has repeatedly called on the Iranian authorities for her immediate release.

In January this year, Amnesty urged for her release again and stated that despite the findings of the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, “Iranian authorities continued to subject Zeynab Jalalian to torture by deliberately denying her healthcare to coerce her into providing a videotaped ‘confession’ and ‘repenting’ for her past activities. Following at least two COVID-19 infections, Zeynab Jalalian has developed a lung condition and has trouble breathing – a condition that needs proper treatment.”

Jalalian has been transferred multiple times between various prisons, including Khoi, Qarchak, Varamin, Evin, Kerman, Kermanshah, and Yazd, without any leave. Her health has deteriorated significantly, with no respite from the prison authorities.

Numerous reports have highlighted the systemic neglect of medical treatment for political prisoners in Iran, resulting in the deaths of several inmates in the past.

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