Iranian women’s rights activists face rape threats during arrest: UN Special Rapporteur

In the Shia cleric's recent statement on his Telegram channel, he said, “The cause of diseases such as dengue fever, cancer, and coronavirus are the chemical drugs. If you do not take chemical drugs, you will not get sick."

His controversial views, including his description of immunization as a "colonialist plot" and the promotion of bizarre remedies during the COVID-19 pandemic, have sparked widespread ridicule and condemnation.

He has written several books on what he calls Islamic Medicine and runs an Islamic Medicine Center. This center markets various products under the pretext of religious adherence, including Islamic toothbrushes, soap, and even ink.

He claims that adhering to Islamic teachings can cure any illness and that living a "true Islamic lifestyle" negates the need for conventional medical treatment. Tabrizian also offers his followers diagnostic advice, including guidance on "womb preparation" and "treatment of brain debility," along with prescriptions for medications such as "nerve strengthener" and "blood detoxifier."

His assertion about dengue fever contrasts with statements from Iranian health officials amid rising cases. The deputy minister of health on Monday emphasized the identification and capture of Aedes mosquitoes in five provinces, highlighting the differences between the northern and southern species. He noted that the southern variant is more aggressive and prone to spreading the disease.

During a visit to the southern Hormozgan province, Hossein Farshidi mentioned that “many dengue fever patients have come from other countries,” warning that a widespread outbreak could be “more dangerous than COVID-19.”

Maqsoud Asadi Samani, Secretary of the Association of Iranian Airlines, acknowledged the possibility of Aedes mosquitoes being transported via passenger luggage but stated that no reports have been received regarding their presence on planes.

Shahnam Arshi, head of the Center for Infectious Disease Management, also expressed concern about the spread of dengue fever from travelers from the UAE, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.

Arshi named Bushehr, Khuzestan, Sistan and Baluchestan, Golestan, Gilan, Mazandaran, and Hormozgan as provinces that have had cases of the disease, emphasizing that these areas are potentially at risk for Aedes mosquitoes or may face them in the future.

As of July 10, 149 Iranians have been confirmed to have dengue fever, with residents of 40 cities at risk. The Deputy Minister of Health identified environmental conditions that allow mosquito growth and disease transmission as critical factors to quash the outbreak which is not in most cases fatal, causes severe pain in the bones, joints, and muscles.

“This year, we are facing more than 70,000 teachers staying at home, and no solution has been devised to replace them,” former official Morteza Nazari stated in an interview with the "reformist" newspaper Etemad over the weekend.

Highlighting the current consequences of last year’s staff purges, Nazari argued that Raisi’s administration, driven by a punitive agenda, replaced qualified individuals with unqualified ones in educational institutions.

In September 2023, Iran's Minister of Education replaced over 20,000 principals in what many perceived as an attempt to "purge" schools following the unprecedented nationwide protests ignited by the death of Mahsa Jina Amini at the hands of the “morality police.”

Nazari added that with the new academic year starting in less than three months, there is significant uncertainty about how to fill classrooms with qualified educators.

To address the staff shortages, the Education Ministry implemented the "Amin" program, integrating Islamic religious teachers into the school system by recruiting 21,000 seminary graduates to teach in 7,000 schools.

Yet, Babak Negahdari, the head of the Iranian Parliament's Research Center, recently warned of a critical shortage of teachers, stating that 176,000 are needed for the upcoming academic year. He added that an additional 72,000 teachers are expected to retire by September 2024.

“The Ministry of Education is the largest executive body in the country, where about 45% of the human resources of the executive branch are concentrated,” Nazari said.

He added that this ministry is now being handed over to the administration amidst a plethora of problems, most notably a severe shortage of teachers. Nazari also asserted that following the Raisi administration's purges, many key positions were filled based on political affiliations rather than merit, further undermining the effectiveness of the education system.

He asserted that while previous administrations, including those of "reformists" Hassan Rouhani and Mohammad Khatami, as well as hardliner Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, also made some “weak appointments”, none had as many “mandated appointments” as Raisi’s administration.

In 2016, reports revealed that the administration failed to ensure equal treatment for Bahá'í students, resulting in the expulsion of thousands from educational institutions due to their faith.

The former official also maintained that the punitive nature of the late President’s initiatives led to teachers and administrators who supported students protesting against the state in 2022 being disciplined, having their salaries and ranks reduced, or being reprimanded and denied promotions.

Among the many challenges facing the country’s educational institutions, Nazari highlighted that the education budget deficit "reached a peak" under Raisi’s administration. Despite claims of prioritizing education, he noted that the financial and administrative issues have only worsened.

In 2023, the Ministry's budget per student was about 12.4 million tomans, roughly $250 per capita per year – compared to Western nations allocating between $8,000 and $20,000 per student in 2019.

Nazari said the state of Iran’s education system presents a fresh set of challenges for President-elect Masoud Pezeshkian, who must now tackle these pressing issues to restore the integrity of the nation's educational institutions.

“The Council today extended until 27 July 2025 the restrictive measures [sanctions] in view of Iran’s military support for Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and for armed groups and entities in the Middle East and the Red Sea region,” the council announced in a statemenMonday statement.

Tehran has been supplying Russia with weapons, including the Shahed drones, which have been used in its war on Ukraine.

In March, the European Council called on third parties, including Iran, to immediately cease providing material support to Russia, though Iran denies the support.

In April, the Council reaffirmed its commitment to further sanctions against Iran, particularly concerning unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and missiles.

On May 14, the Council expanded the scope of EU sanctions to include both drones and missiles, as well as Iran's support for armed groups in the Middle East and the Red Sea region. Since November, Iran's Houthi terror group began a blockade of the Red Sea region, impacting global shipping.

Currently the sanctions regime applies to 12 people and nine entities, subjecting them to asset freezes and prohibiting the provision of funds or economic resources. Additionally, a travel ban to the EU applies to the listed individuals.

Following Hamas' attack on Israel on October 7 and the subsequent Israeli offensive in Gaza, Iran has intensified its efforts against American and Israeli interests, deploying armed groups throughout the Middle East that it supports, arms, and trains.

The vessel, now missing for three days, has triggered a patrol and reconnaissance mission by the Houthis, as reported by UAE-based Al-Ain news website.

"Iranian experts and senior Houthi security leaders participated in a special meeting held in Sanaa to review and discuss a report on the large boat that was lost in the Red Sea," the report said, citing informed sources.

For years, Iran has been accused of supplying the Houthis with weapons and expertise for developing long-range missiles and drones. The shipments, often disguised as commercial vessels, have sometimes been intercepted by the US Navy and other international forces.

Security sources in Yemen revealed to Al-Ain that the Houthi militias lost contact with the large transport boat that was on a smuggling mission via a regular sea route from the Horn of Africa countries to the coasts of the governorate overlooking the Red Sea.

The news outlet said Yemeni security sources confirmed the ship was expected to arrive in Yemen on Friday but disappeared on Saturday. The Houthis, lacking a robust navy, have mobilized small boats and drones for the search, but their fishing boats lack the necessary technology for such operations. No distress calls have been detected.

Speculation is rife that the ship may have been targeted by the US-backed Prosperity Guardian mission, aimed at protecting Red Sea shipping from Houthi attacks amid the blockade launched by the terror group since November.

Claiming to be in solidarity with Iran-backed Hamas in Gaza, amid its war with Israel, the Houthis began a maritime blockade of the critical Red Sea corridor, targeting commercial shipping.

The Houthis fear the vessel could have been intercepted by US or European navies, given the intensified crackdown on Iranian arms shipments.

In a related development, US Central Command announced on Sunday that its forces had destroyed two Iranian-backed Houthi drones and one kamikaze boat in the Red Sea.

The Houthis started targeting maritime commercial traffic in mid-November following a call by Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei for Muslim countries to blockade Israel. Initially focused on the Red Sea, the attacks have now extended to other critical waterways, including the Indian Ocean, with international shipping affected and dozens of seamen taken hostage.

A US-led coalition of over 20 nations has formed to combat the threat to global trade and freedom of movement.

Herzog labeled Iran as "an empire of evil that wants to undermine the stability of the world and is rushing to the bomb [and] undermining international trade", referring to the Yemeni Houthis' blockade of the Red Sea and Tehran's ongoing nuclear program.

Israel is currently at war with Iran-backed Hamas in Gaza which invaded Israel on October 7, killing 1,200 mostly civilians and taking another 250 hostage. The invasion was met by solidarity attacks on Israel's northern border by Iran's Hezbollah in Lebanon, backing Hamas.

Subsequently, Iran's Houthis in Yemen launched a maritime blockade of the Red Sea, causing at least half of the commercial vessels on the key trade route to change course to longer and more expensive routes.

Since October 7, attacks against Israel have also come from Iran's militias in Syria and Iraq, and even Iran itself. In April, Tehran sent a barrage of hundreds of drones, missiles and rockets towards Israel in an unprecedented attack.

Israel and a US-led coalition which included the UK, intercepted most of the projectiles.

Highlighting the regional threat, Herzog stated that Iran is actively "trying to surround Israel by its proxies." He reiterated Israel's commitment to peace, stating, “We are a nation seeking peace, and I believe that we must find peace with our neighbors.”

The President said Israel is “working tirelessly” to secure the return of the hostages, which include women and children, expressing hope for a deal soon. “I sincerely hope that there will be a hostage deal soon. It is a very important step,” Herzog said. In return for the hostages, Hamas is demanding a full ceasefire and the release of hundreds of Palestinians in Israeli prisons, most of whom are held on terror charges.

Lammy, adorned with a yellow ribbon symbolizing support for the hostages' return, echoed the sentiment. “I hope that we see a hostage deal emerge in the coming days, and I am using all diplomatic efforts,” he remarked, noting his recent efforts with the G7 nations and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

Egypt, Qatar and the US are among those working for a ceasefire deal between the two warring sides as the humanitarian disaster in Gaza deepens. Since October 7, almost 40,000 people have died in Gaza, according to Hamas. At least 15,000 of those are Hamas militants, says Israel.

Iran has long been a supporter of Hamas, which is currently engaged in its longest war with Israel since it took over Gaza in a violent coup in 2007.

Tehran has been providing the militant group with financial aid, weaponry, and training, including the supply of advanced rockets, military equipment, and technical expertise to enhance Hamas's capabilities in its conflict with its archenemy.