Iranian artists and activists condemn flogging of dissident singer

During his first meeting with the General Staff Forum on Wednesday, he said, “2025 will be a year of war, focusing on Gaza, Iran, and preserving and deepening achievements in other arenas.”

It comes as the US-brokered ceasefire with Iran-backed Hamas in Gaza looks ever more fragile and talk from the US President Donald Trump and Israel’s political and military leaders continues to focus on the dismantling of Iran’s nuclear program.

Israel's Defense Minister Israel Katz said this week that Iran remains its greatest threat following talks with US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.

"The Minister of Defense and the Secretary of Defense agreed that Iran is the main threat to the region, and that close cooperation between Israel and the United States should continue with the aim of preventing it from obtaining nuclear weapons," a statement from his office said.

On Saturday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio released a statement to say that he has signed a declaration to use emergency authorities to expedite the delivery of approximately $4 billion in military assistance to Israel.

Israel’s new Chief of Staff emphasized the importance of the value of victory in battle, announcing a multi-year plan set to begin in the second half of the year.

Last year, Israel and Iran’s shadow war came to the fore when Tehran launched two direct strikes on the Jewish state, sparking heavy retaliations from Israel, which targeted military and nuclear research facilities, and swathes of the country’s defense systems.

Last month, The Washington Post reported that US intelligence reports pointed to more Israeli strikes on nuclear related sites in Iran while Iran has promised a third strike on Israel.

"Operation True Promise 3 will occur at the right time," IRGC deputy commander Ali Fadavi said last month.

Overnight Wednesday, Donald Trump posted a harsh warning to Iran-backed Hamas, warning that if the remaining hostages are not handed over, there will be “hell to pay”.

"'Shalom Hamas' means Hello and Goodbye - You can choose. Release all of the Hostages now, not later, and immediately return all of the dead bodies of the people you murdered, or it is OVER for you,” he wrote on X.

“Only sick and twisted people keep bodies, and you are sick and twisted! I am sending Israel everything it needs to finish the job, not a single Hamas member will be safe if you don’t do as I say. I have just met with your former Hostages whose lives you have destroyed. This is your last warning! For the leadership, now is the time to leave Gaza, while you still have a chance.”

The upgrading of Iran to the highest tier of the United Kingdom's Foreign Influence Registration Scheme (FIRS) announced on March 4, is due to be rolled out in the summer. Evidence has emerged in recent years of pervasive security threats emanating from the government in Tehran against independent journalists based in the UK.

Under the designation, Iran and anybody acting on its behalf would be deemed a potential security threat and compelled to register their activities in the UK. Not doing so would potentially incur a five-year prison sentence.

Iran International is a Persian-language TV news network that broadcasts 24/7 and has a strong following in Iran, despite government efforts to restrict access to the internet and satellite signals.

The statement appreciating the UK Government’s step said, “Iran International and its journalists have been targeted by Tehran’s security apparatus, facing intimidation, surveillance, and direct threats to their lives.”

In February 2023, the network relocated its studio and broadcast operations to Washington, DC, three months after the police raised alarm of direct threats and provided protection at its London headquarters. Most of its broadcast operations later returned to a new location in London.

“We support the UK Government’s decision to place the entire Iranian state, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS), on the enhanced tier of the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme (FIRS). This decision is an important step in preventing attacks on our journalists in the UK and their families in Iran,” the network said.

The network also emphasized its role as a necessary news source for the Iranian people and said it will not be intimidated.

“Iran International remains steadfast in its commitment to independent journalism. We will not be silenced by threats, intimidation, or state-backed violence.”

Zahra Minooei confirmed on X that the flogging was carried out at Branch Four of the Moral Security Prosecutor’s Office in Tehran, marking the conclusion of Yarrahi's case. "The flogging sentence has been carried out," she said.

Yarrahi, who was arrested in August 2023 after releasing a protest song titled Rousarieto (Take Off Your Headscarf), had previously been sentenced by Tehran’s Revolutionary Court to two years and eight months in prison, a cash fine, and 74 lashes.

He was sentenced to two years and eight months in prison, with one year enforceable under Iranian law. He was temporarily freed after posting bail of 150 billion rials (around $170,000) and, according to his lawyer, the prison term was later converted to house arrest with an ankle monitor due to health conditions.

"We wanted to lift the bail, but they said it was conditional on the flogging sentence being carried out," Minooei said.

Before the flogging was carried out, Yarrahi had said that he would not request the cancellation of the lashing sentence.

"I announced in the media that I condemn this sentence, but I am ready for its execution," he said in a video posted last week.

The singer gained prominence for his support of the 2022 popular protests, ignited by the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in custody of hijab police.

He was convicted of charges including producing, sending, distributing, and publishing obscene and immoral content, encouraging corruption, and propaganda against the system.

His case highlights the ongoing crackdown on artists and musicians in Iran who express dissent, with other singers like Toomaj Salehi and Saman Yasin also imprisoned for their support of the uprising. Although both have since been released.

"We must lead the IDF in a reality where the Iranian threat is ever-present and the enemy is striving with all its might to obtain nuclear weapons and establish them within our borders," he said as outgoing Chief of Staff, Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi handed over to the new Chief of Staff, Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir.

On Tuesday, the interim US envoy to international organizations in Vienna, Howard Solomon, called Iran's nuclear program an "existential threat" to the international community.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who also spoke at the event, said that Israel is “determined to achieve decision and victory” over Iran and its allied groups.

Katz spoke of Halevi's tenure, highlighting the challenges facing Israel in the wake of the October 7, 2023 Hamas invasion.

The shock attack saw more than 3,000 militants storm the country, killing around 1,200 mostly civilians in Israel. Over 250 more were taken hostage in the deadliest single day for Jews since the Holocaust.

"From the failure to protect our citizens on the Black Sabbath of October 7, you knew how to rise, recover, and lead an army that achieved a series of impressive military successes - in Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, Judea and Samaria, Yemen - and Iran," Katz said, referring to the onslaught of attacks from Iran-backed groups around the region sparked by the Gaza war.

Additionally, last year saw two direct aerial barrages from Iran as the shadow war between the two archenemies came into light, with Israeli retaliation taking out large swathes of Iran's air defences.

Since then, Iran has put even heavier focus on its allies in the occupied West Bank and stepped up spy operations in the country, Iran-backed plots rising by 400% last year, according to Israeli security.

Israel significantly weakened Iran's biggest military ally, Hezbollah in Lebanon, in addition to massively weakening Hamas in Gaza.

Large numbers of Hezbollah's leadership, including decades-long leader Hassan Nasrallah, were taken out in targeted strikes amid a conflict which sent Israel and the group to the verge of war.

As US-brokered ceasefires have seen calm with Hamas and Hezbollah, Israel's campaign against Iran continues while Tehran's allies keep threatening the Jewish state.

Earlier this week, senior Houthi leader Nasser al-Din Amer threatened on his X account that the Iran-backed group in Yemen was ready to resume its attacks against Israel.

"The eye is watching Gaza, the hand is on the trigger, the missiles and UAVs and all military units are on alert. The decision of the leader, Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, is clear," he said.

In an open letter organized by the Jewish Institute for National Security of America (JINSA), the former commanders said that “it is time to let Israel finish the job against the Iranian axis and stop Iran from crossing the nuclear threshold” and urged Washington to provide military assistance.

"A nuclear Iran would be a threat to US national security," the letter reads. "What Israel seeks from the United States is support to ensure the maximum effectiveness of its actions and manage the risk of Iranian retaliation. We should provide it expeditiously."

Referring to Iran's rising enrichment and obstruction of IAEA inspectors, it said more must be done to defend the Jewish state.

“With Iran capable of producing weapons-grade uranium in just days, working toward a nuclear weapon, and building ever-deeper underground facilities, time is running out to stop its march to the bomb,” the former generals added.

While acknowledging that diplomacy is preferable, the signatories said they doubt Iran would negotiate in good faith. "Repeated negotiations with Iran over two decades have led to one dangerous result: The world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism now stands on the cusp of developing the world’s most dangerous weapons," they wrote.

In early-February, Trump declared the return of the so-called maximum pressure on Tehran, vowing to block its paths to a nuclear weapon.

"Iran remains the world’s leading state sponsor of terror," the memo read, blaming Tehran for supporting militant groups such as Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, visiting Israel last week, called Iran the single greatest source of instability in the Middle East. "There can never be a nuclear Iran," Rubio said. "That can never happen."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said during the same press conference that "Israel and America are shoulder-to-shoulder in countering the threat of Iran."