World faces biggest energy crisis due to Iran war, IEA says

Iran’s Reformists Front called for equal access to the global internet, saying restrictions were harming livelihoods and undermining citizens’ rights.

“Cybersecurity policy should shift from ‘broad shutdowns’ to technical, targeted and professional approaches, and people’s access to stable, free and secure internet should be restored immediately,” read the statement released on Wednesday.

The group said millions of Iranians depend on the internet for income, education, healthcare and family connections, warning that disruptions to such a “vital tool” violated the state’s duty to protect civil rights and social resilience.

It criticized unequal access, including so-called tiered internet services, and urged authorities to recognize equal access to the global network as a right for all citizens.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Thursday that US military bases in the region endangered host countries and allowed Iran to treat their territory as legitimate targets.

He said foreign presence in the region did not improve security and instead increased tensions.

Pezeshkian added that any insecurity in Strait of Hormuz was the responsibility of the United States and Israel.

A senior figure in Iran’s reformist camp said on Thursday that slogans targeting current and former officials risk undermining national unity during pro-government rallies.

Hassan Rasouli, vice president of Iran’s Reformists Front, said placards criticizing former officials such as Hassan Rouhani and Mohammad Javad Zarif as well as current ones such as parliament speaker and foreign minister detracted from the pro-Islamic Republic gatherings.

Rasouli urged organizers to be more careful in shaping slogans and messaging, warning that language attacking officials could weaken cohesion and reduce the impact of the demonstrations.

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  Hardliners pile on 'traitor' Zarif, urge his arrest over call for end of war

Iran ranked among the world’s worst countries for press freedom in 2026 as global conditions hit a 25-year low, with legal pressure on journalists intensifying across multiple regions, Reporters Without Borders said.

More than half of all countries now fall into “difficult” or “very serious” categories, with the global average score at its lowest since the index began, the organization said.

“Iran remains near the bottom of the ranking, held back by the regime’s own repression and the US-Israeli war on its soil,” Reporters Without Borders wrote.

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Iran’s consumer prices rose 73.5% in the month of Farvardin (March 21 to April 20) from the same month last year, the Statistical Center of Iran said on Thursday.

The consumer price index increased 5% from the previous month, the center said.

Average inflation in the 12 months ending in April rose 53.7% from the same period a year earlier, it added.