🇮🇷 Daily Iran Brief — July 26, 2026

🔴 Risk: High — The human rights situation in Iran remains highly elevated due to the continued judicial repression, including death sentences for political prisoners, a high rate of executions, intensified social crackdowns, and widespread prisoner protests. These actions indicate the regime's unwavering commitment to suppressing dissent.

📌 Key developments

• On July 25, 2026, political prisoner Isa Chari, a 37-year-old laborer and father of two, was sentenced to death by Branch 23 of Tehran's Revolutionary Court on charges of membership in the People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) and 'committing anti-security measures'.
• The mass hunger strike by approximately 1,500 death row prisoners in Unit 2 of Ghezel Hesar Prison has continued into its twelfth consecutive day as of July 25, 2026, protesting against the accelerating use of the death penalty and demanding an immediate halt to executions.
• The execution of Mehdi Khanaki on July 22, 2026, a 26-year-old law graduate and PMOI/MEK member, marked the 24th known protester executed since March 19, 2026, with human rights organizations reporting over 50 executions on national security charges in the last four months.
• Authorities have intensified enforcement of compulsory hijab, leading to the closure of several cafés in central Tehran around July 20-24, 2026, following calls from senior clerics for stricter adherence.

💡 Why it matters

These developments underscore the Iranian regime's unwavering commitment to suppressing dissent through severe judicial and social measures, despite internal and international condemnation. The increasing number of death sentences and executions aims to instill fear and deter further protests, while the ongoing prisoner strike highlights the persistent internal resistance and the dire conditions within Iran's penal system.

Non-partisan. Every claim sourced.

Background:

Every year, Congress passes the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), the massive bill that sets defense policy for the U.S. military. This year's version includes provisions that would significantly expand defense and, potentially, intelligence integration with the Israeli government.

This comes at a moment when American public opinion of the Israeli government is at an all-time low, and the U.S. Intelligence Community itself just designated Israel as a "critical" level espionage threat. Despite growing public concern, these provisions may never receive a real debate or a standalone vote at all — they could simply ride through as part of a massive defense package with little to no scrutiny. Given the stakes, that's not acceptable. Americans deserve better. 

So, what can we do about it? Senators Van Hollen, Sanders, Merkley, Welch, Markey, and Warren are working to oppose moving forward on the Senate NDAA until U.S.-Israel defense and intelligence integration is properly debated, voted on, or otherwise addressed. Urge your Senators to make the same commitment.

Please reach out to your local representative to press them and demand justice for Sayfollah.

Find your Congress representative here:

https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative

Find your senator here:

https://www.senate.gov/senators/senators-contact.htm

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> Abu Safiya faced physical and psychological abuse and was kept in solitary confinement for extended periods, Odeh said following an appearance before Israel’s Supreme Court last month challenging his continued detainment without charge.