HomeIran News NowIran News in Brief-Articles and VideosIran News in Brief – May 17, 2026
Iran News in Brief-Articles and Videos Iran News in Brief – May 17, 2026
Written by Sedighe Shahrokhi
17th May 2026
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Thousands of Iranians gathered in Washington, D.C., to protest the recent wave of executions in Iran and call for a free, democratic and secular republic THIS PAGE WILL BE UPDATED WITH THE LATEST NEWS UPDATE: 09:30 AM CEST
Message to the Demonstration by Iranians in Washington, D.C.
Mrs. Maryam Rajavi‘s message: “Dear compatriots, distinguished guests, and dear friends,
I extend my warmest greetings to you all. Your rally and march today convey a powerful and resonant message, both to the people of Iran and to the international community.
To the Iranian people, you declare: ‘We stand in unwavering support of your resistance against religious fascism, and we champion your continued struggle and uprising until the overthrow of this malevolent regime.’
“And to the world, you proclaim: ‘Stand with the people of Iran and their democratic alternative, the National Council of Resistance—the sole entity that holds the key to the Iranian question.’
“Today, the mullahs find themselves ensnared in an impasse; they can neither return to the status quo preceding the uprisings and the massacres of January 2026, nor do they have a path forward. Consequently, they have intensified their war against the Iranian people.”
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PMOI Resistance Units in Zahedan Defy Executions and Reject Dictatorships
On May 15, 2026, Resistance Units of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) resumed their anti-regime activities in Zahedan, southeast Iran. Defying the regime’s wave of political executions and severe security measures, these brave individuals held placards in public places, rejecting all forms of dictatorship and making it clear that the spirit of resistance cannot be extinguished.
The activists held signs bearing slogans such as “No to shah, no to mullahs, yes to a democratic republic,” “A dictator is a dictator, whether with a turban or a crown,” and “From Zahedan to Tehran, down with the oppressor, be it the shah or the supreme leader.” Their message underscored that no act of repression can save the ruling religious fascism from its unavoidable downfall.
The Resistance Units’ activities directly condemned recent state-sponsored atrocities committed against the Baluch people. On Monday, May 11, 2026, Ministry of Intelligence agents opened fire on a vehicle on the Pahreh–Sarbaz road, killing four innocent Baluch civilians.
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Thousands Gather For ‘Free Iran’ Rally Calling on Regime to Stop Killing Political Prisoners
Thousands of people gathered for the “Free Iran” rally calling on the Iranian regime to stop executions of political prisoners, organizers said on Saturday.
The event, organized by the National Council of Resistance of Iran, is being held near the U.S. Capitol building.
According to several reports, about 30 political prisoners have been killed since the start of the Iran war. So far this year, about 50,000 have been arrested.
Speakers at the rally included:
Maryam Rajavi, NCRI President-elect, who is addressed the rally live online from the NCRI headquarters in Paris General Wesley K. Clark, the 12th Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) Honorable Carla Sands, United States Ambassador to Denmark from 2017 to 2021 Honorable Patrick Kennedy, former member of the U.S. House of Representatives
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Protest Against the Iranian Regime Erupts In DC
Thousands gathered near Capitol Hill on Saturday, May 16, as the “Free Iran” march in Washington, DC, called for regime change in Iran. The protestors were waving the green, white, and red Iranian flags as large crowds marched behind a massive yellow banner reading, ‘IRAN: Support Maryam Rajavi’s Provisional Government for a Democratic Republic Toward Peace and Freedom.’
Demonstrators carried out their rally through downtown streets near the US Capitol and World War I Memorial.
Many of the protestors wore yellow hats and shirts while carrying flags associated with the National Council of Resistance of Iran and other Iranian opposition groups.
The placards carried by protestors bore slogans like ‘Stop Executions in Iran‘ and ‘No Shah No Mullahs’, underscoring that the Iranian population neither supports the current regime nor a return of the monarchy.
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Imprisoned Writer Sends Letter from Evin Prison to PEN America
Golrokh Iraee, an imprisoned writer, held in the women’s ward of Evin Prison, has written a letter addressed to PEN America in May 2026, highlighting the critical role of writing and freedom of expression in resisting state repression.
In her letter, Golrokh Iraee emphasizes the authorities’ fear of “the pen” and the exposure of truth, describing writing as a powerful tool for breaking silence and confronting censorship.
This political prisoner also refers to systematic repression, widespread poverty, executions, popular uprisings, nationwide protests, and the suffering endured by families seeking justice for victims of state violence. She further points to the continuing pressure imposed on protesters and government critics.
In another section of the letter, Iraee describes “the pen” as the voice of oppressed people, a reflection of the suffering of marginalized communities, and an effective instrument against erasure, censorship, and repression. According to her, writing has the power to preserve truth and carry the stories of victims to the international community.
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Iran’s Regime Expanding Security Crackdown Pushes Families into Fear and Silence
As Iran’s political and social crisis deepens, regime authorities have launched a new wave of arrests, executions, and security measures targeting political prisoners, civil activists, ethnic minorities, women, and even children across the country.
Reports emerging from Ahvaz, Izeh, Mashhad, Kermanshah, Zahedan, Shiraz, Tehran, Rasht, and several Kurdish cities indicate that the regime’s security crackdown has entered a broader and more aggressive phase. Human rights activists warn that authorities are exploiting wartime conditions, internet restrictions, and severe media censorship to intensify repression away from public scrutiny.
Families of detainees increasingly describe an atmosphere of fear, uncertainty, and intimidation, as many are denied even the most basic information regarding the whereabouts or condition of their loved ones.
In Kermanshah, authorities at Dizel Abad Prison have reportedly suspended all prisoner visitations. Families say they have gone weeks without seeing detained relatives, while phone communications are heavily monitored and restricted.
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Iraqi Militia Commander Arrested Over Alleged Plotting of Terrorist Attacks in the U.S. and Europe
An Iraqi militia commander has been arrested on charges of involvement in planning more than 12 “terrorist” attacks in North America and Europe, attacks that judicial officials say were planned in response to war with Iran.
U.S. judicial officials say that Mohammad Bagher Saad Dawood Saeedi, 32, was planning attacks on a synagogue in New York and two Jewish centers in Los Angeles and Scottsdale.
According to the criminal complaint, he faces six terrorism-related charges. His lawyer, however, says he has been targeted in a politically motivated prosecution.
According to U.S. officials, Saeedi is one of the commanders of Kataib Hezbollah, an Iraq-based group that the United States considers a terrorist organization, and which has close ties to Iran.
Saeedi, an Iraqi citizen, was first arrested in Turkey and then handed over to the FBI and transferred to the United States.
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Concerns in U.S. Congress Over Cryptocurrency Transfers to Networks Linked to Iran’s Regime
Two members of the U.S. Congress, Sean Casten and Gregory Meeks, in an official letter to the U.S. government, called for explanations regarding the role of cryptocurrency exchange Binance in large-scale digital currency transfers.
In the letter, published on Thursday, May 14, it was claimed that about $1.7 billion in cryptocurrency had been transferred through Binance to wallets linked to armed groups and forces affiliated with the Iranian regime. According to the lawmakers, part of this financial network was likely used to circumvent U.S. sanctions.
The report also referred to Tehran-backed groups such as the Houthis in Yemen. The members of Congress emphasized that these transactions took place while Binance had been under scrutiny by U.S. authorities following regulatory agreements and commitments to implement strict anti-money laundering regulations.
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Inside Iran’s Deepening Medicine Crisis: When Survival Becomes Too Expensive
Retirees are cutting pills in half, patients are abandoning treatment, and pharmacists say familiar customers are disappearing. Across Iran, soaring medicine prices and worsening shortages are turning illness into a daily financial nightmare.
At a pharmacy in a middle-class neighborhood of Tehran, the human cost of Iran’s medicine crisis is visible in the pharmacist’s exhausted voice and saddened eyes.
“Until a few months ago, retirees in their 60s and 70s came here regularly,” he says. “They would show me their bags of medicine and pick up what they needed. Now none of them come anymore.”
A few days ago, he ran into one of those longtime customers on the street and asked why he had stopped visiting the pharmacy.
The reply was short and bitter: “With what money?”
This is not just one story. It is now part of everyday life for thousands of Iranian families in the spring of 2026.
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Melbourne Exhibition: Iranian Resistance Supporters Condemn Executions of Political Prisoners Melbourne, Australia – May 15, 2026: Supporters of the Iranian Resistance held a book stall and photo exhibition in Melbourne to protest the executions of political prisoners affiliated with the PMOI and protesters arrested during the January 2026 uprising. The event expressed solidarity with the nationwide “No to Execution” campaign and called for immediate international action to confront the regime’s ongoing human rights violations. Participants also demanded the unconditional release of all political prisoners.
Melbourne Exhibition: Iranian Resistance Supporters Condemn Executions of Political Prisoners-1 Watch this video on YouTube
Participants condemned the actions of Iran’s ruling regime, describing the executions as flagrant violations of human rights. They called for regime change and urged the Australian government to adopt a clear stance against the ongoing abuses in Iran.
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Also, read Iran News in Brief – May 16, 2026
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