The U.S. Calls the Death of Javad Rouhi 'Horrific' and Describes the Islamic Republic's Efforts to 'Instill Fear' Among the People of Iran

A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State expressed horror over the death of Javad Rouhi in the Islamic Republic's prison, stating to VOA, 'We are horrified by the death of Javad Rouhi and reports of his torture.' In a written response to VOA's Persian section, the spokesperson referred to 'heartbreaking reports' of 'neglect and torture' of Rouhi during his detention, adding that his death is the latest example of the Islamic Republic's efforts to 'instill fear' among the people of Iran and 'suppress any dissent.' The news of Rouhi's death on Thursday, September 9, faced widespread criticism from human rights organizations and civil and political activists. Human rights defenders, noting the Islamic Republic's history of torture and mistreatment of prisoners, labeled Rouhi's death as 'suspicious' and called for international investigations into the matter. At the same time, the U.S. spokesperson reacted to comments made by Mohammad Eslami, head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization, regarding the Islamic Republic's commitment to the JCPOA if all sanctions are lifted, stating, 'The U.S. Department of State remains unwavering in its commitment to prevent the Islamic Republic from acquiring nuclear weapons.' The spokesperson also emphasized that 'U.S. policy' towards the Islamic Republic remains unchanged, focusing on curbing the destabilizing activities of the Islamic Republic through diplomatic means, close cooperation with allied countries, and regional efforts for 'de-escalation.' Meanwhile, the U.S. spokesperson, citing Secretary of State Antony Blinken, stressed that 'the Islamic Republic must take necessary actions to de-escalate the current situation to pave the way for future diplomatic initiatives.' Rafael Grossi, head of the Atomic Energy Organization, stated on September 7, 'The JCPOA is now just an empty shell.' An American cyclist drew attention to Javad Rouhi's name on the map of San Francisco while there was widespread public reaction to the death of another protester in prison: 'They killed Javad Rouhi.' The body of Javad Rouhi was buried in the village of Kalikan in Amol with the presence of security forces. Human Rights Watch called for investigations and UN intervention regarding Rouhi's death. Local officials justified Rouhi's death by stating he had an addiction, while political and legal activists claimed it was murder. An exclusive legal expert stated that Rouhi's death was 'a deliberate and planned state murder.' Amnesty International described Rouhi's death as suspicious and called for the establishment of a 'fact-finding committee.' Javad Rouhi, a prisoner protester, died; some users expressed doubts about the reason for his death.