Iranian Press Review: Execution of Anti-System Protester in 2022 Sparks Outrage

Meanwhile, an expert says Iran faces challenges in its retaliation against Israel, Tehran claims the New York Times is acting as a propaganda tool for Israel, and industries suffer financial setbacks due to power shortages

A general view shows the Iranian capital Tehran on January 7, 2023, with the Iranian flag waving in the wind (AFP)

Prisoners’ Families Call for Media Support and Global Mobilization

The execution of Reza Rasaei, a protester arrested during the 2022 anti-system protests, has sparked widespread outrage among Iranians, and relatives of other political prisoners have called for urgent intervention to protect their loved ones from a similar fate.

On Tuesday, Iran’s Mizan news agency reported that Rasaei, accused of killing a police officer, was executed before sunrise in Kermanshah prison.

Rasaei, arrested in November 2022 in the Kurdish town of Sahneh, had repeatedly denied the charges and claimed he was forced to make “false confessions.” Amnesty International condemned the unfair trial in a December 2023 report.

Following Rasaei’s execution, families of other dissidents facing imminent execution urged the international community to act against the death penalty in Iran.

Mojahed Korkor’s sister, whose brother is on death row, reached out to X to express her sadness: “Reza Rasaei was executed in silence. Don’t let my brother suffer the same fate – be his voice.”

In a video statement, the sister of Mahmoud Bahrami, another protester facing the death penalty, criticized the media for failing to support the families of political activists.

“Oh justice! Hear the cries of families who are crying out for justice, whose loved ones are imprisoned and who have to beg the media to be their voice,” she said.

Tehran faces retaliation dilemma, expert says

Local political analysts and foreign affairs experts have suggested that the Iranian establishment faces a dilemma over how to avenge the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran without escalating tensions.

On Wednesday, Ahmad Zeidabadi, a prominent political analyst, said the delay in Iran’s response could be due to this dilemma.

“The problem for the establishment is how to retaliate against Israel without spreading war,” he wrote in the daily Ham Mihan.

“No solution has been found to this problem, neither in Tehran nor anywhere else in the world. The delay in retaliatory measures could be linked to this problem.”

Zeidabadi also highlighted the influence of conservatives in Iran who are pressuring policymakers to take tough measures against Israel.

Zeidabadi, who supports reducing tensions with Western countries and Israel, stressed that previous Iranian retaliatory measures have not been effective in deterring Israel’s attack on Iran.

“If the planned revenge is carried out without losses or damage, it does not contribute to the declared objectives, including deterrence. Conversely, if the operation results in significant losses and damage, it will not prevent the spread of war,” he said.

Iran accuses New York Times of being a propaganda machine

Tehran has condemned the New York Times, accusing it of being a propaganda outlet for “Mossad killings” in Iran following the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh.

In its headline Sunday, the Iranian government’s official newspaper, Iran, denied the Times’ report that a bomb had been planted at Haniyeh’s Tehran residence.

The Iranian newspaper claimed that the Times’ coverage of Haniyeh’s assassination was aimed at absolving Israel of any wrongdoing, dramatizing the story and misleading Iran’s security establishment and the public.

“Whenever there is a terrorist attack linked to the Zionist regime, the American newspaper The New York Times quickly steps in as the media ally of the perpetrators,” the daily writes.

The newspaper criticized the Times for failing to address the attacks from a moral, humanitarian or political perspective.

“Instead, it tends to glorify these brutal and politically motivated acts by focusing on unverified technical and military details, thereby distracting from the fundamental problem of terrorism,” he concludes.

Industries suffer economic losses due to power shortages

Iran has suffered significant economic losses from power outages affecting its industries, estimated at over $5 billion.

The petrochemical and cement industries are suffering the most, local media report.

The unprecedented rise in temperatures has recently prompted authorities to implement cascading power cuts. Initially, authorities have been diverting electricity from various industries to ensure that homes receive enough power. They have also recently cut power to government offices.

To cope with the energy shortage, the government has shifted working hours to start at 6 a.m., and in Tehran and some other provinces, authorities have restricted the use of air conditioners and coolers after noon.

On Sunday, the government’s official Dolat website reported that 51 government offices in Tehran suffered power cuts because they used air conditioners after 12 p.m.

Energy experts in Iran attribute the current electricity shortages to the country’s deteriorating infrastructure and delays in expanding its electricity industry and power plants.

The situation worsened during the summer, intensifying energy demand due to the heat.

*The Iranian press review is a summary of information whose accuracy has not been independently verified by Middle East Eye.

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