Iran Expands Crackdown on Alleged Media Links as Political Prisoner Faces Renewed Death Sentence

31/05/2026

Iran Expands Crackdown on Alleged Media Links as Political Prisoner Faces Renewed Death Sentence

TEHRAN, May 31: Iranian authorities have ordered the seizure of assets belonging to 75 individuals in Markazi province over accusations of working with what officials described as “hostile media,” according to judiciary-affiliated Mizan News on Sunday.

The prosecutor in the central city of Arak said the cases involve individuals accused of supporting Iran’s adversaries and attempting to incite public unrest.

“Betrayal of the homeland and cooperation with the enemies of the Iranian nation is a stain of shame for which the law has prescribed deterrent punishments,” the report said.

The development comes amid a broader escalation in judicial and security actions across the country targeting alleged dissent and foreign-linked activity.

In a separate case, Iranian political prisoner Zahra Shahbaz Tabari has reportedly been sentenced to death again after Iran’s Supreme Court overturned her previous ruling, according to the US-based rights group HRANA.

Tabari was convicted by a Revolutionary Court on charges of armed rebellion against the state, allegedly through membership in the opposition group People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (MEK). She had earlier received a death sentence in 2025, which was later overturned and sent back for retrial.

Meanwhile, Iranian media reported the arrest of two individuals in the northwestern city of Urmia on accusations of aiding Israel.

The IRGC-linked Fars News Agency said the suspects were accused of sharing locations and images of sensitive sites in Iran with Israel via the Telegram messaging platform.

The cases highlight an intensifying security environment in Iran, with authorities increasing prosecutions linked to alleged foreign cooperation, media activity, and national security concerns.