Longstanding human rights violations on Iranian citizens play a part, but the proximate cause here seems to be economic. In 2015, when Iran joined a nuclear accord, rials were trading at 32,000 to the dollar. A U.S.-based group, Human Rights Activists in Iran, reported nearly 1,000 people have been arrested. What are Iranian security officials doing now? Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi gave a rare interview to The Economist magazine in November, for example, saying Iran is ready to make a “fair and balanced deal….

Source: National Post January 05, 2026 23:08 UTC