Labubu craze, contradictory statements on IAEA deal—and more
The Iranist for the week of September 12, 2025
Greetings from the Middle East! 🐪 This is a more concise newsletter due to travel… Please note that The Iranist won’t be published next week.
THE هفت/SEVEN THINGS TO KNOW THIS WEEK:
۱/1 Tehran agrees to give IAEA access to key nuclear facilities
However, Iran and the United Nations nuclear watchdog gave contradictory statements on what the deal entails (Al Jazeera).
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in a televised interview that “all of our [enriched uranium] material is… under the rubble of the bombed facilities,” adding that the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran was assessing the damage to submit a report to the Supreme National Security Council (AFP).
۲/2 Woman, Life, Freedom protester executed
The Norway-based Iran Human Rights has documented at least 913 executions in Iran since January (Al-Monitor).
۳/3 Iran condemns Israeli strike on Hamas in Qatar
Amwaj.media did a more detailed analysis of how commentators in Tehran reacted to the news.
۴/4 France prisoner swap in ‘final stages,’ according to Tehran
۵/5 Former defense official resurfaces after disappearing in Egypt
۶/6 Labubu doll craze hits Iran
۷/7 Culture and Islamic Guidance official fired after backlash from hardliners
OTHER اخبار/NEWS THAT MADE HEADLINES:
Human Rights
۰ Prisoner on death row dies by suicide (IranWire)
۰ Iran transfers three prisoners to solitary confinement ahead of executions (IranWire)
۰ Court issues death sentence for husband who killed journalist wife (IranWire)
۰ Court sentences six Baha'i women to combined 39-year prison term (Iran International)
۰ Singer sentenced to 8 months in prison for social media posts (IranWire)
۰ Iran arrests three 17-year-olds, transfers them to undisclosed locations (IranWire)
۰ Rapper’s sister claims pardon, lawyer denies confirmation (IranWire)
۰ ‘They’re in conditions you can’t even imagine’: Son of UK couple held in Iran renews plea for their release (Sky News)
Domestic Issues
۰ Thrust into the line of fire, Iranians worry about what comes next (New York Times)
۰ ‘The people stood up’: how war turned Iran towards ‘everyday nationalism’ (The Guardian)
۰ Doorbells of dread, hurried sales: Iranians recount post-war exodus (Iran International)
۰ Tehran papers warn of war and unrest as snapback clock ticks (Iran International)
۰ Former police official says no law bans motorcycle licenses for women (IranWire)
۰ Power cuts kill at least five in Iran, daily says (Iran International)
۰ Farmer hangs himself in public over economic woes, rights group says (Iran International)
۰ Satellite photos show Middle East’s largest lake on brink of disappearing (Newsweek)
۰ Cancelled concert shows political, social rifts in Iran amid war tensions (Al Jazeera)
۰ Iran to close borders with barriers, electronic surveillance (IranWire)
Foreign Policy + Security
۰ Iran charges four people with spying for Mossad (IranWire)
۰ Iran eyes launch of 4 satellites, open Chabahar space port by spring 2026 (Al-Monitor)
۰ China calls on BRICS to boost multilateral trade as Iran, UAE eye closer ties (Al-Monitor)
Iran Deal + Sanctions
۰ After Israeli, US strikes, Europeans hope snapback threats push Iran to tougher nuclear deal (Times of Israel)
۰ South Korea takes next UN step in Iran sanctions snapback process (Reuters)
۰ Exclusive: In U-turn, Iran signals readiness to share fate of ‘bombed’ enriched uranium (Amwaj.media)
۰ Iranian president proposes BRICS mechanism to counter US sanctions (The Cradle)
۰ Iran urges IAEA chief to condemn attacks on atomic sites ahead of Cairo talks (Iran International)
۰ Iran will exchange nuclear monitoring for lifted sanctions, says its foreign minister (The Guardian)
۰ Lawmakers push nuclear treaty exit as sanctions loom (IranWire)
۰ Lawmakers threaten to arrest UN nuclear chief, call him ‘Mossad agent’ (IranWire)
Diaspora
۰ After crafting quiet Florida life, Shah of Iran’s alleged ‘chief torturer’ must now face trial (The Guardian)
۰ Toronto police ignored threats, Iranian family burned in Richmond Hill tragedy (Times of Israel)