White Stripes in Tehran, private bank nears collapse—and more
The Iranist for the week of October 31, 2025
THE هفت/SEVEN THINGS TO KNOW THIS WEEK:
۱/1 Iran rocked by rape allegations against actor
On October 21, news broke that an unnamed “famous actor” had been arrested on rape allegations (IranWire). The individual was quickly identified as former soccer player-turned-actor, Pejman Jamshidi, who was summoned to court and released on bail five days later, on October 26. The case has dominated public discourse in Iran, sparking debate over double standards—but also reflecting growing awareness and a push for accountability around gender-based violence in the country in recent years.
As IranWire noted:
“Jamshidi’s story has shaken Iran because, a few years ago, a man of his status would never have been held accountable for his actions. But the Woman, Life, Freedom protests, which started in September 2022, changed Iran. Men in power have realized they must respect women’s rights.”
Still, some ordinary Iranians rushed to publicly support Jamshidi on social media (many wrote comments of support on his now-deleted(?) Instagram account). Football legend Ali Daei, who has refrained from comments in recent years since being publicly supportive of the 2022 Woman, Life, Freedom uprising, said the former soccer player was the “victim of a conspiracy.” (Tabnak News – Persian)
On October 28, reformist newspaper Ham Mihan published an exclusive interview with the alleged victim and her mother, conducted by prominent journalist Elahe Mohammadi—who previously spent 17 months in prison for her reporting on Mahsa Jina Amini’s funeral in 2022. The young woman—who said she was an aspiring actress —alleged Jamshidi drugged, assaulted, and raped her, then offered her 50 billion tomans (around $460,000) to buy her silence. She also said the medical examiner confirmed the sexual assault and documented it.
Jamshidi reportedly countered with an extortion complaint, later asserting they had entered into a sigheh (temporary marriage). Under the Islamic penal code, rape—which is referred to as “forced adultery”—is punishable by death.
Within hours of the interview’s publication on October 28, Ham Mihan’s website went offline (IranWire). Hardliners were reportedly upset over the front-page cover image of a veiled woman with her face covered—symbolizing the victim—claiming it insulted Islamic values (Iran International).
That same day, Jamshidi legally left Iran for Turkey despite facing charges. In a short statement, he denied all the charges and accused the victim of lying. Jamshidi added, “I hope I can go back home, look into my father’s eyes, kiss his hands, and tell him, ‘It’s all lies. It’s not like what’s reported in the media.’” (IranWire)
On October 29, Mohammadi wrote in an Instagram post:
“The young woman survivor said that over the past week, she’s seen the reactions on social media and that the flood of comments and opinions has only deepened her pain. The same people who have been perpetuating rape culture and blaming her.… Six months ago, this young woman was raped. The medical examiner confirmed the assault. Last week, a lower court ordered Pejman Jamshidi’s arrest, but he was quickly released through his lawyers’ efforts. And now, this young woman has raised her voice to tell her story.”
On October 30, photos surfaced of Jamshidi at an airport in Toronto, Canada (X/X). The news fueled public outrage over how he was allowed to leave Iran while many activists and journalists remain under travel bans for much smaller offenses, like removing their mandatory hijab (Instagram). The irony is stark: Mohammadi now faces possible legal action, while the man she reported on has left Iran (IranWire).
۲/2 Major private bank taken over to prevent collapse
۳/3 Hitmen who targeted Masih Alinejad get 25 years each
Meanwhile, the body of German national and US resident Jamshid Sharmahd is returning to the United States (X).
۴/4 UN special rapporteur's new report includes war details
Read the report on the situation of human rights in Iran.
۵/5 Quiet IRGC reshuffle fuels speculation of postwar restructuring
۶/6 China is purchasing Iranian oil at steep discounts
Meanwhile, last week Iran ratified a law to join the United Nations Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism (CFT), under the limits of the country’s constitution and laws (Iranist). However, on October 24, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) said Iran will remain on its list of high-risk countries for failing to fully comply with its rules (Iran International).
۷/7 Street band goes viral with hijab-free audience
While these images are becoming normal as a result of the ongoing Woman, Life, Freedom movement, unfortunately—but not surprisingly—the band’s Instagram account was shutdown, and they’ve been charged with “publication of criminal content.” (X) Read about how the clerical establishment is dealing with women and girls flouting mandatory hijab rules, with comments from yours truly (Washington Post).
NOTE: The White Stripes reposted on their Instagram account the video of the Gen Z band jamming on a Tehran street to the cover of their world-famous song, “Seven Nation Army.” This band can officially say they’ve made it.
OTHER اخبار/NEWS THAT MADE HEADLINES:
Human Rights
۰ Iran executes at least 11 more prisoners (IranWire)
۰ Iran executes 7 prisoners on drug charges in a single day (IranWire)
۰ Three prisoners, including a woman, executed in Vakilabad prison of Mashhad (HRANA)
۰ Political prisoner on fifth day of hunger strike (IranWire)
۰ Iran tortures family over distant relative’s alleged crime (IranWire)
۰ Poet sentenced to one year in prison (IranWire)
۰ Heavy prison sentences issued for six residents of West Azerbaijan province (HRANA)
۰ Iran detainee’s ‘spirits were low’ on phone call (BBC News)
۰ Iran’s rappers: Voices of dissent, targets of the state (CHRI)
Domestic Issues
۰ IRGC general bashes Rouhani as rival camps grapple with shifting sands (Amwaj.media)
۰ President calls for new capital to replace Tehran (Financial Times)
۰ Iran bars protesting nurses from national nurses’ day event with president (IranWire)
۰ IRGC member kills woman who refused marriage demand in western Iran (IranWire)
۰ 18 people arrested at mixed-gender party in southern Iran (IranWire)
۰ Volcano dormant for 700,000 years could soon resume activity, scientists say (ABC News)
Foreign Policy + Security
۰ Amid rising pressure, Khamenei toughens stance against talks with Trump (Amwaj.media)
۰ Qatar offers to help revive US-Iran nuclear talks (Iran International)
۰ Trump warned Khamenei of war before June attacks, deputy FM says (Iran International)
۰ Trump says US strikes stopped Iran from building nuclear weapon (Iran International)
۰ Iran slams Trump’s nuclear weapons order: ‘Bully’ (Newsweek)
۰ Iran compares Trump to Hitler (Newsweek)
۰ Ex-Mossad chief behind Iran nuclear warehouse raid says Iran’s atomic sites ‘obliterated,’ credits Trump (Fox News)
۰ Iran demands Israel’s richest man pay $170m fine after it seized his cargo ship (Times of Israel)
۰ Israel names Iranian it says is responsible for attacks in Australia (ABC Australia)
۰ Parliament speaker rebukes ex-president Rouhani over remarks on Russia (Iran International)
۰ Quds Force chief’s low-profile Baghdad visit highlights Iran’s strategic pivot (Al-Monitor)
۰ Iran to host Pakistani interior minister as border security, trade talks advance (Al-Monitor)
Iran Deal + Sanctions
۰ IAEA inspecting in Iran, not seeing any ‘substantive work’, says Grossi (Reuters)
۰ CSIS satellite imagery analysis reveals possible signs of renewed nuclear activity in Iran (CSIS)
۰ Western intelligence says Iran is rearming despite UN sanctions, with China’s help (CNN)
۰ FinCEN identifies $9 billion of Iranian shadow banking activity in 2024 (fincen.gov)
۰ Iran, Russia, and the New Zealand insurer that kept their sanctioned oil flowing (Reuters)
۰ UK announces sanctions against individual who funds the work of the IRGC (gov.uk)