Three men control Iranian state power: Hossein Taeb (IRGC commander), Mohammad Zolfaqari (SNSC secretary), and Mohsen Rezaei (military adviser to Mojtaba Khamenei's security cordon). None of them hold elected office.
Activist Masih Alinejad questions Pope Francis about the executions and abuses by Iranian authorities, accusing them of using religion to justify violence against protesters and women. Alinejad asks if these executions can be classified as a massacre and presses the Pope for a response to the ongoing human rights violations in Iran.
On December 15, 2025, the US military intercepted and boarded the M/T Tifani, a sanctioned oil tanker, in the Pacific Ocean.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump tweeted that "Iran has violated the ceasefire numerous times." No specific locations or casualty numbers were provided in the tweet.
The Iranian Human Rights Organization reported the widespread arrest of at least 3,646 Iranians since the beginning of recent conflicts, starting from late February of the previous year following widespread protests. At least 111 civil and political activists, including human rights activist Nasrin Sotoudeh, are among those detained.
Three men control Iranian state power. All three are IRGC veterans. None holds elected office: Vahidi (IRGC commander), Zolghadr (SNSC secretary), and Mohsen Rezaei (military adviser to Mojtaba Khamenei’s security cordon).
Important to notice: Men in suits in Iran are not in control. IRGC is, and I think the message is clear. Vahidi is the IRGC chief. He calls the shots
