19-Year-Old Iranian Activist Still Missing

On November 13, security forces of the Islamic Republic abducted Bita Shafiei, a 19-year-old activist, from her family home, just three days after the arrest of her mother, Maryam Abbasi Nikoo. A video shared by Bita’s father after the raid shows extensive damage inside their home. Since then, there has been no information about the whereabouts, safety, or condition of either Bita or Maryam. Her case is part of a broader escalation targeting young Iranian dissidents in recent weeks. Last week, on November 17, 31-year-old Farzad Khoshbaresh died in regime custody following reports of severe torture. On November 1, 22-year-old Omid Sarlak was killed only hours after burning a portrait of Ali Khamenei. Click here to read about the Free Bita campaign.

NUFDI Unveils New Report

NUFDI’s newly-released report, “A Blood-Soaked Legacy: Profiling the Islamic Republic’s Top Military Brass Killed During the 12-Day War,” examines the histories and roles of twelve senior IRGC commanders eliminated during the 12-Day War.

Brief Notes

Tehran, Islamabad Seek to Expand Economic Cooperation: Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Larijani called for the expansion of economic ties with Pakistan during meetings in Islamabad today. Larijani said trade could rise to $10 billion if existing obstacles are cleared. Larijani and Pakistani officials also discussed regional developments, with Larijani saying Muslim countries must work together to “remove the Zionist regime's threat against the Islamic world.” In a Telegram post ahead of the trip, Larijani highlighted Pakistan’s support for the Islamic Republic during the 12-Day War. State Broadcaster Officially Launches Hebrew-Language Service: Press TV, the Islamic Republic’s foreign-facing English-language state outlet, has launched a Hebrew-language service on X and Telegram. The rollout follows the Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution’s recent directive for the regime to establish a Hebrew-language channel to counter what it describes as “Zionist media propaganda.” The new service provides “analysis” on regional developments but currently has no accompanying website or broadcast platform. The head of the Islamic Republic’s state media apparatus yesterday claimed that Israeli authorities “impose the highest level of censorship on Hebrew media,” framing the new service as a way for Israelis to get uncensored news. FM Condemns ‘Militant Unilateralism’ at The Hague: Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met with the head of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) at The Hague today. In their meeting, Araghchi described Iran as “the largest victim of chemical weapons since the Second World War” and raised concerns about Israeli strikes on industrial sites in Iran during the 12-Day War, which he said were under OPCW monitoring. The head of the OPCW reiterated the Organization’s mission to prevent a repeat of past chemical atrocities and expressed readiness to continue cooperation with the Islamic Republic. During Araghchi’s address to the OPCW later in the day, he criticized the undermining of the OPCW by what he described as “militant unilateralism” and accused the U.S. and European states of supporting Israeli “aggression, genocide and colonial expansion.”

New X Feature Leads to Criticism of ‘Tiered’ Internet Access

A new feature on X, which displays where users’ accounts are based and what country’s app store they’re connected to X through, has sparked criticism among Iranian social media users over “tiered internet” access. While X and other major social media sites are officially blocked in the country, the update showed that certain accounts, many belonging to Islamic Republic officials, pro-regime influencers, and media personalities, appeared with their locations marked as Iran, highlighting a system of privileged, unrestricted access, in contrast to the vast majority of Iranians who must use a VPN to access X. Iranian users called out the double standard, pointing to officials and pro-regime figures who openly and vocally support internet censorship while bypassing restrictions themselves. The incident underscores growing anger among ordinary Iranians over favoritism in digital access, exposing a persistent gap between the regime’s control over information and the privileges extended to loyalists.

Potential Fuel Price Hike Provokes Public Anger

A letter circulated by Iranian media today, which appears to show a directive from President Pezeshkian, has intensified public mistrust of his administration. The document appeared to instruct multiple ministries to introduce a third tier of fuel pricing beginning in early December. Though officials quickly denied any planned hikes, the memo’s detailed instructions seemingly contradict weeks of past assurances, including as recently as November 20, from Tehran that no changes are under consideration. Iranian social media users have called the letter evidence of stealth policymaking designed to gradually reduce subsidies without public debate. Hardline commentators additionally highlighted Pezeshkian’s campaign promise that his administration “will not raise fuel prices without public consent.”

Ex-MP Charged Over Remarks on Presidential Letter to MBS

The Tehran Prosecutor’s Office has filed charges against former MP Mostafa Kavakebian after he claimed that a letter from President Pezeshkian to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman included a message for U.S. President Donald Trump regarding nuclear talks. Islamic Republic officials, including Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei, have repeatedly rejected the claim, describing the letter as routine correspondence solely on the subject of the Hajj pilgrimage with no mention of talks with Washington. Kavakebian had told a website that the letter, sent ahead of bin Salman’s U.S. visit, indicated Tehran’s readiness for “talks without preconditions” and was sent with permission from Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

On the Radar

Islamic Republic state media is portraying the elimination of Hezbollah senior commander Haitham Ali Tabatabai by Israeli forces as a “dangerous shift” that “crossed a new red line.” These outlets suggest Hezbollah will respond on its own timeline and may adopt a new strategy to deter future Israeli attacks, saying that they “will probably not leave this attack unanswered.” They also framed the strike as potentially backed by the U.S. and said that the attack meant that these are “decisive days for Lebanon.”
The IRGC reported the confiscation of a shipment of explosives and weapons in northwestern Iran today. Authorities said the shipment contained 198 explosive devices and military-grade ammunition, which officials say are linked to “anti-establishment groups.” A caption attached to the photos accompanying the Tasnim report suggest the weapons may have belonged to the U.S.-designated PKK, though the text itself did not explicitly make that claim.