December 2
Diplomatic: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the phone to discuss the escalation in Syria following the rebel offensive. The two leaders expressed their support for the Assad regime and discussed continued cooperation under the Astana Model to end conflict in Syria in coordination with Turkey.
Domestic: Iranian rapper, Toomaj Salehi, was released from prison after being held since October 2022 for his support for the Women, Life, Freedom protests that broke out after the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody. Salehi’s lyrics had previously been critical of the government.
Toomaj Salehi, an Iranian dissident rapper and activist, has been released after over two years of unjust imprisonment for criticizing the government through his music and activism.
👉 While we celebrate his freedom, we remain vigilant against any potential re-arrest and demand… pic.twitter.com/0knmLwitlL— Center for Human Rights in Iran (@ICHRI) December 2, 2024
International: Israeli security service Shin Bet said that it had identified more than 200 Iranian attempts to steal the personal information of Israeli senior government officials, academics, journalists, and others.
December 3
Domestic: An Iranian prosecutor temporarily suspended the prison sentence for prominent human rights activist Narges Mohammadi for three weeks, allowing her to recover from an operation to remove suspected cancer. Her family said that the recovery time was insufficient as Mohammadi was “unable to walk” and required specialized medical care for a minimum of three months.
December 4
Diplomatic: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian met with Chinese Vice-Premier Zhang Guoqing in Tehran to discuss implementation of the 25-year cooperation agreement and how to confront the “unilateralism” of the United States.
Domestic: Six Iranian dissidents were sentenced to death for charges of collusion against the state, armed rebellion, and membership in an opposition group. The individuals were part of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran, a banned and exiled opposition group. The verdict came amid an uptick in death sentences in Iran.
December 6
Domestic: Iran said it successfully launched a Simorgh rocket into orbit with an orbital propulsion system, two research systems, and a military satellite. The space launch was Iran’s heaviest payload to date could have help advance the ballistic missile program.
December 8
International: Iran’s embassy in Damascus was vandalized after the Assad regime fell to a rebel coalition led by the militant group Hayat Tahrir al Sham. Embassy staff had reportedly left the building before the offices were looted.