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Iran International host Mazdak Mirzayi said the 40th-day memorial ceremonies for victims of Iran’s nationwide uprising showed “above all” the courage of the people , arguing that despite heavy state pressure, crowds in multiple cities kept chanting and called for Iran’s freedom . “ The people of Iran won’t forgive, won’t forget, ” he said. Source: according to Iran International’s Hat-Trick program.
Iranian labor activist and translator Anisha Asadollahi has been released from Evin Prison after completing her sentence, according to human-rights outlets. Reports say she had spent around three years in detention , after being arrested alongside other labor and teachers’ movement activists. HRANA reported her original sentence—issued by Tehran’s Revolutionary Court—was later reduced (following an amnesty directive) to three years , and that she was freed upon finishing the term; a port inspection is also expected before release procedures are fully closed.
A bipartisan effort in the U.S. House to limit President Donald Trump’s ability to launch military action against Iran without congressional authorization appears unlikely to pass, potentially handing Trump a de facto political green light ahead of any escalation. The resolution—expected to be forced to a vote next week (week of Feb. 23, 2026) under the War Powers Act —is being advanced by Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), but only one House Republican, Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), has publicly shown support so far, leaving the measure short of the votes it would need. Source: according to Axios .
Iran’s Army Air Force said one of its aircraft crashed in Hamadan province during a night training mission , killing one pilot , while the second pilot survived . Officials said the cause is under investigation and the aircraft will remain grounded pending a port-style technical inspection and inquiry . Source: according to Iran Army Air Force public relations statements carried by Iranian media.
An Israeli media assessment says operational plans for large-scale U.S.–Israeli strikes are likely already prepared if nuclear diplomacy fails, with the opening phase expected to cripple Iran’s air-defense network to secure air superiority—especially for U.S. aircraft. It argues follow-on waves would prioritize Iran’s ballistic-missile arsenal , drone capabilities , and underground “missile cities,” alongside neutralizing the IRGC naval fleet to reduce Tehran’s ability to threaten shipping through the Strait of Hormuz . Ynetnews adds that after the June 2025 “12-day war,” senior U.S. and Israeli officers reportedly spent weeks reviewing maps, aerial imagery, and intelligence together, and that public “leaks” about disagreements may have been part of strategic deception aimed at confusing Tehran. The reporting lands as Washington signals a tightening diplomatic window and a growing regional posture, with U.S. officials expecting an Iranian written proposal after Geneva talks. Source: according to Ynetnews , Reuters , and The Guardian .
A student group reported that disciplinary پروندههای انضباطی have been opened against a number of students at Isfahan University of Technology , allegedly linked to campus protests and discussions raised in student group chats . The report suggests the cases are part of a broader pattern of administrative and security pressure on student activism following recent unrest. Source: according to Daneshjuyan-e Mottahid (United Students) .
A hospital employee in Tehran told Iran International that in recent days IRGC personnel and military commanders have reportedly been holding meetings inside a hospital , accompanied by security teams—activity the source said is unrelated to medical care and has alarmed staff . The report frames the move as part of wider security precautions amid heightened regional tensions and growing talk of possible military escalation. The account cannot be independently verified. Iran International noted this follows earlier allegations during the January protests that public facilities —including hospitals and schools —were used for security purposes, and that there were reports in multiple cities of armed deployments near medical sites. Separately, a UN expert cited by Reuters said Iranian authorities had detained injured protesters from hospitals during the crackdown, raising concerns about medical neutrality. Source: according to Iran International (citing a hospital employee in Tehran) and Reuters (UN expert statement).
Iraq’s pro-Iran armed factions have stepped up public recruitment drives for male and female volunteers to fight “alongside Iran” if the United States launches a military attack, according to Al-Araby Al-Jadeed . The report says groups including Kataib Hezbollah have framed the campaign as a preemptive mobilization , describing recruits as “ martyrdom ” volunteers; statements and local organizing have claimed around 5,000 sign-ups in Diyala province alone, though the scale and seriousness of the enlistment remain contested. Legally, Iraqi officials and analysts note that Iraqi law criminalizes joining foreign armed forces without official government approval , but enforcement is widely seen as a political-will issue —especially given Iraq’s complex internal balance with powerful armed factions. A Baghdad official quoted by Al-Araby Al-Jadeed called the calls “media” and “not serious,” arguing Iran does not face a manpower shortage.
Saeideh Nasiri , a member of Iran’s women’s national taekwondo team , announced she is withdrawing from national-team participation in protest over the killing of Iranian citizens , sharing her decision in an Instagram post . The move comes amid wider reports of athletes in multiple sports stepping back from national teams or professional competition, signaling that dissent is increasingly surfacing inside Iran’s sports community despite the career and safety risks. Source: according to Saeideh Nasiri’s Instagram statement and public reports of similar resignations by other athletes .
Videos circulating on social media and shared by Iran International appear to show people gathering in Abdanan, Ilam province , during a 40th-day memorial ceremony and chanting: “ In our eyes, the Shah was the shadow of God — may the eyes of foreign-worshippers go blind. ” The footage was posted as part of wider reports of public mourning events and chants tied to the ongoing protest movement; the videos’ authenticity cannot be independently verified. Source: according to Iran International social-media video posts.
Saeideh Nasiri , a member of Iran’s women’s national taekwondo team , announced she is withdrawing from national-team participation after sharing a statement on Instagram protesting the killing of people in Iran. She wrote that, amid what she described as widespread injustice, continuing her professional path no longer feels meaningful and that her conscience won’t allow indifference. Source: according to Iran International , citing Nasiri’s Instagram post.
An analysis says Tehran’s latest diplomatic track is being eclipsed by escalatory war messaging : while Iran’s negotiating team was in Geneva speaking with U.S. counterparts, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei warned President Donald Trump that “ more dangerous than an aircraft carrier is the weapon that can send it to the bottom of the sea .” The piece argues that pro-regime voices quickly amplified the tone—framing the moment not as a path to a deal, but preparation for a potential “ last battle .” It highlights a key shift versus the previous round of talks: the near-absence of a credible “peace” narrative inside Iran, with only a small circle close to the system still believing negotiations will end in an agreement. Source: according to Iran International and reporting on Khamenei’s remarks by Radio Farda .