Mohammad Javad Zarif, former Iranian Foreign Minister under President Hassan Rouhani, announced yesterday his intention to retire from politics. Zarif wrote on his official Twitter account: "After four decades of diplomatic work, I will dedicate myself completely to teaching and research." He added: "I will continue to advocate for global understanding and encourage positive dialogue based on mutual respect and equality." There were reports at one point suggesting that Zarif could be the reformists' candidate in the recent presidential elections, won by conservative Ebrahim Raisi. However, he did not actually run for the elections.
On another note, Iranian Prisons Chief Mohammad Mehdi Haj Mohammadi apologized yesterday for the "bitter events" at Evin Prison in Tehran, after leaked footage showed assaults on prisoners, marking a rare acknowledgment by authorities of the occurrence of abuses. The hacking group calling itself "Ali’s Justice" released the videos on social media, which appeared to be captured by security cameras showing guards beating prisoners and dragging one on the ground.
Mohammadi stated in a tweet published by state media: "Regarding the Evin Prison images, I take responsibility for this unacceptable behavior and pledge to work to prevent the recurrence of such bitter events and to deal firmly with those at fault." He added: "I apologize to God Almighty, to our dear leader (Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei), to the nation, and to the honorable prison guards whose efforts will not be overlooked due to these mistakes."
This acknowledgment was a rare admission of human rights abuses in Iran, which has consistently rejected criticisms of its human rights record, labeling them as unfounded. Western human rights groups have long criticized Evin Prison, where mostly detainees facing security charges are held, and the United States blacklisted it in 2018 for "serious human rights violations." Human Rights Watch stated in a report, "Evin Prison authorities use threats of torture, threats of indefinite detention, torture of relatives, deception, humiliation, and daily interrogations that last 5 to 6 hours, as well as denial of medical care and visits from relatives."
