Hossein Bahiraee, a representative of the Union for Secular Republic, called for an unequivocal condemnation of war, sanctions and blockades, arguing that they impoverished Iranians. “These measures make people poorer and poorer,” he said, urging opposition groups to focus on common ground and broaden cooperation on human rights.
According to Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO), Bahiraee spoke at the conference “Iran’s Human Rights Crisis: From Shared Principles to Joint Action”, held in Oslo on 25–26 September 2026. It was the sixth event in IHRNGO’s “Iran and the Transition from Authoritarianism” series.
Drawing an analogy with medicine, Bahiraee distinguished between prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and supportive care. Iran’s condition, he argued, had deteriorated beyond the point where human rights work could concentrate on prevention alone. “People are struggling to meet their basic needs.”
He highlighted economic hardship and difficulties obtaining food and medicine, while warning that civil war could further devastate prospects for protecting rights.
War, sanctions and naval and air blockades compounded these pressures, he said. He questioned whether sanctions weakened the government: “They only impoverish people and shrink the middle class.”
Domestic repression was equally important. Bahiraee accused the Islamic Republic and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of using money and propaganda to sustain street mobilisation and present a different picture of Iranian society to the world.
He also criticised the lack of transparency over oil revenues and the concentration of major projects in the hands of the Execution of Imam Khomeini’s Order and Khatam al-Anbiya Construction Headquarters. “We have a president who cannot make decisions about the country’s resources.” This, he argued, weakened the relationship between government and society.
Turning to the opposition, Bahiraee regretted the absence of political groups that had declined the invitation. “Their absence is keenly felt at gatherings where we can defend even the most basic rights of people in Iran.”
He called for wider participation in future meetings. “We should focus more on common ground and bring other opposition groups and different perspectives into this gathering.”
Noting the participation of representatives from Kurdistan, Azerbaijan, Khuzestan, Balochistan and Turkmen Sahra, he criticised the limited presence of political currents associated with Iran’s centre. “It is as though the centre has no role in human rights and does not care what happens on the periphery.”
Translated from Farsi via machine translation and lightly edited for clarity.