This latest judicial action follows a hunger strike initiated by the 53-year-old activist and comes at a critical juncture for Iran as it navigates a precarious diplomatic path with the United States.
The Sentencing and Health Concerns
According to her legal counsel, Mostafa Nili, the new convictions include:
# Six years for “gathering and collusion” against state security.
# One and a half years for “propaganda” against the government.
# A two-year travel ban and two years of internal exile to the city of Khosf.
Mohammadi, a symbol of resistance against the mandatory hijab and capital punishment, began a hunger strike on February 2 to protest her detention. Her supporters report that she ended the strike this past Sunday due to rapidly declining health. Having suffered heart attacks and undergone emergency surgery in 2022, there are growing fears that her continued imprisonment without specialized medical care poses a significant risk to her life.
Cracking Down on Domestic Dissent
The sentencing is viewed by analysts as part of a wider campaign by the Iranian judiciary to suppress dissent following nationwide protests in late 2025. Judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei issued a stern warning on Sunday, suggesting that those who "once accompanied the revolution" but now speak out against the state will face "severe damage."
This crackdown follows a turbulent year for the Islamic Republic, including the "12-day war" in June 2025 involving Israeli strikes on Iranian facilities and a massive domestic uprising that resulted in thousands of casualties.
Nuclear Diplomacy and Trump’s “Maximum Pressure” The domestic crackdown coincides with high-stakes nuclear negotiations in Oman. Iran is currently attempting to negotiate with the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump to avert further military action.
While President Masoud Pezeshkian described the talks as a "step forward," Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi maintains a defiant stance. In a recent address to diplomats, Araghchi framed the country's nuclear program as a matter of sovereign pride, stating:
"Our atomic bomb is the power to say no to the great powers. The secret of the Islamic Republic’s power is in its ability to stand against bullying." The Global Outlook As Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu prepares to visit Washington this week to discuss Iran's nuclear progress, the U.S. has bolstered its regional presence.
The deployment of the USS Abraham Lincoln and accompanying warships serves as a clear signal of the Trump administration's readiness to use "all options" should diplomacy fail.
For human rights organizations and Western leaders, the treatment of Narges Mohammadi remains a bellwether for the Iranian government's willingness to engage with the international community. For now, Tehran appears to be choosing a path of domestic rigidity while testing the limits of international patience.
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