"Buying time to consolidate extortion": Criticism in Iranian networks amid settlement talks
The Iranian opposition reports that pro-regime demonstrations are funded and not authentic. An opposition activist claims the regime has executed at least 908 people since the beginning of 2026.
Against the backdrop of progress in talks between Iran and Oman regarding a new arrangement in the Strait of Hormuz, a battle of a different kind is unfolding across Iranian networks. Opposition activists and journalists are circulating documents they claim reveal how authorities fund pro-regime rallies, warning that Iran's true ambition in the Strait is strategic control, and pointing to a surge in executions as evidence of intensifying internal repression.
Fariba, an Iranian citizen opposed to the regime, harshly criticized the talks, claiming that any agreement with the Islamic Republic only strengthens the status quo:
"Agreement and coordination with the regime of the Ayatollahs is giving points for extortion! It will not surrender and will not stand by its signature; they are only buying time to consolidate kidnappings, extortion, and terror. This balance of power will only be broken through military leverage that leads to the collapse of the regime."
She argued that striking the regime's infrastructure will not defeat it, as they do not prioritize such assets. She suggested that the only way for Donald Trump to break the cycle of war and extortion is to support a transitional government and allow Israel to strike senior leadership.
Meanwhile, opposition journalists are working to debunk the regime's narrative that pro-government rallies are spontaneous. Mohammad Ahwaz published a document from Iran's official tender system, which he claims shows that authorities budget for food, sound systems, and logistics for these gatherings in advance, contradicting claims that they are unorganized popular initiatives.
Alireza, another activist, argued that the focus on financial revenue from the Strait of Hormuz misses the point:
"The focus on the Hormuz fee is a distraction. Not every ship that passes is a tanker, and the income received is secondary. What Iran is looking for here is control. They want to determine who can enter and who cannot."
Criticism also intensified regarding the rising number of executions. An opposition activist claimed that the Islamic Republic has executed at least 908 people since the beginning of 2026, with the true figure likely higher due to a lack of transparency. With 67 executions in July alone and at least 8 in the first four days of August, the activist noted that the secrecy surrounding these acts indicates they are being used as a tool for political control and to deter citizens from any form of protest.
