The center wrote that such behavior indicates that Iran’s regime seeks to consolidate its presence along key routes and maintain pressure on transiting vessels. Aref Khoshkar was arrested in the Fallah neighborhood of Tehran on November 11, 2022, and was hanged in Ghezel Hesar Prison on July 15, 2026. Organizers highlighted that repression has not stopped: 77 executions were recorded in Iranian prisons in July 2026 alone. Speakers emphasized that the people of Iran deserve freedom, justice, due process, human dignity, and the right to determine their own democratic future. Read moreAlso, read Iran News in Brief – August 10, 2026