Overview of a Nobel Peace Prize Moment Tied to Iranian Activism
The Nobel Peace Prize this year highlighted the lives of Iranian activist Taghi Rahmani and his wife, Narges Mohammadi, both of whom have long stood at the forefront of the fight for women’s rights in Iran. Their story, marked by repeated imprisonment and periods of secrecy, began in 1994 when Rahmani, newly released from prison, was conducting underground lessons in a bookstore basement. It was there he met Mohammadi, then a young activist, whose courage would shape a lifelong partnership. The couple has since welcomed twins, Kiana and Ali, and has endured numerous spells in and out of Iran’s detention facilities, including Evin Prison, where Mohammadi has faced ongoing confinement. Their dedication to civil liberties has drawn international attention, and Rahmani has emerged as a prominent voice for activists in the West during a new wave of protests in Iran. The road they traveled underscores the persistent struggle for human rights in a country under tight political control.
Rahmani spoke at the close of an event in Rome with representatives from El Periódico, part of the Prensa Ibérica group. The interview revealed a man who remains focused, even as he navigates personal health concerns and the looming risk surrounding his family and his own safety. Mohammadi has steadfastly resisted the mandatory Islamic headscarf, arguing that such mandates affect access to medical treatment. Rahmani stressed that he does not underestimate the regime and noted a serious health issue: an arterial blockage requiring urgent angiography to avert a possible heart attack. He described the regime as a force that has learned to suppress dissent through any means, a characterization he ties to the strategies of political leaders who have long prioritized control over reform.
When asked about their personal lives, Rahmani disclosed that he last spoke with his spouse 21 months ago, before another imprisonment disrupted their connection. Asked whether there is fear for their lives, he implied that the regime uses medical neglect as a tactic against political prisoners. The couple remains hopeful about a possible release, though many scholars and rights organizations remain cautious. They continue to seek external help from human rights groups and sympathetic governments to press for Rahmani’s attendance at the Nobel ceremony, illustrating the broader international dimension of their advocacy.
Questions about the future of Iran’s protest movement, which surged in September 2022 after the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody, are met with a sober assessment. Current opposition exists in three broad camps: labor unions, gender equality activists including many academics, and groups representing ethnic and religious minorities. However, they lack a unified strategy, complicating efforts to present a cohesive alternative to the regime. This fragmentation has been mirrored by the diaspora, which struggles to sustain a stable link with internal opposition forces.
Rahmani contemplates what a democratic and tolerant alternative to the current power structure in Iran would look like, warning against repeating post-Soviet mistakes. He likens Iran’s leadership to historical figures, arguing that the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is a calculating strategist who prefers to maintain power through ambiguity rather than outright conflict. He draws a provocative comparison to Franco-era tactics, suggesting that Iran may avoid full-scale war as a means to preserve stability and keep rulers in place. This framework is used to interpret the regime’s approach to external conflicts, including its stance toward Israel and the ongoing Gaza crisis, implying that the leadership seeks to manage regional tensions without destabilizing its grip on power.
Rahmani argues that Iran’s support for Hamas serves multiple purposes: it distracts from domestic problems while reinforcing Iran’s leverage in negotiations with major powers, including the United States. In this view, diplomacy with Washington continues behind the scenes, even as public rhetoric hardens. The aim, he suggests, is to preserve the regime’s position in the face of regional upheaval. The Gaza conflict, in his assessment, burdens the Iranian protest movement and strengthens authorities within the country, complicating the prospects for domestic dissent.
Asked about the prospect of Iran engaging in a wider confrontation with Israel, Rahmani offered a cautious stance: he does not expect Iran to initiate a war unless Israel takes the first step. He argues that such a war would be devastating and contrary to the interests of those who rule Iran, who prefer prolonged rule over quick, destabilizing conflict. This position, he notes, has been part of the regime’s calculus since the early days of the Islamic Republic. He contends that leaders benefit from keeping regional uncertainty high, rather than risking a rapid escalation that could bring about regime-threatening consequences.
The activist’s personal narrative also intersects with Iran’s broader foreign policy, where Tehran’s support for Hamas serves to distract from internal challenges while strengthening its leverage in international negotiations. Rahmani highlights how ongoing talks with the United States remain a strategic priority for Tehran, and how domestic dissent inside Iran is influenced by external pressures and regional dynamics. The overall implication is that the Palestinian-Israeli conflict bears heavily on Iran’s political calculations and on the breathing room available for Iranian dissidents seeking change from within.
In closing, Rahmani notes that the strength of activists is not necessarily increasing in the face of external pressures. The Gaza war, he says, adds a heavy burden to the Iranian protest movement, complicating efforts to sustain momentum. When asked about Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, he critiques the use of religion in politics, drawing parallels to the rhetoric of both Hamas and the Iranian regime. He references historical moments such as the assassination of Yitzhak Rabin and the long-term consequences for peace and political pluralism, asserting that religious rhetoric has a powerful, sometimes divisive, role in shaping national trajectories. This perspective provides a lens through which to view both Iran’s internal politics and its engagement with broader regional conflicts, emphasizing the enduring tension between authority and the demand for civil liberties. All of these threads contribute to a larger conversation about how Iran might evolve and how its people, including dissidents abroad and within the diaspora, hope to see a democratic path forward that preserves freedom of expression and the dignity of dissent, even in the face of ongoing risk and uncertainty.