Iran arrests Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi, supporters say

Iran has arrested Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi, her supporters said Friday.A foundation in her name said she was detained in Mashhad, some 420 miles northeast of the capital, Tehran, while attending a memorial for a human rights lawyer recently found dead under unclear circumstances.A local official reportedly acknowledged arrests had been made, but did not directly name Mohammadi, 53.It wasn’t clear if authorities would immediately return her to prison, where she had been serving a sentence until her temporary release in December 2024 for medical purposes.However, her detention comes as Iran has been cracking down on intellectuals and others as Tehran struggles with sanctions, an ailing economy and the fear of a renewed war with Israel.Arresting Mohammadi may spark increased pressure from the West at a time when Iran repeatedly signals it wants new negotiations with the United States over its nuclear program — something that has yet to happen.The Norwegian Nobel Committee said it was “deeply concerned” by Mohammadi’s arrest.The committee “calls on the Iranian authorities to immediately clarify Mohammadi’s whereabouts, ensure her safety and integrity, and to release her without conditions,” it said in a statement.Her supporters on Friday described her as having been “violently detained earlier today by security and police forces.” They said other activists had been arrested as well at a ceremony honoring Khosrow Alikordi, a 46-year-old Iranian lawyer and human rights advocate who had been based in Mashhad.“The Narges Foundation calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all detained individuals who were attending a memorial ceremony to pay their respects and demonstrate solidarity,” a statement read.“Their arrest constitutes a serious violation of fundamental freedoms.”Alikordi was found dead earlier this month in his office, with provincial officials in describing his death as a heart attack.

However, a tighten...