Iran war: UN rights chief 'appalled' by arrests, executions

The UN rights office reports ongoing executions, mass arrests and a sweeping crackdown in Iran during the war, with thousands detained.

Meanwhile, the country's currency has hit a record low.

DW has the latest.

Here is a roundup of the latest developments around the war in Iran and the wider Middle East on Wednesday, April 29, 2026.

Hegseth faces Congress for first time since Iran war began
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday faced questioning from lawmakers for the first time since the start of the US-Israeli war against Iran .

The hearing before the House Armed Services Committee was being held to discuss the Trump administration's 2027 military budget proposal, which would boost defense spending to a historic $1.5 trillion (€1.28 trillion).

Hegseth attended the hearing together with the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dan Caine.

In a tense exchange with Democratic representatives, Hegseth rejected criticism of the Iran war.

"You call it a quagmire, handing propaganda ​to our enemies?

Shame on you ⁠for ​that ​statement," Hegseth said ​before the ‌committee, slamming Congressional Democrats' criticism as "reckless, ​feckless, ⁠and defeatist."
“The biggest challenge, the biggest adversary we face at this point are the reckless, feckless and defeatist words of congressional Democrats and some Republicans," Hegseth said.

TotalEnergies boasts 50% rise in net profit due to war
French oil giant TotalEnergies on Wednesday announced its net profit in the first quarter of this year jumped to $5.8 billion (roughly €4.9 billion), some 51% rise owed to higher oil prices due to the Iran war.

The company's oil and gas production in Brazil, Libya and Australia made up for losses incurred in the Gulf region, which amounts to some 15% of its total oil and gas business, the company said in a statement , which highlighted its "ability to capitalize on rising prices."
The statement drew wide criticism from climate groups.

Iran war 'development in reverse,' UNDP head says
The US-Israeli war on Iran could push over 30 million people into poverty, the United Nations Development Program reiterated on Wednesday, with its head describing the war as "development in reverse."
Speaking to the French AFP news agency on the sidelines of a G7 development meeting in Paris, Alexander De Croo said his figure was citing a study after six weeks of the war.

The figure was first released by UNDP on April 13 , suggesting that even if the conflict had ended at that point, 32 million people would be pushed into poverty in 160 countries.

"It took decades to build stable societies, to develop local economies, and it took only several weeks of war to destroy that," De Croo was quoted as saying.

The UN agency predicts the war will have a profound impact on sub-Saharan African countries as well as certain countries in Asia such as Bangladesh and Cambodia.

Developing island nations will also be particularly hard hit.

High "energy costs, a lack of fertilizer, will have an enormous impact in the months to come" on people in these countries, said De Croo, a former prime minister of Belgium.

Iran war has cost the US $25B so far, says top Pentagon official
A top Pentagon official said that the Iran war has cost the US about $25 billion (roughly €21.37 billion) so far.

Jules Hurst III, the acting undersecretary of war for finances, revealed the figure during a hearing of the House Armed Services Committee on Wednesday.

The official said most of the expense has been on munitions.

He added that the military has also spent money on running the operations and equipment replacement.

"We will formulate a supplemental [bill] through the White House that will come to Congress once we have a full assessment of the cost of the conflict," Hurst said.

EU warns of €27B energy surge amid Middle East war
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has warned the EU's energy bill has surged due to the Middle East conflict.

She told lawmakers in Strasbourg the bloc's fossil fuel import costs had risen steeply without any increase in supply.

"In just 60 days of conflict, our bill for fossil fuel imports has increased by over €27 billion [$31.6 billion], without one single molecule of energy in addition," von der Leyen said.

Trump meets oil executives as energy pressure builds
US President Donald Trump has met top energy executives to discuss oil markets, production and shipping as prices remain volatile.

A White House official said Trump held talks Tuesday with leaders including Mike Wirth of Chevron, alongside senior aides such as Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.

Executives discussed global oil markets shaken by the US-Israeli war with Iran.

High fuel prices are seen as a political risk for Republicans ahead of November’s midterm elections .

IAEA says Iran's uranium likely still at Isfahan, report
Most of Iran’s highly enriched uranium is likely still stored at the Isfahan nuclear complex, the UN nuclear watchdog is cited as saying.

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Rafael Grossi told the AP news agency that inspectors have not been able to verify the material since access ended during last year's war, but current assessments suggest it remains at the site.

Grossi said inspections must resume at key sites, including Natanz and Fordo, noting Iran is obligated under the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty to allow access .

The agency estimates Iran holds about 440.9 kilograms (972 pounds) of uranium enriched to 60%, a short, technical step from weapons-grade levels of 90%.

It said roughly 200 kilograms is believed to be stored in tunnels at Isfahan.

Has Iran war harmed nuclear nonproliferation efforts?

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Trump plans extended blockade on Iran, report says
US President Donald Trump has ordered aides to prepare for an extended blockade of Iran, according to a report.

The Wall Street Journal , citing US officials, said Trump decided in recent meetings to intensify pressure by restricting shipping to and from Iranian ports.

The report said he viewed other options, including renewed bombing or stepping away from the conflict, as carrying greater risks than maintaining the blockade to squeeze Iran's economy and oil exports.

Iran warns of 'unprecedented' military response over US blockade
Iran has warned it could take "punishing" action if the US maintains its naval blockade around the Strait of Hormuz , according to state media.

State-linked outlet Press TV cited a senior security source as saying Tehran's armed forces could respond with "practical and unprecedented military action."
The source described the blockade as "maritime piracy" and said Iran's restraint so far had been aimed at giving diplomacy a chance.

The outlet said Iran's armed forces "believe that patience has limits and that a punishing response is necessary if Washington maintains its illegal naval blockade around the Strait of Hormuz."
US, Iran peace talks stall as Hormuz shipping backlog widens
Oil prices climb as Iran peace efforts stall
Oil prices have risen for more than a week as stalled Iran peace talks deepen market uncertainty.

Brent crude climbed above pre-ceasefire levels while US benchmark West Texas Intermediate broke $100 (€85.50) Tuesday for the first time in two weeks, with both extending gains Wednesday.

Brent has held above $113 and WTI above $101 as traders react to US President Donald Trump canceling envoy talks in Pakistan, adding to a downbeat mood.

Markets showed limited reaction to the United Arab Emirates deciding to leave OPEC and OPEC+, a move it described as strategic.

Iran's rial hits record low amid fragile ceasefire
Iran's currency has fallen to a record low of 1.8 million rials to the dollar as a fragile ceasefire with the US and Israel holds.

The rial began sliding recently after weeks of relative stability early in the war that started February 28.

The drop is expected to fuel inflation in Iran, where many essential goods — from food and medicine to raw materials — depend on the dollar exchange rate.

Despite the ceasefire, a US blockade has continued to squeeze the economy by disrupting oil exports, a key source of revenue and foreign currency.

The latest slump follows an earlier shock that helped spark nationwide protests in January, when the rial weakened sharply and deepened public anger over rising prices.

Trump extends US-Iran ceasefire as talks remain on hold
Trump warns Iran to 'get smart soon' as talks stall
US President Donald Trump has warned Iran to accept US terms for a peace deal as efforts to end hostilities remain stalled.

"Iran can't get their act together.

They don't know how to sign a non-nuclear deal.

They better get smart soon!" the US leader posted on his Truth Social platform, alongside an AI illustration of Trump holding an assault rifle, with the caption "No More Mr.

Nice Guy!”
Iranian Defense Ministry spokesman Reza Talaei-Nik said a day earlier that Washington "must abandon its illegal and irrational demands."
UN deplores Iran crackdown amid war fallout
The UN has condemned a sweeping crackdown in Iran, warning executions and mass arrests have surged during the war.

The UN's rights office OHCHR says at least 21 people had been executed and more than 4,000 detained on national security charges, many facing torture, unfair trials and forced disappearances.

At least nine of those executions were in connection with the January 2026 protests, 10 for alleged membership in opposition groups, and two were on espionage charges.

The crackdown has targeted protesters, opposition members and minorities , with reports of coerced confessions and deaths in custody.

UN rights chief Volker Türk said he was "appalled" by the scale of repression, calling for an immediate halt to executions and the release of those arbitrarily detained.

"Even where national security is invoked, human rights can only be limited where strictly necessary and proportionate, and for a legitimate end.

And core, non-derogable rights — such as protection against arbitrary detention, and the right to fair trial — must be respected absolutely, at all times."
"I call on the authorities to halt all further executions, establish a moratorium on the use of capital punishment, fully ensure due process and fair trial guarantees, and immediately release those arbitrarily detained.”
Thank you for joining our Monday coverage of the Middle East as we await news on whether the United States and Iran will resume negotiations on an end to the war.

But first, a recap of Tuesday's events :
Peace talks remained stalled as the US reviewed Iran's proposal to end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz , with nuclear issues pushed to later stages.

Oil prices surged again as uncertainty over Hormuz continued and negotiations showed little progress .

Markets reacted to fears the blockade could persist.

Donald Trump said Iran was in a "state of collapse" and was pushing for the Strait of Hormuz to be reopened under pressure from the US blockade.

Iran said the United States could no longer dictate global policy and would have to abandon its demands.

The United Arab Emirates said it would leave oil cartels OPEC and OPEC+ to regain control over its oil strategy.

The move signaled strain within the producer alliance during the crisis .

US Marines boarded a vessel suspected of violating the Iran blockade but released it after confirming it would not enter Iranian ports.

Donald Trump said Friedrich Merz did not know what he was talking about after Merz accused Iran of humiliating the United States .

Stay tuned as we bring you the latest headlines.