Weekly Roundup from Kayhan Life: December 12th – December 19th

By Kayhan Life Staff

Artist: Ahmad Barakizadeh

An Iranian Solstice Tradition: Keeping the Light Alive

On the longest night of the year, December 21, Iranians do not retreat from the darkness—they face it together. Shab-e Yalda, the ancient celebration of the winter solstice, has endured for millennia.

Rooted in pre-Islamic mythology, Yalda marks the rebirth of light. According to ancient mythology, a dark and demonic force who overpowered the world, was routed by the radiant energy of Mithra, the Sun God/esse, the embodiment of light, justice, and love.

As with all Persian rituals, nature and the blossoming of life are central to Yalda. Families gather and light candles and fires, transforming cold and darkness into warmth and light. They eat fruits and nuts while reciting poetry. Pomegranates, with their plentiful seeds, symbolize life. Watermelon, a summer fruit, conveys the warmth that is on its way. Nuts, dried fruits, and seeds symbolize patience.

Nezami Ganjavi, Iran’s 12th-century poet, famously wrote, “In despair there is much hope; the dark night ends with light.” The verse is more relevant today than ever for Iranians both inside the country and across the diaspora.

After decades of repression, economic hardship, and social despair, Yalda has turned into an act of civil resistance affirming that hope, in the face of uncertainty and anxiety, is not naïve; it is necessary.

Welcome to the Kayhan Life Week in Review

The developments this week reflect a nation under strain, where a public mourning, economic hardship, and environmental crisis collided with regional power struggles and enduring cultural traditions. From the streets of Iran’s cities to international courtrooms and diplomatic tables, the stories below reveal how pressure is building at home and abroad—while Iranians continue to assert their voices through protest, art, and ritual.

►The tension was on full display in the holy city of Mashhad, where a memorial service for a prominent human rights lawyer, Khosrow Alikordi,  turned into an openly defiant anti-regime protest, which was met with a violent security crackdown, leading to dozens of arrests, including high-profile activists and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi.

►Economic pressure is intensifying that sense of unrest. Labor and pension experts argue that years of high inflation have steadily widened the gap between income and the cost of living. That gap now threatens not only the working poor but also the middle class.

►Fuel policy sits at the heart of Iran’s economic and social crisis—and several reports this week expose how deep the problem runs. Leaked data from the energy sector reveal that much of Iran’s gasoline is low-grade and potentially harmful, despite being marketed under misleading “clean” labels. The findings raise urgent questions about public health, environmental damage, and official accountability.

►A senior lawmaker revealed that the widespread burning of mazut—a highly polluting, sulfur-rich fuel—is no longer a temporary emergency measure but an approved state policy. The admission underscores the long-term environmental costs Iranians are being asked to bear in the name of energy survival.

►Against this backdrop, the government has cautiously raised gasoline prices for heavy users in an effort to curb consumption without igniting public anger. The move revives painful memories of the 2019 fuel protests, which were met with deadly force, and highlights the regime’s fear that even limited economic adjustments could spark another nationwide explosion.

►The challenges the Islamic Republic faces are not confined to its borders. France, the United States, and Saudi Arabia pushed for a roadmap to disarm Hezbollah, Tehran’s chief agent of influence in Lebanon and the wider region.

Iran’s Grip Tested as France, U.S. and Saudis Press Hezbollah Disarmament

►This comes at a time when in London, two British-Lebanese men have been charged with terrorism offenses linked to Hezbollah, including allegations involving drone-related procurement—bringing Iran’s regional alliances into sharp focus on the international stage.

►Israel charged a Russian citizen with spying for Iran, including photographing Israeli ports and infrastructure under the direction of Iranian intelligence agencies, Israel’s domestic security agency, the Shin Bet, said on Friday.

►Meanwhile, another Islamic Republic proxy, the Houthis in Yemen, detained 10 additional  U.N. personnel in Yemen, taking the total to 69.

►The Iranian regime’s financial lifeline will  be constrained in the months ahead, as Washington expands sanctions targeting its so-called “shadow fleet.” The latest measures hit dozens of tankers accused of deceptive shipping practices used to export Iranian oil, aiming to cut off hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue for the Islamic Republic.

►On the cultural front, Iranian artists in the diaspora continue to explore identity, resistance, and social constraints through their work. Katayoun Shahandeh interviewed conceptual artist Katayoun Karami to learn how her photography and mixed media address women’s issues and the complexities of life in Iran.

►Kayhan Life’s Katayoun Halajan interviewed Paris-based artist Malekeh Nayini to offer a reflective look back at a storied career that has pushed the boundaries between photography and painting. From Tehran to Paris, Nayini’s work charts a life shaped by creativity, exile, and reinvention.

►Finally, millions of Iranians worldwide are preparing to celebrate Yalda, the ancient festival marking the year’s longest night, which is inscribed on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage List.

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