THIS PAGE WILL BE UPDATED WITH THE LATEST NEWS
UPDATE: 9:00 AM CEST
Trump Attorney Was Targeted by Hackers, Sources Say
One of Donald Trump’s attorneys was targeted in a hacking attempt, three sources familiar with the matter tell CNN, marking a potentially serious new development as American intelligence agencies confirmed Monday that they have concluded Iran is behind a recent hack into the former president’s 2024 campaign. One source told CNN that Lindsey Halligan was targeted as part of the Iranian hacking effort, though the timing of the attempt and the extent of any breach of her devices or accounts remains unclear as the FBI continues to conduct a high-stakes investigation months out from the presidential election.
CNN has previously reported that suspected Iranian hackers breached the personal email account of longtime Trump ally Roger Stone and then used his email account to access the account of a senior campaign official.
China’s Record Oil Imports from Asia Minnow Point to Iran Flows
China imported a record volume of crude from Malaysia last month, pointing to a renewed appetite for cheaper Iranian oil as refiners grapple with lower margins due to an economic slowdown.
The world’s biggest crude importer took 6.21 million tons from Malaysia in July, according to government figures released on Tuesday. That’s equivalent to 1.47 million barrels a day, or almost triple the average daily production from the Southeast Asian nation over the course of 2023.
UPDATE: 7:00 AM CEST
Executions Continue Unabated in Iran Under New Regime President
Since appointing its new president, Iran’s regime has intensified its machine of executions and hangings. There are no signs of violence abating, despite the new regime president Massoud Pezeshkian branding himself as a “reformist.”
On Monday, August 19, 2024, five prisoners were hanged in Yazd Central Prison, including two Baluch compatriots. On Sunday, August 18, one prisoner was hanged in Tabriz Central Prison, and on Saturday, August 17, three prisoners were hanged in Adel Abad Prison in Shiraz. Earlier, on Thursday, August 15, one prisoner was hanged in Sanandaj Central Prison. Additionally, six prisoners, including two women, were executed in Chubindar Prison in Qazvin in August.
Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, the president-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), said regime supreme leader Ali Khamenei is extending his reign by “inflicting grief upon an ever-increasing number of mothers, fathers, wives, and children daily.”
The Iranian Regime’s New President Begins His Tenure with Infighting
On August 17, the Iranian regime’s new President, Massoud Pezeshkian, along with the cabinet members he had introduced to the Majlis (Parliament), attended the session to defend them. This cabinet is described by Pezeshkian’s disillusioned allies as the second administration of former president Ebrahim Raisi, and they sarcastically remark that if Saeed Jalili had known the cabinet composition, he would have stepped aside in Pezeshkian’s favor. However, despite this, the Parliament became a battleground, even though Pezeshkian spared no effort in showing deference and alignment with the so-called purified Parliament.
Pezeshkian began his speech by invoking Iranian regime founder Ruhollah Khomeini and praising former IRGC Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani and Raisi, using words that reflected his deep fear and terror of the fires of division, conflict, and the threats engulfing the regime’s factions. He shouted: “Lack of unity and cohesion means the brink of fire. Lack of commitment, lack of unity, and lack of adherence means the edge of fire.” He added: “If we continue in this way, thinking that we will reach a destination is madness.”
Iran’s Regime Stealing U.S. Election Data, Attempting to Affect Outcome
The FBI, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency of the United States issued a joint statement on Monday warning about the Iranian regime’s attempts to interfere in the 2024 U.S. presidential elections. They advised campaign teams to implement necessary security measures, including using official emails only for official business, not opening suspicious emails, updating software, using strong passwords, and enabling multi-factor authentication.
The three organizations stated that the Iranian regime seeks to sow discord and undermine public trust in U.S. democratic institutions. Additionally, Iran has a long-standing interest in exploiting social tensions through various means, including cyber operations to access sensitive information related to U.S. elections.
Iran: Hunger Strike by Hundreds of Prisoners in 18 Prisons in the Campaign ‘Tuesdays Against Execution’
On Tuesday, August 20, 2024, hundreds of prisoners in 18 prisons across Iran went on a hunger strike in protest against execution as an inhumane punishment. This comes as the judiciary in Iran has executed over 400 prisoners in Iranian prisons since the beginning of the year 2024. In just the first 15 days of August, 70 prisoners have been hanged in Iranian prisons.
The protest strike of prisoners in Iranian prisons under the campaign ‘Tuesdays Against Execution’ has been ongoing since February 2024. According to a statement released today by participating prisoners, this campaign has entered its thirtieth consecutive week starting this Tuesday, August 20, in prisons such as Evin (Wards 3, 4, 6, and 8), Ghezel Hesar (Units 3 and 4), Karaj Central, Khorramabad, Nezam Shiraz, Mashhad, Qaemshahr, Lakan Rasht (female and male wards), Tabriz, Ardabil, Khoy, Naqadeh, Urmia, Salmas, Saqqez, Baneh, Marivan, and Kamyaran.
MEK Supporters Rally in London to Condemn Executions by Iran’s Regime and Honor the Martyrs of the 1988 Massacre
London, UK—August 17, 2024: Freedom-loving Iranians and supporters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) held a rally to protest the increasing wave of executions carried out by the Iranian regime. The Iranian community in London demanded that the UK government designate the IRGC as a terrorist organization. They also protested against the appeasement policy towards the mullahs’ regime.
MEK Supporters Rally in Stockholm to Condemn Executions by Iran’s Regime and Honor the Martyrs of the 1988 Massacre
Stockholm, Sweden—August 17, 2024: Freedom-loving Iranians and supporters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) held a rally in front of the Swedish Parliament to protest the increasing wave of executions carried out by the Iranian regime. They also called for the immediate release of all political prisoners held in the prisons of the mullahs’ regime in Iran and expressed their solidarity with the Iranian Revolution.