THIS PAGE WILL BE UPDATED WITH THE LATEST NEWS
UPDATE: 6:30 PM CEST
US Sanctions Lebanese Network over Alleged Oil, LPG Smuggling for Hezbollah
WASHINGTON, Sept 11 (Reuters) – The Biden administration on Wednesday issued sanctions on a Lebanese network it accused of smuggling oil and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) to help fund the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah.
The sanctions target three people, five companies, and two vessels that the U.S. Treasury Department said were overseen by a senior leader of Hezbollah’s finance team and used profits from illicit LPG shipments to Syria to aid generate revenue for the group.
Acting Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Bradley Smith, in a statement, said Hezbollah “continues to launch rockets into Israel and fuel regional instability, choosing to prioritize funding violence over taking care of the people it claims to care about, including the tens of thousands displaced in southern Lebanon.”
UPDATE: 12:30 PM CEST
EU Statement at IAEA Board of Governors on Verification and monitoring in the Islamic Republic of Iran in light of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2231 (2015), as delivered on 10 September 2024
Speech text: “I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union. The candidate countries North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania, Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova and Bosnia and Herzegovina[1], the EFTA countries Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, members of the European Economic Area, as well as San Marino, align themselves with this statement.
“The European Union would like to thank the Director General for his report and DDG Aparo for the technical briefing. We commend the Director General and the Secretariat for their professional, independent and impartial work.
“It is a key security priority for the EU to ensure that Iran does not acquire a nuclear weapon. The EU remains committed to a diplomatic solution to the Iranian nuclear issue. We call on all countries to support the implementation of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2231 (2015). We regret that Iran has not made the necessary decisions to return to its nuclear-related commitments under the JCPOA, to which the EU remains committed. Iran’s unabated nuclear advances over the last 5 years have made a return to the JCPOA increasingly challenging. The risk of a nuclear proliferation crisis in the region is increasing as a result of Iran’s escalating nuclear trajectory.”
UPDATE: 7:00 AM CEST
Ken Blackwell: Standing With Truth and Integrity Against Disinformation
In a world where oppressive regimes constantly challenge human rights advocacy, the disinformation campaign against Professor Javaid Rehman, former United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran, underscores the lengths to which authoritarian states like Iran will go to silence dissent. This campaign aims to discredit a dedicated human rights advocate.
Throughout his tenure as the UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Iran, Professor Rehman pursued truth relentlessly despite being barred from Iran and facing continuous intimidation. His landmark report, detailing the atrocity crimes of the 1981-1982 executions and the 1988 massacre as crimes against humanity and genocide, reveals disturbing truths that Iran seeks to suppress.
UPDATE: 5:30 AM CEST
UN Experts Condemn Iran’s Disinformation Campaign Against Former Special Rapporteur
A group of 47 esteemed United Nations experts and Nobel laureates released a statement on Monday, September 9, 2024, condemning an Iranian disinformation campaign aimed at discrediting Professor Javaid Rehman, the former UN Special Rapporteur on Iran.
The complete text of the statement follows:
The Iranian regime’s establishment disinformation targets the former UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Iran
A vicious smear campaign spearheaded by the government of Iran and its lobbyists abroad has been brought to our attention targeting former United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Iran, Professor Javaid Rehman.
PMOI Supporter Alireza Golipour Passes Away After Years of Torment by Iran’s Regime
Alireza Golipour, a political prisoner and supporter of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI), born in 1986, passed away on Saturday, September 7, 2024, in Tehran due to heart disease. He had been released in 2021 after nine years of imprisonment due to severe illness and poor health and was receiving medical treatment outside prison. Before his first arrest in 2009, he was a distinguished doctoral student in electrical engineering in Germany sent by the regime’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology.
Following his second arrest in 2012, Golipour was charged with membership in the PMOI, which the regime labeled as a “security-disrupting organization,” involvement in revealing the regime’s nuclear program, disturbing public opinion, and propaganda against the regime and its leadership. He was sentenced by notorious Judge Abolghassem Salavati to 39 years and 9 months in prison. This sentence was later reduced to 15 years with the efforts of his lawyers.
The Tragic Death of Sara Deldar: A Former Political Prisoner from Iran
Sara Deldar, a former political prisoner from Rasht, Iran, has died after suffering complications from infections related to gunshot wounds she sustained during the 2022 nationwide protests. Social media reports indicate that Ms. Deldar’s health deteriorated following her release from prison, ultimately leading to her untimely death. Ms. Deldar was shot by government forces while providing aid to injured protesters during the mass demonstrations of 2022. Despite her humanitarian efforts, she was arrested, tried, and sentenced to one year, three months, and six days in Lakan Prison, Rasht. After serving six and a half months of her sentence, she was released on parole.
Rising Poverty in Iran: A Critical Examination of Official Reports and Socioeconomic Consequences
Zahra Kaviani, a member of the academic staff at the Iranian Parliament’s Research Center, recently acknowledged the growing poverty rate in Iran, a trend that has persisted since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. According to her, the poverty threshold for a family of three in Tehran is now estimated to be 20 million tomans (approximately $336 USD at the current exchange rate). Kaviani noted that in the early 2000s, the poverty rate in Iran stood at 20%, reflecting a 10% increase since previous decades. Over the next three years, this figure rose further to 22%. By the early 2010s, the poverty rate had surged to 30%, where it has reportedly remained stable for the past four years. However, she admitted that while the official poverty rate may appear static, the severity of poverty has worsened, making it increasingly difficult for people to escape its grip.
Protest Gatherings by Oil Workers and Various Other Groups of Iranian Society
Protest gatherings by various segments of the Iranian population were held in different cities across the country due to economic hardships. On Monday, September 9, widespread protests took place in several cities. The economic crisis, rising inflation, and declining purchasing power have severely impacted the livelihoods of the people. Oil workers in several cities, including Bushehr and Kangan, held protests. Employees of Pars Oil and Gas Company (site 2) in Kangan protested the lack of response to their demands. One of the main demands of the Pars Oil and Gas Company (POGC) workers is the removal of unfair salary caps in operational areas of the oil industry. Another issue sparking protests is the separation of specialized and support roles.
Why Does Iran’s Regime Want to Import Gas from Russia?
The news of Iran’s request to import gas from Russia, despite being the world’s second-largest holder of gas reserves, has sparked widespread reactions.
Some experts say that the agreements signed with Russia in recent years have not brought significant benefits to Iran. Importing gas from Russia might disrupt Iran’s own efforts in gas exploration and extraction. Some analysts believe that importing gas from Russia could be an opportunity to offset shortages during the colder months. On the other hand, this move could turn Iran into a regional gas transit hub. Bahman Khodakarami, an energy expert, stated that importing gas from Russia has garnered a lot of attention in recent years.
Wave of Executions in Iran: Seven Prisoners Executed in a Single Day
On Monday, September 9, 2024, the Iranian authorities executed seven prisoners in two separate incidents, further intensifying concerns over the country’s escalating use of capital punishment to suppress dissent and create an atmosphere of fear. In the early hours of Monday, September 9, a prisoner named Fayzollah Hosseinpour was executed at Miandoab Central Prison. Hosseinpour, a father of three from the village of Cheragh-Abdal in the Shahindezh region, had been convicted of murder. He was living in the city of Boukan prior to his arrest. His execution marks another case in the continued use of capital punishment by the Iranian judiciary, which rights groups argue is being used disproportionately, particularly against vulnerable groups.
Ballistic Missile Shipments: 200 Fateh-360s Delivered from Iran to Russia
Two years have passed since Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine, and the end of this war still seems distant. Since the winter of 2022, another country has frequently been mentioned alongside Russia: Iran. Tehran has repeatedly faced criticism for its military support of Moscow. The latest instance, according to a Reuters report, involves Iran sending ballistic missiles to Russia.
Last summer, Iran showcased its military weapons and equipment at an exhibition in Moscow, featuring items that had not previously been sold to foreign countries and were specifically designed for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Among these weapons were the Zohair and Ababil ballistic missiles, Shahed-129 and Shahed-133 drones, and long-range suicide drones such as Arash.
Toronto, Canada: MEK Supporters Celebrate PMOI Founding Anniversary – September 2024
Toronto, Canada—September 2024: Freedom-loving Iranians and supporters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) gathered to commemorate the beginning of the 60th year since the MEK‘s establishment. The celebration participants reaffirmed their unwavering support for the MEK’s ongoing struggle to establish freedom, democracy, and human rights in Iran. They expressed strong backing for the People’s Mojahedin Organization’s leadership and its efforts to bring about revolutionary change in Iran, opposing the current religious dictatorship.
Hanover, Germany: MEK Supporters Celebrate PMOI Founding Anniversary – September 2024
Hanover, Germany—September 2024: Freedom-loving Iranians and supporters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) gathered to commemorate the beginning of the 60th year since the MEK‘s establishment.