THIS PAGE WILL BE UPDATED WITH THE LATEST NEWS
UPDATE: 6:30 PM CET
Iranian Regime Working Hand-in-Hand With Organized Crime, Spanish Politician Says
A Spanish politician and campaigner against the Iranian regime who survived an assassination attempt a year ago has told an online conference that Iran is operating in alliance with organized crime. Alejo Vidal-Quadras, 79, was shot at point-blank range in the Spanish capital of Madrid on Nov. 9, 2023, but miraculously survived.
He said the Iranian regime is working with the Netherlands-based Mocro Maffia (Moroccan mafia) gang and other organized crime syndicates as it targets dissidents and European nationals.
UPDATE: 7:00 AM CET
On the Anniversary of the Adoption of the NCRI Plan on Relations Between Religion and State
The NCRI Plan on Relations Between Religion and State represents the council’s response to the experience of religious fascism and the brutal tyranny imposed under the guise of Islam.
This plan, approved by the NCRI in November 1985, states that “no religion or faith shall possess any special rights or privileges, under any circumstances.” At the same time, it upholds the “freedom of religions and faiths.”
The NCRI plan firmly opposes enforced religion and religious compulsion, rejecting any form of “discrimination, privilege, or political and social coercion” justified in the name of Islam. The NCRI Platform, adopted in 1981, emphasizes “equality of political and social rights for all citizens” and the elimination of “all gender, ethnic, and ideological privileges.”
Indeed, the very establishment of this council and the relationships among its members represent a practical model of the separation of religion and state, as well as a free and equal republic.
Iranian Officials Fear the Potential Backlash of Power Cuts
On the eve of the anniversary of the November 2019 protests, the Iranian regime restricted electricity consumption, citing the elimination of fuel oil (mazut) as the reason. The spokesperson for the government of Masoud Pezeshkian attempted to manipulate public perception in an appalling way, suggesting that the government had chosen “scheduled blackouts” over “producing poison” for the population. This deception quickly unraveled, with the issue of power outages—feared to spark social unrest—rapidly turning into a political issue and exacerbating the regime’s internal crisis.
While Mohammad Ali Abtahi, a cleric with ties to the so-called “reformist” faction within the regime, described the power outages as “a trap for Pezeshkian” and a plot to “topple the government,” the November 12 issue of the state-run Kayhan ran a headline, “Fuel Oil Burning or Wasting the Opportunity: Where Did the Early Blackouts Come From?” It wrote, “In an unusual move, power outages have entered people’s homes in autumn as a result of government decisions.”
Rebellious Youth Rise Against Iran Regime’s Intensified Repression
In a powerful show of defiance, young Iranians carried out coordinated actions across Tehran, Isfahan, Shiraz, and Mashhad on Saturday, November 9. These attacks came in response to the regime’s escalating repression, including a surge in executions and violent crackdowns on political dissent and public protests. The actions reflect deepening anger at the government’s systematic oppression, which has intensified in recent weeks through policies targeting prisoners, women, and ethnic minorities.
Iran has seen a significant spike in executions, with at least 94 reported from October 22 to November 8, adding to a total of 441 under the administration of President Masoud Pezeshkian. A shocking 17 individuals were executed on a single day, November 8. These grim numbers reflect an ongoing campaign of repression led by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, seemingly aimed at intimidating an increasingly desperate and impoverished public.
Iran’s 2025 Budget Bill Sparks Concerns Over Potential Gasoline Price Hike and Worsening Economic Inequality
Economist Farshad Momeni has raised alarms over the possibility of a 40% gasoline price increase in Iran’s upcoming 2025 budget, calling the budget’s overall policies “dangerous and worrying.” In an interview with Jamaran, Momeni, an economics professor at Allameh Tabataba’i University, criticized the government’s lack of transparency and described this concealment as one of the primary flaws in the proposed budget.
According to Momeni, despite repeated warnings about the substantial social, economic, political, and national security risks that would come with a gasoline price hike, the government appears determined to move forward with the increase. Vice Chairman of the Parliament’s Program and Budget Commission, recently announced the government’s plan to raise gasoline prices by at least 40% in the next fiscal year.
This proposal follows the November 2019 gasoline price hike, which sparked widespread protests across Iran. The demonstrations were met with severe crackdowns, reportedly resulting in around 1,500 civilian deaths, according to Reuters. Public anger over the proposed increase reflects fears of similar consequences should gasoline prices rise sharply again.
Iran: Two Teenage Girls Commit Suicide Due to School Authorities’ Mistreatment
Arezoo Khavari, a 16-year-old student residing in Shahr-e Rey, was reported to have died by suicide on November 3. According to her father, she took her own life due to the strictness and behavior of the school staff. Following reports of the suicide of Arezoo Khavari, her father stated that his daughter’s actions were due to mistreatment and strictness from the school staff, especially from the principal. In an interview with the state-run media outlet Shargh, published on Monday, November 11, he said that his daughter, after being denied entry to her class, left the school, entered a building, and then jumped from there. According to Arezoo Khavari’s father, who lost his daughter last week, Arezo had worn jeans the day before her suicide attempt during a school trip, and on the way, she was dancing and celebrating.
IAEA Director: Iran’s Room for Maneuver Is Diminishing
The Director General of the United Nations’ International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) states that Iran’s room for maneuver in its nuclear program is shrinking, and Iran must urgently find ways to resolve this issue.
On Wednesday, November 12, Rafael Grossi told Agence France-Presse on the sidelines of the “COP 29” meeting in Baku that the Iranian government needs to understand that international conditions are becoming increasingly tense, reducing its room for maneuver. He emphasized the necessity of finding diplomatic solutions.
On the eve of his trip to Iran, he clarified that the IAEA is allowed to conduct inspections in Iran but requires more extensive observations. He added that, given the scope, depth, and ambition of Iran’s nuclear program, it is essential to find ways to gain a better view of Iran’s activities.
Gothenburg—November 9, 2024: MEK Supporters Rally to Condemn Iran Regime’s Crimes and Support NCRI’s Democratic Alternative
Gothenburg, Sweden—November 9, 2024: Freedom-loving Iranians and supporters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) organized a rally to condemn the crimes of the Iranian regime and express their support for the democratic alternative represented by the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), led by Mrs. Maryam Rajavi.
Toronto, Canada—November 9, 2024: MEK Supporters Rally Condemns Crimes of the Mullahs’ Regime in Iran
Toronto, Canada—November 9, 2024: Freedom-loving Iranians and supporters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) organized a rally 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.