THIS PAGE WILL BE UPDATED WITH THE LATEST NEWS
UPDATE: 1:00 PM CEST
U.S. Secretary of State Urges Europeans Must Make a Major Decision on Triggering Snapback Mechanism Against Iran
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned today that European powers face a critical decision on whether to trigger the snapback mechanism under the current nuclear deal, following new assessments indicating that Iran is closer than ever to obtaining a nuclear weapon.
Speaking to reporters at Le Bourget Airport in Paris, Rubio confirmed that the Iran file was a key topic in discussions with European counterparts ahead of further diplomatic talks scheduled for Saturday. He emphasized that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) had issued public findings in Tehran just yesterday, warning that the Iranian regime is “as close as it’s ever been to nuclear weapons.”
“The President has made clear Iran will not have a nuclear weapon. That is not going to happen,” Rubio stated.
While reiterating that the United States seeks a peaceful and lasting resolution, Rubio stressed that any new agreement must permanently prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear arms, not merely delay it with “some sort of sunset provision.” He cautioned that the E3 – the UK, France, and Germany – will soon receive an IAEA report confirming Iran’s serious noncompliance, and said that if Iran remains in breach, Europe must reimpose sanctions.
“If Iran is not in compliance, they have to reimpose the sanctions,” Rubio said, calling the snapback mechanism a key test of the West’s resolve.
UPDATE: 8:00 AM CEST
US Strike on Yemen Fuel Port Kills At Least 38, Houthi Media Say
WASHINGTON, April 17 (Reuters) – U.S. strikes on a fuel port in Yemen killed at least 38 people on Thursday, Houthi-run media said, one of the deadliest days since the United States began its attacks on the Iran-backed militants.
The United States has vowed not to halt the large-scale strikes begun last month in its biggest military operation in the Middle East since President Donald Trump took office in January, unless the Houthis cease attacks on Red Sea shipping.
Treasury Targets International Bank of Yemen for Support to the Houthis
WASHINGTON — Today, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is sanctioning Yemen-based International Bank of Yemen Y.S.C. (IBY) for its financial support to Ansarallah, commonly known as the Houthis, which is part of the Iran threat network. As part of this designation, OFAC is also sanctioning key leaders or officials of IBY, Kamal Hussain Al Jebry, Ahmed Thabit Noman Al-Absi, and Abdulkader Ali Bazara. The designation of IBY complements the whole-of-government effort to stop Iran-backed Houthi attacks against commercial shipping in the Red Sea.
U.S. General Warns of Iran’s Deceptive Nuclear Tactics: “They’ve Reopened the Same Dangerous Playbook”
Retired U.S. Army General Jack Keane has sounded the alarm over the Iranian regime’s renewed efforts to manipulate nuclear negotiations, accusing Tehran of reviving the same deceptive strategy it used during the Obama-era talks. Speaking on Fox News on April 16, 2025, Gen. Keane described the regime as both economically cornered and strategically dangerous, warning that it is weeks away from assembling a nuclear arsenal.
“Their economy is in the tank, their currency is spiraling, inflation is at 30 percent, and even elites close to the regime are now feeling the pressure,” Gen. Keane said, outlining what he described as Tehran’s desperation amid mounting sanctions and internal decay.
But despite this vulnerability, he warned, the clerical regime remains highly dangerous — and deceptive. “They’ve gone back to the same playbook they used in 2013,” he said, referring to Iran’s offer to lower uranium enrichment to levels used for “civilian power.” Gen. Keane called this a “bold-faced lie,” warning that with today’s advanced centrifuge capability, Iran can quickly ramp up to weapons-grade enrichment from any baseline.
According to Gen. Keane, U.S. intelligence assessments suggest the regime is now only “weeks away from having six nuclear weapons.” He warned that any return to a cosmetic agreement — like the 2015 JCPOA — would allow Iran to continue nuclear development in secret, using the illusion of compliance to stall military response.
Gen. Keane concluded with a stark outline of U.S. demands: “Dismantle your program. Give up the materials. Destroy deep-buried sites. Stop using ballistic missiles. End your malign activity in the region. That’s what’s on the table. And if not, there will be consequences.”
UPDATE: 7:00 AM CEST
Maryam Rajavi’s Message of Condolence on the Passing of Mr. Kimmo Sasi, a Great Supporter of the Iranian Resistance in Finland
With deep sorrow and heartfelt sympathy, I have learned of the passing of Mr. Kimmo Sasi, a distinguished Finnish statesman, former Member of Parliament, and former Minister of Transport and Communications.
Mr. Sasi was a staunch advocate for human rights and freedom, who consistently stood with the people of Iran and their legitimate Resistance in the struggle for democracy and freedom. He courageously defended the rights of the PMOI members in Ashraf and was among the pioneers in Finland advocating for the protection of these trailblazers of freedom.
With unwavering resolve, Mr. Sasi exposed the oppressive nature of the Iranian regime and repeatedly emphasized the need for a firm policy in confronting its terrorism and repression. His active presence and influential support at international conferences—including those held in the parliaments of Finland and Norway—testified to his deep commitment to universal human values.
Five Political Prisoners Face Execution after Sudden Transfer from Evin to Ghezel Hesar
On Wednesday, April 16, 2025, Evin Prison warden Heydatollah Farzadi, known for his brutality, announced that five political prisoners sentenced to death—Vahid Bani Amrian, Seyed Mohammad Taghavi, Babak Alipour, Pouya Ghobadi, and Shahrokh Daneshvar Kar—must be transferred from Ward 4 of Evin Prison to Ghezel Hesar Prison by the end of the day, under orders from the infamous judge Iman Afshari. In response to prisoners objecting to the transfer, Farzadi reportedly threatened to forcibly move them using prison guards.
Under Farzadi’s orders, the halls of Ward 4 of Evin have been locked down since this morning, and the prisoners have been isolated to prevent any possibility of protest. These prisoners were sentenced to death in December 2024 by Branch 26 of Tehran’s so-called Revolutionary Court, presided over by notorious judge Iman Afshari.
The Ongoing Fight for Truth About the 1988 Massacre of Political Prisoners in Iran
The 1988 massacre of political prisoners represents one of the most criminal chapters of the mullahs’ rule in Iran. This crime is so extensive that new dimensions continue to be revealed even after many years. The release of audio tapes in recent years, documenting meetings between Ayatollah Montazeri, the designated successor to regime founder Ruhollah Khomeini at the time, and members of the “Death Committee,” has uncovered shocking truths about this horrific crime. These tapes testify to a crime against humanity and an organized genocide against members of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) and other political groups.
In the summer of 1988, under the direct order of Khomeini, thousands of political prisoners from the PMOI and other dissident groups were hanged. This horrific genocide is known in political literature as the “1988 massacre.” In an explicit fatwa, Khomeini ordered that PMOI members who remained steadfast in their positions be executed as “Mohareb” (those waging war against God/the state). Death Committees, composed of Sharia judges, representatives from the Ministry of Intelligence, and prosecutors, were formed in prisons to implement this fatwa.
Iran’s Dust Storm Crisis: Environmental Catastrophe Rooted in Mismanagement
On April 16, 2025, a severe dust storm swept across western Iran, paralyzing life in several provinces. Khuzestan, Kermanshah, Lorestan, Bushehr, Ilam, and Zanjan have been either partially or fully shut down due to unprecedented levels of air pollution. In some areas, pollution levels have surged to over 500 on the Air Quality Index (AQI)—a level so extreme it exceeds measurable limits—and suspended particles have reached up to 67 times the permissible threshold.
In Kermanshah, authorities reported AQI levels surpassing 500, rendering the pollution unquantifiable. As a result, the entire province was ordered to shut down, excluding essential health and emergency services. Khuzestan faced similar chaos. Schools and universities were closed, public offices shifted to remote work, and pollution levels spiked dramatically. In Lorestan, school closures were announced late, sparking public protests in Kuhdasht and Poldokhtar. Official outlets described the situation as “completely dangerous.”
Iran’s Electricity Crisis: Nuclear Promises, Renewable Neglect, and a Looming Energy Collapse
Amid ongoing nuclear negotiations between Iran and the United States, the head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization has claimed that the country’s electricity shortage will be resolved through the construction of new nuclear power plants. However, this promise appears more symbolic than practical, given the realities of Iran’s energy infrastructure and its long-standing neglect of renewable resources. Currently, nuclear energy accounts for just 1% of Iran’s total electricity production. Bridging the country’s estimated 25,000 megawatt electricity deficit would require the construction of 25 nuclear power plants, each the size of the existing Bushehr facility.
Hamid Hoseinnezhad Faces Imminent Execution in Iran
The political prisoner Hamid Hoseinnezhad Heydaranlu, who has been sentenced to death, has been transferred from the political ward of Urmia Central Prison to the prison’s quarantine section. Human rights sources reported that this transfer, along with the Supreme Court’s confirmation of his sentence, has intensified concerns about the imminent risk of his execution. Human rights organizations reported on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, that Hamid Hoseinnezhad Heydaranlu has been transferred to the quarantine ward of Urmia Prison and stated that this move puts him on the verge of imminent execution.
Hoseinnezhad’s family has been informed to visit the prison for a final meeting, and his lawyer has written that the execution is scheduled to be carried out on Friday, April 18, 2025.
National Development Fund of Iran Drained by Regime Mismanagement and Military Control
Statistics from the Iranian regime’s Majlis (parliament) Research Center show that since the establishment of the National Development Fund in 2011 until March 2024, about 82% of its $161 billion revenue has been spent, and 88% of the loans disbursed were allocated to the government and public institutions such as the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Of the $132 billion in loans disbursed by the fund over 13 years, only $8 billion has been repaid. An additional $18 billion, despite reaching maturity, remains unpaid and has turned into overdue loans.
The parliamentary research report shows that by March 2024, the fund’s foreign currency reserves stood at only $26.5 billion. After subtracting $6.5 billion in outstanding foreign exchange obligations, only $20 billion remains in manageable assets for Iran’s National Development Fund.
The Life of Political Prisoner Kamran Rezaei-Far Is in Danger
Human rights organizations have raised alarm over the critical condition of 59-year-old political prisoner Kamran Rezaei-Far in Evin Prison. He is battling severe illnesses such as gastrointestinal cancer and pulmonary embolism while being denied access to essential medical care. Rezaei-Far, who had suffered from severe gastrointestinal symptoms for months, underwent surgery only after a delayed diagnosis. The operation resulted in the removal of half of his stomach and pancreas. He is currently suffering from pulmonary embolism and blood clots in his lungs, which pose a serious threat to his life.
Despite his urgent need for chemotherapy and specialized care in medical facilities, judicial authorities have refused to grant him medical furlough. According to informed sources, Evin prison officials—particularly Heydatollah Farzadi (the prison warden) and the head of the prison clinic—have persistently obstructed his transfer to a hospital.
At Least Nine More Prisoners Executed in One Week
A new wave of executions swept through Iran’s prisons over the past week. According to credible reports, at least nine prisoners were executed in the prisons of Zahedan, Bandar Abbas, Kerman, Karaj Central, Dastgerd Isfahan, Arak, and Ahvaz. This alarming figure comes as, since the beginning of the Persian month of Farvardin (March 21, 2025, the Islamic Republic has executed at least 68 prisoners—an average of more than two executions per day, or one every 12 hours.
On the morning of Monday, April 14, 2025, Ali Baluchzehi, a prisoner from Saravan, was executed in Zahedan prison on charges of murder. On the same day, Ali Dehani, a conscript soldier at the Kaskin checkpoint in Bampur, was also executed. This was confirmed by the Iranian Human Rights Society.
The Hidden Atrocity: New Revelations of Iran’s 1988 Massacre and Crimes Against Women
In the long, bloodstained history of the Iranian regime, the 1988 massacre of political prisoners stands as a haunting symbol of brutality, and new revelations have torn open deeper wounds. A recently released audio recording—Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri’s second conversation with the so-called “Death Committee”—has surfaced, unmasking an even more sinister dimension of the regime’s crimes, particularly those targeting women and supporters of the Mojahedin-e Khalq (PMOI/MEK). The recording, partially aired by the BBC on April 14, 2025.
In 1988, Hossein Ali Montazeri was the leader, Khomeini’s designated successor. According to Montazeri, 300 female Mojahedin detainees—some of them captured during Operation Eternal Light—were executed en masse. This included two French nationals, whose foreign citizenship was ignored despite Montazeri’s warnings of international consequences.