THIS PAGE WILL BE UPDATED WITH THE LATEST NEWS
UPDATE: 10:00 PM CET
Treasury Sanctions Entities in Iran and Russia That Attempted to Interfere in the U.S. 2024 Election
WASHINGTON – Today, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is designating a subordinate organization of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and a Moscow-based affiliate organization of the Russian Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU) and its director pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13848, the U.S. election interference authority. As affiliates of the IRGC and GRU, these actors aimed to stoke socio-political tensions and influence the U.S. electorate during the 2024 U.S. election. Today’s actions build on sanctions previously imposed on the IRGC, the GRU, and their numerous subordinate and proxy organizations, pursuant to several authorities targeting the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and malicious cyber-enabled activities.
U.S. Strikes Houthi Targets in Yemen After American Warships Attacked, CENTCOM Says
The United States military said Tuesday its forces had “conducted multiple precision strikes” that hit Houthi targets in Yemen’s capital.
The targets had been used by the Iran-backed rebels used to attack American warships and commercial vessels, U.S. Central Command said in a news release. The attacks began on Monday and continued on Tuesday. A video shared by the command shows planes taking off and rockets being launched from a ship.
The targets included a Houthi command and control facility and advanced conventional weapon production and storage facilities. The facilities held missiles and uncrewed aerial vehicles used in Houthi operations, CENTCOM said. U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force aircraft also destroyed a Houthi coastal radar site and seven cruise missiles and unmanned aerial drones, CENTCOM said.
Silence No Longer an Option on Iran’s Alarming Executions Spike
In an age where information travels faster than ever, silence on certain issues remains deafening. A particularly grim instance is the current situation in Iran, where the execution tally has surged dramatically. Since August of this year, when Masoud Pezeshkian became president, the regime has executed 672 individuals, including 11 on Dec. 15 alone, one of whom was a woman, bringing to 22 the number of women who have been sent to the gallows.
The number since January 2024 stands at 988, including 33 women and eight political prisoners. This staggering number isn’t just a statistic; it’s a chilling indicator of a regime that continues to punish its citizens with the utmost severity, under questionable legal standards.
UPDATE: 2:00 PM CET
How an Iran Oil Tycoon Got Inside the Western Financial System
On a winding road hugging Dominica’s palm-dotted shores stand a string of partially finished luxury hotels. A few miles north, sits the future home of the Portsmouth Marina — a development seeking to draw superyachts to the island. They are a testament to a bet Dominica made three decades ago on citizenship by investment or CBI. In essence, the tiny Caribbean nation has dished out passports to foreigners in exchange for significant lump sums. It’s brought billions into the economy while offering an easy additional nationality to anyone whose origins might raise red flags in the financial community.
US Urges Action Against Iranian Regime for Violating Arms Embargo
In a Security Council session addressing threats to international peace, U.S. Deputy Representative to the UN, Ambassador Dorothy Shea, highlighted the Iranian regime’s provision of advanced weapons to the Houthis as a violation of UN-imposed arms embargoes. “Iran’s provision of hypersonic missiles and other lethal weapons to the Houthis violates the arms embargo imposed on the group by this Council,” Shea declared.
“The Houthis are fully enabled by Iran to launch long-range and deadly attacks on Israel, including civilian infrastructure,” she said, emphasizing the need for international accountability.
The U.S. called for “additional actions” by the Security Council to address the growing threat posed by the Houthis and Tehran’s role in arming the group. Shea urged members, particularly those with direct ties to Iran, to “press Iran’s leaders to stop the Houthis from launching attacks that put civilians in harm’s way.”
Shea also stressed the importance of strengthening the UN Verification and Inspection Mechanism (UNVIM) to prevent illicit arms smuggling by Iran. The U.S. will continue defending its regional partners, as demonstrated by recent military actions targeting Houthi command facilities and intercepting drone and missile attacks over the Red Sea.
The ambassador concluded with a broader appeal: “This is an especially dangerous moment in the region. It is imperative that we all work to reduce tensions.”
U.S. Stresses Need to Prevent Iran from Resurging in Syria
The U.S. Embassy in Syria announced on Tuesday that it has reaffirmed its commitment to combating “terrorism” and preventing Iranian influence in Syria while advocating for minority representation.
The embassy said that U.S. officials met with members of the caretaker government in Damascus to underscore key priorities.
During the meeting, the officials called for the protection of American citizens and demanded clarity on the fate of forcibly disappeared individuals, including Austin Tice and Majd Khamis.
UPDATE: 7:00 AM CET
The Failure of Tehran’s Expansionist Policies in Middle East
The fall of the Assad dictatorship in Syria, as one of the most critical regional pillars of the Iranian regime, has triggered a political earthquake in the Middle East.
This is a fact even acknowledged by Ahmad Khatami, a member of the regime’s Guardian Council and temporary Friday prayer leader of Tehran. He called on the leaders of the regime’s proxy forces in Iraq to “remain vigilant and cautious” and “not be deceived by America’s false promises.” Khatami demanded that “the feet of Takfiri terrorists be broken right there in Syria.”
Khatami said, “Uninformed writers, careless writers, don’t dishearten the people by saying resistance is gone. Where has resistance gone? Resistance remains and will continue until America is driven out of the region” (Source: Fararu news website, December 17).
Cities Across Iran See Protests by Different Sectors
Monday saw another day of protests across Iran, featuring a diverse range of demonstrators from retirees and workers to traders, each expressing their distinct demands and dissatisfaction with government policies.
In Kermanshah, telecommunications retirees organized a protest against the injustice and discrimination they believe results from the interference of the Execution of Imam Khomeini’s Order (EIKO) and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps in managing their pension fund. The retirees argue that these entities, which have a long history of influencing economic and financial policies in Iran and are among the most corrupt governmental bodies in the country, have taken control of the fund and exploited retirees’ money for their own interests under the direct oversight of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Warning of Famine Amid Escalating Economic Crises in Iran
A member of the Iranian Parliament’s Industries Commission has issued a stark warning about the potential for “famine” in the country. Salman Zaker, speaking to the state-run Rokna news agency, stated, “The continuation of dissatisfactions at this level creates the possibility of a famine.”
He added, “If the situation continues like this, we will have to wait for a famine.” However, Zaker did not elaborate on any solutions proposed by the parliament or the regime to address this looming crisis, which is further exacerbating Iran’s struggling economy.
Amid escalating turmoil in financial markets and the relentless rise of the U.S. dollar against the Iranian rial, discontent has boiled over into widespread protests.
On Sunday, December 29, hundreds of Tehran’s Grand Bazaar merchants pulled down their shutters and marched through the area, chanting slogans such as “Close, Close” and “brave marketer, support, support.”
Iran’s Pharmaceutical Crisis: Rising Prices, Shortages, and Growing Challenges
Iran’s Minister of Health and Medical Education, Mohammad-Reza Zafarghandi, recently admitted that the future of the preferred currency for medicine in 2025 remains uncertain. This announcement has heightened concerns over soaring drug prices and potential shortages.
Zafarghandi attributed the country’s drug shortages primarily to liquidity problems stemming from unpaid hospital claims by insurance companies. “This lack of liquidity is the main reason hospitals cannot settle their accounts with pharmacies,” he explained.
A key point in Zafarghandi’s remarks was his implicit reference to the possible removal of the preferred currency for medicine. “No decision has been made regarding the preferred currency for medicine for next year,” he noted, leaving room for speculation.
At Least 883 Executions in Iran in 2024
The human rights website HRANA reported in its latest annual report that at least 883 people were executed in prisons across Iran in 2024, reflecting an 18.3% increase compared to the previous year.
The report, published on December 26, states that during this period, 207 individuals were sentenced to death by the Iranian regime’s judiciary, and the death sentences of 54 individuals were upheld by the Supreme Court.
According to the report, the issuance of death sentences increased by 33.5%, and among those whose genders were specified, 772 were men and 26 were women.
Additionally, five individuals who were under 18 at the time of their alleged crimes, legally referred to as juvenile offenders, were among those executed this year.
Of the executions during this period, four were carried out publicly.
MP Warns of Famine in Iran
Salman Zaker, a member of the Industries Commission of the Iranian regime’s Majlis, warned about the possibility of famine in Iran and said that if the current “imbalances” persist, there is a likelihood of famine.
Speaking to the state-run Rokna news agency, Salman Zaker stated, “The continuation of imbalances at this level creates the possibility of famine,” adding, “If the situation continues in this way, we should also expect famine.”
He did not provide details about the Majlis and the government’s plans to address the “potential famine” and the massive crises engulfing Iran’s economy. Amid heightened turmoil in financial markets and the continuous rise in the value of the dollar, a group of Tehran Bazaar traders went on strike, urging other shopkeepers to join them through slogans.
Khamenei in 2024: A Year of Major Strategic Defeats
As 2024 draws to a close, any impartial observer asked which government in the region suffered the greatest strategic setbacks this year would undoubtedly point to Iran’s regime and its Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei.
As we approach 2025, this article reviews the major political developments in Iran over the past year, analyzes Khamenei’s strategic failures, and provides a comprehensive final assessment:
The lackluster turnout for the February 11, 2024, rallies marked the beginning of subsequent defeats for the regime. This event highlighted the waning ability of Khamenei’s government to rally its base.
Join the 29th #FreeIranTelethon: Supporting Simay-e-Azadi, January 17–19, 2025
December 30, 2024—Iranian communities and supporters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) worldwide are rallying support for the upcoming 29th Free Iran Telethon. Set to take place from Friday, January 17, to Sunday, January 19, 2025, this event is dedicated to supporting Simay-e-Azadi (INTV), the first independent 24-hour Persian-speaking satellite channel advocating for freedom and democracy.
Join the 29th #FreeIranTelethon: Supporting Simay-e-Azadi, January 17–19, 2025 #Iran #FreeIran10PointPlan @en_simayazadi https://t.co/gdc3gLz94u
— Iran Freedom (@4FreedominIran) December 30, 2024
Through heartfelt video messages and images, Iranians around the globe are inviting their compatriots to join this significant event, amplifying the voices of a nation fighting against oppression, censorship, and propaganda.
Berlin: Photo Exhibition and Book Table Supporting the 29th Free Iran Telethon and MEK Resistance Units
Berlin, Germany—December 29, 2024: Iranian supporters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) organized a photo exhibition and book table. The event highlighted support for the 29th Free Iran Telethon of Simay-e-Azadi (INTV) and the MEK Resistance Units under the leading slogan: “Woman, Resistance, Freedom.
Paris Exhibition on December 28 Supports Iranian Revolution, Condemns Regime’s Human Rights Abuses
Paris, France—December 28, 2024: Supporters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) hosted an exhibition showcasing photographs and books to demonstrate solidarity with the Iranian Revolution and condemn the regime’s growing use of executions.