THIS PAGE WILL BE UPDATED WITH THE LATEST NEWS
UPDATE: 10:00 PM CET
Exclusive: Iran Dramatically Accelerating Uranium Enrichment to Near Bomb Grade, IAEA Says
MANAMA/VIENNA, Dec 6 (Reuters) – Iran is “dramatically” accelerating its enrichment of uranium to up to 60% purity, close to the roughly 90% level that is weapons grade, U.N. nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi told Reuters on Friday.
The International Atomic Energy Agency later confirmed in a confidential report to member states that Iran was speeding up uranium enrichment, a process that refines the raw material so that it can be used as fuel in civil nuclear power generation or, potentially, nuclear weapons.
The IAEA findings will deepen alarm in Western countries that say there is no justification for enriching uranium to such a high level under any civilian programme and that no other country has done so without producing nuclear bombs.
40 Evin Prison Inmates Protest Death Sentences of Six Political Prisoners in Iran
Forty political prisoners in Evin Prison of Iran signed a joint statement protesting the issuance of death sentences for six political prisoners, Report informs via Iran Focus. In the statement, they expressed their “fundamental opposition to the death penalty” and declared their support for all political and ideological prisoners facing such sentences.
The joint statement of the political prisoners reads: “The increasing trend of issuing and executing numerous death sentences against political prisoners over the past two years not only recalls the state repression of the 1980s but also reflects the fear and panic of the political elite in response to the rise of a just and awakening society in Iran.”
UPDATE: 8:00 PM CET
Iran Aims to Send Missiles, Drones, Military Advisers to Syria, Senior Official Says
DUBAI, Dec 6 (Reuters) – Iran aims to send missiles and drones to Syria and increase the number of its military advisers there to support President Bashar al-Assad in his battle against rebels, a senior Iranian official told Reuters on Friday.
“It is likely that Tehran will need to send military equipment, missiles, and drones to Syria … Tehran has taken all necessary steps to increase the number of its military advisers in Syria and deploy forces,” the official said on condition of anonymity.
“Now, Tehran is providing intelligence and satellite support to Syria.”
For Iran, Assad is a crucial ally, part of its “Axis of Resistance” to Israel and U.S. influence in the Middle East.
UPDATE: 7:00 AM CET
Human Rights Commission’s Hearing at the Italian Senate
On Thursday, December 5, 2024, the Human Rights Commission of the Italian Senate held an online hearing with Maryam Rajavi on the situation of human rights in Iran. A group of senators and senate advisors took part in this hearing, presided by Senator Estefania Pucarelli. They included among others Senator Giulio Terzi, Senator Gisella Naturale, Senator Cinzia Pellegrino, Senator Donatella Campione, Senator Paola Mancini, Senator Luigi Spagnoli, and Senator Bartolomeo Amidei.
Maryam Rajavi joined this meeting via a video link and presented a report to the Human Rights Commission on the systematic and flagrant violations of human rights by the mullahs’ regime. In this report, she explained a long record of blatant human rights violations under the 46-year rule of execution and massacre in Iran.
Regime Change in Iran Is Key to Solving The Middle East Crisis
A recent conference organized by the French Parliamentary Committee for a Democratic Iran discussed the role of Iran’s ruling religious fascism as the epicenter of the Middle East crisis and a threat to regional peace. Conference speakers described the Iranian Resistance’s solution as the key to achieving peace and stability in the region. André Chassaigne, French MP and President of the GDR group in the French National Assembly and chairman of the conference warned how the Iranian regime, through its destabilizing actions, has become one of the greatest threats to Middle Eastern peace and global security, including Europe’s security. He urged France to designate the IRGC as a terrorist organization and impose stricter sanctions.
Philippe Gosselin, vice-chairman of the Parliamentary Committee, stressed that the Iranian regime not only brutally suppresses its people but also fuels regional instability by financing militias and promoting extremist ideologies. “This regime’s repression and destabilizing actions are incompatible with regional and global peace,” he said.
The Housing Crisis in Iran: A Reflection of Broader Systemic Failures
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights asserts that access to housing is a fundamental right, just like education, healthcare, security, and dignity. However, for years, this basic right has been systematically eroded in Iran under the rule of a corrupt regime, leaving millions of Iranians grappling with a housing crisis that reflects the broader socio-economic failures of the government. Housing in Iran has become a luxury rather than a necessity. A recent report by the state-run Bahar News sheds light on the shocking state of housing affordability in Tehran. According to the regime’s official statistics:
- The average price per square meter of housing in Tehran has reached 88,500,000 tomans.
- To purchase a modest 100-square-meter home, an Iranian family now needs a staggering 8.85 billion tomans.
From Expansion to Contraction: Iran Regime’s Waning Footprint in the Middle East
For decades, Iran has pursued a strategy of regional expansion through ideological influence, support for proxy groups, and leveraging crises in neighboring countries. However, the tide appears to be turning against Tehran, as its policies are increasingly viewed as sources of instability. Across the Arab world, there is a growing awareness of the costs associated with Iran’s interventions, and this shift may signal a pivotal moment for the Middle East. Iran’s doctrine of Velayat-e Faqih was originally presented as a framework for Islamic governance. Over time, however, many in the region have come to see it as a vehicle for power consolidation and territorial influence. This shift in perception has become especially pronounced in countries where Iran has wielded significant influence. In Lebanon, for instance, the heavy toll of foreign-backed militancy on national stability is sparking calls for re-evaluation.
Why Is Iran Facing A Gas Crisis Despite Having The Second-Largest of Reserves?
The state-run Hamdeli newspaper examined Iran’s gas crisis in a report published on December 1. The review addressed several aspects, including outdated infrastructure and mismanagement as major challenges in the gas industry, as well as the social and economic impacts of gas shortages during winter, which have had severely negative effects across all areas. Iran, the world’s second-largest holder of natural gas reserves, has faced recurring crises in gas supply during cold seasons for years. The National Iranian Gas Company recently yet again “called on people to reduce gas consumption”. Why must a country with such vast reserves contend with annual warnings about consumption? The answer lies in mismanagement, structural corruption, and a lack of long-term planning.
Per Capita Meat Consumption in Iran Has Dropped to 35g Per Day
Alireza Raisi, the Deputy Minister of Health of the Iranian regime, warned about the rising prices of essential food items in the country and stated that the per capita consumption of red and white meat among Iranians has decreased to 35 grams per day.
On Wednesday, December 4, Raisi told reporters at a press conference that this amount is far below the 75 grams per day recommended for individuals in a healthy society. According to these statistics from the Ministry of Health, Iran’s per capita meat consumption is less than half of the standard amount.
The Deputy Minister also stated that the per capita consumption of dairy products in Iran is one unit per day, whereas it should be between two to three units daily.
Why Executions Must Stop – Part 3
“Now I am a captive. My body is chained in a dark, damp cell, and my soul is imprisoned in the shadow of a deadly thought… I am condemned to die, condemned to die! This doom is my only companion, haunting me relentlessly. My entire being is frozen by the chilling weight of it, my body bent under the crushing, unbearable burden…”
Research conducted by the rights group Amnesty International reveals that in inefficient and corrupt judicial systems, death penalty verdicts are frequently issued following unfair and opaque trials, with little to no regard for the principle of judicial impartiality. These flawed systems are characterized by inadequate access to legal counsel and the pervasive use of forced confessions, often extracted through torture during interrogations. In the case of the clerical regime in Iran, where torture is a routine method for obtaining coerced confessions, individuals face a constant risk of state-sanctioned executions. This grave reality underscores the ever-present danger that innocent people may be compelled, under duress, to confess to crimes they did not commit.
Gothenburg Rally Protests Death Sentences for PMOI Political Prisoners, Backs ‘No to Executions Tuesdays’
Gothenburg, Sweden—December 3, 2024: Freedom-loving Iranians and supporters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) organized a rally in solidarity with the “No to Executions Tuesdays” campaign for the thirtieth consecutive week. The campaign responds to the executions taking place in Iranian regime prisons.
MEK Supporters in San Francisco Protest Death Sentences for Six Political Prisoners Associated with the PMOI
San Francisco—December 3, 2024: Freedom-loving Iranians and supporters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) held a rally to protest the death sentences of six political prisoners associated with the PMOI. The event also condemned the Iranian regime’s ongoing crimes against the Iranian people and expressed solidarity with the ongoing Iranian Revolution.
MEK Supporters in Los Angeles Protest Death Sentences for Six Political Prisoners Associated with the PMOI
Los Angeles—December 3, 2024: Freedom-loving Iranians and supporters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) held a rally in front of the Federal Reserve building to protest the death sentences for six political prisoners associated with the PMOI. The event also condemned the Iranian regime’s ongoing crimes against the Iranian people and expressed solidarity with the ongoing Iranian Revolution.
MEK Supporters in Heidelberg Protest Death Sentences for Six Political Prisoners Associated with the PMOI
Heidelberg, Germany—December 3, 2024: Freedom-loving Iranians and supporters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) held a rally and exhibition to protest the death sentences for six political prisoners associated with the PMOI. The event also condemned the Iranian regime’s ongoing crimes against the Iranian people and expressed solidarity with the ongoing Iranian Revolution.
MEK Supporters in Paris Protest Death Sentences for Six Political Prisoners Associated with the PMOI
Paris, France—December 3, 2024: Freedom-loving Iranians and supporters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) held a rally and exhibition to protest the death sentences for six political prisoners associated with the PMOI. The event also condemned the Iranian regime’s ongoing crimes against the Iranian people and expressed solidarity with the ongoing Iranian Revolution.