THIS PAGE WILL BE UPDATED WITH THE LATEST NEWS
UPDATE: 11:30 AM CET
Yemen: Gov’t Coast Guard Intercepts Iranian Weapons Sent to Houthis
US CENTCOM praised the Yemen Coast Guard on Sunday for intercepting “Iranian advanced weapon components, drones, and communications gear that was destined for the Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists.”
Congratulations to the Coast Guard of the legitimate government of Yemen on their interdiction of Iranian advanced weapon components, drones, and communications gear that was destined for the Iranian backed Houthi terrorists.
On February 12, the Yemen Coast Guard interdicted a… pic.twitter.com/iH88Fz4fAP
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) February 16, 2025
The seizure was conducted on February 12 as a Dhow boat attempted to smuggle the weapons into the southern Red Sea.
This comes after the Houthis threatened that it would continue attacking Israel and boats traversing the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden if the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip collapses.
Exclusive: Five Iraqi Banks to Be Banned from US Dollar Transactions
DUBAI/BAGHDAD, Feb 16 (Reuters) – Iraq’s central bank will ban five more local banks from engaging in U.S. dollar transactions, a move that comes after meetings with U.S. Treasury officials in efforts to combat money laundering, dollar smuggling, and other violations, two sources with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters on Sunday.
The move comes after meetings in Dubai last week between officials from the Central Bank of Iraq – which last year already banned eight banks from U.S. dollar transactions – and U.S. Treasury and Federal Reserve officials, one of the sources said.
A rare ally of both the United States and Iran with more than $100 billion in reserves held in the U.S., Iraq relies heavily on Washington’s goodwill to ensure that its access to oil revenues and finances is not blocked.
U.S. National Security Adviser Reiterates Firm Stance on Iran’s Nuclear Program
U.S. National Security Adviser Mike Waltz reaffirmed the administration’s opposition to Iran’s nuclear ambitions in an interview with Fox News on Sunday, February 16, stating, “Iran can never have a nuclear weapon.”
Waltz emphasized that preventing the clerical regime from obtaining nuclear capabilities remains a critical security priority. “The President has expressed a willingness to take whatever action is necessary. All options are on the table,” he said, adding that while diplomatic engagement is not ruled out, any negotiations would require the regime to fully dismantle its nuclear program and refrain from what he described as “games played in prior negotiations.”
Highlighting broader security concerns, Waltz warned that Iran’s acquisition of nuclear weapons could lead to a regional arms race and destabilize the Middle East. The remarks come amid ongoing international scrutiny over Iran’s nuclear activities, with U.S. officials maintaining that Tehran must be held accountable for its commitments under non-proliferation agreements. Waltz concluded, “The administration is committed to ensuring Iran does not develop nuclear weapons.”
UPDATE: 8:00 AM CET
G7 Condemns Tehran’s Destabilizing Actions and Support for Armed Groups
The foreign ministers of the G7 countries—Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the High Representative of the European Union—met on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference and condemned Iran’s destabilizing activities in the Middle East. In a joint statement, the G7 members denounced the Iranian regime’s rapid uranium enrichment, calling it unjustified for civilian purposes. The group also criticized Tehran’s ongoing support for terrorist organizations and armed groups across the Middle East and the Red Sea, its proliferation of ballistic missiles and drones, and its transnational repression and human rights violations.
The statement further condemned Iran’s military support to Russia, including the supply of drones and military assistance, which has been used in Moscow’s ongoing war against Ukraine. The G7 stressed that any support for Russia’s war efforts is unacceptable and must be halted.
The ministers also discussed regional security issues and reiterated their commitment to countering the regime’s influence in Syria, Lebanon, and other parts of the Middle East. They called for greater coordination to address Tehran’s role in fueling instability.
U.S. Secretary of State Condemns Iranian Regime as the Primary Source of Regional Instability
February 16, 2025 – U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio strongly condemned the Iranian regime, calling it the “single greatest source of instability in the region.” Speaking in a joint press conference, Rubio asserted, “Behind every terrorist group, behind every act of violence, behind every destabilizing activity, behind everything that threatens peace and stability for millions of people who call this region home, is Iran.”
Rubio specifically blamed Iran’s ruling clerics, rather than its citizens, emphasizing that the Iranian people themselves are “victims of that regime.” He accused the regime of fueling terrorism, violence in the West Bank, instability in Syria, and militia activities in Iraq, warning that Tehran’s influence must be confronted.
On Iran’s nuclear ambitions, Rubio was unequivocal: “There can never be a nuclear Iran—a nuclear Iran that could then hold itself immune from pressure and from action. That can never happen.” He noted that U.S. President Trump has also firmly committed to preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.
Rubio’s remarks come amid rising tensions between the United States and Iran, as Washington tightens its “maximum pressure” campaign against Tehran.
UPDATE: 7:00 AM CET
Iranian Students Rise Against the Regime’s Murderous Security Forces
On Friday, February 14, following the brutal murder of Amir Mohammad Khaleqi, a student at the University of Tehran, and the subsequent wave of student protests, the regime’s repressive forces hastily attempted to cover up and distort the facts surrounding this crime and its prior circumstances. Their goal was to silence the students and, in their view, contain their uprising. However, students countered this suppressive ploy with the chant: “Students will die but will never accept disgrace.”
One student, while exposing the crimes committed and the authorities’ lies and misdirection, stated, “They claim there’s no budget to install cameras, yet they’ve filled the entire dormitory complex with surveillance cameras. Look between these two flags—there are four cameras mounted on a single pole. There are cameras inside the buildings, too. And you know why? Because they see us as the threat, not the muggers. They consider us the source of insecurity, not the thieves. This must change. If even the spilling of one person’s blood cannot awaken us and them, then nothing will…” The students then chanted against the university’s security forces and continued their sit-in and protest late into the night, chanting “Shame on you! Shame on you!”
The Revelation of Khatami’s Letter: Exposing the True Nature of Iran’s So-Called Reformists
Recent revelations about backdoor efforts by Iran’s so-called reformists to safeguard the Velayat-e-Faqih system have once again exposed the deceptive and corrupt nature of this political faction. One of the most significant disclosures comes from the state-run website “Alef,” affiliated with Ahmad Tavakoli, which published a confidential letter from former Iranian regime president Mohammad Khatami to the U.S. government in early 2003.
Sent amid the U.S. invasion of Iraq, Khatami’s letter outlined his willingness to fulfill all of Washington’s demands. These included halting support for the so-called resistance axis and ensuring transparency regarding Iran’s nuclear program. In return, Khatami sought the lifting of U.S. sanctions and an end to American efforts to overthrow the Iranian regime, particularly its support for the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK).
The Struggle of Childhood Cancer Patients in Iran: Financial Hardships, Corruption, and Medical Challenges
Cancer remains one of the most pressing health concerns in Iran, and its impact on children has been particularly devastating. Among the many challenges faced by families dealing with childhood cancer, the financial burden and skyrocketing cost of treatment stand out as some of the most severe.
Alireza Varasteh, CEO of the Institute for Supporting Children with Cancer in Khorasan, highlighted these growing concerns in a recent press conference. He revealed that the institute registers 20 new cancer patients each month, with many families abandoning treatment due to financial constraints. This distressing reality underscores the urgent need for systemic reforms and increased support for affected families.
Iran’s Budget for Policing, But Not for Public Safety
In the 2024 budget, the Iranian regime has allocated over 88 trillion tomans to the police force (Faraja), which translates to more than one million tomans per citizen annually. Despite this substantial funding, the police have prioritized establishing special mountain patrol units while failing to ensure the security of citizens in the heart of the capital. On the evening of Wednesday, February 12, Amir Mohammad Khaleghi, a University of Tehran student, was murdered near his dormitory by assailants who stole his laptop. Student unions have since raised alarms about the persistent insecurity surrounding university dormitories, emphasizing that their repeated warnings have been ignored.
Facade of Gender Equality: The Iranian Regime’s Statistical Deception
On February 3, 2025, Tehran-based journalist and political analyst Hamid Asefi highlighted the Iranian regime’s misleading portrayal of women’s rights. We are publishing this post because it reveals the truth of violations of women’s rights in Iran from someone within. We have added some explanations to make the original writing comprehensible for English English-speaking audiences.
Asefi noted that while the regime proudly claims that “60% of university students are women,” it deliberately remains silent on the legal and constitutional barriers that prevent women from holding leadership positions or making independent life choices.
Simultaneous Rise in Inflation and Theft in Iran
While experts emphasize the direct link between economic crises and rising crime rates, an Iranian regime official admitted, following the release of official data, that “economic problems have a direct connection to the rise in social harms.”
According to the state-run Jamaran website, an analysis of data from Iran’s Central Bank and statistics presented in Chapter 15 of the National Statistical Yearbook for 2021 reveals a direct and simultaneous correlation between rising inflation and the rate of theft in the country.
Rising Suicides in Tehran Metro; Lack of Safety Measures and Economic Crisis
While suicides in Tehran’s metro stations remain a serious issue, official statistics in this area have not been updated for over a decade. Experts believe that the lack of proper safety measures, such as platform screen doors, plays a significant role in prolonging this crisis.
The state-run Khabar Online website, in an investigative report on the lack of safety measures in metro stations, noted that based on 2014 statistics, between 17 and 18 people per year attempted suicide in Tehran’s metro stations.
The report adds that subsequent studies have shown an increasing trend in these numbers over the years. However, no updated statistics have been released, and many of these incidents are officially reported under the label of “unauthorized entry into the rail area.”
London: Academics in Exile Exhibition Condemns Human Rights Violations, Stands with Tehran Student Protests
London, UK – February 14-15, 2025 – The Academics in Exile Association, which supports the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK), organized a two-day book and photo exhibition in London to raise awareness of human rights violations in Iran and express solidarity with Iranian university students protesting against the ruling regime.
Los Angeles Exhibition Backs Iranian Resistance, Condemns Regime’s Executions
Los Angeles Exhibition Backs Iranian Resistance, Condemns Regime’s Executions #StopExecutionsInIran #FreePoliticalPrisoners #FreeIran2025 https://t.co/lpXssrSqa1
— Iran Freedom (@4FreedominIran) February 16, 2025
Los Angeles, California – February 15, 2025: Supporters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) held an exhibition to show solidarity with the Iranian Revolution and denounce the regime’s growing use of executions.
As part of the “No to Execution” campaign, participants called for an end to human rights violations and demanded the immediate release of all political prisoners in Iran. They also strongly condemned the death sentences imposed on PMOI-affiliated political prisoners.
The event highlighted the urgent need for international recognition of the Iranian resistance movement and reaffirmed the right of the Iranian people—and the MEK Resistance Units inside Iran—to defend themselves against tyranny and dictatorship.