THIS PAGE WILL BE UPDATED WITH THE LATEST NEWS
UPDATE: 7:30 PM
State Media Report Suggests Regime Is Considering Gasoline Price Hike by Proposing the New Gasoline Initiative
Reports suggest that the clerical regime is contemplating a gradual increase in gasoline prices labeled as the “Citizen’s Gasoline Plan.”
The plan, introduced by the Parliamentary Research Center and proposed to the government of Ebrahim Raisi, faces skepticism from economic experts who fear it may exacerbate inflation. Critics argue that the plan lacks foresight and could lead to disastrous consequences, given the country’s existing financial challenges. The move has raised concerns among citizens, with some groups questioning the government’s approach to economic hardships faced by the population.
A report from the state-run newspaper Jahan Sanat suggests the initiative will act as an introductory measure for a potential gasoline price hike, quoting economic experts within the regime.
According to the report, there are even rumors of including this proposal in the state budget for the upcoming year. However, analysts caution that the execution of the plan may not be certain until the allocation for the new Persian year is determined.
The source adds, “This plan is entirely non-executive and lacks expertise. Currently, there are close to 20 million fuel cards in the country. If approximately 70 million of the 85 million population are added to the subsidized gasoline quota, the potential consequences and the created rent can be disastrous.”
Sunday Protests in Iran
In a series of escalating demonstrations, discontented Iranians have taken to the streets in various cities, demanding economic alternations and improved living conditions. The protests have been fueled by grievances over low wages, inadequate pension adjustments, and the failure of authorities to meet the basic needs of disabled individuals.
In Tehran, employees of Darou Paksh pharmaceutical company gathered to protest against what they deem as unjustly low wages. The discontent among the workforce highlights broader concerns about economic hardships facing many Iranians.
In a separate demonstration in the capital, disabled individuals rallied outside the office of the Planning and Budget Organization. They demanded the implementation of laws requiring the government to provide basic needs for those unable to work due to disabilities. The protesters seek increased support to cope with the rising cost of living.
January 14—Tehran, #Iran
Disabled people rally in front of office of the Planning and Budget organization, demanding the implementation of the law that requires the government to provide the basic needs of disabled people who can't work.#IranProtestspic.twitter.com/VBYXZ7GHCU— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) January 14, 2024
Isfahan witnessed protests by retirees of the steel industry who held rallies, expressing frustration over the regime’s failure to adjust their pensions in line with the increasing cost of living. Similar sentiments were echoed in Shush, southwest Iran, where retirees of the Social Security Organization resumed protest rallies to draw attention to their demand for higher pensions.
January 7—Isfahan, central #Iran
Retirees of the steel industry hold protest rallies as regime authorities refrain from raising their pensions according to the rising costs of living.#IranProtestspic.twitter.com/Lcuyz59IXx— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) January 7, 2024
In Yazd, central Iran, railroad workers staged a protest rally in front of the provincial governorate, urging authorities to address their grievances. Meanwhile, in Ahvaz, southwest Iran, retirees of the Social Security Organization resumed their rallies, calling for increased pensions in accordance with the law and the soaring costs of living.
Amid the unrest, a common refrain emerged among protesters in Isfahan: “We have seen no justice, we won’t vote anymore.” This sentiment underscores the growing disillusionment with the government’s ability to address economic issues and fulfill the needs of its citizens.
January 13—Yazd, central #Iran
Railroad workers hold protest rally in front of the provincial governorate as regime authorities ignore their demands.#IranProtests pic.twitter.com/SfSRh66R48— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) January 14, 2024
As tensions continue to rise across the country, the Iranian regime is facing mounting pressure to address the economic grievances and implement reforms to improve the living standards of its citizens. The situation remains fluid, and further developments are expected in the coming days.
Iranian-Backed Groups in Deir Ezzor Empty Wea-Pons Warehouses and Move Them to Other Sites for Fear of Being Targeted
SOHR sources reported that, during the past hours, the Iranian-backed militias carried out new repositioning operations within areas they control in Deir Ezzor, where they emptied weapons and ammunition warehouses on the outskirts of Al-Mayadeen and took them to Al-Shibli area, east of Deir Ezzor, and stored them in underground basements. Weapons were also transferred from the Ayyash area, west of Deir Ezzor city, to the Al-Mazarea area on the outskirts of Al-Mayadeen, in addition to similar movements near the Syrian-Iraqi border on the outskirts of Al-Bokamal, where one of the weapons warehouses was emptied and transferred to another place in the same area.
UPDATE: 11:00 AM
Lord Cameron Warns Houthis the UK Will Follow Us’ Lead and Strike Yemen Again if ‘Vital Supply Chains Are Threatened’ and Vows to ‘Back Words With Actions’
The Foreign Secretary today warned the Houthi rebels in Yemen that Britain was prepared to carry out future strikes on Houthi targets if their missiles continued to threaten the free flow of trade in the Red Sea.
Lord Cameron, writing in The Telegraph, said the UK ‘will always defend the freedom of navigation. And, crucially, we will be prepared to back words with actions’.
The former Prime Minister warned that if the Houthis are able to deter traffic from passing through the Bab el-Mandab Strait or the Red Sea, ‘prices will go up in Britain and across the globe’.
UPDATE: 9:00 AM
Maryam Rajavi Meets With Members of the Federal Parliament (Bundestag) Of Germany
On Wednesday, January 10, 2024, members of the Federal Parliament (Bundestag) of Germany visited Maryam Rajavi to engage in discussions. The German MPs in attendance included Mr. Carsten Müller, a senior member of the Legal Committee, and Ms. Katja Adler, as well as Mr. Leo Dautzenberg, former MP, and Chair of the German Committee in Solidarity with a Free Iran.
Noting the developments in Iran and the uprising in 2022, Ms. Katja Adler expressed her thoughts: “Having experienced dictatorship during a brief period of my life, I understand the crucial role an alternative plays when people mobilize. The people of Iran yearn for an alternative like you (Maryam Rajavi), and I wholeheartedly support you and your Ten-Point Plan. I fervently hope to witness a free Iran soon, where the rulers are not the mullahs.”
Iran’s Marginalized Cities Have Become Hotbeds of Protests
The anxiety of Iranian regime supreme Ali Khamenei intensifies as the date for the fraudulent parliamentary election approaches. It is trapped in a terrifying impasse. On the one hand, societal conditions have reached a boiling point and are on the verge of explosion. Even a simple debate between two regime insiders can act as a catalyst. His Friday prayer leaders also warn that the experience of the 2009 uprising should not be forgotten and “should not be erased from the historical memory of the Iranian people.”
On the other hand, Khamenei is deeply afraid that a widespread boycott of the elections will further highlight the illegitimacy of his regime. He fears that it could turn into a “March 2 referendum against the regime” and once again pose a high risk of uprising. This political impasse, combined with the volatile internal situation, is further complicated and prolonged by the Gaza war, which means the difficult regional circumstances for the regime.
Farangis Dargahi and Sara Shapuri Are Summoned to Court
The 105th Branch of the Criminal Court Two of Miandoab has summoned Farangis Dargahi and Sara Shapuri to report to this court on January 27, 2024.
Miandoab is in West Azerbaijan Province, in northwestern Iran.
They had been previously arrested and interrogated during the 2022 protests by agents of the Ministry of Intelligence. Farangis Dargahi is charged with “propaganda against the state,” and “encouraging people to hold illegal gatherings against the state.”
The Dual Levers of Iran Regime’s Sovereignty: Repression and Proxy Forces
The concept of ‘proxy forces’ is interchangeable with ‘proxy war’ within political culture. From a political perspective, a ‘proxy war’ denotes military conflicts wherein a nation engages in hostilities with another country or force beyond its jurisdiction, all without the direct involvement of its military forces.
These definitions of ‘proxy war’ and ‘proxy force’ are commonly employed in classical and conventional political culture. However, within the Iranian regime, the nuances and functions of ‘proxy forces’ and ‘proxy war’ significantly deviate from their classical interpretations.
17% Increase in School Dropouts in Iran
The regime’s Tejarat News website reported a 17% increase in school dropouts in the previous academic year compared to the 2015-2016 academic year. Tejarat News, citing the regime’s Majlis (parliament) Research Center, wrote that over 911,000 individuals dropped out of school in the past academic year.
The report emphasized that more than 279,000 individuals also discontinued their education during this period.
The report reads in part that more than 279,000 individuals also dropped out of school during this time period.
Hundreds of Buildings in Tehran at Risk of Fire
According to Ghodratollah Mohammadi, the CEO of the Tehran Fire Department and Municipal Services, “50 percent of the government buildings” in the capital do not have the organization’s approval.
On Thursday, January 11, in an interview on Tehran Radio and Television, Mohammadi stated that there are “75 high-risk buildings in terms of fire” in the metropolis that have not yet been secured. He further mentioned that the number of these buildings has decreased from 129 to 75 in the past year and a half, and legal cases have been filed for these 75 buildings listed as high-risk.
Paris—January 12, 2024: MEK Supporters Organized an Exhibition in Solidarity With the Iran Revolution
On January 12, 2024, in Paris, France, freedom-loving Iranians and supporters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) orchestrated a photo exhibition and set up a book table to express solidarity with the Iranian Revolution.
Also, read Iran News in Brief – January 13, 2023