THIS PAGE WILL BE UPDATED WITH THE LATEST NEWS
UPDATE: 10:00 PM
The Iranian Regime Is Using Deceptive Tactics to Spread Disinformation
In today’s digital age, disinformation has become a pervasive tool used by authoritarian regimes to manipulate public opinion and control the narrative. Iran, with its state-controlled media and extensive propaganda machinery, is no exception.
However, there is a lesser-known tactic employed by such regimes that is equally insidious and effective: the manipulation of Wikipedia, the online encyclopedia that many consider a reliable source of information. Wikipedia, relying on a community of volunteers to edit and maintain its content, has become a prime target for spreading disinformation and state propaganda. While Wikipedia has guidelines in place to ensure neutrality and accuracy, these guidelines can be manipulated and abused by well-organized and well-financed groups that infiltrate the site.
UPDATE: 9:00 PM
Monday Protests in Iran
In a series of escalating demonstrations, various groups across Iran are taking to the streets to voice their grievances and demand essential rights that they claim the regime has denied them.
In the capital city, Tehran, retirees from the Telecommunications Company of Iran (TCI) gathered for a protest rally, demanding higher pensions and other basic needs that they allege the government has failed to address. Simultaneously, poultry farmers rallied in front of the Ministry of Agriculture, pressing for the delivery of their ration of soya, while oat and wheat farmers protested the government’s refusal to pay their subsidies.
January 15—Tehran, #Iran
Poultry farmers hold protest rally in front of the ministry of agriculture, demanding the delivery of their ration of soya.#IranProtests pic.twitter.com/a4jkhV4o1x— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) January 15, 2024
In the southwest city of Ahvaz, contract workers of the National Iranian South Oil Company staged a demonstration in front of the company’s headquarters. They reiterated their demands for higher wages and other basic needs, emphasizing the urgency of their plight.
January 15—Ahvaz, southwest #Iran
Contract workers of the National Iranian South Oil Company hold protest rally in front of the company's headquarters to reiterate their demands for higher wages and other basic needs. #IranProtestspic.twitter.com/C3bYkKDUXW— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) January 15, 2024
In the western cities of Khorramabad and Kermanshah, retirees of the Telecommunications Company of Iran resumed their weekly protest rallies, persistently demanding higher pensions and other basic rights. Meanwhile, in Marivan, retirees of the TCI gathered in front of the provincial headquarters, resuming their weekly protests, as the regime appeared to ignore their pleas.
January 15—Kermanshah, western #Iran
Retirees of Telecommunication Company of Iran resume weekly protest rallies, demanding higher pensions and other basic rights.#IranProtestspic.twitter.com/HvvzMcHNAV— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) January 15, 2024
The protest wave continued to sweep across the country, reaching northwest Zanjan, where retirees and pensioners of the Telecommunications Company of Iran chanted slogans such as “Enough with the promises, our tables are empty!” as they rallied against low pensions and poor living conditions.
January 15—Khorramabad, western #Iran
Retirees of the Telecommunication Company of Iran (TCI) resume protest rallies, demanding higher pensions and other basic needs.#IranProtestspic.twitter.com/T26brUhxlu— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) January 15, 2024
The widespread discontent among various sectors of the population highlights growing frustration with the economic policies and perceived neglect by the Iranian regime.
UPDATE: 3:30 PM
Biden’s Iran Containment Strategy Failing as Islamic Regime Gets Closer to Nuclear Weapon: Experts
President Biden’s strategy of containing and de-escalating Iran’s state-sponsored terrorism is failing as fears grow over Tehran inching closer to obtaining nuclear power, experts warn. Gabriel Noronha, a former US Department State adviser on Iran, said Sunday that Biden’s gamble to “bribe” Iran to halt its nuclear advancements through economic pressures and oil sanctions has flopped.
“Iran advanced its nuclear program anyway and pocketed the extra revenue from oil sales to increase funding to its terror proxies,” Noronha told Fox News Digital. “We have had zero wins on the Iran file in the past three years but have seen their strength return from their weakened state during the policy of maximum pressure.”
Alarming Trends in Iran’s Internet Quality Revealed by E-commerce Association Report
In its report on Iran’s internet status, a state-affiliated institution has declared that the country, with an average of approximately 48% of websites experiencing disruptions, tops the world with the highest internet disruptions in the past nine months.
The report, released by the Internet and Infrastructure Commission of the Tehran E-commerce Association, highlights the addition of filtering equipment to the domestic network and the government’s plans to expand current internet restrictions. According to the findings, censorship equipment, intended to be installed among fixed-line operators following the new policy of the Ministry of Communications, will also be implemented among mobile operators. In other words, domestic traffic will now pass through filtering equipment, similar to international traffic.
The E-commerce Association anticipates that this initiative may lead to an escalation of existing network disruptions in the country.
Furthermore, the report explores the country’s internet status based on indices of disruptions, restrictions, and speed. Iran, among the 50 countries examined, is positioned at the forefront of nations with the poorest internet quality.
UPDATE: 11:30 AM
285 Schools in Isfahan Affected by Land Subsidence
In a startling revelation, Majid Abdollahi, the Iranian regime’s Deputy for School Renovation, confessed that 285 schools in Isfahan have fallen victim to the phenomenon of land subsidence, with approximately 44 of them suffering damages.
Abdollahi further disclosed that, currently, schools in five provinces across the country, including Tehran, Isfahan, Khorasan Razavi, Yazd, Fars, and Qazvin, are most vulnerable due to land subsidence. This issue has rendered them highly susceptible to structural damage, jeopardizing the safety of students and faculty.
According to the state-run Tehran Times, “the average land subsidence in Iran is five times the global average, according to the head of the National Cartographic Center (NCC). The average global land subsidence rate per year is about 3 centimeters, while the average land subsidence in Iran is about 15 centimeters.”
US Forces Shell Positions of Iran-Backed Groups in Deir Ezzor
Explosions were heard in Deir Ezzor City due to an attack by “International Coalition” planes on positions of Iran-backed groups near Deir Ezzor Military Airport.
This comes after an attack on the US base in Koniko Gas Field in Deir Ezzor countryside, where missiles landed inside the base and other missiles landed on civilians’ houses in Al-Ezba Town near the base.
A few hours ago, explosions were heard in the area of Koniko Gas Field in Deir Ezzor countryside, where US forces are stationed, due to an attack with three missiles by Iran-backed groups on the base. However, no casualties were reported.
UPDATE: 7:30 AM
Iran’s regime continues to ramp up violent punishment
The atrocities of the Iranian regime against Iran’s women have become so disgraceful that even the regime’s own media and analysts are becoming worried about their consequences.
On January 13, the state-run Setareye Sobh Daily ran a piece titled, “Harsh punishments will cause discontent,” in which it warned about the social consequences of punishments such as flogging and wrote, “Flogging is a violent punishment and today, the society will not tolerate it.” On the same day, the state-run Etemad daily wrote, “[Such punishments] do more harm than good for the punished and society.”
Previously, on January 9, in a statement, the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) condemned the continued wave of executions in Iran and the regime’s use of the inhumane punishment of severing the hands of two individuals for theft.
How The Policies of Iran’s Regime are Affecting Life Expectancy
The Iranian regime is playing a pivotal role in exacerbating the plight of its citizens. The tangible repercussions of these policies are evident in the distressing increase of mortality rates and overall decline of health conditions across the nation.
Wielding considerable influence over the economic landscape, the regime’s decisions have contributed to the impoverishment of its people. As economic challenges mount, the Iranian populace grapples with income reduction, soaring inflation, and a disconcerting rise in the cost of essential healthcare services.
The regime’s National Organization for Civil Registration has reported an average age of 66.03 years for individuals who died in Iran during the initial nine months of 2023.
Purchasing Power of Iranian Workers Halved in Past Year
According to the state-run Etemad newspaper, the “minimum wage” for 2023, which started with a minimum of 50% inflation, only grew by 20% compared to last year. This trend has led to the real wages of workers being halved from the beginning of the year until now.
Etemad newspaper reported on Sunday, January 14, that the “daily minimum wage” for the working class has reached about 1.77 million rials (approximately $3.35) for this year, which is significantly lower than the purchasing power of a wide range of goods and most food items in Iran.
Based on this, the daily income figure of 1.77 million rials for 2024 is likely to increase by about 20% and will be slightly over 2 million rials (approximately $3.8) per day. However, due to the inflation gap between this year and the next, this new figure will be even further from the value of a basket of minimum food items.
The Price of Freedom: Sacrifice as the Beacon for Iran – A Letter by Political Prisoner Saeed Masouri
Saeed Masouri, enduring as Iran’s longest-held prisoner of conscience, marks a poignant milestone: the start of his 24th year of incarceration. From the depths of confinement, he shares a message that resonates with profound strength, courage, and inspiration.
O beloved, today we embody both your spirit and the love we share!
Behind towering walls, encased in barbed wire, confined to a narrow cell with only a small aperture for a window, I embark on the twenty-fourth year of my imprisonment. Like a modern-day bearer of a heavy cross, I’ve carried the weight of these thick walls and unforgiving bars for a quarter of a century.
Women’s Rights In Iran
The Iranian regime’s approach towards women’s rights is an appalling testament to their deeply entrenched misogyny and disregard for human dignity. Through systematic repression and abuse, the regime has created a society where women are subject to discrimination, restriction, and the denial of basic human rights. For far too long, the international community has opted for appeasement when dealing with the Iranian regime, pursuing a futile policy of ‘constructive engagement’. This approach of compromise and negotiation has only emboldened the mullahs, allowing them to pursue their destructive and repressive agenda unchallenged. It is time to break free from the shackles of appeasement and acknowledge the necessity of regime change as the only viable solution for lasting peace in the region.
Paris, France: MEK Supporters Expressed Their Support of the 28th #FreeIranTelethon
Paris, France—January 2024: The Iranian community and supporters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) expressed their support through video messages and pictures, urging all freedom-loving Iranians to join the 28th #FreeIranTelethon in support of Simay-e-Azadi (INTV). The telethon started on January 12, 2024.
Also, read Iran News in Brief – January 14, 2023