THIS PAGE WILL BE UPDATED WITH THE LATEST NEWS
UPDATE: 6:30 PM
Sunday Protests in Iran
Railroad workers in Tehran gathered for a protest rally, expressing discontent over worsening working conditions. Despite the decline, authorities have yet to address their concerns.
Workers in the oil sector in Gachsaran, southwest Iran, held a protest rally, urging better working conditions, implementation of job classification laws, higher wages, and other essential needs.
January 21—Gachsaran, southwest #Iran
Oil sector workers hold protest rally, demanding better working conditions, implementation of job classification laws, higher wages, and other basic needs.#IranProtests pic.twitter.com/ByMbDtcqvQ— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) January 21, 2024
Retirees from the Social Security Organization in Ahvaz, southwest Iran, resumed protest rallies, seeking higher pensions aligned with the increasing cost of living.
Workers and employees of the Ministry of Road and Urban Development gathered for a protest rally in Ilam, western Iran, as regime authorities continue to neglect their basic demands for economic necessities.
January 21—Ilam, western #Iran
Workers and employees of the Ministry of Road and Urban Development hold protest rally as regime authorities continue to ignore their basic demands for economic needs.#IranProtests pic.twitter.com/Sp19HqdLZ9— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) January 21, 2024
Retirees and pensioners of the Social Security Organization in Shush, southwest Iran, resumed protests, emphasizing their demand for higher pensions in line with the cost of living.
In Qaemshahr, northern Iran, retirees of the steel industry persisted with their weekly protest rallies, gathering in front of the Steel Retirement Fund offices in Mazandaran. Their ongoing demand remains for higher pensions to match the rising costs of living.
Retirees from the steel industry in Isfahan, central Iran, resumed their weekly protest rallies, reiterating their call for increased pensions in response to the escalating costs of living.
January 21—Shush, southwest #Iran
Retirees and pensioners of the Social Security Organization resume their protests as regime authorities refrain from raising their pensions according to the costs of living.#IranProtestspic.twitter.com/46dg3wmebf— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) January 21, 2024
Over 75 Killed in US-led Attacks in Yemen Including Hezbollah and IRGC Advisors – Report
British and American airstrikes on Houthi facilities in Yemen resulted in 75 dead, including operatives from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) and Lebanon’s Hezbollah, Yemeni sources revealed to Sky News Arabia. According to the report, nine of the deaths from the airstrikes were from foreign experts, detailed as three from the IRGC, and six from the terrorist organization Hezbollah. Furthermore, these operatives were killed in various separate operations and locations.
The majority of the casualties in Yemen were killed during airstrikes targeting Houthi military sites in Hodeidah, Hajjah, Dhamar, Taiz, and Al-Bayda, according to the Sky News report.
‘Trained Terrorist’ Linked To Iran-Backed Group Arrested in Karachi, Claims Ctd
KARACHI – The Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) on Saturday claimed to have arrested a “trained terrorist” belonging to the Iran-backed Zainabiyoun Brigade in Karachi. The suspect was accused of an assassination attempt on top Pakistani religious figure Mufti Muhammad Taqi Usmani.
Mufti Usmani is a former judge of a top Pakistani court and a permanent member of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation’s International Islamic Fiqh Academy. He narrowly escaped the assassination attempt on him in Karachi in March 2019.
UPDATE: 3:00 PM
New TTPS Observed in Mint Sandstorm Campaign Targeting High-Profile Individuals at Universities and Research Orgs
Since November 2023, Microsoft has observed a distinct subset of Mint Sandstorm (PHOSPHORUS) targeting high-profile individuals working on Middle Eastern affairs at universities and research organizations in Belgium, France, Gaza, Israel, the United Kingdom, and the United States. In this campaign, Mint Sandstorm used bespoke phishing lures in an attempt to socially engineer targets into downloading malicious files. In a handful of cases, Microsoft observed new post-intrusion tradecraft including the use of a new, custom backdoor called MediaPl.
Mint Sandstorm (which overlaps with the threat actor tracked by other researchers as APT35 and Charming Kitten) is a composite name used to describe several subgroups of activity with ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), an intelligence arm of Iran’s military. Microsoft attributes the activity detailed in this blog to a technically and operationally mature subgroup of Mint Sandstorm that specializes in gaining access to and stealing sensitive information from high-value targets. This group is known to conduct resource-intensive social engineering campaigns that target journalists, researchers, professors, or other individuals with insights or perspectives on security and policy issues of interest to Tehran.
Britain Must Proscribe Iran’s IRGC and Its Houthi Friends as Terrorist Groups
We live in times of great change. Yet amidst the fog formed by the shift in power from West to East or the rise of artificial intelligence upending old industries, Britain’s global interests are remarkably clear. As a free trading island nation, open shipping lanes have always been crucial to our prosperity and security. So when, nearly seventy years after the Suez crisis, another critical artery for U.K. trade in the Middle East was threatened, we clearly had strong reasons to act.
Direct missile attacks from the Houthis on HMS Diamond then ended any strategic debate and compelled the Government to respond. To do anything less would have invited further attacks on our people and assets.
As Houthis Vow to Fight On, U.S. Prepares for Sustained Campaign
The Biden administration is crafting plans for a sustained military campaign targeting the Houthis in Yemen after 10 days of strikes failed to halt the group’s attacks on maritime commerce, stoking concern among some officials that an open-ended operation could derail the war-ravaged country’s fragile peace and pull Washington into another unpredictable Middle Eastern conflict.
The White House convened senior officials on Wednesday to discuss options for the way ahead in the administration’s evolving response to the Iranian-backed movement, which has vowed to continue attacking ships off the Arabian peninsula despite near-daily operations to destroy Houthi radars, missiles, and drones. On Saturday, U.S. Central Command announced its latest strike, on an anti-ship missile that was prepared for launch.
UK To Upgrade Warship Defence Missile System Used in Red Sea
LONDON, Jan 21 (Reuters) – Britain’s Ministry of Defence said on Sunday it would spend 405 million pounds ($514 million) to upgrade a missile system now being used by the Royal Navy to shoot down hostile drones over the Red Sea. The Sea Viper Air Defence system will be upgraded with missiles featuring a new warhead and software enabling it to counter ballistic missile threats, the MoD said in a statement. The contracts were awarded to the British division of MBDA, a missiles joint venture owned by Airbus (AIR.PA), which opens a new tab, BAE Systems (BAES.L), opens a new tab, and Leonardo (LDOF.MI), opens a new tab, the MoD said.
Middle East Missile Attacks Raise Gaza Escalation Risk
WASHINGTON/BAGHDAD, Jan 20 (Reuters) – Missile attacks in Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, and Yemen on Saturday threw into sharp focus the increasing risk of the war in Gaza triggering a wider regional conflict pitting Iran and its allies against Israel and the United States.
Iran said five of its Revolutionary Guards were killed in a missile strike on a house in Damascus which it blamed on Israel, and security sources in Lebanon said an Israeli strike there killed a member of Iran-backed Hezbollah.
UPDATE: 8:30 AM
PMOI Resistance Units in Iran Celebrate the Anniversary of the Release of Massoud Rajavi From Shah’s Prison
January 20 marks the anniversary of the last group of political prisoners from the Shah prison in 1979. On that day, 126 political prisoners, including Massoud Rajavi and other leading members of the MEK, were released from prison.
The event marked a turning point in the history of Iran. Following the release of the political prisoners, the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) and other groups that sought freedom assumed an active role in the protests that shaped the 1979 revolution. Less than a month later, the monarchy collapsed.
January 20 has become an important event for the members and supporters of the PMOI and the Iranian Resistance. And like every year, members of the Resistance Units, the network of PMOI supporters and activists inside Iran, marked the event across the country.
Unveiling the Sophistication of Mint Sandstorm: Iran’s Malign Cyber Operations
Since November 2023, Microsoft has been closely monitoring a subset of the cyber threat group Mint Sandstorm, linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). This subgroup has exhibited a high level of technical prowess, specifically targeting individuals involved in Middle Eastern affairs at prestigious institutions in Belgium, France, Gaza, Israel, the United Kingdom, and the United States. In this campaign, Mint Sandstorm employed advanced phishing techniques, showcasing a new level of sophistication in their cyber operations.
The targets of this cyber campaign were high-profile individuals, such as journalists, researchers, and professors, known for their insights into security and policy matters related to the Middle East.
Non-Standard Fuel and the Soaring Death Toll in Iran
In recent years, Iran’s population has been grappling with numerous environmental crises stemming from the regime’s irresponsible and perilous policies. One such crisis is the escalating air pollution, which has engendered a toxic atmosphere in many cities across the country. Despite a staggering 90% increase in deaths attributed to air pollution and the exacerbation of this crisis through Mazut burning in power plants, the regime’s Ministry of Oil has requested the government’s approval to ‘postpone the implementation of fuel standards for five years.’
In effect, this proposal would allow the continued production and distribution of fuel, particularly hazardous and non-standard gasoline, until 2029. On Sunday, January 14, the Iran Didban website brought to light a revelation by publishing letters from the Ministry of Oil. These letters indicate that the ministry has extended the deferment of the implementation of fuel production standards, including those for gasoline, until 2029.
Controversy Surrounding Iran’s Finesk Dam
In northern Iran, the operation of the Finesk Dam has become a contentious issue, sparking disagreements between the governors of Semnan and Mazandaran provinces. Environmental activists are sounding alarms, describing this water structure as ‘dangerous’ and cautioning against its potential environmental consequences.
According to environmentalists, the dam’s operation could spell disaster for the industries of northern Iranian provinces, leading to the desiccation of wetlands and water areas, and an escalation in soil erosion and climatic migrations. Despite these warnings, officials within the regime persist in advocating for the dam’s operation.
Situated 70 km northeast of Semnan in Mehdishahr city, the Finesk Dam spans the Sefid-rud River bed, sourced from the headwaters of Tajan.
Land Subsidence and Environmental Neglect Threaten Isfahan’s Education Institutions
Nestled in the heart of Iran, Isfahan stands as a city steeped in history and culture, renowned for its breathtaking architecture and vibrant landscapes. However, amidst the splendor of its ancient monuments lies a pressing environmental crisis that threatens the very foundations of its educational institutions.
Over the years, Isfahan has grappled with the alarming issue of land subsidence, exacerbating the challenges faced by its educational system. This crisis, rooted in both historical neglect and contemporary environmental mismanagement, has cast a shadow over the city’s schools, jeopardizing the safety and future of its one million students.
Israeli Airstrike Targets Iranian Revolutionary Guard in Damascus
On Saturday, an Israeli airstrike in the Syrian capital resulted in the destruction of a building utilized by the Iran regime’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, leading to the death of a commander and one of his deputies, as reported by Syrian state media and the Iranian outlet, Iran’s Student News Network.
The casualties were identified as members of the Revolutionary Guard’s Quds Force, according to the Iranian media outlet closely associated with the Guard’s Basij branch. The strike, which occurred during a meeting of officials from Iran-backed groups, claimed the lives of at least five individuals, as per the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor.
Syrian state TV characterized the incident as “Israeli aggression,” specifying that the targeted residential building was situated in the well-secured Mazzeh neighborhood in western Damascus, home to various diplomatic missions and in proximity to the embassies of Venezuela and South Africa.
Iran’s Mobile Internet Speed Hits a Yearly Low, Prompting Concerns
In a concerning revelation, the ‘Speed Test’ website’s December 2023 report highlighted that Iran’s mobile internet speed has plummeted to its lowest point in the past year. The report, which regularly assesses and publishes global internet speed data, indicated a significant decline in Iran’s standing, as the country now ranks 78th in the world for mobile internet speed.
According to the statistics provided by Speed Test, Iran’s mobile internet download speed reached a mere 29.31 Mbps, while the upload speed dropped to 46.9 Mbps in December. These figures represent the lowest recorded speeds in the country over the past 12 months. Further analysis of the data revealed a striking decrease of over 20% in mobile internet speed within the last year.
Iran’s Trifecta Crisis: Unraveling the Social, Political, and Economic Turmoil
Iran is grappling with a complex web of social, political, and economic challenges, manifesting in a series of crises. This brief report delves into a specific facet of this crisis— the dire state of food accessibility for the impoverished and low-income population.
A concerning reality unfolds as Iranian workers find themselves compelled to toil for extended periods, with a significant portion engaged in multiple shifts across different jobs. Despite many households having virtually all family members working, they still grapple with a profound problem, verging on crisis, in meeting their basic needs. This harsh reality is acknowledged even by the government’s media and experts.
Sharp Increase in Suicide Rate in Iran’s Medical Community
The repercussions of professional and economic issues within the medical community in Iran continue to persist. Following extensive emigration within this profession, the suicide rate in the medical community has now increased fivefold, resulting in at least 13 suicides leading to death among the resident population in Iran annually.
According to the regime’s Khabaronline website, quoting Nima Shahriarpoor, an emergency medicine specialist at Baharloo Hospital, “The high volume of work, numerous responsibilities, low salary, and lack of job security are factors that discourage a resident from continuing their activities and make them feel disheartened.”
“Unveiling the Challenges of Iran’s Electoral Landscape in 2024”
Elections stand as the cornerstone of government establishment and security, grounded in the foundational principle of freedom. However, as we delve into Iran’s electoral landscape, a distressing narrative unfolds, revealing a nation grappling with the erosion of democratic principles.
Iran’s electoral landscape is marked by an alarming descent into undemocratic practices, reflecting the diminishing scope of power within the Islamic Republic. The expanding influence of the Iranian regime in the Middle East and its confrontations with the West intensify the concerns surrounding the democratic nature of the electoral process.
MEK Supporters Exhibition in Paris Marks Anniversary of Massoud Rajavi’s 1979 Release and Supports the Iranian Revolution
On January 19, 2024, in Paris, France, freedom-loving Iranians and supporters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) organized an exhibition to express solidarity with the Iranian Revolution. Iranians celebrated the anniversary of Massoud Rajavi‘s release from the Shah regime’s prison in 1979, marking the liberation of the last group of political prisoners.
Berlin, Germany: MEK Supporters Celebrate Anniversary of Massoud Rajavi’s Release from Shah’s Prison in 1979
Berlin, Germany—January 19, 2024: Supporters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) celebrated the anniversary of Massoud Rajavi‘s release from the Shah regime’s prison in 1979, marking the liberation of the last group of political prisoners.
Winchester, England—January 2024: MEK Supporters Organize an Exhibition in Solidarity With the Iran Revolution
Winchester, England—January 13, 2024: Freedom-loving Iranians, and supporters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) organized the second exhibition in support of the Iranian people’s uprising and condemnation of the Iranian regime’s suppression, torture, and execution took place in Winchester city. The exhibition faced widespread support from various segments of the local population.
Also, read Iran News in Brief – January 20, 2023