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False Assurances: The Iranian Regime’s History of Nuclear Deception
In a recent response to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ call for Iran’s regime to reaffirm its commitment to not seeking nuclear weapons, Abbas Araghchi, the regime’s foreign minister, took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his frustration. He described the request as “rude” and unnecessary, emphasizing that Iran’s stance on nuclear weapons has already been clearly articulated.
Araghchi referenced the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), highlighting a specific clause from the “Preamble and General Provisions” section of the agreement. The clause states: “Iran reaffirms that under no circumstances will Iran ever seek, develop, or acquire any nuclear weapons.”
He characterized this as a permanent and unequivocal commitment. However, the JCPOA and its associated United Nations Security Council Resolution 2231 are set to expire in October 2025 under the agreement’s sunset provisions, raising questions about the long-term credibility of Iran’s commitments post-expiration.
Christians Face Heightened Persecution in Iran: Over 250 Years in Combined Prison Sentences in 2024
A newly released annual report by Article 18, in collaboration with Open Doors, CSW, and Middle East Concern, reveals a significant surge in the persecution of Christians in Iran throughout 2024. According to the report, titled The Tip of the Iceberg, Christians in Iran faced a combined total of 263 years in prison sentences last year—a sixfold increase compared to 2023. The report documents that 96 Christians were sentenced to a total of 263 years in prison in 2024, compared to 22 Christians who received a combined 43.5 years in 2023. The dramatic escalation is attributed partly to a “huge uptick in arrests in the second half of 2023, which required judicial processing.” However, the report also highlights an alarming trend of longer individual sentences. Five Christians were sentenced to 10 years in prison each, and one individual received a 15-year sentence—all for charges related to their faith and religious activities.
New U.S. Secretary of State: Snapback Mechanism to Be Activated Against Tehran
U.S. Senator Ted Cruz announced that Marco Rubio, the new U.S. Secretary of State, supports activating the snapback mechanism against the Iranian regime. According to Cruz, Rubio responded to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, stating that implementing the snapback mechanism is essential for U.S. national interests. Elise Stefanik, Trump’s nominee for the United Nations, also identified the revival of the snapback mechanism as one of her main goals. She emphasized that countering the Iranian regime’s policies is a priority in her agenda at the United Nations.
The snapback mechanism refers to the automatic reinstatement of United Nations sanctions against the Iranian regime. This process is outlined in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and is valid until October 2025. According to UN Security Council Resolution 2231, countries have until the fall of next year to activate the snapback mechanism.
Iran’s Rial Continues to Plunge, Hits All-Time Low At 840,000 Against the Dollar
One day after the Supreme Leader of the Iranian regime, Ali Khamenei, expressed concern about Iran’s economic dependence on the U.S. dollar, and simultaneously with the release of images of Massoud Pezeshkian digging in Khuzestan, the value of the rial plummeted again, with the price of one U.S. dollar in Iran’s free market exceeding 840,000 rials. According to reports from Iran, on Thursday, January 23, the price of one U.S. dollar in the free market was 840,350 rials.
In recent hours, as the price of the dollar and other currencies continued to rise in Iran’s free market, users on social media reacted to the falling value of the rial.
Manchester Exhibition Condemns Iran’s Human Rights Violations and and Support Political Prisoners
Manchester, UK – January 23, 2025: Members of the Academics in Exile Association, supporting the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK), organized a book and photo exhibition to protest the death sentences imposed on political prisoners associated with the PMOI.