THIS PAGE WILL BE UPDATED WITH THE LATEST NEWS
UPDATE: 10:00 PM CEST
Needing Dollars, Iran-Backed Militias Turn to Visa and Mastercard
Iraq was a minor market for Visa and Mastercard a couple of years ago, generating just $50 million a month or less in cross-border transactions at the start of 2023. Then it exploded to around $1.5 billion in April that year, a 2900% increase almost overnight.
What changed? Iraqi militia groups figured out how to squeeze dollars on an industrial scale from Visa and Mastercard’s payment networks for themselves and for their allies in Iran, according to U.S. and Iraqi officials and documents reviewed by The Wall Street Journal.
The shift into cards came after the U.S. Treasury and the Federal Reserve Bank of New York in late 2022 shut down a gaping loophole being used for fraud—international wire transactions by Iraqi banks that lacked money-laundering safeguards. Flaws in that system, created by the U.S. during the occupation of Iraq, allowed Iran and the militia groups it supports to access billions of dollars over more than a decade.
UPDATE: 3:30 PM CEST
Parliamentary Majority in Norway Backs “Free Iran” Statement for Third Consecutive Year
This marks the third year in a row that the statement has received support from a cross-party majority in the Norwegian Parliament (Stortinget). The statement, part of an international campaign, calls for a new approach to Iran and supports the Iranian people’s right to determine their own future. It rejects both the current theocratic regime and the former monarchical dictatorship, emphasizing the need for democratic governance and respect for human rights.
The Storting’s support follows similar declarations by majorities in the U.S. House of Representatives, as well as the UK House of Commons and House of Lords.
UPDATE: 8:30 AM CEST
International Lawmakers Rally Support for A Democratic Republic in Iran
The headquarters of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) in France, became a focal point for international solidarity on May 31, hosting the “Free Iran 2025 Conference – Regime Change for a Democratic Republic.” The event brought together a distinguished assembly of lawmakers, former officials, and human rights advocates from across the globe, all united by the common goal of supporting the Iranian people’s quest for freedom and the establishment of a democratic, secular republic.
NCRI President-elect Maryam Rajavi delivered a keynote address, painting a stark picture of a clerical regime teetering on the brink due to internal crises, economic collapse, and growing public discontent, juxtaposed with a resilient and organized resistance movement.
The Women’s Ward in Dowlatabad Prison of Isfahan: An Untold Story
Within the oppressive walls of Dowlatabad Prison in Isfahan, a harrowing tale of suffering and exploitation unfolds, largely hidden from the public eye.
Located near venues like Fadak Hall and the Juvenile Correction and Rehabilitation Center, this prison is not only plagued by dire sanitary conditions and inhumane living circumstances but has also become a site of systematic exploitation of female inmates.
According to a former detainee, women prisoners endure an unbearable and unsanitary environment, where 40 to 50 individuals are crammed into small spaces, some even deprived of a bed to sleep on. The lack of basic necessities, the spread of diseases such as lice among mothers and children, freezing cold showers, a shortage of cleaning supplies, and arbitrary restrictions are just a fraction of the hardships these women face daily.
“The Wheels That Stopped” – The Nationwide Strike of Iranian Truck Drivers
In Spring 2025, an unprecedented strike was launched by Iranian truck drivers in response to years of economic collapse, systemic mismanagement, and the persistent violation of their labor rights. The nationwide strike, which began on 21 May 2025, has since spread to 152 cities across all 30 provinces.
Road freight transport is the lifeline of Iran’s economy, handling over 99% of the country’s essential goods. The sector includes over 550,000 drivers and 433,000 active trucks, 93% of which are owner-operated. This decentralized structure has turned the truckers’ strike into a powerful tool for civil protest. The estimated value of the freight fleet runs into tens of billions of dollars, and the industry facilitates billions of tomans in goods transactions annually. As a result, the truckers’ strike is not merely an economic disruption—it is now viewed by the regime as a major “security-economic” challenge.
IAEA Raises Alarm Over Iran’s Surging Uranium Stockpile
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has reported a significant and alarming increase in Iran’s enriched uranium reserves, marking a new and unprecedented level in the country’s nuclear program.
According to a confidential IAEA report, as of May 17, 2025, Iran has accumulated 408.6 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60% purity. This figure represents an increase of nearly 134 kilograms, approximately 50% more than what was recorded in the agency’s previous report in February 2025.
Uranium enriched to 60% is only one technical step away from the 90% enrichment level required to produce nuclear weapons. Iran is currently the only non-nuclear-armed state enriching uranium to such a high degree. The IAEA warned that the amount of uranium Iran has stockpiled could be sufficient to build nine to ten nuclear bombs.
Iran’s Regime Dismisses IAEA Report About its Nuclear Program as “Biased and Baseless.”
In a joint statement, the foreign ministry and the Atomic Energy Organization of the Iranian regime described the recent report by Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), on Iran’s nuclear program as a repetition of “biased and baseless accusations” from the past. The statement, published on the evening of Saturday, May 31, states that Grossi’s new report does not reflect the “true level” of Tehran’s cooperation with the IAEA and that “fake Israeli documents” were used in its preparation.
The foreign ministry and the Atomic Energy Organization of the Iranian regime added that Grossi’s report was drafted “for political purposes by putting pressure on the agency” and goes “beyond the director general’s assigned responsibilities and is in conflict with the professional principles governing international institutions, such as the principle of impartiality.”
Bread Prices Soar Across Iran Amid Subsidy Cuts, Regional Pricing Powers, and Economic Strain
As Iran grapples with deepening economic challenges, the cost of both traditional and specialty breads has surged sharply in recent months, placing additional strain on households and sparking protests among bakery owners.
A recent market review reveals that since February 2025, the price of so-called “fancy” or industrial breads has nearly doubled. In just three months, the cost of a standard baguette rose from 19,000 tomans to 29,000 tomans by April, and now stands at 35,000 tomans.
This rise coincides with two major policy shifts: the reduction of flour subsidies for bakeries and the delegation of bread pricing authority to provincial governors. These changes have fueled widespread confusion and price hikes, especially for traditional breads, with some provinces reporting prices that have doubled since the beginning of June.
Internal Migration in Iran Shifts Toward Urban Centers, Study Finds
A recent study has revealed a significant shift in Iran’s internal migration patterns—from traditional rural-to-urban movement to predominantly city-to-city migration. Conducted by Rasoul Sadeghi, Associate Professor of Demography at the University of Tehran’s Faculty of Social Sciences, the research was published in the latest issue of Social Sciences Quarterly by Allameh Tabataba’i University.
According to Sadeghi’s findings, over the past few decades, approximately one million people have migrated within Iran each year. This dynamic has paralleled broader demographic transformations, including declining birth and death rates and a changing age structure. Iran is now in its “demographic window”—a phase marked by a high proportion of working-age individuals, currently around 70% of the total population.