THIS PAGE WILL BE UPDATED WITH THE LATEST NEWS
UPDATE: 5:30 PM CET
U.S. Demands Iraq Regain Control of Iran-Backed Militias
In a firm statement on Monday, the U.S. State Department called on the Iraqi government to assert full control over all armed forces within its borders, specifically the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), many of whose factions are aligned with the Iranian regime.
State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce emphasized that, “The Government of Iraq must ensure it has command and control of all security forces within its borders, including the PMF. These forces must respond to Iraq’s commander-in-chief, not to Iran.”
Bruce also voiced concern over the violent and destabilizing role played by Iran-aligned groups within the PMF, including entities designated by the U.S. as foreign terrorist organizations. She noted that these groups act against Iraqi sovereignty and pose a threat to regional stability, often operating with impunity under Tehran’s influence.
The statement comes amid political deadlock in the Iraqi parliament over legislation that critics say would entrench the power of Iran-backed militias rather than reform them. The U.S. reiterated its call for accountability, urging Baghdad to rein in these groups and enforce national law.
“The President has no higher priority than the safety of U.S. personnel,” Bruce added, warning that the United States will defend its interests and personnel if necessary.
Treasury Sanctions Additional Iranian Intelligence Officers Involved in the Probable Death and Cover-Up of Robert Levinson
WASHINGTON — Today, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), in coordination with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), is imposing sanctions on three Iranian Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS) officials who were involved in the abduction, detention, and probable death of former FBI Special Agent Robert A. “Bob” Levinson. The individuals designated today, Reza Amiri Moghadam, Gholamhossein Mohammadnia, and Taqi Daneshvar, all played a role in Mr. Levinson’s abduction, probable death, and Iran’s efforts to cover up or obfuscate their responsibility. This action follows the December 2020 OFAC designations of two Iranian MOIS officers, Mohammad Baseri and Ahmad Khazai, who acted in their capacity as MOIS officers in Mr. Levinson’s abduction, detention, and probable death.
UPDATE: 1:00 PM CET
Iran Sanctions Come to China
Judge a sanctions campaign by its targets. The Biden Administration, which allowed Iran’s oil exports to soar from 300,000 barrels a day in 2020 to 1.7 million a day in 2024, played whack-a-mole, sanctioning front companies for PR purposes. On Thursday, by contrast, the Trump Administration sanctioned a Chinese refinery that has bought some $500 million in Iranian oil.
Designating the refiner, Shandong Shouguang Luqing Petrochemical Co., is the first real proof that “maximum pressure” sanctions are on their way back. That’s because the Iranian oil-export problem is really a Chinese import problem. About 90% of Iran’s illicit oil exports go to China, which receives a large discount.
US Airstrikes Targeting Yemen’s Houthi Rebels Kill at Least 2 People, Group Says
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — U.S. airstrikes targeting Yemen’s Houthi rebels pounded sites across the country into early Tuesday, with the group saying one attack in the capital killed at least two people and wounded more than a dozen others.
The American strikes on the rebels, who threaten maritime trade and Israel, entered their 10th day without any sign of stopping. They are part of a campaign by U.S. President Donald Trump targeting the rebel group while also trying to pressure Iran, the Houthis’ main benefactor.
So far, the U.S. has not offered any specifics on the sites it is striking, though Trump’s national security adviser Mike Waltz claimed the attacks have “taken out key Houthi leadership, including their head missileer.” That’s something so far that’s not been acknowledged by the Houthis, though the rebels have downplayed their losses in the past and exaggerated their attacks attempting to target American warships.
UPDATE: 9:00 AM CET
What Khamenei Didn’t Say in His Nowruz Address
The deadly defeats of Iran’s regime in the Persian Calendar year 1403 (March 2024–March 2025) have been so clear, frequent, and incurable that regime supreme leader Ali Khamenei was forced to begin both his Nowruz (Persian New Year) message and speech by addressing them. In his Nowruz message, Khamenei made a meaningful comparison: “The year 1403 was an eventful year. The incidents that occurred repeatedly this year were similar to those of the year 1360 and brought hardship and suffering for us.”
The “eventful” year 1360 (1981) began on June 20 when regime founder Ruhollah Khomeini brutally crushed a peaceful demonstration of 500,000 people, executing scores of young girls and boys, and permanently lost his regime’s legitimacy. That year, People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) members and activists broke the myth of the bloodthirsty regime on September 27, with the slogan “Khomeini your end has come,” marking a turning point in the revolutionary resistance to overthrow the entirety of the mullahs’ regime.
Escalating Violence Against Women in Iran: Rising Cases and Lack of Legal Protections
Escalating Violence Against Women in Iran: In the first eight months of 2024, over 28,000 women in Tehran sought medical examinations at forensic medical centers due to injuries sustained from physical altercations, a significant portion of which experts attribute to domestic violence. According to Omidreza Kargar-Bideh, director of Tehran’s forensic medicine organization, 74,845 people visited these centers due to violent incidents, marking a 2.5% increase compared to the same timeframe in the previous year.
Among those seeking forensic medical evaluations, 46,528 were men, while 28,317 were women. The rise in cases involving women highlights the ongoing issue of gender-based violence in Iran. Despite obtaining forensic medical reports as evidence, victims of domestic abuse face significant legal obstacles, as Iranian courts do not criminalize domestic violence against women due to legal loopholes within the country’s judicial system.
The Growing Exodus of Faculty Members from Iran’s Universities: A Threat to the Future of Higher Education and Healthcare
The ongoing exodus of faculty members from Iran’s universities, particularly medical institutions, has become a source of great concern. Mohammad Jalili, Head of the Faculty Recruitment Center at Iran’s Ministry of Health and Medical Education, has warned that this alarming trend is now impacting the country’s major universities. Professors who leave the academic system often either seek employment in their respective fields of expertise or, in many cases, emigrate to other countries.
In an interview with the Shafqna website on March 23, Jalili described the situation as “very worrying.” He emphasized that university professors are considered the intellectual elite of society. “These individuals represent a significant investment made by the country, and we cannot afford to lose them easily,” Jalili stated.
Tehran’s Air Pollution Crisis: A Growing Threat to Public Health
According to the latest data from the Tehran Air Quality Control Company, residents of Tehran experienced clean air for only seven days between March 20, 2024, and March 20, 2025. This means that, on average, Tehran’s citizens had just one day of clean air every 52 days. The state-run news agency IRNA warned on Sunday, March 23, citing statistics from the Tehran Air Quality Control Company, that the number of days with clean air in the capital has been declining significantly in recent years. IRNA reported that while Tehran had only 10 days of clean air in 2023, this figure dropped to seven in 2024.
The statistics further reveal that the majority of the year was marked by air quality levels deemed unhealthy for sensitive groups and, at times, for the entire population. This means that for a considerable portion of the year, Tehran’s residents were exposed to hazardous air conditions.
Repeated School Closures in Iran
Ali Farhadi, the spokesperson for the Iranian regime’s Ministry of Education, warned that repeated school closures in Iran have had a negative impact on students’ learning quality.
On Saturday, March 22, in an interview with the official IRNA news agency, Farhadi stated that each day of school closure costs approximately 10 trillion rials, and online education cannot be an effective substitute for in-person learning.
He added that frequent school closures and reduced in-person teaching time have significantly harmed students’ learning quality and have prevented them from achieving satisfactory educational outcomes.
Heidelberg, March 22, 2025: MEK Supporters Hold Exhibition to Protest Human Rights Violations in Iran
Heidelberg, Germany – March 22, 2025 – At the start of the Persian New Year, supporters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) held an exhibition to expose the Iranian regime’s escalating human rights abuses and to express solidarity with the ongoing Iranian Revolution.
MEK Supporters in Gothenburg Rally in Support of a Free Iran and Maryam Rajavi’s 10-Point Plan
Gothenburg, Sweden – March 22, 2025: At the beginning of the Persian New Year, supporters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) gathered to express their unwavering support for the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), the only viable democratic and popular alternative. They also endorsed Mrs. Maryam Rajavi‘s 10-point plan for a free, democratic, and secular Iran, reaffirming their commitment to the struggle for a future without dictatorship.
Hamburg, March 22, 2025: MEK Supporters Hold Exhibition to Protest Human Rights Violations in Iran
Hamburg, Germany – March 22, 2025 – At the start of the Persian New Year, supporters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) held an exhibition to expose the Iranian regime’s escalating human rights abuses and to express solidarity with the ongoing Iranian Revolution.