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UPDATE: 12:00 PM CET
US Moving in the Right Direction on Iran Policy, but Still Too Wary of Regime Change
In recent remarks at a recent hearing at the Congressional Iran Human Rights and Democracy Caucus, the Iranian opposition leader Maryam Rajavi observed that “the situation of the Iranian society is explosive” and that Iran’s theocratic dictatorship “has never been so weak and fragile” since it was established in the wake of the 1979 revolution. Even as she offered his assessment to Congress, the White House was in the process of actively implementing a renewed strategy of “maximum pressure” on the Iranian regime, which promises to increase its fragility even further.
The stated goal of this second iteration of maximum pressure is to reduce Iran’s energy exports to zero and ultimately compel the regime to enter into what President Trump has called a “verifiable nuclear peace agreement.” The strategy itself is an admirable departure from Western policies which tend to prioritize the “carrot” over the “stick” by offering Tehran ample concessions in exchange for a limited scaling-back of its malign activities. But the aim of that strategy is unfortunately more of the same, and reflects a conspicuous lack of ambition, respective to the opportunities at hand.
UPDATE: 7:00 AM CET
Iran’s Power Crisis Reveals The Regime’s Incurable Woes
Iran’s power outage crisis and the shutdown of the country amidst freezing temperatures, coupled with regime president Masoud Pezeshkian’s sermonizing about conserving energy, have even drawn criticism from within the regime itself. The state-run Jahan Sanat newspaper wrote in its March 1 edition: “With less than 20 days left until the end of winter, electricity is still the country’s primary issue. The president is calling on people to conserve energy… But the realities tell a different story.”
The “different story” is the impasse of the bankrupt regime and its incurable crises. Following the defeat of supreme leader Ali Khamenei’s warmongering policies in the region, these crises have emerged in various fields, including the shutdown of the country and the expansion of internal and social crises.
Ration Cards: A Failed Solution in Iran’s Crisis-Stricken Economy
While Iran’s economy struggles with an unprecedented inflation crisis, the mullahs’ regime has once again turned to the policy of distributing ration cards. This move, promoted under the guise of supporting low-income groups, is a clear indication of the failure of the regime’s economic policies. Experience has shown that such measures do not solve people’s livelihood problems and, in the long run, only deepen economic and social crises.
A ration card is a digital version of the traditional coupon or support basket system, where instead of distributing physical goods or paper coupons, electronic credit is used. This transformation represents a shift from a traditional model to a technology-driven approach to welfare policies.
According to the claims of the clerical regime, under this plan, specific credit is allocated to some household heads, which can be used without the need for physical documents or paper coupons—just through their national ID number and bank card. These individuals can visit designated stores to purchase essential goods such as meat and poultry.
Iran’s Economic Crisis Deepens as Inflation and Low Wages Squeeze Workers
Journalists and labor rights activists in Iran report a sharp increase in installment and single-piece purchases of essential goods, such as food and clothing, following a new wave of price hikes. These price increases, triggered by the rising exchange rate of the dollar since early February 2025, have placed additional strain on Iranian households, forcing many to adopt desperate measures to meet their daily needs.
At the same time, labor activists have expressed strong dissatisfaction with the 1404 (March 2025–March 2026) Nowruz bonus allocated to workers. Rahmatollah Norouzi, a representative from Aliabad-e Katul in Iran’s parliament, criticized the three million toman Nowruz bonus, stating that it is wholly inadequate to address the severe financial hardships faced by Iranian workers and employees.
Severe Inflation and Economic Instability Overshadow Iran’s Nowruz Market
Iranian media have reported extensively on the severe recession and rising prices overshadowing the Nowruz market (the Persian New Year which starts on March 21), noting that demand has dropped to a minimum in the final days of the year. The state-run website Etemad Online, in a report titled “Nowruz Nuts More Expensive Than Gold,” wrote that weak government oversight and insufficient support for domestic producers, along with excessive exports of certain nuts such as pistachios, have exacerbated price hikes ahead of Nowruz.
Etemad Online reported that the price of nuts has reached 16.5 million rials per kilogram (approximately $17). Meanwhile, the minimum wage for a worker supporting two children is around $116.
Copenhagen Rally: MEK Supporters Condemn Death Sentences, Call for Release of Political Prisoners
Copenhagen, Denmark – March 1, 2025: Supporters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) held a rally and exhibition to protest the death sentences imposed on political prisoners affiliated with the PMOI. The event highlighted the urgent plight of detainees, particularly Behrouz Ehsani and Mehdi Hassani, who are at risk of imminent execution. Participants demanded the immediate release of all political prisoners held by the Iranian regime.
Urgent Plea to Stop Imminent Execution of Iranian Political Prisoners – Manchester Exhibition on March 1, 2025
Manchester, UK – March 1, 2025: The Academics in Exile Association, which supports the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK), organized a book and photo exhibition to protest the death sentences imposed on political prisoners linked to the PMOI. The event shed light on the urgent plight of detainees, particularly Behrouz Ehsani and Mehdi Hassani, who face imminent execution. Participants called for the immediate release of all political prisoners held by the mullahs’ regime.
MEK Supporters Rally in Stockholm, Condemning Executions and Calling for Iran Regime Change
Stockholm, Sweden – March 1, 2025: Supporters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) held a rally in front of the Foreign Ministry. They condemned the death sentences of political prisoners affiliated with the PMOI, particularly Behrouz Ehsani and Mehdi Hassani, who face imminent execution. Protesters also called for the immediate release of all political prisoners.