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UPDATE: 9:00 PM CET
Iranian Resistance at the EP: ‘A Platform for a Free Tehran’
“The regime’s warmongering and terrorism can end. Democratic change must be led by the Iranian people and the Resistance.”
These were the words of Maryam Rajavi, president of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), as she presented a platform for a “free Iran” at the European Parliament alongside leaders of the People’s Mujahedin of Iran.
Rajavi outlined key elements of the platform aimed at achieving this goal. These include the deep discontent among the Iranian population, the NCRI’s agenda promoting freedom of expression, women’s rights, the separation of religion and state, and equality between Sunnis and Shiites. She also highlighted that many families of the 100,000 individuals who lost their lives for freedom in Iran are part of the Council.
UPDATE: 10:30 AM CET
U.S. Supports Holding Iranian Regime Accountable Ahead of IAEA Meeting
On November 19, U.S. State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller emphasized Washington’s commitment to preventing the clerical regime in Iran from developing nuclear weapons. Speaking during a press briefing, Miller stated, “We remain tightly coordinated with our E3 partners in advance of the IAEA Board of Governors meeting, and we strongly support efforts to hold Iran accountable.”
Highlighting concerns over Tehran’s nuclear activities, he added, “The Iranian regime continues to amass a growing stockpile of highly enriched uranium for which there is no credible civilian purpose, and they continue to not cooperate fully with the IAEA.”
Miller underscored the importance of ensuring Iran’s nuclear program remains peaceful, saying, “We will continue to work with the IAEA Board of Governors members to ensure their full cooperation with the IAEA so that the IAEA can provide the assurances that we need that Iran’s nuclear program remains exclusively peaceful.”
UPDATE: 7:00 AM CET
Tensions Rise Between The Iranian Regime’s President and Majlis over Appointment of Zarif
The government of the Iranian regime, President Masoud Pezeshkian, introduced a bill to amend the “Method of Appointment of Individuals to Sensitive Positions” law, which was an urgent matter in the regime’s parliament. However, the proposal faced a humiliating defeat, with 207 votes rejecting its urgency. The bill was presented urgently to secure former foreign minister Javad Zarif’s position in Pezeshkian’s cabinet and prevent his resignation over having a dual-national child. However, the firm rejection of the bill further weakens Zarif’s already contentious position in the cabinet.
Members of parliament showed no leniency toward Pezeshkian’s government. In his remarks, MP Mehdi Kouchekzadeh referred to Zarif as one of the repentants, stating: “The Imam [reference to regime founder Ruhollah Khomeini] said the embrace of the country and the revolution is always open to those who wish to serve and return, but not at the expense of forsaking our principles and questioning why we chant ‘Death to America’?
Iran’s Regime Faces New Sanctions Over Poor Cooperation with IAEA
On November 18, 2024, AFP reported that the Iranian regime is set to face new sanctions due to its lack of cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). At the UN nuclear agency’s meeting, European diplomats, with backing from the United States, introduced a plan to adopt a resolution against Iran. The meeting, scheduled to begin on Wednesday, highlights escalating tensions between Iran and the IAEA.
Relations between Iran and the IAEA have steadily deteriorated since the collapse of the 2015 nuclear agreement. Brokered during Barack Obama’s presidency, the deal imposed strict limits on Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief, while pieces of evidence showed that the deal was not able to prevent the regime from expanding its malign nuclear activities.
The Looming Crisis of Land Subsidence in Iran: A Case Study of Isfahan Province
The Director General of Education in Isfahan province, Mohammadreza Ebrahimi, has raised alarm over the structural integrity of schools in the region. He revealed that approximately 150 schools in Isfahan are at risk of collapse due to land subsidence, with 42 already evacuated. This growing crisis is part of a broader national problem linked to environmental mismanagement and overuse of groundwater resources.
Mehdi Zareh, a seismologist and professor at Iran’s Seismology Research Institute, stated on November 17 that an estimated 39 million Iranians live in areas prone to land subsidence. About 25% of urban areas in the country face varying degrees of this phenomenon. The Geological Organization of Iran has similarly warned that 500 out of the country’s 609 plains—many critical for fresh water—are experiencing land subsidence. Isfahan province stands out as particularly vulnerable, with its situation described as “more dangerous” than other regions.
The Assembly of Experts and the Shadow of Khamenei’s Absence
On November 7, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei addressed the Assembly of Experts, emphasizing the critical role of this body in selecting the “next leader.” He expressed gratitude for their readiness, urging them to maintain vigilance in fulfilling this duty, which he called essential for ensuring the regime’s continuity and preventing deviation. The Assembly, established by the regime’s founder Ruhollah Khomeini, is tasked with choosing the supreme leader—a pivotal function in the theocratic system.
In his remarks, Khamenei reassured his audience, stating, “The movement of the system will not stop.” He underscored that, upon his death, the Assembly of Experts would determine his successor. However, his comments struck a nerve, interpreted by many as a subtle acknowledgment of his mortality and a harbinger of uncertainty about the regime’s future amid escalating internal and external crises.
The Plight of Young Children Incarcerated with Their Mothers: A Life Shared Behind Bars
In Iran, an often-overlooked aspect of the prison system is the reality of young children incarcerated with their mothers. According to recent statistics, women make up 3.6% of the total prison population, as stated by Gholamali Mohammadi, the head of Iran’s Prisons Organization. However, the exact number of mothers incarcerated with their young children remains unknown.
Based on a detailed article from HamMihan Daily, this report explores the lives of these women in the infamous Qarchak Prison, located in Varamin, near Tehran, shedding light on their unique struggles and the challenging environment where they attempt to care for their children.
Two State-Owned Automakers in Iran Increased Their Prices By 30% Overnight
Iran Khodro and SAIPA, two state-owned carmakers in Iran, have jointly raised the prices of their products.
On the morning of Monday, November 18, the two automakers issued similar announcements stating that they had “adjusted” their product prices in accordance with the “Market Regulation Guideline of the Competition Council.” As a result, the government-set factory delivery prices of the two companies have increased by up to 30%.
Reports from Iranian media indicate that following the official announcement of state-approved price hikes by the two automakers, a new shock hit the market, and prices in the open market also increased starting Monday morning.
Snapback Sanctions and Iran’s Nuclear Weapons Program
The Foreign Minister of Iran’s regime has warned about the “critical conditions” of the one year remaining until the end of the JCPOA and the possibility of European activation of snapback sanctions. Meanwhile, several members of the Iranian regime Majlis (parliament) have suggested that the regime should move towards developing nuclear weapons. Abbas Araghchi, the regime’s Foreign Minister, stated on the evening of Saturday, November 16, during a television program that there is not much time left for diplomacy and nuclear negotiations. He described this opportunity as “very limited.”
According to him, the JCPOA will expire in October next year, and if no new negotiations for an agreement take place, a “crisis situation” will arise.
Two Political Prisoners Facing Execution on the Anniversary of the November 2019 Protests
As Iran marks the anniversary of the November 2019 protests, two political prisoners who were arrested during those demonstrations remain on death row. These individuals, Abbas Deris, the only witness to the massacre in the Mahshahr marshes, and Mohammad Javad Vafa’i Thani, are currently held in prison under the threat of execution. Abbas Deris, born in 1973, is a resident of Jarahi, a town near Bandar Mahshahr. He was detained during the November 2019 protests and is one of the few witnesses to the massacre in the marshlands of Mahshahr. Deris, who has three children aged 6, 14, and 16, has suffered severe personal losses since his arrest. His wife reportedly suffered a stroke and passed away after learning of his death sentence, leaving their children without parents and under the care of extended family.
Global Solidarity: Iranian Resistance Supporters Commemorate the Fifth Anniversary of the November 2019 Uprising
On November 14-16, 2024, supporters of the Iranian Resistance and freedom-loving Iranians around the world gathered in 40 cities across 16 countries to commemorate the fifth anniversary of the November 2019 uprising. This global movement aimed to honor the memory of over 1,500 protesters who lost their lives during the regime’s brutal crackdown while also calling for solidarity with the ongoing struggle for freedom in Iran.
Geneva, November 16, 2024: MEK Supporters Rally to Honor November 2019 Martyrs and Denounce Iran Regime’s Crimes
Geneva, Switzerland—November 16, 2024: Freedom-loving Iranians and supporters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) organized a rally and exhibition to commemorate the fifth anniversary of the November 2019 uprising. The rally aimed to honor the memory of over 1,500 protesters who lost their lives during the regime’s brutal crackdown, while also calling for solidarity with the ongoing struggle for freedom in Iran.
Vienna—November 18, 2024: MEK Supporters Rally Against Appeasement Policy Toward Iran’s Regime Nuclear Program
Vienna, Austria—November 18, 2024: Freedom-loving Iranians and supporters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) organized a rally simultaneously with the IAEA Board of Governors meeting against the appeasement policy toward the mullahs’ regime. Iranian community in Vienna also commemorated the martyrs of the nationwide Iranian uprising in November 2019.
Paris, November 16, 2024: MEK Supporters Rally to Honor November 2019 Martyrs and Denounce Iran Regime’s Crimes
Paris, France—November 16, 2024: Freedom-loving Iranians and supporters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) organized a rally and exhibition to commemorate the fifth anniversary of the November 2019 uprising. The rally aimed to honor the memory of over 1,500 protesters who lost their lives during the regime’s brutal crackdown, while also calling for solidarity with the ongoing struggle for freedom in Iran.