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UPDATE: 10:00 PM CET
G7 Foreign Ministers Condemn Iranian Regime’s Destabilizing Actions and Nuclear Escalation
The G7 Foreign Ministers, representing Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the European Union’s High Representative, issued a statement on November 26 strongly condemning the Iranian regime’s destabilizing activities and its nuclear program. The statement reflects mounting international pressure on Tehran over its actions that threaten regional and global stability.
The G7 reaffirmed their united stance that Tehran must never develop or acquire nuclear weapons. “We will continue to work together, and with other international partners, to address Iran’s nuclear escalation,” the ministers declared, urging Tehran to cease nuclear activities that “have no credible civilian justification.” They also demanded Iran’s full cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to implement its legally binding safeguards under the United Nations Security Council resolution 2231 (2015).
The statement expressed deep concern over human rights violations in Iran, particularly against women, girls, and minority groups. The G7 called for an end to arbitrary detentions, and harassment of citizens, and demanded that Iran grant access to Human Rights Council Special Procedures mandate holders.
The ministers condemned Iran’s continued provision of weaponry, including drones and ballistic missiles, to Russia for its use in the war against Ukraine. They described these transfers as unacceptable and warned that they are responding with “new and significant measures.”
UPDATE: 8:00 AM CET
Excerpts from Maryam Rajavi’s Talks with Some Women’s Rights Activists at the European Parliament
On Wednesday, November 20, 2024, Maryam Rajavi met with some of women’s rights activists at the European Parliament. During her remarks in this meeting, she said:
“As we approach the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, I would like to begin by sharing the message of courageous Iranian women who have rebelled against violence and oppression. This is a message from a female prisoner, a member of the Resistance Units, detained in Evin Prison in Tehran: “From behind stone walls, we listen with our hearts to voices far away, and we hear you…
“We are fighting not only for ourselves but for the rights of all Iranians and for the downfall of the mullahs’ regime. Women are the most powerful force in Iranian society. The regime has, with its own hands, turned women and girls into a force digging its historic grave… But the Dawn is near.”
On the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls, The Motto of Iran’s Arisen Women is “Women, Resistance, Freedom”
Mrs. Maryam Rajavi’s message: “At this moment, we remember all the women who have been subjected to oppression and repression this year. We especially remember the thousands of women who, over the past year, have lost their homes, and their children in the flames of wars in the Middle East and those who have tragically lost their lives. Violence and repression target women in all aspects of life. In more than four decades, the misogynist mullahs’ regime has imprisoned, tortured, and executed tens of thousands of women who opposed it. These martyrs inspire the Iranian people’s struggle. The people of Iran are calling for the regime’s overthrow, and women are leading this fight, making them the primary targets of brutal repression.”
Pezeshkian’s Policies under Fire as Iran Faces Worsening Economic Pressures
The unchecked rise in prices in Iran sparked heated debates among members of the regime’s parliament on Sunday, November 24, 2024. Some members ridiculed the empty promises of regime president Masoud Pezeshkian and warned about the potential eruption of public anger over the situation. Several members of parliament highlighted the sudden 38% increase in electricity prices. One of them, Mohammad Pakmehr, said, “Can’t you see the blackouts and the 38% electricity price hike? Don’t you notice the soaring inflation impacting basic goods like eggs, meat, and other essentials? Can’t you see the multiple-fold increase in inflation? Where is the voice of justice? What happened to supporting the underprivileged segments of society?”
Another MP, Gholamhossein Rezvani, remarked, “We can no longer describe high prices, inflation, stagnation, and imbalances as merely a wound or even a disease. They have become a cancerous tumor, and it’s already too late to treat them, let alone tomorrow. People can no longer endure additional price hikes, and this will result in severe social consequences.”
The Educational Crisis in Iran: Challenges in Access, Quality, and Equity
Iran’s educational system is grappling with a profound crisis, as revealed by recent statements and reports from officials and experts. According to Rezvan Hakimzadeh, Deputy for Primary Education at the Ministry of Education, 40% of Iranian students face learning disabilities that significantly reduce their chances of academic and professional success. This alarming statistic, Hakimzadeh argues, is at odds with the principles of educational justice and the equitable distribution of learning opportunities.
In an interview with the Tasnim news agency, Hakimzadeh described “learning poverty” as a condition where students, despite attending school, fail to acquire essential literacy skills such as reading, writing, arithmetic, and effective communication. She emphasized that primary education lays the foundation for future academic success, noting that students who master basic literacy in the first three years perform better academically in later years. However, many students, particularly those in underprivileged and bilingual regions, struggle with these foundational skills, halting their educational progress.
Iran’s Cement Industry Faces Energy Challenges Amid Fuel Restrictions
The Secretary of the Cement Industry Employers’ Association has highlighted a deepening crisis in Iran’s cement sector caused by severe gas restrictions. Factories near major cities, which lack the capacity to switch to diesel as an alternative fuel, have been forced to cut production by 50%. Meanwhile, factories further from urban centers, equipped to use diesel, continue operations. However, these facilities are grappling with fuel supply shortages and increased transportation costs, exacerbating operational challenges. Last month, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian ordered the cessation of mazut usage in power plants in cities like Arak, Karaj, and Isfahan, citing public health concerns. He remarked: “Some people are not going to die until we have electricity.”
The Secretary noted that electricity supply issues have compounded the problems faced by cement factories. Restrictions that began in mid-June peaked in August, leading to the closure of 70% of cement kilns. This disruption coincided with a seasonal increase in cement demand, further straining the market. Despite these challenges, the end of summer brought improved electricity supply, stabilizing cement prices in the commodity exchange.
Iran’s Government Owes $400 Billion to The Banking System
The government’s heavy debts are one of the major challenges facing the current economy of Iran’s regime.
The Central Bank of Iran recently released statistics on the state of monetary and credit variables. These statistics illustrate the government’s debt to the Central Bank and other banks. An analysis of these figures shows that Ebrahim Raisi’s administration significantly increased borrowing from banks in its final months. By the end of July 2024, the government’s debt to the banking network reached 16,000 trillion rials (approximately $22.857 billion). Additionally, the government’s debt to the Central Bank rose to around 4,900 trillion rials (approximately $7 billion).
Iran: 10 Prisoners Executed, Including A Women
Human rights sources reported on Monday, November 25, that at least 10 prisoners, including a woman, were executed in various cities across Iran by the Iranian regime’s judiciary. Executions by the Iranian regime’s judiciary continue unabated. According to the Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRAI), three prisoners named Ashkan Moradi, Jalal Haj-Babaei, and Davood Heidari, who had previously been sentenced to death on drug-related charges, were executed on Monday morning at Karaj Central Prison.
Additionally, human rights sources reported on Monday, November 25, that two prisoners were executed in Jiroft, one in Kermanshah, three in Karaj, one in Khorramabad, and three in Hamedan.
Iranian Workers’ Wages Do Not Even Cover Half of Their Expenses
The state-run Tasnim News Agency, which is affiliated with Iran’s security apparatus, published a report emphasizing that the “recent wave of price hikes” has further reduced the purchasing power of the working class.
This state media outlet wrote that “data and field reports on living costs over the past four to five months indicate that the minimum livelihood basket for workers, based on food expenses, has increased by approximately 40%.”
According to Tasnim News Agency, workers’ wages “do not even cover half of their monthly expenses, as a significant portion of workers’ income is spent on rent.”
The gap between income and expenses for various segments of Iranian society, particularly workers, grows wider every day, which is why labor and professional protests are becoming a daily occurrence.
Copenhagen, November 23, 2024: MEK Supporters Condemn Iranian Regime’s Crimes Against Women
Copenhagen, Denmark—November 23, 2024: Freedom-loving Iranians and supporters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) held a rally and exhibition to condemn the Iranian regime’s ongoing crimes against women. The event also highlighted their solidarity with the ongoing Iranian Revolution.
Essen, November 23, 2024: MEK Supporters Condemn Iranian Regime’s Crimes Against Women
Essen, Germany—November 23, 2024: Freedom-loving Iranians and supporters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) held a rally to condemn the Iranian regime’s ongoing crimes against women. The event also highlighted their solidarity with the ongoing Iranian Revolution.
Cologne, November 23, 2024: MEK Supporters Condemn Iranian Regime’s Crimes Against Women
Cologne, Germany—November 23, 2024: Freedom-loving Iranians and supporters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) held a rally to condemn the Iranian regime’s ongoing crimes against women. The event also highlighted their solidarity with the ongoing Iranian Revolution.
