THIS PAGE WILL BE UPDATED WITH THE LATEST NEWS
UPDATE: 11:30 AM CET
Rubio, Rosen, Colleagues to Blinken: Designate Houthis as Foreign Terrorist Organizations
The Houthis, backed by the Iranian regime, continue to escalate their attacks in the Middle East. Redesignating the Houthis as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) would impose meaningful costs on them and limit their ability to commit acts of terrorism. U.S. Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), and colleagues led a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken urging him to redesignate the Houthis as a FTO after the Biden-Harris Administration foolishly removed that designation.
- “We therefore urge you to immediately restore the designation of the Houthis as an FTO, which would enable the United States to better target the group’s assets and financial support and hold the group accountable for committing terrorism against the United States, Israel, and our partners and allies throughout the region.”
UPDATE: 7:00 AM CET
Why The Iranian Regime’s Embassies Must Be Shut Down
On Thursday, October 31, Iranian Resistance supporters gathered outside the Iranian regime’s embassy in Berlin and consulate in Hamburg, demanding the closure of all of the regime’s diplomatic facilities. They chanted, “The Iranian regime’s embassy, this nest of spies, must be shut down.”
This demonstration took place after Iranian consulates in three German cities had already been shut down. The German newspaper Bild reported the German government is closing all of the Iranian regime’s consulates, and the decision “affects 32 Iranian consular officials who will lose their right of residence and have to leave the country unless they also have German citizenship… With this measure, the federal government is reducing diplomatic relations with Iran to a minimum.”
Nursing Crisis in Iran: Shortage of Staff Puts Patients and Healthcare System at Risk
Iran’s healthcare system is facing a critical shortage of nurses, a deficit that experts warn is putting patients at increased risk of medical errors, substandard care, and even death. Ahmad Nejatian, head of the Nursing Organization of the Islamic Republic of Iran, recently highlighted the urgency of the situation, sharing sobering statistics on the nurse-to-patient ratios that reveal how far Iran falls below global standards.
According to Nejatian, the global average nurse-to-bed ratio is 3.5, while Iran’s is a concerning 1.8. Over recent years, the situation has worsened, with the nurse-to-bed ratio dropping as low as 1.1. If this trend continues, he warned, this figure could soon dip to between 0.9 and 1, exacerbating already challenging conditions in hospitals and healthcare facilities across the country.
Iran’s Dire Landscape for Press Freedom on International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists
On November 2, as the world observes the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, Iran remains one of the most dangerous countries for reporters. Ranked among the top ten jailers of journalists worldwide, the Iranian government frequently targets those who report on human rights violations, protests, or governmental abuses, subjecting them to intimidation, arbitrary detention, and violence.
Since the beginning of this year alone, at least 34 journalists and media activists have been arrested by Iranian authorities. Among them are prominent journalists Elaheh Mohammadi and Niloufar Hamidi, who reported on the death of Mahsa Amini, a young woman who died while in the custody of Iran’s morality police. Their arrest, along with others, underscores the regime’s determination to suppress independent reporting.
In fact, since September 16, 2022, when protests erupted following Mahsa Amini’s death in Tehran, more than 100 journalists have been interrogated, detained, or imprisoned. Sixteen journalists remain imprisoned for their reporting related to the protests, alongside 19 others who were jailed before the movement began. Experts suggest that the true number of detained journalists is likely higher, with many cases unreported due to security threats and the regime’s opaque tactics.
40 Days Since the Tabas Mining Disaster: A Humanitarian and Workplace Crisis
Forty days have passed since the Madanjo coal mine disaster in Tabas claimed the lives of 53 miners, leaving a devastating impact on workers and their families. Despite this tragedy, little has changed regarding safety and working conditions in the mine, prompting frustration and resignations among the workforce. According to a Tehran-based newspaper, around 700 out of the 2,000 employees at the Madanjo mine have resigned since the accident. Workers from Block B who refused to return to work on September 23 were reportedly fined, highlighting the mine’s prioritization of production over safety. Promises of a modest wage increase of three million toman per month remain unfulfilled, further straining the morale of the workforce.
In an interview with Ham Mihan newspaper, a former worker described the stark changes in the mine’s operations: “Large workshops that once had 200 people are now operating with six or seven. Those who remain question daily whether they should stay or leave.”
Political Prisoner Zeinab Jalalian Denied Medical Care and Family Visits Amid Deteriorating Health
The health condition of political prisoner Zeinab Jalalian has been reported as poor. She is denied access to medical services and family visits.
Zeinab Jalalian is serving her sentence in Yazd prison, without observance of the principle of separation of crimes. Despite suffering from gastrointestinal, kidney, and eye conditions, she has been deprived of specialized medical treatment. Furthermore, on the orders of the Ministry of Intelligence, she has been barred from family visits since September 22, 2024.
Zeinab Jalalian was arrested in Kermanshah on February 26, 2008, and is currently being held in Yazd prison. However, this Kurdish woman has been illegally and violently moved between different prisons.
Each Year, 1,500 Nurses Leave Their Jobs, 500 Emigrate from Iran
Ahmad Nejatian, head of Iran’s Nursing Organization, noted that 1,500 nurses left their jobs over the past year and 500 emigrated. Meanwhile, nurses’ protests continue in Iran, and as Nurse’s Day approaches, a group of nurses has launched a campaign called “Black Ribbon.”
As part of ongoing street protests by healthcare staff, nurses in the cities of Fasa, Mashhad, and Yazd held a protest rally on Saturday, November 2. Emergency personnel from Mashhad participating in the protests highlighted that staff burnout has led to an increase in patient deaths.
In an interview with the regime’s Tasnim News Agency, affiliated with the IRGC, Nejatian noted that while Iran has 240,000 nurses, there should be at least 1.8 nurses per hospital bed. However, the national average is 0.9, meaning there is less than one nurse per hospital bed in Iran.
Velayati’s Remarks Expose Iran’s New Approach to Europe and the West
In his latest public statements following Israel’s attack on the regime’s military centers, Khamenei briefly referenced the incident before moving on. His minimal reaction wasn’t seen as downplaying the severity of the attack but rather a sign of his weakened position.
However, statements by Khamenei’s foreign affairs advisor reveal that the situation is even more critical than it appears. Ali Akbar Velayati, a close advisor and former Foreign Minister, told the Financial Times on October 28 that: “Iran is ready to cooperate with Western countries!”
Velayati stated, “The Islamic Republic is reviewing its foreign policy and aims to establish better relations with European countries.”
He added, “We are actively redefining the balance in our relationships with Western, Eastern, and developing nations. We welcome friendship with any country from Europe to Asia and Africa.”
Rostock, Germany—November 2, 2024: MEK Supporters’ Exhibition Condemning the Mullahs’ Regime Crimes in Iran
Rostock, Germany—November 2, 2024: Freedom-loving Iranians and supporters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) organized an exhibition to express solidarity with the Iranian Revolution. The exhibition also protested the rising wave of executions carried out by the Iranian regime and called for the immediate release of all political prisoners held in the regime’s prisons.
Iranian Academics in Southampton Host Book Exhibition Condemning Human Rights Violations in Iran, Calling to Blacklist IRGC
UK, November 2, 2024: Freedom-loving Iranians and academics in England who support the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) organized a book exhibition in Southampton to condemn human rights violations in Iran and show solidarity with the Iranian Revolution.