THIS PAGE WILL BE UPDATED WITH THE LATEST NEWS
UPDATE: 1:00 PM CEST
Pro-Iran Protesters Storm Office Linked to Saudi TV Channel in Iraq
Agence France Presse (AFP) – Supporters of pro-Iran armed groups in Iraq ransacked offices affiliated with a Saudi TV channel in Baghdad early Saturday, two security sources said after the broadcaster aired a report referring to commanders of Tehran-backed militant groups as “terrorists”.
After midnight, between 400 and 500 people attacked the studios of a production company in Baghdad that works for the Saudi broadcaster MBC.
“They wrecked the electronic equipment, the computers, and set fire to a part of the building,” an interior ministry source told AFP on condition of anonymity. He said the fire had been extinguished and the crowd dispersed by police.
UPDATE: 8:30 AM CEST
UN Report Highlights Alarming Rise in Human Rights Violations in Iran
The United Nations has raised serious concerns over the deteriorating state of human rights in Iran, citing an alarming increase in executions, especially for drug-related offenses, along with other ongoing abuses. The report, presented by Ilze Brands Kehris, Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights, to the Third Committee of the General Assembly, covers the period from August 1, 2023, to July 31, 2024.
“[The report] highlights an alarming rise in the death penalty, including for drug-related offenses and continuing serious concerns regarding prison conditions, due process violations, and severe restrictions on freedoms of expression, association, and peaceful assembly,” stated Brands Kehris. She also emphasized the ongoing discrimination against women, girls, and minorities, which remains a persistent issue in the country.
The report pointed out the “excessive use of force against Kurdish and Baloch border couriers,” further highlighting the neglect of socio-economic issues in disadvantaged border areas. The UN urged Iranian authorities to address these severe violations and improve conditions for marginalized communities.
UPDATE: 7:00 AM CEST
Lebanon Issues Rare Rebuke to Iran over ‘Interference’
BEIRUT, Oct 18 (Reuters) – Lebanon’s caretaker prime minister on Friday made a rare rebuke to Iran and said Tehran’s envoy should be summoned over reported comments by a senior Iranian official that it would be ready to help “negotiate” to implement a U.N. resolution on Lebanon.
Lebanese PM Najib Mikati said in a statement the comments amounted to “a blatant interference in Lebanese affairs”.
Criticism of Iran by top Lebanese officials is unusual, particularly given Tehran’s sponsorship of the powerful Lebanese armed group Hezbollah, which is currently locked in battles against Israeli troops along Lebanon’s southern border.
Iran’s Regime Pushes for Nuclear Weapons as It Faces An Existential Crisis
In a statement on October 15, the Defense and Strategic Research Commission of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) announced that Iranian regime Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei had ordered the acceleration and completion of the production of nuclear weapons to ensure the regime’s survival. According to the statement, “Ali Khamenei, simultaneously with Massoud Pezeshkian taking office, has ordered the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to complete and accelerate the project of building nuclear bombs. Preparations in the parliament, Friday prayers, and the positions of experts and officials of the dominant faction of the regime are all in this direction.”
New Sanctions Leave Iran’s Regime in Disarray
The Iranian regime’s response to the recent sanctions on airlines, including Iran Air, Mahan Air, and Saha (the military air service), as well as other new sanctions, shows a shift from past reactions. These responses reveal fear and panic within the regime, along with signs of internal conflict. Immediately after the sanctions were announced, the regime suspended its flights to Europe. The Secretary of the Airlines Association stated: “Due to the European sanctions, we will no longer have direct flights to European countries. All Iran Air flights to European destinations have been canceled” (ISNA, October 15).
The spokesperson for the government of Masoud Pezeshkian supported the decision, stating that if Iranian planes attempt to fly to Europe, they will either be denied landing rights or, if allowed to land, will be seized, preventing further flights.
Iran’s Secret Oil Sales and Their Global Impact
Each year, the Iranian regime transfers tens of billions of dollars from illegal and clandestine oil sales into bank accounts worldwide. This hidden financial stream has fueled numerous crises across the region and could soon trigger an even greater one. As the Gaza conflict threatens to escalate, the Iranian regime may require additional funds—not only to procure weapons and sustain its economy but also to rearm militant groups such as Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis.
Iran’s crude oil exports took a sharp dive six years ago when the Trump administration reimposed strict sanctions. However, under the Biden administration, Iran’s oil exports have surged, increasing 12-fold to reach 1.8 million barrels per day as of September 2023.
Hamedan Central Prison: Two Prisoners, including a Woman, Executed
Amid a surge of executions in Iran, the mullahs’ regime hanged two prisoners, including a woman, at dawn on Wednesday, October 16, 2024, in Hamedan Central Prison.
The identity of the woman executed in Hamedan remains unknown. She had been sentenced to death on drug-related charges.
As of the time this report was prepared, the execution of these two prisoners has not been announced by government officials or state media.
Amnesty International Condemns Iran’s Death Sentence for Juvenile Offender in Shiraz
Amnesty International, on Friday, October 18, issued a statement urging Iran’s regime to not execute Mohammad Reza Azizi, a 21-year-old who was only 17 at the time of the crime he was charged with. Amnesty International stated that Iranian authorities plan to carry out Azizi’s execution on Monday, October 21, in Shiraz.
The international human rights organization condemned Azizi’s death sentence as a violation of international laws that prohibit executing individuals who were under 18 at the time of the alleged crime, a commitment to which Iran’s regime is also a signatory.
The EU Has Found a Legal Way to Label Iran’s Revolutionary Guard as Terrorist Group
The possibility of the European Union blacklisting Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has gained momentum. According to Euronews, the European Union has identified a legal pathway to add Iran’s Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) to its list of terrorist organizations. A senior EU official confirmed that after an internal review by the EU’s External Action Service, a ruling by the Düsseldorf court has been deemed sufficient as a legal basis for this action. This ruling pertains to the 2022 attack on a synagogue in Bochum, Germany, which has been attributed to the Iranian government.
Iranian Resistance Supporters Demonstrate in Brussels, Calling for EU to Blacklist IRGC and Adopt a Firm Policy on Iran
The Iranian Resistance supporters in Brussels urged the international community to support the Iranian Revolution and take a firm stance against the oppressive regime of the mullahs.
Freedom-loving Iranians and supporters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) in Brussels called for the immediate release of all political prisoners held by the mullahs’ regime in Iran.
