THIS PAGE WILL BE UPDATED WITH THE LATEST NEWS
UPDATE: 6:30 PM CEST
‘Tehran Is the Head of The Snake’: UK Must Designate Iran Revolutionary Guard as A Terrorist Group, Says Ex-US General
Living in Europe for years, I learned that in defence and security, there must be a clear unanimity across the Atlantic. And one area that this is truer than ever before is in dealing with threats emanating from the Islamic Republic of Iran. In recent years, these threats have expanded in terms of quantity, sophistication, and global reach, to the point of being unmistakable to anyone working in the fields of security or foreign policy in the West. Since the protests that broke out across the Islamic Republic two years ago, the Iranian regime has become both more desperate and more brazen in targeting expatriate dissidents and their political supporters throughout the world.
Fortunately, the regime’s opponents have not been terrorised into silence. Activists and “Resistance Units” affiliated to the main Iranian resistance movement, the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (also known as MEK) who remain openly committed not only to the women’s rights, which sparked the 2022 uprising, but also to the dream of replacing Iran’s theocratic dictatorship with a true representative democracy. Unfortunately, dissident activity both within Iran and among Iranian expatriate communities has still not received the volume of support that it deserves from Western governments.
It’s Time to Get Tough on Iran – And Help The People Overthrow Their Despotic Leaders
The threat of widespread war in the Middle East was greatly intensified by Iran’s decision to launch a massive barrage of missiles into Israel, exceeding the scale of its prior attack in April, which was the first of its kind. The attack has predictably drawn threats of strong retaliation from Tel Aviv.
The UK, the US, the European Union, and its member states should have made a more concerted effort to stop the ayatollahs’ belligerence. Their relative inaction is contributing to the crisis that the world is facing today – one that should have been anticipated by anyone with a modicum of experience in dealing with the Iranian regime. For 45 years, its actions have demonstrated that in the absence of serious consequences on the international stage, its default reaction to regional and domestic challenges is to escalate further.
This latest escalation was especially predictable. That is why the governments of the UK and its allies need to adopt entirely new policies toward Iran – policies that include designating the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organisation, cutting off the ayatollahs’ financial lifeline by expanding sanctions on the regime and recognising the Iranian people’s rights to pursue regime change.
UPDATE: 4:00 PM CEST
MI5 Chief: UK Facing Growing Threat from Islamic State, Russia and Iran
The head of MI5 has said his agency has “one hell of a job” to do as the threat from Islamic State has returned while Iran and Russia engage in intensifying efforts to undertake assassination and sabotage plots in the UK. Ken McCallum said a revival of IS in Afghanistan in particular had brought a resumption of efforts by the Islamist group to export terrorism, and a “bit of an upswing” in Britons seeking to travel abroad to learn from the group.
McCallum highlighted that Iran had been behind “plot after plot” in the UK in the past two years. Five new Iran-backed plots have been uncovered by MI5 and police this year, taking the total since January 2022 to 20. McCallum said Iranian state actors made “extensive use of criminals as proxies”, to try to carry out threats and intimidation largely directed against dissidents and individuals perceived as a threat to the Tehran regime.
He said MI5 was alive to the possibility that Iran “could, in principle, try to repurpose” that effort to focus on other targets in the UK if Tehran felt that Britain had become a party to the conflict in the Middle East by supporting Israel in its anticipated retaliation to last week’s ballistic missile attack.
UPDATE: 8:00 AM CEST
A Regime on The Brink: How Nasrallah’s Death Signals Iran’s Decline
The death of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah dealt a decisive blow to Iran’s regime, striking at the core of its strategy to spread influence through proxy forces across the Middle East. Nasrallah had been a central figure in Iran’s network of militias, funded and supported by Tehran to destabilise the region and maintain its dominance. His death highlights the vulnerability of the Iranian regime and marks a significant setback for its aggressive foreign policy, which relies heavily on exporting terrorism and conflict.
The head of the snake of terrorism and warmongering lies in Tehran, making the regime’s downfall essential for lasting peace in the region. Tehran’s foreign policy has long depended on supporting militant groups and militias across Iraq, Syria, Yemen, and Lebanon to spread instability and extend its regional influence. While 80% of the Iranian population lives in poverty, the regime has squandered over $2tn supporting these proxies and pursuing nuclear ambitions.
UPDATE: 7:00 AM CEST
Retirees Hold Protest Rallies in Several Cities Across Iran Despite Repressive Measures
Retirees of different sectors held protests in Iran continued on Sunday, October 6, and Monday, October 7. On Sunday retirees from the steel industry and the Social Security Organization held rallies in Tehran, Gilan, Isfahan, and Khuzestan provinces among others. In Tehran, government forces attacked the peaceful protest rally and arrested several retirees, who were calling for their most basic needs.
Steel retirees from different parts of Iran had rallied in front of the presidential office in Tehran. Government retirees and pensioners of the Social Security Organization also joined the rally. As the rally continued, security forces surrounded the area. While no authority from the president’s office responded to the demands of the protesters, state security forces attacked the crowd and violently attempted to disperse the protesters.
A Surge of Executions in Iran: The Grim Reality Behind the Numbers
As the world prepares to mark the International Day Against Executions on October 10, alarming reports from human rights organizations shed light on the Iranian regime’s increasing use of the death penalty as a tool of repression. Between Monday, September 30, and Sunday, October 6, 2024, at least 43 people were executed in Iranian regime prisons, amounting to an average of six executions per day or one every four hours.
This harrowing pattern reflects a deliberate escalation by the Iranian regime, with citizens being hanged across various prisons in cities such as Isfahan, Ahar, Ahvaz, Ilam, Bam, Birjand, Tabriz, Torbat Heydarieh, Khomein, Zanjan, Saravan, Semnan, Shiraz, Karaj, and Mashhad.
One Year Since the Gaza War: Iran Regime’s Role and Regional Consequences
A year has passed since the outbreak of war in Gaza, and its impact has rippled across the region, reaching Lebanon, Yemen, and Syria. The Iranian regime has played a crucial role in this conflict. Numerous officials and state-affiliated media have openly acknowledged their involvement in preparing the ground, initiating the war, and providing logistical support—ranging from delivering military equipment and missiles to digging tunnels and training militants.
One stark example of this involvement came from Ezzatollah Zarghami, a former high-ranking official, who confessed, “I spent time in the underground tunnels of the Palestinians, conducting rocket training classes for the resistance forces.”
As the region grapples with the bloody aftermath of this conflict, it is worth assessing the broader consequences, particularly given Iran’s deep involvement and the effects this war has had on the Iranian people.
Maryam Rajavi: No One Can Stop a Woman Determined to Achieve Her Freedom
How to Support Iranian Women is the title of an article published on the website of Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI). The article emphasizes the crucial role that Iranian women play in the struggle against the ruling clerical regime. Mrs. Rajavi discusses the resilience and sacrifices of Iranian women in the face of severe repression, highlighting how they have become symbols of resistance and catalysts for change. She underscores the determination of these women, whose quest for freedom and equality is pivotal in the broader fight to dismantle a regime characterized by systematic discrimination and oppression. Mrs. Rajavi calls on the international community to support these women in their pursuit of a free and democratic Iran.
Plight of Nurses in Iran: Resignations and Emigration
Today, we’re focusing on a critical issue in Iran’s healthcare sector that has been escalating in recent months. Nurses across the country have been speaking out, not only in protests but also through a concerning rise in resignations and emigration.
The situation for Iranian nurses has been dire for years, but this past summer saw a tipping point. Their demands for fair pay, humane working conditions, and an end to mandatory overtime have been ignored by the government for far too long. And with hundreds of nurses leaving every month, Iran’s healthcare system is under immense pressure.
Let’s start with some background. Iranian nurses have been vocal about their working conditions for quite some time. Nursing is a physically and mentally demanding job, but in Iran, it’s taken to another level.
55% Increase in Water Prices in Iran
At the same time as the increase in the price of the US dollar, gold coins, and the rise in some food prices, Iranian regime officials in the energy sector announced a gradual increase in water prices, stating that the price of water will increase by up to 55%. Earlier, Massoud Pezeshkian, the president of the Iranian regime, had defended the increase in gasoline prices.
State media in Iran reported on Monday, October 7, that the government has approved “new tariffs” for water and electricity, stating that these decisions will be implemented “after final approval.”
According to the Iranian regime’s official news agency, IRNA, the Ministry of Energy stated that the goal of the tiered water pricing is “to encourage excessive consumers to manage their consumption better,” and “the highest tier will see a 55% increase” in prices. However, Firouz Ghasemzadeh, a spokesperson for the water industry, claimed that “the tariffs for low consumers will not change.”
Nuclear Bomb Development: IRGC Media Laying the Groundwork
In recent days, the Javan newspaper, affiliated with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), has published multiple articles laying the groundwork for Iran’s potential development of a nuclear bomb.
The Javan newspaper states, “This article scientifically addresses the nuclear capabilities of the Iranian government. This discussion cannot be detached from the heavy atmosphere surrounding deterrence, which has intensified over the past year, particularly in recent months.”
The IRGC’s newspaper emphasizes, “From both scientific and religious perspectives, we cannot refrain from research and investigation. We have not stopped our efforts so far and have strived to bring ourselves closer to advanced global nuclear science and technology standards. All of these actions have been carried out under the supervision of international agencies and in full view of the public, both at home and abroad.”
Berlin—October 6, 2024: MEK Supporters Exhibition to Condemn the Mullahs’ Regime Crimes in Iran
Berlin, Germany—October 6, 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 protests the rising wave of executions carried out by the Iranian regime and calls for the immediate release of all political prisoners held in the regime’s prisons in Iran.
Toronto, Canada—October 5, 2024: MEK Supporters Rally to Condemn the Iranian Regime’s Crimes
Toronto, Canada—October 5, 2024: Freedom-loving Iranians and supporters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) held a rally to protest the increasing wave of executions carried out by the Iranian regime. They called for the immediate release of all political prisoners held in the regime’s prisons and expressed their solidarity with the ongoing Iranian Revolution.
Vancouver, Canada—October 5, 2024: MEK Supporters Rally to Condemn the Iranian Regime’s Crimes
Vancouver, Canada—October 5, 2024: Freedom-loving Iranians and supporters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) held a rally to protest the increasing wave of executions carried out by the Iranian regime. They called for the immediate release of all political prisoners held in the regime’s prisons and expressed their solidarity with the ongoing Iranian Revolution.
