THIS PAGE WILL BE UPDATED WITH THE LATEST NEWS
UPDATE: 6:30 PM
Sunday Protests in Iran
Ahvaz, Southwest Iran: Retirees from the Social Security Organization and steel industry held their weekly protests, demanding higher pensions to cope with the increasing cost of living.
Kermanshah, Western Iran: Retirees of the Social Security Organization rallied once again, pressing for increased pensions in accordance with existing laws.
Tehran, Iran’s capital: Students continued their second day of protests against the repressive measures of the regime’s security forces. Stock owners also gathered in front of the Tehran Stock Exchange, protesting the suspension of all activities.
More footage of today's protest rally by the retirees of the Social Security Organization in Shush#Iran #IranProtestspic.twitter.com/KNCPpAx50r
— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) February 18, 2024
Ilam, Western Iran: Municipality workers voiced their grievances over unpaid wages delayed for 14 months.
Gachsaran, Southwest Iran: Contract workers in the oil sector rallied at oil facilities, highlighting issues of job insecurity, poor work conditions, and their contractual status.
These protests, spanning various sectors and regions, underscore widespread dissatisfaction with the Iranian regime’s policies and treatment of workers and retirees. Despite the regime’s silence, the voices of dissent grow louder as demonstrators demand concrete actions to address their grievances.
February 18—Kermanshah, western #Iran
Retirees of the Social Security Organization rally for their weekly protests to reiterate their demands for higher pensions.#IranProtestspic.twitter.com/LzumjJN3W3— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) February 18, 2024
February 18—Tehran, #Iran
Stock owners hold protest rally in front of the Tehran Stock Exchange as the Bourse Organization has suspended all activities.#IranProtests pic.twitter.com/vpi0ltgEGc— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) February 18, 2024
UPDATE: 2:00 PM
Social Media Platform “X” Permanently Blocks Iran’s State-run News Agency “Mizan”
In a sudden and unprecedented move, the social media platform “X” has permanently suspended the user account of the state-run news agency Mizan.
On Saturday, February 17, Mizan News Agency reported that social media platform X, “without any prior warning, took the decisive step of closing Mizan’s account on the platform following the publication of a report by an investigative entity.”
Meta recently took action to close the accounts of the Iranian regime’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on Instagram and Facebook. Following Meta’s actions, X, within the past 48 hours, removed the blue checkmark from the Mizan news agency’s account on its platform, announcing the move publicly.
On Friday, X (formerly Twitter) removed blue and gold verification badges from several accounts affiliated with the Iranian regime. Among those affected were English-language networks Press TV and Hispan TV, Arabic-language Al-Alam, as well as several domestic news agencies and websites, including Tasnim, IRNA, Mizan, and the official government information website.
On February 17, Mizan News Agency reported, “Company X (formerly Twitter) deactivated the official account of Ansar Allah Yemen’s website without any legal justification. The management of Ansar Allah’s media outlet considered deactivating its official account on the X platform a violation of all human rights laws and conventions, as well as a blatant infringement on press freedom and publication. They emphasized that this action reflects the double standards of the platform’s operators and its susceptibility to Zionist lobby decisions.”
State Department Inspector General Probing Suspension of Biden’s Iran Envoy
The State Department’s Inspector General has opened an internal investigation into the steps leading up to and after the suspension of the Biden administration’s special envoy to Iran, Robert Malley.
On January 23, the Inspector General’s office informed members of Congress about the probe in response to growing questions from U.S. lawmakers about Malley’s status and the reasons behind the Diplomatic Security Service’s decision to revoke his security clearance last April, according to correspondence seen by Semafor. Malley continued to perform some of the duties of the special envoy for nearly three months before the State Department officially placed him on unpaid leave in late June.
“The scope of the special review of the suspension of Robert Malley’s clearance will include the procedures the Department used in suspending the clearance as well as actions taken by the Department following the suspension,” Ryan Holden, the Inspector General’s director of congressional and public affairs, wrote in the letter. “This will include whether the Department followed proper procedures in suspending his clearance, determining what access to information he could maintain, and deciding the status of his employment.”
UPDATE: 9:30 AM
Iran’s Destructive Foreign Policy Backfires
In light of recent events in the Middle East and the ongoing conflict in Gaza, it appears that the Iranian regime’s expectations of favorable conditions have not materialized. Unlike the situations in Syria and Yemen, where it managed to exert control and avoid being perceived as the primary instigator of Middle Eastern crises, Iran now finds itself facing formidable challenges.
Attempting to project false strength by launching missile attacks on three countries has backfired, resulting in negative consequences for Iran. Despite engaging in proxy wars as makeshift solutions to its failing economy, all indicators suggest that the situation will deteriorate further in the coming years, with escalating inflation and complete economic stagnation.
After committing decades of desecration, violence, and atrocities against the region’s people, the regime’s once formidable power seems to be waning, rendering it increasingly incapable of maintaining its former dominance.
Struggling for Care: Iran’s Soaring Healthcare Costs and Medication Shortages
Iran’s state-run media has recently shed light on a concerning facet of inflation, particularly within the realm of healthcare and medical expenses. Reports indicate that inflation has soared to 80%, resulting in numerous individuals being compelled to forgo dental visits. The Etemad newspaper highlighted that over the past year, the inflation rate in the pharmaceutical market alone has reached a staggering 80%. This report underscores the harsh reality that due to the scarcity and exorbitant costs of certain medications, many households find themselves practically unable to fulfill their medical needs. Specifically, it reveals that the medical expenses of low-income individuals have failed to keep pace with the inflation rate, leading to a significant portion of households refraining from dental care.
The Human Cost of Poverty: A Closer Look at Iran’s Elderly Abandonment Crisis
Poverty in Iran has reached a critical point, resulting in a distressing trend where numerous families are compelled to abandon their elderly members in parks, areas known for drug activity, and welfare centers. Social activists and several officials have noted a significant increase in such occurrences. According to Mohammad Esmaeili Mahjoub, head of Tehran Municipality’s department for managing social issues, there has been a concerning rise in cases of abandoned elderly individuals. He revealed that since the start of the year, approximately 25 cases have been encountered by their organization in the capital alone.
Iran’s Regime is One of the Largest Exporters of Low-Cost Weapons
In a report on the rise of the Iranian regime as one of the global arms suppliers, The Wall Street Journal states that buyers of low-cost weapons with advanced technology view the Iranian government as a threat to the interests of the United States and its allies in the Middle East, Ukraine, and beyond. According to the report, published on February 17, the transformation of Iran’s arms industry, which accelerated with the sale of thousands of drones to Russia in 2022 and altered the battlefield dynamics in Ukraine, aided the regime in supporting quasi-military groups in the Middle East. These groups have intensified their attacks concurrently with the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.
The Wall Street Journal, citing U.S. officials, writes that one of Iran’s most significant arms exports is the suicide drones, exemplified by their use in the January 28 attack by an Iraqi paramilitary group that killed three American soldiers in Jordan.
G7 Foreign Ministers Condemn North Korea’s and Iran’s Arms Supplies to Russia
The Foreign Ministers of the Group of Seven countries issued a joint statement condemning Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, North Korea’s arms transfers to Russia, and calling on Iran to stop assisting the Russian military.
The G7 Foreign Ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States of America and the High Representative of the European Union reaffirmed their strong unity of purpose in their first meeting under the Italian Presidency in 2024.
The officials underscored that Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine constitutes a blatant violation of the very tenets of the UN Charter. They reaffirmed their unwavering resolve to continue to support Ukraine in defending its freedom, sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, within its internationally recognized borders and they commended Ukraine’s outstanding resistance and endurance.