{"id":314387,"date":"2023-12-20T07:47:22","date_gmt":"2023-12-20T06:47:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/?p=314387"},"modified":"2023-12-20T21:00:41","modified_gmt":"2023-12-20T20:00:41","slug":"iran-news-in-brief-december-20-2023","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/news\/iran-news-in-brief-news\/iran-news-in-brief-december-20-2023\/","title":{"rendered":"Iran News in Brief \u2013 December 20, 2023"},"content":{"rendered":"

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THIS PAGE WILL BE UPDATED WITH THE LATEST NEWS<\/h2>\n

UPDATE: 9:00 PM CET<\/span><\/p>\n

Duo Charged With Illegally Procuring US Technology for Iranian Military<\/h3>\n

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Two men were charged with illegally procuring American technology for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ drone program, according to court documents unsealed by the Justice Department.<\/p>\n

Iranian national Hossein Hatefi Ardakani and co-defendant Gary Lam, who was based in China and Hong Kong, were charged in D.C. federal court with procuring microelectronics for the IRGC’s program from 2014 to 2015, according to court documents.<\/p>\n

Ardakani and his co-conspirators used a “web of foreign companies to accomplish their obfuscation and evasion efforts,” the Justice Department alleged. It is unclear how many co-conspirators were alleged to have been involved.<\/p>\n

Read more<\/a><\/p>\n

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IRGC-affiliated News Agency Acknowledges Elimination of 11 Security Officers in Rask<\/h3>\n

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In a statement released on Tuesday, the Tasnim News Agency confirmed the demise of 11 law enforcement officers in Rask.<\/p>\n

The source, linked to the IRGC Quds Force, conveyed on December 19<\/a> that a total of 70 members of the regime’s State Security Forces have been killed since the beginning of the year.<\/p>\n

Tasnim’s report reads, “From the start of the year until now, the entire national law enforcement has dedicated 70 martyrs in the path of preserving and guarding the land of Iran.”<\/p>\n

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Sens. Cruz, Scott, Colleagues Introduce Legislation To Crack Down on CCP Espionage<\/h3>\n

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WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013<\/strong>\u00a0U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Rick Scott (R-Fla.) introduced legislation to require more stringent reporting requirements from diplomats of American adversaries. This bill also applies to foreign missions in the U.S. conducted by China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. This legislation requires a monthly report of the notification logs from the State Department to the President, Senate Homeland Security Committee, and Senate Foreign Relations Committee to ensure transparency around the business of foreign governments in the United States.<\/p>\n

The Countering Corrupt Political Influence Act (CCP Influence Act), builds upon the Trump administration policy that required the State Department to mandate that Chinese foreign missions, including its embassy and various consulates around the United States, notify the Department of State in advance of all official meetings with state officials, official meetings with local and municipal officials, official visits to educational institutions, and official visits to research institutions.<\/p>\n

Read more<\/a><\/p>\n

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UPDATE: 12:30 PM CET<\/span><\/p>\n

Iranian National Charged with Unlawfully Procuring Microelectronics Used in Unmanned Aerial Vehicles on Behalf of the Iranian Government<\/span><\/h3>\n
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Justice Department Seizes More Than $800,000 from Companies Tied to Network.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Today, the Justice Department unsealed an indictment charging Iranian national Hossein Hatefi Ardakani and co-defendant Gary Lam, who worked for a Chinese company, with crimes related to the procurement of U.S.-manufactured dual-use microelectronics for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Force Self Sufficiency Jihad Organization\u2019s (ASF SSJO) one-way attack unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) program.<\/p>\n

Concurrent with this unsealing, the U.S. Department of the Treasury\u2019s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated Ardakani, as well as multiple other individuals and entities involved in the procurement network used by Ardakani in support of Iran\u2019s production of UAVs. Ardakani\u2019s codefendant, Lam, whom OFAC identified as Lin Jinghe, was designated by OFAC in October.<\/p>\n

Read more<\/a><\/p>\n

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Attacks on Ships in Red Sea Must Stop, White House Says<\/h3>\n

WASHINGTON, Dec 19 (Reuters) – Attacks by Iran-backed Yemeni militants in the Red Sea must stop and the U.S. and its partners will continue to protect ships from being targeted, White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said on Tuesday.<\/p>\n

The Houthi militant group, which controls vast amounts of territory in Yemen after years of war, has since last month fired drones and missiles at international vessels sailing through the Red Sea, attacks it says respond to Israel’s assault on the Gaza Strip.<\/p>\n

“Attacks on ships in the Red Sea have to stop,” Kirby told a press briefing.<\/p>\n

Kirby was asked if Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have told the U.S. they would participate in a U.S.-led multinational operation to safeguard commerce in the Red Sea contingent on Washington backing a ceasefire in Gaza.<\/p>\n

Read more<\/a><\/p>\n

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France Joins 10-Nation Coalition Against Houthi Attacks on Red Sea Shipping Lanes<\/h3>\n

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France has joined a US-led international force to protect ships transiting the Red Sea that have come under attack by drones and ballistic missiles fired from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen.<\/p>\n

Referring to the Red Sea shipping situation in a statement released from Bahrein early Tuesday, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin announced:\u00a0\u201cThis is an international challenge that demands collective action …Therefore today I am announcing the establishment of Operation Prosperity Guardian, an important new multinational security initiative.\u201d<\/p>\n

The seriousness of the attacks on shipping lanes in the Red Sea\u00a0\u2013 several of which have damaged vessels\u00a0\u2013 has led multiple shipping companies to order their ships to hold in place and not enter the Bab el-Mandeb Strait until the security situation can be addressed.<\/p>\n

Read more<\/a><\/p>\n

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UK Warns of Deteriorating Security in Red Sea, Royal Navy Ship Joins Taskforce<\/h3>\n

LONDON, Dec 19 (Reuters) – Britain warned that the security situation in the Red Sea was deteriorating and ballistic missile and drone attacks were an increased threat, as it agreed for a Royal Navy Destroyer to join a U.S.-led operation to safeguard commerce in the region.<\/p>\n

The United States said earlier\u00a0on Tuesday<\/a>\u00a0it was setting up a task force of ships to protect shipping in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, key trading routes, to protect shipping from the rising number of attacks launched by Houthis in Yemen.<\/p>\n

The Houthis have stepped up attacks in response to Israel’s assault on the Gaza Strip, forcing oil major BP\u00a0(BP.L)<\/a>\u00a0and freight firms including Maersk to avoid the area.<\/p>\n

Read more<\/a><\/p>\n

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Iranian Passport Trails in Global Credibility, State-backed Institution Says<\/h3>\n

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On Tuesday, December 19, the “Iran Open Data” platform revealed<\/a> that the passport of citizens inside Iran is ranked 96th globally, comparing it to passports of other nations. Despite Iran’s passport maintaining a relatively stable position in the past 15 years, the report highlights significant progress in many regional countries.<\/p>\n

According to the report from the state-affiliated “Iran Open Data” platform, based on the latest rankings by the Henley & Partners Institute, only 13 passports out of 199 countries have lower credibility than the Iranian passport. Notably, some neighboring countries of Iran are making strides, competing with developed nations and securing top positions in the rankings.<\/p>\n

The report emphasizes that the most credible passport among regional countries is held by the United Arab Emirates, allowing unrestricted travel to 180 countries and tourist destinations. This achievement positions the UAE at the 13th spot in the global ranking. In the global ranking table, the last three positions are occupied by Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan, respectively.<\/p>\n

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Biden Draws up Plans for Missile Strikes on Houthis<\/h3>\n

\"The-Telegraph\"<\/p>\n

Joe Biden is considering military strikes against\u00a0Houthi sites in Yemen<\/a> amid a crisis in one of the world\u2019s busiest shipping lanes.\u00a0US officials are understood to be drawing up plans to intervene directly against the group after it launched a series of attacks\u00a0against Israel-linked cargo ships in the Red Sea<\/a>, disrupting a route that carries a tenth of world trade.<\/p>\n

On Tuesday, the Iran-backed Houthis said they would continue to launch missile and drone attacks in sympathy with the Palestinian people, despite the announcement that a US-led coalition of 10 countries\u00a0would send several warships to the region<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Read more<\/a><\/p>\n

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UPDATE: 8:00 AM CET<\/span><\/p>\n

Swedish Appeals Court Confirms Life Imprisonment of Hamid Noury for His Role in Iran\u2019s 1988 Massacre<\/h3>\n
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1988 Massacre of political prisoners in Iran<\/div><\/div>
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