{"id":315942,"date":"2024-02-08T08:08:20","date_gmt":"2024-02-08T07:08:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/?p=315942"},"modified":"2024-02-08T14:12:53","modified_gmt":"2024-02-08T13:12:53","slug":"iran-news-in-brief-february-8-2024","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/news\/latest-news-in-brief\/iran-news-in-brief-february-8-2024\/","title":{"rendered":"Iran News in Brief \u2013 February 8, 2024"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"iran<\/p>\n

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

UPDATE: 2:0<\/span>0 PM<\/span><\/p>\n

HSI Baltimore Investigation Leads To Guilty Plea for 20-Year Fugitive for Conspiring to Export Defense Equipment to Iran<\/h3>\n

\"U.S.<\/p>\n

BALTIMORE \u2013 An investigation conducted by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore field office and Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) Mid-Atlantic field office led to En-Wei Eric Chang pleading guilty to a federal conspiracy charge, related to the export of defense materials to Iran. Such materials were embargoed under the Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations (ITSR). Chang, a 48-year-old citizen of the United States and the Republic of Taiwan who had been a fugitive from justice in the U.S. for 20 years, entered the guilty plea on Jan. 31 at the U.S. District Court in Baltimore, Maryland. Chang had been on HSI\u2019s list of most wanted fugitives.<\/p>\n

Read more<\/p>\n

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Republican Lawmakers Seek DOJ Probe of NGO\u2019s Iran Work<\/h3>\n

\"semafor<\/p>\n

Three Republican lawmakers are requesting the U.S. Department of Justice open an investigation into the International Crisis Group, a Brussels-headquartered conflict resolution and advocacy group, to determine if it acted as an unregistered agent for the government of Iran.<\/p>\n

The representatives, in a letter sent to Attorney General Merrick Garland this week, cited recent articles by Semafor that documented two research partnerships Crisis Group and two of its members entered into with Iran\u2019s Foreign Ministry over the past decade, but which were not disclosed publicly. These arrangements were in place while Crisis Group was one of a number of NGOs seeking to shape U.S. policy on Iran going into the 2015 nuclear deal the Obama administration forged with Tehran, and after.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is a clear pattern of behavior indicating that the Crisis Group is in fact not an independent organization, but a chief mouthpiece of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the United States,\u201d the letter reads, which was signed by Jim Banks of Indiana, Elise Stefanik of New York, and Mike Waltz of Florida.<\/p>\n

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

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Hackers Expose Data on Iranian Drones Sold to Russia<\/h3>\n

\"defense<\/p>\n

Defense Blog – According to Militarnyi<\/a>\u00a0news agency, which analyzes the data, this breach sheds light on the covert dealings between Iran and Russia, with implications for international security.<\/p>\n

On February 4, 2024, PRANA Network disclosed their successful infiltration of the email servers of the ostensibly Iranian company \u201cIRGC Sahara Thunder,\u201d which is suspected of facilitating the illegal transfer of weapons from Iran to Russia.\u00a0Among the\u00a0leaked<\/a>\u00a0documents, details regarding the localization of the production of Iranian combat drones in the special economic zone of \u201cAlabuga,\u201d Russia, were discovered. These drones were cryptically referred to as \u201cmotorboats of the Dolphin 632 type\u201d in the documents.<\/p>\n

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

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UPDATE: 7:3<\/span>0 AM<\/span><\/p>\n

Khamenei\u2019s Self-Destructive Strategy of Ramping up Executions<\/h3>\n

\"Photo<\/p>\n

In addition to the indirect massacre of the Iranian people through incidents and disasters caused by the destructive regime, such as road accidents, air pollution, diseases, suicides, etc., regime supreme leader Ali Khamenei<\/p>\n

is directly engaged in two systematic crimes: killing under torture and execution. He has decided to continue his inhumane actions by killing young Iranians to ensure the survival of his regime.<\/p>\n

A recent example is the case of Sepehr Shirani, a 19-year-old student tortured to death by the regime\u2019s security forces in his hometown of Zahedan. His only crime was his online activities and criticism of the regime.<\/p>\n

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

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Iran\u2019s Strategic Moves: Unveiling the Relationship Between Tehran and Crisis Group<\/h3>\n

\"iran<\/p>\n

(Based on an article published by\u00a0Semafor<\/a>\u00a0on February 2, by\u00a0Jay Solomon<\/a><\/span>)<\/em><\/p>\n

In the complex realm of international diplomacy, alliances, and partnerships often shape the course of history. One such intriguing relationship that has come to light involves the Iran regime\u2019s intricate maneuvers with the International Crisis Group (Crisis Group), shedding light on Tehran\u2019s efforts to shape global perceptions, particularly regarding its contentious nuclear program.<\/p>\n

Back in 2014, Mohammad Javad Zarif, then Iran regime\u2019s foreign minister, embarked on a mission of paramount importance: garnering international acceptance for the Iran regime\u2019s nuclear ambitions. Despite existing tensions with the United States and Europe, Zarif devised a strategic plan. He tapped into the influence of Crisis Group, a Brussels-based organization renowned for conflict resolution, particularly in Western circles.<\/p>\n

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

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Iran\u2019s 2024 Budget Is Riddled With Inconsistencies and Concerns<\/h3>\n

\"iran<\/p>\n

Jalal Mahmoudzadeh, the representative of Mahabad in the Iranian regime\u2019s parliament, announced in an interview with ILNA news agency on Friday, February 2, that the budget proposed by the regime for 2024 exhibits a significant inconsistency of at least 400 trillion tomans. He expressed doubt about the feasibility of achieving the predicted revenues in the bill, particularly a substantial portion of oil revenue.<\/p>\n

Mahmoudzadeh pointed out, \u201cAnother flaw in the bill is the drastic increase in taxes, nearly 50%, which imposes pressure on various segments of the population, employees, and vulnerable sections of society. This approach aims to compensate for the\u00a0budget deficit<\/a>\u00a0from the people\u2019s pockets. The anticipated government revenues from other sources are unlikely to materialize, jeopardizing the realization of many planned expenses outlined in the budget.\u201d<\/p>\n

Independent economic experts in Iran had previously highlighted concerns about the substantial budget deficit, inconsistencies between the budget and the program, inflationary shocks, and a significant rise in taxes in the government\u2019s budget bill. They viewed these issues as part of the new challenges facing the Iranian economy in 2024.<\/p>\n

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

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Iranian Professors Dismissed, Replaced With Regime-Affiliated Figures<\/h3>\n

\"iran<\/p>\n

State-run Iranian regime media have reported a continuing series of dismissals of professors, with over 25 professors dismissed from the University of Tehran within the past two years. Most of these individuals are academics or activists in the humanities field.<\/p>\n

In a report, the \u2018Khabar Online\u2019 website addressed this issue, noting that these dismissals persist even amid the academic year.<\/p>\n

In one of the latest instances, Ahmad Shekarchi, a sociology professor at Shahid Beheshti University, published a letter announcing the non-renewal of his contract and subsequent dismissal on January 31st by the executive board of Beheshti University.<\/p>\n

Similarly, Mohsen Khalili, a professor at Ferdowsi University, announced his dismissal on January 29th after 18 years of teaching at the institution.<\/p>\n

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

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Shining Stars and Heroines of the Iranian Resistance<\/h3>\n

\"Ashraf<\/p>\n

February 8th marks the anniversary of a fate-making event in the history of the Iranian people\u2019s quest for freedom.<\/p>\n

On February 8, 1982, Khomeini\u2019s Revolutionary Guards surrounded and destroyed the headquarters and killed some of the most prominent leading figures of the\u00a0PMOI<\/a>\/MEK<\/a>. Khomeini \u2013still alive in those days\u2013 thought that by dealing such a heavy blow to the opposition, he could put up a show of force, demoralize the staunch supporters of the movement, and break their resistance in prisons and outside.<\/p>\n

It was an unequal battle between thousands of heavily armed guards vs. 20 freedom fighters. He thought victory was certain. However, the champions of freedom and the shining stars and heroines of the Iranian Resistance did not surrender. They fought to the last breath, creating an epical scene that strengthened the movement even further.<\/p>\n

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

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Paris, France\u2014February 6, 2024: Exhibition by MEK Supporters in Solidarity with the Iran Revolution<\/h3>\n
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Paris\u2014February 6, 2024: MEK supporters exhibition in solidarity with the Iranian Revolution.<\/div><\/div>
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