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UPDATE: 11:30 AM<\/span><\/p>\n Iran\u2019s regime held its premature presidential election on June 28 to choose the successor to Ebrahim Raisi, who died in a helicopter crash on May 19. The regime has been campaigning profusely to convince people to vote in the election. However, reports indicate that the people have not paid heed to the regime\u2019s propaganda efforts and are refusing to show up at the polling stations.<\/p>\n The presidential elections are being held on the heels of a parliamentary election in March, which was met with a massive boycott by the Iranian people. According to reports by the network of PMOI, voter turnout in the March elections was less than 10%.<\/p>\n In fear of another massive boycott, regime supreme leader Ali Khamenei said on the morning of June 28, \u201cThe participation of the people and increase in voter turnout is an absolution necessity for the Islamic Republic. The people should not hesitate to vote\u2026. The people should take voting in this political test seriously and participate.\u201d<\/p>\n Read more<\/a><\/p>\n UNITED NATIONS (AP) \u2014 The U.N. Security Council on Thursday approved a resolution demanding\u00a0Yemen\u2019s Houthi rebels halt all attacks<\/a><\/span>\u00a0on ships and urged that the disruption to maritime security in a critical Middle East waterway be urgently addressed.<\/p>\n The resolution made no mention that the Iran-backed rebels claim they are staging the attacks because of the\u00a0Israel-Hamas war in Gaza<\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n The resolution, which also extended the requirement that U.N. Secretary-General\u00a0Antonio Guterres<\/a><\/span>\u00a0report monthly on the Houthi attacks in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, was approved by a 12-0 vote, with Russia, China and Algeria abstaining.<\/p>\n Shipping has reduced drastically through the route crucial to Asian, Middle East and European markets in a campaign the Houthis say will continue as long as the war rages in the Gaza Strip.<\/p>\n Read more<\/a><\/p>\n UPDATE: 7:00 AM<\/span><\/p>\n Iranian voters will go to the polls Friday to choose their next president, with anti-U.S. hard-liners dominating the list of major candidates.\u00a0A day later, tens of thousands of people are expected to rally in the streets of Berlin against the Iranian government. Organizers say the German event will offer further proof that the tide is turning against the clerical regime of\u00a0Iran\u2019s<\/a>\u00a0supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and its \u201csham\u201d election process that cares little for what the Iranian people truly want.<\/p>\n The \u201cGreat Gathering for a Free Iran\u201d rally on Saturday will be organized by the world\u2019s largest exiled Iranian dissident movement, the National Council of Resistance of\u00a0Iran<\/a>, and its associate group, the exiled People\u2019s Mujahedeen of Iran (MEK). The NCRI, led by President-elect Maryam Rajavi, says the weekend is a key opportunity for Iranian dissidents and democracy-minded demonstrators to make their voices heard.<\/p>\n Read more<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n On Wednesday, June 26, 2024,\u00a0Maryam Rajavi<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0met and held talks with General James Jones, the first National Security Adviser of President Barack Obama and former NATO commander, and Mrs. Diane Jones.<\/p>\n During this meeting, Maryam Rajavi provided a detailed analysis of the volatile situation inside Iran. She explained, \u201cKhamenei is endeavoring to erect barriers against the people\u2019s uprising by instigating\u00a0regional conflict<\/strong>\u00a0<\/a>and enforcing a severe crackdown domestically. However, the\u00a0people of Iran<\/strong><\/a> want change. They have dismissed the regime\u2019s forthcoming sham elections, set for Friday, and have unequivocally boycotted the process. They have consistently voiced that their true vote is for the complete overthrow of the regime. Unfortunately, the policy of appeasement pursued by Europe and the U.S. has effectively worked in favor of the regime, and postponed its overthrow for years.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Read more<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n On June 28, the Iranian regime will “elect” a new president. This unexpected move became necessary after the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, known as “the butcher of Tehran.”<\/p>\n It will not be a free election, and most Iranians will likely stay away from the process. However, this situation provides an opportunity to highlight the ongoing series of executions in Iran, which continue without much international attention.<\/p>\n According to Amnesty International, the number of executions worldwide in 2023 rose to its highest level since 2015, mainly due to the sharp increase in the death penalty in Iran, with 853 executions.<\/p>\n Read more<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Mostafa Pourmohammadi, the executioner of political prisoners in 1988 and one of the candidates in the Iranian regime\u2019s upcoming elections was forced to make three significant confessions in a recent television interview:<\/p>\n In the first and most important confession about the 1988 massacre of political prisoners, Pourmohammadi said, \u201cThe legal, judicial, and religious ruling for those who are steadfast in their positions is that they must be executed.\u201d<\/p>\n This is the same principle of Khomeini\u2019s decree for the massacre of all steadfast members of the People\u2019s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI\/MEK). It means that anyone who holds the ideals and political stance of the PMOI, which is based on overthrowing the religious dictatorship of the mullahs, was condemned to execution and included in the massacre. This explicit reality was clearly written in Ruhollah Khomeini\u2019s decree.<\/p>\n Read more<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n The Department of State is imposing sanctions today on three United Arab Emirates companies involved in the transport of Iranian petroleum or petrochemical products, under Executive Order (E.O.) 13846.<\/p>\n Read more<\/a><\/p>\n Article 11 of the\u00a0NCRI<\/a>\u00a0Plan on\u00a0Women\u2019s Rights and Freedoms<\/a> in a Free Iran aims to address legal inequalities and gender discrimination affecting Iranian women. These inequalities manifest in various aspects, including testimony, guardianship, custody, inheritance, and the prohibition of polygamy. Let\u2019s review each of these issues:<\/p>\n Unfortunately,\u00a0Iranian law<\/a>\u00a0often assigns little or no value to a woman\u2019s testimony. Articles 119, 128, 137, 170, 189, and 279 of the regime\u2019s punishment law stipulate that certain crimes can only be proven through male testimony, regardless of the crime\u2019s nature.<\/p>\n Exceptions exist, such as cases involving accusations of adultery or suspected intentional murder (as per articles 75, 76, and 237). In these instances, a woman\u2019s testimony can be effective alongside a man\u2019s. The testimonies of two women equal the testimony of a man, but additional male witnesses are still required.<\/p>\n Read more<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n In a bold and heartfelt statement, a group of grieving mothers from Kurdistan has publicly announced their boycott of the upcoming sham presidential elections in Iran. These mothers, known for their\u00a0relentless pursuit of justice<\/a>, have accused the regime\u2019s candidates of being responsible for and complicit in the government\u2019s crimes and killings.\u00a0The mothers have declared their decision to boycott what they describe as the \u201ctheatrical presidential elections\u201d in Iran. They view participation in these elections as a betrayal of their quest for justice.<\/p>\n The statement explicitly condemns the Iranian regime, holding it accountable for the widespread execution and direct shooting of young men and women. The mothers assert that thousands of families have been plunged into mourning due to these actions over the recent years.<\/p>\n Read more<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Iran boasts the world\u2019s second-largest natural gas reserves and fourth-largest oil reserves. However, the Iranian oil and gas industry faces significant challenges that threaten its future potential.<\/p>\n The Iranian Chamber of Commerce paints a bleak picture of the investment landscape. Arash Najafi, head of the Energy Commission, emphasizes the critical role of foreign investment, currently hindered by international sanctions and Iran\u2019s inclusion on the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) blacklist. This restricts foreign banks from participating, making direct investment a non-starter.<\/p>\n The government\u2019s ambitious plan to raise daily oil production to 4 million barrels hinges on a mere $3 billion investment \u2013 a stark contrast to the over $18 billion invested annually during the 2000s. This funding gap has resulted in stagnant or declining production, further exacerbated by aging\u00a0oil fields<\/a>.<\/p>\n Read more<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n OpenAI is set to remove access to its services for users in Iran, along with China and Russia, within the next two weeks. This decision comes as part of the company\u2019s efforts to disrupt influence campaigns and cybercrime operations originating from these countries.<\/p>\n According to an email attributed to OpenAI posted on the company\u2019s community forum, users in Iran will lose access to its services starting July 9. The company stated, \u201cOur data shows that your organization has API traffic from a region that OpenAI does not currently support,\u201d and mentioned that additional measures would be taken to block access.<\/p>\n Iran has been on OpenAI\u2019s radar due to its involvement in covert influence operations. Last month, OpenAI disrupted attempts by Iran and other countries to use its services to manipulate public opinion and elections.<\/p>\n Read more<\/a><\/p>\n Five months after approving a price increase for internet packages, Iranian citizens continue to struggle with slow speeds and network disruptions. In January 2024, the government authorized mobile phone operators to raise prices on the promise of improved internet quality.<\/p>\n The Minister of Communications under the current administration asserted that the price increase was contingent on faster speeds and a more stable network. However, since then, there has been no noticeable improvement in internet quality, with disruptions actually worsening.\u00a0Last Saturday, Iranians once again reported a surge in\u00a0internet<\/a> outages and disruptions. The Ministry of Communications offered no specific explanation for these issues.\u00a0The Minister previously attributed internet shutdowns to infrastructure problems and increased consumption on the international broadband network.<\/p>\n Read more<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n According to Axios, quoting three senior Israeli officials, Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, reactivated task forces focused on Iran\u2019s nuclear program two weeks ago.<\/p>\n According to the report, this task force comprises members of Israel\u2019s defense establishment, foreign ministry, and intelligence community. They are working under the National Security Council\u2019s direction and a team led by Mossad to scrutinize Iran\u2019s\u00a0nuclear program<\/a>, especially its potential weaponization activities.<\/p>\n Axios, quoting an Israeli official, reported that another team led by Israel\u2019s domestic intelligence and security service, Shin Bet, is responsible for preventing Iranian regime infiltration operations in Israeli society, which have increased over the past year.<\/p>\nLive Report: Iran\u2019s People Boycott Sham Elections To Replace Dead President Ebrahim Raisi<\/h3>\n
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\nUN Security Council Demands Iran-Backed Yemen Rebels Halt Their Attacks on Ships in Mideast Waters<\/h3>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAs Iran Braces for Vote, Regime Foes Plan Major \u2018Free Iran\u2019 Rally Saturday in Berlin<\/h3>\n
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\nMaryam Rajavi Meets with General James Jones, Former National Security Adviser to The U.S. President<\/h3>\n
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\nThe World Must Listen when Iranians Shout Out<\/h3>\n
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\nConfessions of an Executioner<\/h3>\n
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\n<\/div>\nDesignating Entities and Vessels Engaged in Iranian Petroleum or Petrochemical Products Trade<\/h3>\n
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\nEliminating Gender Discrimination Against Iranian Women<\/h3>\n
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\nGrieving Mothers of Kurdistan Boycott Sham Presidential Elections: A Powerful Call for Justice and Accountability<\/h3>\n
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\nIran\u2019s Oil and Gas Industry: Struggling Giant with a Wasteful Habit<\/h3>\n
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\nIran Faces AI Lockout: OpenAI\u2019s Bold Move Against Regime Exploitation<\/h3>\n
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\nIran\u2019s Internet Quality Declines Despite Price Hike<\/h3>\n
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\nConcerns about Tehran Potentially Acquiring a Nuclear Weapon<\/h3>\n
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