{"id":325715,"date":"2024-11-13T07:20:11","date_gmt":"2024-11-13T06:20:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/?p=325715"},"modified":"2024-11-13T17:53:00","modified_gmt":"2024-11-13T16:53:00","slug":"iran-news-in-brief-november-13-2024","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/news\/iran-news-in-brief-news\/iran-news-in-brief-november-13-2024\/","title":{"rendered":"Iran News in Brief \u2013 November 13, 2024"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n\r\n\r\n

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

UPDATE: 6:30 PM CET<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Iranian Regime Working Hand-in-Hand With Organized Crime, Spanish Politician Says<\/h3>\r\n

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A Spanish politician and campaigner against the Iranian regime who survived an assassination attempt a year ago has told an online conference that Iran is operating in alliance with organized crime.\u00a0Alejo Vidal-Quadras, 79, was shot at point-blank range in the Spanish capital of Madrid on Nov. 9, 2023, but miraculously survived.<\/p>\r\n

He said the Iranian regime is working with the Netherlands-based Mocro Maffia (Moroccan mafia) gang and other organized crime syndicates as it targets dissidents and European nationals.<\/p>\r\n

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

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UPDATE: 7:00 AM CET<\/span><\/p>\r\n

On the Anniversary of the Adoption of the NCRI Plan on Relations Between Religion and State<\/h3>\r\n

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The NCRI Plan on Relations Between Religion and State represents the council\u2019s response to the experience of religious fascism and the brutal tyranny imposed under the guise of Islam.<\/p>\r\n

This plan, approved by the NCRI<\/strong>\u00a0<\/a>in November 1985, states that \u201cno religion or faith shall possess any special rights or privileges, under any circumstances.\u201d At the same time, it upholds the \u201cfreedom of religions and faiths.\u201d<\/p>\r\n

The NCRI plan firmly opposes enforced religion and religious compulsion, rejecting any form of \u201cdiscrimination, privilege, or political and social coercion\u201d justified in the name of Islam.\u00a0The NCRI Platform, adopted in 1981, emphasizes \u201cequality of political and social rights for all citizens\u201d and the elimination of \u201call gender, ethnic, and ideological privileges.\u201d
Indeed, the very establishment of this council and the relationships among its members represent a practical model of the\u00a0separation of religion and state<\/strong><\/a>, as well as a free and equal republic.<\/p>\r\n

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

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Iranian Officials Fear the Potential Backlash of Power Cuts<\/h3>\r\n

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On the eve of the anniversary of the November 2019 protests, the Iranian regime restricted electricity consumption, citing the elimination of fuel oil (mazut) as the reason. The spokesperson for the government of Masoud Pezeshkian attempted to manipulate public perception in an appalling way, suggesting that the government had chosen \u201cscheduled blackouts\u201d over \u201cproducing poison\u201d for the population.\u00a0This deception quickly unraveled, with the issue of power outages\u2014feared to spark social unrest\u2014rapidly turning into a political issue and exacerbating the regime\u2019s internal crisis.<\/p>\r\n

While Mohammad Ali Abtahi, a cleric with ties to the so-called \u201creformist\u201d faction within the regime, described the power outages as \u201ca trap for Pezeshkian\u201d and a plot to \u201ctopple the government,\u201d the November 12 issue of the state-run Kayhan ran a headline, \u201cFuel Oil Burning or Wasting the Opportunity: Where Did the Early Blackouts Come From?\u201d It wrote, \u201cIn an unusual move, power outages have entered people\u2019s homes in autumn as a result of government decisions.\u201d<\/p>\r\n

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

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Rebellious Youth Rise Against Iran Regime\u2019s Intensified Repression<\/h3>\r\n

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In a powerful show of defiance, young Iranians carried out coordinated actions across Tehran, Isfahan, Shiraz, and Mashhad on Saturday, November 9. These attacks came in response to the regime\u2019s escalating repression, including a surge in executions and violent crackdowns on political dissent and public protests. The actions reflect deepening anger at the government\u2019s systematic oppression, which has intensified in recent weeks through policies targeting prisoners, women, and ethnic minorities.<\/p>\r\n

Iran has seen a significant spike in executions, with at least 94 reported from October 22 to November 8, adding to a total of 441 under the administration of President Masoud Pezeshkian. A shocking 17 individuals were executed on a single day, November 8. These grim numbers reflect an ongoing campaign of repression led by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, seemingly aimed at intimidating an increasingly desperate and impoverished public.<\/p>\r\n

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

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Iran\u2019s 2025 Budget Bill Sparks Concerns Over Potential Gasoline Price Hike and Worsening Economic Inequality<\/h3>\r\n

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Economist Farshad Momeni has raised alarms over the possibility of a 40% gasoline price increase in Iran\u2019s upcoming 2025 budget, calling the budget\u2019s overall policies \u201cdangerous and worrying.\u201d In an interview with Jamaran, Momeni, an economics professor at Allameh Tabataba\u2019i University, criticized the government\u2019s lack of transparency and described this concealment as one of the primary flaws in the proposed budget.<\/p>\r\n

According to Momeni, despite repeated warnings about the substantial social, economic, political, and national security risks that would come with a gasoline price hike, the government appears determined to move forward with the increase. Vice Chairman of the Parliament\u2019s Program and Budget Commission, recently announced the government\u2019s plan to raise gasoline prices by at least 40% in the next fiscal year.<\/p>\r\n

This proposal follows the November 2019 gasoline price hike, which sparked widespread protests across Iran. The demonstrations were met with severe crackdowns, reportedly resulting in around 1,500 civilian deaths, according to Reuters. Public anger over the proposed increase reflects fears of similar consequences should gasoline prices rise sharply again.<\/p>\r\n

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

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Iran: Two Teenage Girls Commit Suicide Due to School Authorities\u2019 Mistreatment<\/h3>\r\n

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Arezoo Khavari, a 16-year-old student residing in Shahr-e Rey, was reported to have died by suicide on November 3. According to her father, she took her own life due to the strictness and behavior of the school staff. Following reports of the suicide of Arezoo Khavari, her father stated that his daughter\u2019s actions were due to mistreatment and strictness from the school staff, especially from the principal. In an interview with the state-run media outlet Shargh, published on Monday, November 11, he said that his daughter, after being denied entry to her class, left the school, entered a building, and then jumped from there. According to Arezoo Khavari\u2019s father, who lost his daughter last week, Arezo had worn jeans the day before her suicide attempt during a school trip, and on the way, she was dancing and celebrating.<\/p>\r\n

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

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IAEA Director: Iran\u2019s Room for Maneuver Is Diminishing<\/h3>\r\n

\"IAEA<\/p>\r\n

The Director General of the United Nations\u2019 International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) states that Iran\u2019s room for maneuver in its nuclear program is shrinking, and Iran must urgently find ways to resolve this issue.<\/p>\r\n

On Wednesday, November 12, Rafael Grossi told Agence France-Presse on the sidelines of the \u201cCOP 29\u201d meeting in Baku that the Iranian government needs to understand that international conditions are becoming increasingly tense, reducing its room for maneuver. He emphasized the necessity of finding diplomatic solutions.<\/p>\r\n

On the eve of his trip to Iran, he clarified that the IAEA is allowed to conduct inspections in Iran but requires more extensive observations. He added that, given the scope, depth, and ambition of Iran\u2019s nuclear program, it is essential to find ways to gain a better view of Iran\u2019s activities.<\/p>\r\n

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

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Gothenburg\u2014November 9, 2024: MEK Supporters Rally to Condemn Iran Regime\u2019s Crimes and Support NCRI\u2019s Democratic Alternative<\/h3>\r\n
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Gothenburg, November 9, 2024: MEK supporters rally condemning the crimes of the Iranian regime.<\/div><\/div>
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