{"id":327446,"date":"2025-01-08T07:34:03","date_gmt":"2025-01-08T06:34:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/?p=327446"},"modified":"2025-01-10T22:44:43","modified_gmt":"2025-01-10T21:44:43","slug":"iran-news-in-brief-january-8-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/news\/iran-news-in-brief-news\/iran-news-in-brief-january-8-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Iran News in Brief \u2013 January 8, 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"
Supporters of the Iranian Resistance held a bookstand in Heidelberg, Germany, on January 4, 2025<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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

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

Khamenei\u2019s Iran Executes over 1,000 Prisoners in 2024 Amid Widespread Human Rights Violations<\/h3>\n

\"breitbart<\/p>\n

The Islamic Republic of Iran, under Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, executed over 1,000 prisoners in 2024 \u2014 a shocking record in recent decades amid escalating regime desperation, according to the National Council of Resistance of Iran. Iran\u2019s theocratic regime\u2019s death toll\u00a0marks an unprecedented surge in executions, according to a new\u00a0report<\/a>\u00a0from the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI).<\/p>\n

The executions occurred across 86 prisons and included 34 women, seven juvenile offenders, and 119 Baluch minorities, with four public hangings adding to the chilling trend.<\/p>\n

Alarmingly, nearly half of these executions were concentrated in the final quarter of 2024, coinciding with mounting economic, social, and political crises. Analysts suggest this surge reflects the regime\u2019s efforts to suppress growing dissent and stave off its downfall.<\/p>\n

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

\n

UPDATE: 11:00 AM CET<\/span><\/p>\n

Iran Is Weaker Than It’s Been for Decades as It Prepares for Trump to Take Office Again<\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Last May, Iran’s then-president took a victory lap during the first visit by an Iranian leader to Syria since 2010.<\/p>\n

Ebrahim Raisi praised key ally Bashar Assad for his “victory,” having beaten back rebel forces with Iranian and Russian help, and for defying sanctions to hold on to power.<\/p>\n

Less than a year later, the picture looks much grimmer for Iran’s foreign influence, not just in Syria but across the wider region.<\/p>\n

Assad was deposed after a lightning\u00a0campaign by rebels in December<\/a>, and Western officials on Tuesday told\u00a0The Wall Street Journal<\/a>\u00a0that Syria had withdrawn most of its troops from the country that was once at the heart of its strategy to project power across the Middle East.<\/p>\n

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

\n

The US Must Restore Maximum Pressure Against Iran<\/h3>\n

\"Washington-Examiner\"<\/p>\n

Iran<\/a>, the world\u2019s leading state sponsor of\u00a0terrorism<\/a>, is making rapid progress on its nuclear program. President-elect\u00a0Donald Trump<\/a>\u00a0must thwart Tehran\u2019s ambitions.<\/p>\n

The incoming Trump administration will inherit an Iran policy whose failures are only too apparent.<\/p>\n

The Islamic Republic has spent the last four years running roughshod over America and its allies. Iran has steadily expanded its influence in Yemen and Iraq and, until recently, Syria, Lebanon, and Gaza. Tehran\u2019s terrorist proxies, including Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and the Houthis, have launched\u00a0attacks<\/a>\u00a0against Israel, Gulf nations, and shipping lanes that are\u00a0essential<\/a>\u00a0for global trade. Iranian-backed groups have launched dozens of attacks on U.S. troops, wounding and killing Americans.<\/p>\n

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

\n

How Iran Moves Sanctioned Oil Around the World<\/h3>\n

REUTERS Special Report – Despite some of the West\u2019s toughest sanctions, Iran has built a roaring global trade for its oil. It relies on a shadow fleet of tankers that conceal their activities to skirt sanctions, and willing buyers in Asia to keep its economy afloat and to finance anti-Western militias in the Middle East.<\/p>\n

Tehran’s oil exports brought in $53 billion in 2023 and $54 billion a year earlier, according to U.S. Energy Information Administration estimates, and output during 2024 was running at its highest since 2018, based on OPEC data.<\/p>\n

It was former U.S. President Donald Trump who ditched the West’s nuclear deal with Iran and reimposed sanctions on Iranian oil in 2018. Set to return to the White House in January, Trump is expected to once again target Iran’s oil industry with “maximum pressure”, say Iranian, Arab, and Western officials.<\/p>\n

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

\n

France Says Conditions of Citizens Held in Iran Akin to Torture<\/h3>\n

PARIS, Jan 7 (Reuters) – The situation of three French citizens held in Iran is worsening with some being detained in conditions similar to torture, France’s foreign minister said on Tuesday, adding that future ties and any lifting of sanctions would depend on their fate.<\/p>\n

French officials have toughened their language towards Iran in recent weeks, notably over the advancement of its\u00a0nuclear programme<\/a>\u00a0and regional activities, but also the detention of European citizens in the country.<\/p>\n

President Emmanuel Macron<\/a>\u00a0said on Monday that Iran was “the main strategic and security challenge” for France and Europe, with Iran nearing the point of no-return on its nuclear programme.<\/p>\n

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

\n

Iran: Rise in Executions Deeply Troubling – UN Human Rights Chief<\/h3>\n

\"united-nations-logo\"<\/p>\n

GENEVA\u00a0<\/strong>\u2013 UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker T\u00fcrk on Tuesday said he was deeply troubled by the marked increase in executions in Iran last year. At least 901 people were reportedly executed in 2024, including some 40 in one week alone in December. At least 853 people were executed in 2023.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is deeply disturbing that yet again we see an increase in the number of people subjected to the death penalty in Iran year-on-year,\u201d said T\u00fcrk. \u201cIt is high time Iran stemmed this ever-swelling tide of executions.\u201d<\/p>\n

Most of the executions last year were for drug-related offences, but dissidents and people connected to the 2022 protests were also executed. There was also a rise in the number of women executed.<\/p>\n

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

\n

Iran Pulls Most of Its Forces Out of Syria as Rebels Rebuild after Fall of Assad Regime: Report<\/h3>\n

\"New-York-Post-30112020\"<\/p>\n

Iran has pulled out nearly all of its forces from Syria following the\u00a0rebels\u2019 victory against the Assad regime<\/a>, dealing a major blow to Tehran\u2019s influence in the region, officials said.\u00a0Iranian forces, which had\u00a0long been present in Syria<\/a>\u00a0under an alliance with President Bashar al-Assad, are all but gone as its members have all either fled or been ordered to withdraw since the rebels took over the nation last month,\u00a0Western and Arab officials told the Wall Street Journal<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Images of abandoned military vehicles, weapons and equipment near the border with Lebanon suggest many Iranian soldiers were forced to quickly flee as the\u00a0rebels took Syria in just 11 days<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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

\n

UPDATE: 9:30 AM CET<\/span><\/p>\n

Exclusive: China’s Shandong Port, Entry Point for Most Sanctioned Oil, Bans US-Designated Vessels<\/h3>\n

SINGAPORE\/BEIJING, Jan 7 (Reuters) – Shandong Port Group has banned U.S.-sanctioned tankers from calling into its ports in the eastern Chinese province, home to many independent refiners that are the biggest importers of oil from countries under U.S. embargo, three traders said.<\/p>\n

The province imported about 1.74 million barrels per day (bpd) of oil from Iran, Russia and Venezuela last year, accounting for about 17% of China’s imports, ship tracking data from Kpler showed.<\/p>\n

If enforced, the ban would drive up shipping costs for independent refiners in Shandong, the main buyers of discounted sanctioned crude from the three countries, the traders added.<\/p>\n

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

\n

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

2024 Report: PMOI Resistance Units Lead Courageous Activities for Iran\u2019s Freedom<\/h3>\n

\"mek<\/p>\n

Throughout 2024, the PMOI\u00a0Resistance Units<\/a>\u00a0emerged as the unwavering torchbearers of Iran\u2019s uprising, instilling hope and courage among the oppressed. In daring defiance of the regime\u2019s brutal security apparatus, these activists conducted widespread operations, from commemorating martyrs to marking pivotal events like the anniversary of Massoud Rajavi\u2019s release from the prisons of the Shah regime. Across cities such as Tehran, Zahedan, Shiraz, and Kermanshah, they showcased their resilience through banners, graffiti, and public demonstrations, echoing slogans like \u201cDeath to the oppressor\u201d and \u201cWoman, Resistance, Freedom.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Resistance Units also rejected the regime\u2019s sham elections and dictatorship, actively boycotting and dismantling regime propaganda. Their defiance carried immense risk, with affiliation to the PMOI punishable by death or severe repression. Yet, their actions persist, projecting images of freedom and democracy, and uniting Iran\u2019s people in their aspiration for change. Against all odds, the PMOI Resistance Units remain a beacon of hope for a liberated Iran.<\/p>\n

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

\n

How The Death of Qasem Soleimani Weakened The Foundations of Iran\u2019s Regime<\/h3>\n

\"qasem-soleimani-iran-400\"<\/p>\n

The death of\u00a0Qassem Soleimani<\/a>\u00a0on January 3, 2020, was one of the most significant political and military events with far-reaching impacts on Iran, the region, and the world. As the commander of the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Soleimani played a central role in exporting terrorism and regional warmongering. Due to his extensive actions in the region and systematic crimes, he was one of the most detested figures of the regime after Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.<\/p>\n

On the fifth anniversary of this event and following the domino-like collapse of the strategic depth of the Iranian regime, it is clearer how the death of this criminal significantly weakened the foundation of religious fascism.<\/p>\n

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

\n

The Root Causes of Iran\u2019s Energy Imbalance: Subsidies, Inefficiencies, and Rent-Seeking Structures<\/h3>\n

\"In<\/p>\n

On Saturday, January 4, the Iranian regime\u2019s President Masoud Pezeshkian announced the establishment of the \u201cEnergy Optimization and Strategic Management Organization\u201d during a working group meeting to address the country\u2019s energy imbalance. The meeting, attended by the heads of the three branches of government, emphasized the urgent need to reform Iran\u2019s energy consumption policies. Among the proposals discussed were plans to fine high-consumption households and offer economic incentives to low-consumption ones.<\/p>\n

However, the government\u2019s focus on household energy consumption overlooks a critical fact: official statistics reveal that the majority of energy waste occurs in large industries, not in the household sector. Key industries like petrochemicals and steel dominate gas and electricity consumption, and their inefficient practices are a primary driver of the country\u2019s energy crisis. Yet, government policies remain concentrated on influencing citizens\u2019 consumption habits while largely neglecting industrial reform.<\/p>\n

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

\n

Fuel Smuggling in Iran: A Crisis Tied to Corruption and Mismanagement<\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Iran is grappling with an ongoing fuel smuggling crisis that drains billions of dollars from its economy each year. While Masoud Pezeshkian, the Iranian regime\u2019s president, recently claimed that 20 to 30 million liters of fuel are smuggled daily, many speculate that elements within the regime itself are deeply involved in this illicit trade to cover financial deficits.\u00a0Pezeshkian\u2019s revelation sparked applause from some members of the so-called reformist faction, who hailed his \u201cbravery\u201d in exposing the smuggling mafia. However, mounting evidence suggests that the real orchestrator behind the fuel smuggling operation is the regime\u2019s own Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), a powerful and shadowy force with extensive economic and political influence.<\/p>\n

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

\n

Surge in Femicide Victims in Iran<\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Welcome to the NCRI Women\u2019s Committee podcast. As always, we are here to amplify the voices of women in Iran and shed light on the struggles they face under the clerical regime. Today, we delve into one of the most horrifying and systemic issues plaguing Iranian women: femicide and honor killings.\u00a0To begin, let us remember\u00a0Ghazaaleh Hodoodi,<\/a>\u00a0a 27-year-old mother from\u00a0Sanandaj<\/a>, whose life was tragically cut short just last week. This young woman\u2019s story is heartbreaking, and her case is emblematic of the institutionalized violence women endure daily in Iran.<\/p>\n

Could you tell us more about Ghazaaleh\u2019s story and what makes her case particularly significant?<\/p>\n

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

\n

Global Support for the 29th Free Iran Telethon: United for Freedom<\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

January 7, 2025:<\/strong>\u00a0Iranian communities and supporters of the People\u2019s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI\/MEK<\/a>) around the world are coming together to support the\u00a029th<\/a>\u00a0Free Iran Telethon, scheduled from Friday, January 17 to Sunday, January 19, 2025. Through powerful video messages and images, they are inviting fellow Iranians to participate in this pivotal event, which aims to support\u00a0Simay-e-Azadi<\/a>\u00a0(INTV<\/a>).<\/p>\n

As the first 24\/7 Persian-speaking opposition TV network, Simay-e-Azadi serves as a vital platform for the voiceless, amplifying the hopes and aspirations of the Iranian people for a free and democratic Iran. Completely independent, the channel relies on the contributions of freedom-loving Iranians and global supporters of democracy.<\/p>\n

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

\n

MEK Supporters Rally in Toronto on January 4, 2025, to Condemn Crimes of Iran\u2019s Regime<\/h3>\n
<\/div>
Toronto, Canada\u2014January 4, 2025: MEK Supporters Rally Condemns Crimes of the Mullahs\u2019 Regime in Iran<\/div><\/div>
<\/div>
<\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div>