{"id":327956,"date":"2025-01-24T07:33:52","date_gmt":"2025-01-24T06:33:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/?p=327956"},"modified":"2025-01-24T21:30:47","modified_gmt":"2025-01-24T20:30:47","slug":"iran-news-in-brief-january-24-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/news\/iran-news-in-brief-news\/iran-news-in-brief-january-24-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Iran News in Brief \u2013 January 24, 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Supporters of the Iranian Resistance rallied in Geneva, Switzerland on January 22, 2025<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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

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

UK Warns Ships over Iranian Attempts to Divert Vessels into Own Waters<\/h3>\n

\"Independent-30112020\"<\/p>\n

The UK has warned sailors in the\u00a0Persian Gulf<\/a> over apparent attempts by Iran\u2019s military to order ships to enter Iranian waters.\u00a0In a notice published on Friday, the UK Maritime Trade Operations centre (UKMTO) said there had been \u201cseveral incidents involving VHF radio challenges to vessels\u201d, some of which included \u201cdemands to alter course\u201d.<\/p>\n

The UKMTO said it believed the incidents were related to a large-scale military exercise being carried out by Iran\u2019s\u00a0Islamic<\/a>\u00a0Republican Guard Corps (IRGC), called Great Prophet XVIII.<\/p>\n

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

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UPDATE: 1:00 PM CET<\/span><\/p>\n

Ships With Missile Propellant Ingredient Set to Sail From China to Iran, FT Reports<\/h3>\n

WASHINGTON, Jan 22 (Reuters) – Two Iranian cargo vessels carrying an ingredient for missile propellant will sail from China to Iran in the next few weeks, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday, citing intelligence from security officials in two Western countries.<\/p>\n

The reported transactions could make the Chinese entities involved subject to U.S. sanctions aimed at curbing Iran’s weapons programs, as the two Iranian vessels are already under U.S. sanctions.<\/p>\n

The FT said the Iranian-flagged ships, the Golbon and the Jairan, were expected to carry more than 1,000 tonnes of sodium perchlorate, which is used to make ammonium perchlorate, the main ingredient for solid propellant for missiles.<\/p>\n

Ammonium perchlorate is among the chemicals controlled by the Missile Technology Export Control Regime, a voluntary international anti-proliferation body.<\/p>\n

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

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UPDATE: 7:30 AM CET<\/span><\/p>\n

Commemorating The Victims of Iran\u2019s Criminal Judges<\/h3>\n

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January 24 marks the anniversary of the martyrdom of Jafar Kazemi and Mohammad Ali Haj-Aghaei, two PMOI supporters who were executed in 2011 by Iran\u2019s regime. They were among the thousands whose execution was carried out under the decree of cleric\u00a0Mohammad Moghiseh<\/a>, the criminal judge who was killed a few days ago.\u00a0Mohammad Ali Haj-Aghaei, who was also imprisoned from 1983 to 1988, wrote in one of his final letters to the then-UN Secretary-General in January 2011:<\/p>\n

\u201cI am Mohammad Ali Haj-Aghaei. I have been sentenced to death by the judge of Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court in Tehran. Judge Moghiseh is the same interrogator and torturer who, during the 1980s, subjected me and my friends to severe torture and interrogation. Now, he has issued death sentences not only for me but also for several of my friends\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

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

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2025: A Year of Reckoning for the Iranian Regime<\/h3>\n

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Fear has gripped the Iranian regime in 2025. The return of Donald Trump to power in the United States has created a nightmare scenario for the Iranian regime, leaving Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei with dwindling options. Trump\u2019s stance on Iran remains uncompromising: confront a weakened regime or dismantle it entirely. With the re-imposition of UN sanctions and mounting internal crises, the regime faces an unprecedented challenge.<\/p>\n

The Iranian regime\u2019s regional influence has crumbled. The loss of Syria and Lebanon as reliable allies, coupled with its disastrous economic situation, paints a bleak picture. These setbacks coincide with the return of its fiercest adversary, Donald Trump, to the White House, marking a decisive turning point.<\/p>\n

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

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Iran\u2019s Regime Tightens Grip on Internet Access through Cyber Partnership with Russia<\/h3>\n

\"iran-russia-putin-khamenei-e1647173311719\"<\/p>\n

Iran\u2019s authoritarian regime has intensified its repression of free internet access by deepening cyber ties with Russia. A recent agreement between the two heavily sanctioned nations focuses on increasing control over the digital space and suppressing independent online activity.<\/p>\n

The agreement, signed last Friday in Moscow by Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian, aims to enhance cooperation in cybersecurity and internet regulation. The pact, described as elevating \u201cfriendly interstate relations\u201d to a new level, underscores the shared goal of both regimes to curb free access to information and monitor online activity.<\/p>\n

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

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European Parliament Condemns Human Rights Violations in Iran<\/h3>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The European Parliament, in its plenary session, adopted a\u00a0resolution<\/a> addressing the systematic repression of human rights in Iran. This resolution, passed by a significant majority of 556 votes in favor, 6 against, and 42 abstentions, calls for immediate action to address ongoing human rights abuses by the Iranian regime. MEPs strongly reiterated their opposition to the death penalty in Iran, urging the regime to establish an immediate moratorium on its use and work towards its full abolition. The resolution specifically condemns the death sentences handed down to human rights activist Pakhshan Azizi and humanitarian worker Wrisha Moradi, calling for their immediate and unconditional release. Furthermore, it highlights the plight of at least 56 other political prisoners currently on death row.<\/p>\n

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

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Tehran Municipality\u2019s Controversial Allocation: Funding Ideological Projects Amid Critical Needs<\/h3>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

While claiming insufficient funds to modernize Tehran\u2019s deteriorating transportation fleet, the Tehran Municipality has controversially allocated 550 billion tomans to a project aimed at sending clerics to schools and \u201cconnecting schools to mosques.\u201d This initiative called the \u201cArman Aliverdi\u201d project, operates under the municipality\u2019s Education Camp programs.<\/p>\n

Arman Aliverdi was a member of the regime\u2019s Basij forces who died during the nationwide protests of 2022 while participating in violent crackdowns against demonstrators. The project named after him is part of the regime\u2019s broader efforts to ideologically influence youth through schools.<\/p>\n

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

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The Banks of Iran: Serving the Economy or Corrupt Capitalism?<\/h3>\n

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The chaotic state of banks in Iran is one of the main causes of the country\u2019s economic crisis. Instead of playing a supportive role in production, they have become tools serving the ruling establishment. This shift has led to an increase in debt and inflation.<\/p>\n

The latest list of major bank debtors, dated mid-December 2024, was recently published by the Central Bank. According to the report, the overdue claims of banks have exceeded 7,890 trillion rials (approximately $9.85 billion). This figure is the result of large loans taken by state-owned, semi-state-owned companies and influential individuals.<\/p>\n

The resources come from public deposits. The uncertainty in the repayment of these debts harms the public rights of the Iranian people.<\/p>\n

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

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The Bankruptcy of Industries in Iran<\/h3>\n

\"Ghazanfar<\/p>\n

Gas and electricity outages in Iran\u2019s industries are one of the serious economic issues that have affected production and employment in recent years.<\/p>\n

Manufacturing industries require continuous access to energy to maintain production stability. However, in practice, frequent electricity and gas outages have halted production lines and reduced efficiency. This issue has imposed heavy costs on industries and decreased product quality.<\/p>\n

Furthermore, the persistence of energy carrier outages indicates that the energy infrastructure is incapable of meeting industrial demands. Even with financial resources, industries cannot return to stable production, disrupting the entire economic cycle.<\/p>\n

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

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General Strike in Kurdish Cities Protesting Execution Sentence for Pakhshan Azizi and Varisha Moradi<\/h3>\n

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Following a public call for a strike in Kurdish cities to protest the death sentences issued for\u00a0Pakhshan Azizi<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0Varisha Moradi<\/strong>, Kurdish-populated areas have launched a general strike.\u00a0Baneh<\/strong>,\u00a0Eslamabad-e Gharb<\/strong>,\u00a0Kermanshah<\/strong>,\u00a0Divandarreh<\/strong>,\u00a0Bukan<\/strong>,\u00a0Mahabad<\/strong>,\u00a0Sanandaj<\/strong>,\u00a0Saqqez<\/strong>, and Marivan<\/strong>\u00a0witnessed widespread participation. Additionally, citizens in other parts of Iran expressed solidarity by writing slogans on city walls to support the Kurdish population.<\/p>\n

According to reports on social media, many shopkeepers in Kurdish regions closed their businesses and joined the general strike on\u00a0Wednesday, January 22, 2025<\/strong>. This collective action was organized as a practical measure to save the lives of two civil activists sentenced to death.<\/p>\n

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

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Paris Exhibition: Condemning Iran\u2019s Human Rights Violations and Promoting the February 8, 2025, Demonstration<\/h3>\n
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MEK Supporters Host Exhibition in Paris to Highlight Iran\u2019s Human Rights Violations-January 21, 2025<\/div><\/div>
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