{"id":328277,"date":"2025-02-03T06:53:14","date_gmt":"2025-02-03T05:53:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/?p=328277"},"modified":"2025-02-03T21:36:45","modified_gmt":"2025-02-03T20:36:45","slug":"iran-news-in-brief-february-3-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/news\/iran-news-in-brief-news\/iran-news-in-brief-february-3-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Iran News in Brief \u2013 February 3, 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Students protested in front of the Ministry of Science in Tehran on February 2, 2025<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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

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

Swedish Government Says Stockholm Mosque Used by Iran for Spying<\/h3>\n

STOCKHOLM, Feb 3 (Reuters) – Sweden’s government on Monday accused a Shi’ite Muslim mosque in Stockholm of being a platform for Iranian spying against Sweden and the Iranian diaspora.<\/p>\n

Sweden’s Minister for Social Affairs said on X that the Swedish Security Service assessed that the Imam Ali Islamic Center in Stockholm was used by Iran as a platform to spy and conduct activities threatening security.<\/p>\n

“This is extremely serious,” Jakob Forssmed said, and added that Sweden had stopped all state monetary aid to the centre. He added, without elaborating, that “an additional process” was under way.<\/p>\n

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

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

Daniel Khalife, Former Soldier Who Spied for Iran, Jailed for More Than 14 Years<\/h3>\n

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Daniel Khalife, a former soldier, has been sentenced to more than 14 years in custody and condemned as a \u201cdangerous fool\u201d for spying for\u00a0Iran<\/a>\u00a0and escaping from prison.<\/p>\n

In September 2023, Khalife, 23, sparked a high-profile manhunt when he broke out of HMP Wandsworth by clinging to the underside of a food delivery truck. At the time he was being held on remand for spying charges.<\/p>\n

Last November, a jury at Woolwich crown court found him guilty of breaching the Official Secrets Act and the Terrorism Act by passing on information to Iran while he was serving in the army. During his trial, he also admitted to escaping from prison before his capture on a canal towpath by a plainclothes detective. He was cleared of carrying out a bomb hoax.<\/p>\n

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

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Bombshell Report: Iran\u2019s Secret Nuclear Warhead Program Exposed at Space Program Sites<\/h3>\n

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Iran is covertly developing long-range nuclear warheads at two heavily guarded missile sites, using its space program as a cover to advance its nuclear weapons capabilities, according to explosive new intelligence revealed by the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI).<\/p>\n

Alireza Jafarzadeh, deputy director of NCRI\u2019s U.S. office, presented the new findings, stating, \u201cNow what we have found out and we\u2019re releasing today is that the Iran regime has been covertly developing nuclear warheads in a site known as the Shahrud missile site \u2014 it\u2019s a known site but not for this purpose.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe goal of this program,\u201d he added, \u201cis to build a nuclear warhead mounted on a solid fuel missile with a range of exceeding 3,000 kilometers (approximately 1,860 miles).\u201d<\/p>\n

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

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Iran Racing to Fit Warheads to Missiles<\/h3>\n

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Time is running short on efforts to stop the Iranian regime\u2019s nuclear weapons development before its warheads and missiles are fitted together and ready to deploy and deliver to targets both near and far.\u00a0At a January 31 press briefing, Deputy Director of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI)\u2019s Washington, D.C., office, Alireza Jafarzadeh, provided alarming new information about the Iranian regime\u2019s race to fit nuclear warheads to its arsenal of solid-fuel Ghaem-100 ballistic missiles.<\/p>\n

Citing information gathered by the People\u2019s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI\/MEK) inside Iran, Jafarzadeh emphasized the accelerated speed with which Tehran is devoting resources to developing nuclear warheads specifically designed for the nose cones of long-range missiles that can reach over 3,000 kilometers.<\/p>\n

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

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

PMOI Resistance Units in Zahedan Defy Wave of Executions by Iran\u2019s Regime<\/h3>\n

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On Friday,\u00a0PMOI Resistance Units\u00a0in Zahedan resumed their anti-regime activities through\u00a0wall writings, raising protest banners, and distributing anti-regime leaflets\u00a0across the city. These actions come in response to\u00a0increasing repression and the rising number of executions targeting political prisoners and Baluch activists\u00a0by the Iranian regime.<\/p>\n

According to reports from local sources, these activities have been carried out in various parts of Zahedan, delivering\u00a0clear protest messages and strong warnings to the Iranian regime. The escalation of such actions in Baluchestan indicates\u00a0a growing wave of public anger and the people\u2019s determination to overthrow the religious dictatorship.<\/p>\n

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

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46 Years of Clerical Rule in Iran: A Legacy of Lies and Decline<\/h3>\n

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As Iran marks another anniversary of the 1979 revolution against the Shah\u2019s dictatorship, the ruling clerical regime seizes the opportunity to promote its so-called achievements. However, the harsh reality of Iran\u2019s current condition tells a different story\u2014one of widespread destruction across all aspects of life.<\/p>\n

There is no doubt that the mullahs have dragged Iran far below its true potential. Had a democratic government replaced the Shah\u2019s dictatorship instead of theocratic rule, the country\u2019s trajectory would have been dramatically different. After 46 years of clerical rule, the results require no speculation or complex analysis\u2014the evidence speaks for itself. The regime\u2019s most significant accomplishment is not progress, but a relentless pattern of lies and deception.<\/p>\n

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

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Iran\u2019s Worsening Air Pollution Crisis: Lawmaker Confirms Widespread Mazut Burning in Power Plants<\/h3>\n

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Despite years of warnings about the severe health risks associated with burning mazut in Iranian power plants, Somayeh Rafiei, spokesperson for the Parliament\u2019s Agriculture Commission, has confirmed that all thermal power plants in the country have switched to using this highly polluting fuel.<\/p>\n

On Saturday, February 1, Rafiei called for strict oversight from the governorate and the Tehran Province Environment Department to ensure compliance with decisions made by the Air Pollution Emergency Committee. Speaking to reporters, she highlighted the alarming air pollution levels in Tehran and confirmed that the \u201cMontazer Ghaem\u201d and \u201cShahid Rajaee\u201d power plants\u2014both major contributors to Tehran\u2019s air pollution\u2014are burning mazut.<\/p>\n

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

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The Rise in Food Prices in Iran Exacerbates Household Economic Hardships<\/h3>\n

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The Statistical Center of Iran has reported a sharp increase in food prices, with more than one-third of essential commodities experiencing price hikes ranging between 40% and 103% in January 2025 compared to the previous year. The highest increases were recorded in legumes and fruits, deepening concerns over inflation and the growing food security crisis in the country.\u00a0According to the latest report from the\u00a0Statistical Center of Iran, the prices of many essential food items, including\u00a0bread, grains, meat, dairy products, vegetables, and legumes, have soared to unprecedented levels. Some products have recorded\u00a0double-digit price hikes, with\u00a0eggplant rising by 40.6%,\u00a0potatoes by more than 20%, and\u00a0pasteurized butter witnessing a significant increase.<\/p>\n

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

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Repeated Arrests and the Security That Never Returns<\/h3>\n

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On Friday, February 1, 2025, Arghavan Fallahi, a former political prisoner who was released from Evin Prison in late 2024, was arrested again. According to reports, Arghavan Fallahi, 22, was arrested on January 26, 2025, in Parand city and transferred to an unknown location. No information has been provided yet regarding the reason for her arrest, her place of detention, or her condition.<\/p>\n

Arghavan Fallahi was arrested in November 2022, along with her father Nasrollah Fallahi, and her brother Ardalan Fallahi. This family was held for over two months in detention centers in Isfahan, where they were tortured and interrogated before being transferred to solitary confinement in Evin Prison\u2019s Ward 209. They were tried on charges of \u201cMembership in the Mojahedin-e Khalq,\u201d \u201cConspiracy to commit crimes against internal and external security,\u201d and \u201cPropaganda against the regime\u201d by Judge Iman Afshari.<\/p>\n

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

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Iran\u2019s Empty Ports and Dying Trade<\/h3>\n

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According to the\u00a0PortWatch Global Index<\/em>, the volume of goods entering and leaving Iran\u2019s major ports has fallen to less than 1% of some key regional ports. Trade through Iran\u2019s ports remains negligible compared to leading regional and global competitors.<\/p>\n

Despite its strategic location, Iran operates with limited activity at two significant southern ports while countries like Oman and the UAE have secured a global role in maritime commerce. Key obstacles holding back Iran\u2019s ports include:<\/p>\n