{"id":328912,"date":"2025-02-24T08:18:12","date_gmt":"2025-02-24T07:18:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/?p=328912"},"modified":"2025-02-24T20:58:58","modified_gmt":"2025-02-24T19:58:58","slug":"iran-news-in-brief-february-24-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/news\/iran-news-in-brief-news\/iran-news-in-brief-february-24-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Iran News in Brief \u2013 February 24, 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Supporters of the Iranian Resistance in Stockholm, Sweden, held a rally on February 22, 2025<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

THIS PAGE WILL BE UPDATED WITH THE LATEST NEWS<\/h3>\n

UPDATE: 9:00 PM CET<\/span><\/p>\n

Treasury Imposes Additional Sanctions on Iran\u2019s Shadow Fleet as Part of Maximum Pressure Campaign<\/h3>\n

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WASHINGTON \u2014 Today, the Department of the Treasury\u2019s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), and the U.S. Department of State are imposing sanctions on over 30 persons and vessels in multiple jurisdictions for their role in brokering the sale and transportation of Iranian petroleum-related products. Among those sanctioned today are oil brokers in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Hong Kong, tanker operators and managers in India and the People\u2019s Republic of China (PRC), the head of Iran\u2019s National Iranian Oil Company, and the Iranian Oil Terminals Company, whose operations help finance Iran\u2019s destabilizing activities. The vessels sanctioned today are responsible for shipping tens of millions of barrels of crude oil valued in the hundreds of millions of dollars.<\/p>\n

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

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

Democratic Opposition Shows Determination for Regime Change in Iran<\/h3>\n

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It is exactly 46 years ago this month that an anti-monarchist revolution took place in Iran. Although many Iranians aspired to democracy, Islamic clerics seized power and established one of the most repressive dictatorships in modern history.<\/p>\n

Yet the Iranian people have never given up their fight for freedom and democracy. In recent decades, they have built a strong resistance movement, led by the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI). Since the 1980s, the NCRI has been calling for regime change in Iran. Despite enormous obstacles, the organization has remained firm in its mission and has focused on the establishment of a free and democratic Iran. On the occasion of the anniversary of the 1979 revolution, NCRI organized a large meeting at Denfert-Rochereau in Paris at the beginning of this month.<\/p>\n

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

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

New Dawn for Iran: The Inevitable Fall of a Repressive Regime<\/h3>\n

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On a chilly Saturday in Paris, February 8, 2025, the air was charged with the fervent hopes of\u00a0thousands of Iranians<\/a>, who marked the 46th anniversary of the Shah\u2019s overthrow not merely as a historical reflection, but as a clarion call for a new revolution. This assembly, organized by the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI<\/a>), wasn\u2019t just a rally but a potent declaration against tyranny and a manifesto for democracy and freedom in Iran.<\/p>\n

Drawing thousands from Iranian diaspora communities and garnering substantial international support, the colorful and enthusiastic rally and march transcended geographical and cultural boundaries, uniting voices from diverse backgrounds, including\u00a0representatives from 320 Iranian associations spanning Europe, North America, and Australia, as well as members of various nationalities, such as\u00a0Kurdish, Baluch, and Arab communities, in a chorus calling for the Iranian regime\u2019s end.<\/p>\n

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

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UPDATE: 8:00 AM CET<\/span><\/p>\n

Iran\u2019s Descent into Economic Despair<\/h3>\n

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While Iran is one of the largest producers of agricultural products, such as potatoes, in the region, we are now witnessing a worrying phenomenon: the installment sale of this essential product.<\/p>\n

The people of Iran have been enduring difficult times for decades due to the regime\u2019s destructive policies, systematic corruption, the priority of military and security budgets for suppression, and finally, the rent-seeking economy.<\/p>\n

Despite the bombastic propaganda of various governments in this regime, there is no plan to support producers and consumers.\u00a0Inflationary policies, lack of control over liquidity, and mismanagement in the agricultural sector have caused even domestically produced goods to face astronomical price increases.<\/p>\n

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

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Cryptocurrency in Iran: A Double-Edged Sword Amid Sanctions and Economic Turmoil<\/h3>\n

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The Iranian regime\u2019s approach to cryptocurrency has become increasingly complex amidst ongoing sanctions and geopolitical tensions. As highlighted in a recent\u00a0Chainalysis report<\/a>, the Iranian government has been forced to adapt its financial strategies in response to extensive U.S. sanctions, which have been in place since the 1979 seizure of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran. The report indicates that cryptocurrency has emerged as a vital tool for both the regime and ordinary citizens seeking financial stability.<\/p>\n

In 2024, Iranian entities accounted for a substantial portion of the sanctions-related cryptocurrency activity, with outflows reaching $4.18 billion\u2014an increase of approximately 70% from the previous year. This surge is indicative of a broader trend where individuals and businesses in Iran are increasingly turning to cryptocurrency as a means of preserving wealth and circumventing government-imposed financial restrictions. The volatility of the Iranian rial, which has lost about 90% of its value since the U.S. exited the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in 2018, has further exacerbated this shift towards digital currencies.<\/p>\n

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

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Iran\u2019s Economic Crisis Deepens as Currency and Gold Prices Soar<\/h3>\n

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The Iranian economy continues to reel under the relentless depreciation of the national currency and soaring gold prices. On Saturday, February 22, the US dollar was traded at an unprecedented 95,020 tomans on Ferdowsi Street in Tehran. Simultaneously, the price of gold coins surged to 79,920,000 tomans, marking new record highs and intensifying concerns over inflation and economic instability.<\/p>\n

As the crisis escalates, president Masoud Pezeshkian\u2019s administration faces growing criticism from parliament members, media outlets, and even figures within the regime. The so-called reformist-affiliated newspapers have also joined the chorus, demanding an explanation for his administration\u2019s failure to curb the rapid rise in the exchange rate\u2014a key driver of inflation affecting essential goods and food prices.<\/p>\n

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

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Iranian Political Prisoner Mehdi Hassani Faces Imminent Execution After Supreme Court Rejects Retrial Request<\/h3>\n

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Daughter of Iranian political prisoner Mehdi Hassani: My father could be executed at any moment. Maryam Hassani, the daughter of Mohammad Hassani, a political prisoner sentenced to death, has announced that the Supreme Court has rejected her father\u2019s request for a retrial. On Sunday, February 23, she wrote on X: \u201cAccording to my father\u2019s lawyer, his retrial request has been rejected, and his execution could be carried out at any moment.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mehdi Hassani\u2019s execution had previously been halted after the Supreme Court accepted his lawyer\u2019s request for a retrial.\u00a0Mr. Hassani, born in 1976, is married and the father of two children. He was arrested on September 9, 2022, in Zanjan while attempting to leave the country and was subsequently transferred to Evin Prison.<\/p>\n

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

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Expansion of Informal Settlements and Poverty in Iran<\/h3>\n

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Abdolreza Golpayegani, the Iranian regime\u2019s Deputy Minister of Roads and Urban Development described the issue of informal settlements as serious and reported that currently \u201caround 6.5 to 7 percent of Iran\u2019s population lives in the outskirts of cities.\u201d<\/p>\n

In an interview with the state-run ILNA news agency, published on Sunday, February 23, Golpayegani described the situation in Razavi Khorasan Province (mainly Mashhad), Sistan and Baluchestan, Hormozgan (Bandar Abbas), Khuzestan, and Tehran as \u201cmore critical.\u201d<\/p>\n

He stated, \u201cIn some cities of Tehran Province, the figures and statistics for informal settlements are very high. We are witnessing informal settlements within Tehran itself, and this phenomenon has spread into the city\u2019s urban boundaries. In areas such as Islam Abad Valley, Farahzad Valley, Oqaf neighborhood, Khak Sefid, southeast Tehran, and parts of District 19, informal settlements are expanding.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

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MEK Supporters Demand Justice in LA, Call for March 8 Rally in Washington<\/h3>\n

Los Angeles, California \u2013 February 22, 2025:<\/strong>\u00a0Supporters of the People\u2019s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI\/MEK<\/a>) held an exhibition to show solidarity with the\u00a0Iranian Revolution<\/a>\u00a0and denounce the regime\u2019s growing use of executions.<\/p>\n

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#California<\/a>, February 22, 2025: MEK Supporters Demand Justice in LA, Call for March 8 Rally in #WashingtonDC<\/a> #2025RallyForAFreeIran<\/a> #FreeIran2025<\/a> https:\/\/t.co\/zpqjFr7Fxe<\/a><\/p>\n

— Iran Freedom (@4FreedominIran) February 23, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n