{"id":329003,"date":"2025-02-26T07:23:52","date_gmt":"2025-02-26T06:23:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/?p=329003"},"modified":"2025-02-26T20:25:55","modified_gmt":"2025-02-26T19:25:55","slug":"iran-news-in-brief-february-26-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/news\/iran-news-in-brief-news\/iran-news-in-brief-february-26-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Iran News in Brief \u2013 February 26, 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Retirees
Retirees in Shush, southern Iran, protested on February 23, 2025<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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

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

Over 150 Lawmakers Lend Support to Resistance Movement Inside Iran as Regime’s Proxies Fall<\/h3>\n

\"Fox-News\"<\/p>\n

A bipartisan group of 151 lawmakers is rallying around a resolution to support the Iranian resistance movement ahead of a hearing with an opposition leader.<\/p>\n

The resolution, led by Rep. Tom McClintock, R-Calif., expresses support for the Iranian people and their stated desire for a “democratic, secular and non-nuclear” Iran through regime change.<\/p>\n

“The developments of the past year have left no doubt that the source of terrorism and warmongering in the Middle East region is the theocratic Islamic Republic of Iran,” the resolution reads.<\/p>\n

It calls out the\u00a0Iranian regime\u2019s<\/a>\u00a0oppressive practices, voices support for the opposition and calls on global leaders to continue imposing sanctions.<\/p>\n

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

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UPDATE: 6:00 PM CET<\/span><\/p>\n

US Targets Firms in China, Hong Kong over Alleged Role in Iranian Drone Procurement<\/h3>\n

WASHINGTON, Feb 26 (Reuters) – The United States imposed sanctions on six entities based in Hong Kong and China on Wednesday that it accused of being involved in an Iranian drone procurement network, as the Trump administration implements its “maximum pressure” campaign against Tehran.<\/p>\n

The U.S. Treasury Department said the entities engaged in the procurement of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) components on behalf of an Iranian firm under U.S. sanctions, Pishtazan Kavosh Gostar Boshra, and its subsidiary Narin Sepehr Mobin Isatis, adding that the firms were key suppliers of Iran’s UAV and ballistic missile programs.<\/p>\n

Reuters could not immediately reach PKGB or NSMI for comment.<\/p>\n

“Iran continues to try to find new ways to procure the key components it needs to bolster its UAV weapons program through new front companies and third-country suppliers,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a statement.<\/p>\n

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

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Iran’s Near-Bomb-Grade Uranium Stock Jumps, IAEA Reports Say<\/h3>\n

VIENNA, Feb 26 (Reuters) – Iran’s stock of uranium close to weapons-grade has jumped since it announced a dramatic acceleration<\/a>\u00a0in enrichment in December and there has been no progress on resolving outstanding issues, two reports by the U.N. nuclear watchdog said on Wednesday.<\/p>\n

The stock of uranium enriched to up to 60% fissile purity, close to the roughly 90% of bomb-grade, has been a long-standing concern for Western powers, which say there is no civil justification for enriching uranium to such a high level. Iran says it seeks only peaceful nuclear energy.<\/p>\n

While U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration has said it plans to pressure Iran over its nuclear programme, the International Atomic Energy Agency has\u00a0said<\/a>\u00a0time is running out for diplomacy to impose new restrictions on Iran’s activities.<\/p>\n

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

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UPDATE: 1:30 PM CET<\/span><\/p>\n

Alabama Man Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Violating U.S. Sanctions on Iran<\/h3>\n

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Ray Hunt, also known as Abdolrahman Hantoosh, Rahman Hantoosh, and Rahman Natooshas, 71, of Owens Cross Roads, Alabama, has been sentenced to five years in prison for violating the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. In July 2024, Hunt pleaded guilty to conspiring to export U.S.-origin goods to the Islamic Republic of Iran in violation of U.S. trade sanctions.<\/p>\n

According to court documents, in May 2014, Hunt registered Vega Tools LLC with the Alabama Secretary of State, listing the nature of the business as \u201cthe purchase\/resale of equipment for the energy sector.\u201d He operated Vega Tools, including purchasing, receiving, and shipping U.S.-origin goods, from locations in Madison County, Alabama. Beginning at least as early as 2015 and continuing to the time of his arrest in November 2022, Hunt conspired with two Iranian companies located in Tehran, Iran, to illegally export U.S.-manufactured industrial equipment for use in Iran\u2019s oil, gas, and petrochemical industries.<\/p>\n

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

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U.S. Envoy at UN: \u201cIran\u2019s Malign Influence Continues to Plague the Middle East\u201d<\/h3>\n

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At a United Nations Security Council briefing on the Middle East, Ambassador Dorothy Shea, the U.S. representative, delivered a sharp condemnation of the Iranian regime\u2019s role in regional instability, stating that Tehran remains the driving force behind terrorism and violence across the region.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Middle East continues to suffer from the nefarious influence of Iran, which continues to sow chaos,\u201d Shea said<\/a>.\u00a0She reiterated the United States\u2019 firm stance against Iran\u2019s nuclear ambitions, vowing that Washington will not allow Tehran to manufacture or acquire nuclear weapons. \u201cThrough nuclear weapons, the regime would seek to render itself immune from external pressure,\u201d she warned.<\/p>\n

The U.S. envoy also addressed broader security concerns, calling for increased regional cooperation to counter the Iranian regime\u2019s influence.<\/p>\n

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

Mullahs\u2019 Destructive Policies Lead to Energy Crisis and Rising Anger in Iran<\/h3>\n

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The mullahs\u2019 regime has destroyed the country\u2019s infrastructure for years with its destructive policies and systematic corruption. Today, the result of this plundering is clearly evident in the energy crisis\u2014a crisis that, in addition to paralyzing industry and people\u2019s livelihoods and causing fear and concern among regime insiders, increasingly risks overflowing the people\u2019s cup of patience and erupting into anger and an uprising of a frustrated people.<\/p>\n

On February 24, Ahmad Moradi, a member of the regime\u2019s parliament, addressed the Iranian regime president Masoud Pezeshkian, whose job has been reduced to empty promises, reciting poetry, and praying for the long life of regime supreme leader Ali Khamenei. Moradi shouted: \u201cMr. Dr. Pezeshkian, the increase in inflation, exchange rates, and gold prices has broken the backs of the people.<\/p>\n

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

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Iran\u2019s Energy Crisis: Widespread Shutdowns Signal Deepening Economic and Infrastructure Failures<\/h3>\n

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On Tuesday, February 25, 2025, Tehran and 26 other provinces in Iran were forced to shut down due to a severe power and gas shortage. The closures affected government offices, banks, and schools, with some provinces transitioning to remote learning in response to the crisis.<\/p>\n

According to Iranian news agencies, the provinces affected by the closures included Tehran, Isfahan, East Azerbaijan, West Azerbaijan, Khorasan Razavi, South Khorasan, North Khorasan, Alborz, Markazi, Golestan, Mazandaran, Fars, Zanjan, Semnan, Hamedan, Qazvin, Qom, Kermanshah, Ardabil, Kurdistan, Gilan, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari, Sistan and Baluchestan, Kerman, Lorestan, and Ilam. Only Khuzestan, Bushehr, Hormozgan, and Yazd remained exempt from the shutdowns.<\/p>\n

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

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Sakineh Parvaneh Denied Phone Calls for Six Months in Evin Prison<\/h3>\n

\"Sakineh-Parvaneh-in-Vakilabad-Prison-min\"<\/p>\n

Sakineh Parvaneh, a political prisoner held in Evin Prison, has been\u00a0denied the right to make phone calls<\/a>\u00a0to her family for nearly six months.<\/p>\n

Since September of this year, Sakineh Parvaneh\u2019s phone access has been cut off. Despite repeated efforts by both her and her family to restore communication, the restriction remains in place, with no official explanation provided by the authorities.<\/p>\n

This denial of communication comes as Ms. Parvaneh is also unable to receive in-person visits due to the significant distance between the prison and her family\u2019s residence. Her elderly parents are unable to endure the long journey required for visitation, effectively severing all contact with their daughter since the phone restriction was imposed.<\/p>\n

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

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New Wave of Protests Brings Heat to Iran\u2019s Cold Streets<\/h3>\n

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On Monday, February 24, 2025, protests continued across Iran as various social groups took to the streets. With only a few weeks left until Nowruz 2025, cities nationwide witnessed demonstrations by retirees, and defrauded investors, nurses, healthcare workers, laborers, and other groups. These protests occurred amid soaring inflation and skyrocketing prices, making life increasingly difficult for the people. Meanwhile, Iran\u2019s ruling regime has not only failed to pay bonuses, benefits, and even legally mandated wages but has also allocated national resources to costly propaganda events, such as the funeral of Hassan Nasrallah, its proxy leader in Lebanon\u2014an act that has sparked widespread public outrage.<\/p>\n

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

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MEK Supporters Rally in Brussels, Condemn Executions, and Urge EU Action<\/h3>\n

Brussels, Belgium \u2013 February 24, 2025: Supporters of the People\u2019s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI\/MEK) gathered outside the European Union Council of Ministers meeting in Brussels to protest the Iranian regime\u2019s escalating human rights violations. The demonstrators strongly condemned the surge in executions, particularly targeting political prisoners.<\/p>\n

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MEK Supporters Rally in Brussels, Condemn Executions, and Urge EU Action #StopExecutionsInIran<\/a> #FreeIran2025<\/a> #HumanRights<\/a>https:\/\/t.co\/DCDGMq3h9a<\/a><\/p>\n

— Iran Freedom (@4FreedominIran) February 25, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n