{"id":329028,"date":"2025-02-27T07:27:23","date_gmt":"2025-02-27T06:27:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/?p=329028"},"modified":"2025-02-27T21:46:51","modified_gmt":"2025-02-27T20:46:51","slug":"iran-news-in-brief-february-27-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/news\/iran-news-in-brief-news\/iran-news-in-brief-february-27-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Iran News in Brief \u2013 February 27, 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"
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NCRI President-elect Maryam Rajavi addresses the U.S. Congressional Caucus on Human Rights and Democracy in Iran on February 26, 2025<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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

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

Al Arabiya: U.S. Pressures Iraq to Halt Gas Imports from Iran<\/h3>\n

\"alarabiya-logo\"<\/p>\n

Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein confirmed in an exclusive interview with Al Arabiya<\/em><\/a> that the United States has urged Baghdad to halt its gas imports from Iran as part of broader efforts to increase pressure on Tehran.<\/p>\n

Regarding the U.S. military presence in Iraq, Hussein noted that the timeline for the withdrawal of American forces remains unchanged. He stressed the importance of continuing strategic dialogue between Baghdad and Washington.<\/p>\n

On Syria, Hussein emphasized that Iraq\u2019s position is independent of Iranian influence. He revealed that Baghdad had agreed to postpone Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani\u2019s visit upon his request and confirmed that Damascus had not sought any security guarantees regarding the trip.<\/p>\n

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

Iran Is Stealing Sensitive US Intellectual Property and Using It to Kill Americans<\/h3>\n

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

Iran<\/a>\u00a0is conducting a campaign to extract sensitive U.S.\u00a0data<\/a>\u00a0and use it to harm Americans and our allies, and policymakers are not doing enough to stop it.<\/p>\n

President\u00a0Donald Trump<\/a>\u2018s Feb. 4 executive order ordering the government to start a\u00a0robust campaign<\/a>\u00a0against Iran\u2019s intellectual property theft is a good start, drawing attention to a serious and long-overlooked problem. Yet, Congress and relevant agencies need to build on this momentum and do more to caution industry about the critical threat of Iranian IP extraction, explaining how to identify it, protect against it, and stop it.<\/p>\n

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

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House Lawmakers Want Trump to Pressure EU to Sanction Iran Military Group<\/h3>\n

\"the<\/p>\n

Two House lawmakers are calling on President Trump to pressure the European Union to designate as a terrorist organization Iran\u2019s premier military force, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).<\/p>\n

Reps. Claudia Tenney (R-N.Y.) and Brad Schneider (D-Ill.) are reintroducing a resolution that passed the House in the previous Congress. It is updated to encourage Trump to take action.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Encouraging the EU to DESIGNATE Resolution urges our allies to join our efforts to combat the IRGC by immediately designating this group as a terrorist organization,\u201d Tenney said in a statement to The Hill.<\/p>\n

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

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

Iran Oil Flows Seen Curbed by Rush for Unsanctioned Tankers<\/h3>\n

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Iranian oil sellers risk facing significant hurdles moving their cargoes out of the country as competition for unsanctioned tankers from Russia and Venezuela intensifies, according to analytics firm Kpler.\u00a0Iran \u201cis already grappling with a shortage of available shipping capacity,\u201d senior crude oil analyst Muyu Xu said at a Kpler event in London Monday. \u201cThere is only a number of tankers on the market willing to take high-risk sanctioned oil and now Iran needs to compete with Russia and Venezuela to secure them.\u201d<\/p>\n

While there were about 150 tankers engaged in Iranian crude oil transport in 2024, more than 100 of those have been added to a list of vessels sanctioned by the US Treasury Department\u2019s Office of Foreign Assets Control.<\/p>\n

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

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

150 Bipartisan Lawmakers Join Resolution Supporting Iranian People’s Fight for Regime Change<\/h3>\n

\"just-the-news-logo\"<\/p>\n

A coalition of over 150 bipartisan lawmakers on Wednesday introduced a bill that supports the Iranian people’s resistance movement, which is fighting for regime change in the Middle Eastern country.\u00a0The resolution supports National Council of Resistance of Iran President-elect Maryam Rajavi’s 10-point plan for the future of Iran, which hopes to establish a secular, democratic and non-nuclear Iranian republic. The resolution also slams Iran’s oppressive practices and urges global leaders to continue imposing sanctions on the country.<\/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. “The efforts of Western countries over the past 45 years to change the behavior of this regime have failed, and the ultimate solution to ending the Iranian regime\u2019s threats is the establishment of a secular, democratic, and pluralistic republic by the Iranian people and resistance.”<\/p>\n

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

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

Maryam Rajavi at the Hearing of the US Congressional Caucus<\/h3>\n

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Maryam Rajavi’s speech: “The situation of the Iranian society is explosive. During its 46-year rule, religious fascism has never been so weak and fragile. The mullahs are surrounded from all sides: by a society that is filled with anger and rebellion, by Resistance Units, and by selfless and rebellious youth, because of its bankrupt economy and corruption in the government, particularly after the overthrow of the brutal dictatorship of Assad and the collapse of the regime\u2019s \u201cstrategic depth\u201d in the region<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

“The regime is trying to preserve its shameful rule through widespread executions in Iran and by creating fear. Behrouz Ehsani, one of the supporters of the MEK, after learning of his death sentence, said: ‘I will not bargain for my life. I am prepared to give my life for the people of Iran to be free.’\u201d<\/p>\n

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

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Iranian Resistance Leaders Call for End of Tehran Regime at Hill Forum<\/h3>\n

\"Washington-times-logo\"<\/p>\n

The Iranian theocratic government\u2019s hold on power in\u00a0Tehran<\/a>\u00a0has not been this tenuous since the overthrow of the Shah more than 45 years ago. Its economy is in freefall and with the collapse of the Assad regime in Syria,\u00a0Iran<\/a>\u00a0lost one of its major allies in the Middle East, a leading Iranian opposition figure told lawmakers on Capitol Hill Wednesday.<\/p>\n

Maryam Rajavi<\/a>, president-elect of the National Council of Resistance of\u00a0Iran<\/a>, said the situation in\u00a0Iran<\/a>\u00a0today could only be described as explosive.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe mullahs are surrounded on all sides by a society that is filled with anger and rebellion, by resistance units [and] by selfless and rebellious youths,\u201d Mrs.\u00a0Rajavi<\/a>\u00a0said. \u201cThe regime is trying to preserve its shameful rule through executions in\u00a0Iran<\/a>\u00a0and by creating fear.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

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Iran\u2019s \u201cSinking Ship\u201d: Regime MPs Warn of Collapse Amid Economic Turmoil<\/h3>\n

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On February 19, the Iranian regime\u2019s Majlis (Parliament) was the scene of an open battle between different factions. The announcement of the impeachment request for the Minister of Economy, Abdolnasser Hemmati, by 91 members of Parliament was a sign of deep divisions within the ruling structure. Ahmad Nadiri, a member of the Parliament\u2019s presiding board, confirmed on February 19 that the impeachment, after being reviewed by the Economic Commission, had been referred to the presiding board for final decision. At the same time, Hamid-Reza Haji Babaee, the session\u2019s chair, announced that the impeachment would take place on March 2.<\/p>\n

This event reflects widespread dissatisfaction with the government\u2019s handling of the economic crisis. The economic and livelihood crisis, which has burdened people for years, has now reached a breaking point. The power struggle among the representatives mirrors a deeper crisis at the top of the regime.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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

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Khamenei Remains Silent as Iran\u2019s Economic Crisis Fuels Factional Warfare in His Regime<\/h3>\n

\"Hemmati\"<\/p>\n

Last week, amid the power struggle over the incurable economic crises of Iran and the fear of the people\u2019s \u201ctolerance\u201d reaching its limit, a group of parliament members called for the impeachment of Abdolnaser Hemmati, the regime\u2019s Minister of Economy, a move that turned into a new scandal in the factional infighting. MP Hamid Rasaee went as far as saying on February 18: \u201cDo not impeach Mr. Hemmati, prosecute him. That is the only way.\u201d The next day, Ahmad Naderi, a member of the parliament\u2019s presiding board, announced that 91 members had called for the impeachment of Abdolnaser Hemmati, and the impeachment session would be held on Sunday, March 2, 2025.<\/p>\n

This sparked a new crisis that engulfed the desperate Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and his president.<\/p>\n

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

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Behrouz Ehsani and Mehdi Hassani Face Imminent Execution in Iran<\/h3>\n

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Tehran, February 23, 2025 \u2013 Political prisoners Behrouz Ehsani and Mehdi Hassani now face imminent execution after Iran\u2019s Supreme Court rejected their retrial request on Sunday, February 23. The National Council of Resistance of Iran\u00a0(NCRI)<\/a>\u00a0confirmed the two men, held in Ghezel Hesar Prison, are at the edge of the regime\u2019s gallows, convicted on charges tied to their support for the People\u2019s Mojahedin Organization of Iran\u00a0(PMOI\/MEK).<\/a>\u00a0Resistance voices and human rights advocates are sounding the alarm,\u00a0demanding<\/a>\u00a0urgent global action.<\/p>\n

On February 25, Dr. Mai Sato, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Iran, urged the Iranian regime to halt the executions of Behrouz Ehsani and Mehdi Hassani, following reports of torture and unfair trials. In a post on X, she wrote:\u00a0 \u201cI call on the Islamic Republic of Iran to stop the execution of Behrouz Ehsani and Mehdi Hassani,\u201d citing trials marred by forced confessions.<\/p>\n

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

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The Mazraeh-Shadi Gold Mine: A Tale of Exploitation and Corruption<\/h3>\n

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The opaque transfer of the Mazraeh-Shadi gold mine to a Chinese company has left Iranian workers in poverty and deprivation, while Iran\u2019s gold wealth flows into China\u2019s pockets.<\/p>\n

The Mazraeh-Shadi gold mine in Varzeqan is a glaring example of the Iranian regime\u2019s non-transparent dealings with Chinese companies. One of Iran\u2019s most valuable mines was handed over to a foreign operator without a public tender, in clear violation of legal procedures. This secretive transfer has not only deprived local workers of fair wages but also allowed the Chinese company to exert complete control over the mine, preventing Iranian workers from even entering the site.<\/p>\n

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

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Arghavan Fallahi\u2019s Ongoing Detention and Uncertainty<\/h3>\n

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Former political prisoner Arghavan Fallahi remains in a state of limbo one month after her arrest on January 25, 2025, in\u00a0Parand<\/a>, Tehran Province.<\/p>\n

Arghavan Fallahi, who had previously been released from Evin Prison in late 2023, was\u00a0once again detained by security forces<\/a> and transferred to Ward 209.\u00a0Despite her family\u2019s persistent inquiries, judicial and security authorities have remained silent regarding the charges against her and the date of her trial.<\/p>\n

Arghavan Fallahi is being subjected to severe physical and psychological pressure, with interrogators allegedly using torture to extract forced confessions. The continued lack of information and the uncertainty surrounding her case has raised serious concerns about her well-being and fate.<\/p>\n

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

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Nayyereh Behnood Sentenced to Five Years in Prison<\/h3>\n

\"Evin-400\"<\/p>\n

Nayyereh Behnood, a political prisoner held in the women\u2019s ward of Evin Prison, has been sentenced to five years of imprisonment by the Iranian judiciary.<\/p>\n

According to the verdict issued by the Tehran Revolutionary Court, Behnood was convicted on charges of \u201cpropaganda against the state\u201d and \u201ccollusion and assembly through membership in opposition groups\u201d and sentenced to five years in prison.<\/p>\n

Following the verdict, Ms. Behnood submitted a request for acquiescence to the ruling and is currently awaiting the court\u2019s response.<\/p>\n

During her detention<\/a>, she was deprived of fundamental rights, including access to legal counsel, family visits, and phone calls.<\/p>\n

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

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Iran\u2019s Social Security Debt to Medical Centers; Dialysis Patients at Risk of Death<\/h3>\n

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Amid the worsening drug crisis, Azam Panahi Mehr Isalou, the director of Iranian regime\u2019s Kidney Association, warned that disruptions in the treatment of dialysis patients could quickly lead to severe complications and even death.<\/p>\n

In a report by the state-run ILNA news agency, Panahi Mehr stated, \u201cSome medical centers, due to the social security organization\u2019s debts, refuse to accept these patients\u2019 insurance, and the cost of each dialysis session has reached 20 million rials.\u201d<\/p>\n

Panahi Mehr emphasized that the psychological stress caused by high costs and lack of access to treatment has affected the lives of patients and their families. She said, \u201cPatients whose survival depends on dialysis are now facing serious concerns.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

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MEK Supporters in Berlin and Hamburg Protest Executions and Express Solidarity with Political Prisoners<\/h3>\n
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