{"id":329131,"date":"2025-03-03T07:17:51","date_gmt":"2025-03-03T06:17:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/?p=329131"},"modified":"2025-03-03T12:03:09","modified_gmt":"2025-03-03T11:03:09","slug":"iran-news-in-brief-march-3-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/news\/iran-news-in-brief-news\/iran-news-in-brief-march-3-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Iran News in Brief \u2013 March 3, 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Supporters
Supporters of the Iranian Resistance in Heidelberg, Germany, held a bookstand on March 1, 2025<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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

UPDATE: 12:00 PM CET<\/span><\/p>\n

US Moving in the Right Direction on Iran Policy, but Still Too Wary of Regime Change<\/h3>\n

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

In recent remarks at a\u00a0recent hearing<\/a>\u00a0at the Congressional Iran Human Rights and Democracy Caucus, the Iranian opposition leader\u00a0Maryam Rajavi<\/a>\u00a0observed that \u201cthe situation of the Iranian society is explosive\u201d and that Iran\u2019s theocratic dictatorship \u201chas never been so weak and fragile\u201d since it was established in the wake of the 1979 revolution. Even as she offered his assessment to Congress, the White House was in the process of actively implementing a renewed strategy of \u201cmaximum pressure\u201d on the Iranian regime, which promises to increase its fragility even further.<\/p>\n

The stated goal of this second iteration of maximum pressure is to reduce Iran\u2019s energy exports to zero and ultimately compel the regime to enter into what President Trump has called a \u201cverifiable nuclear peace agreement.\u201d The strategy itself is an admirable departure from Western policies which tend to prioritize the \u201ccarrot\u201d over the \u201cstick\u201d by offering Tehran ample concessions in exchange for a limited scaling-back of its malign activities. But the aim of that strategy is unfortunately more of the same, and reflects a conspicuous lack of ambition, respective to the opportunities at hand.<\/p>\n

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

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

Iran\u2019s Power Crisis Reveals The Regime\u2019s Incurable Woes<\/h3>\n

\"iran<\/p>\n

Iran\u2019s power outage crisis and the shutdown of the country amidst freezing temperatures, coupled with regime president Masoud Pezeshkian\u2019s sermonizing about conserving energy, have even drawn criticism from within the regime itself. The state-run Jahan Sanat newspaper wrote in its March 1 edition: \u201cWith less than 20 days left until the end of winter, electricity is still the country\u2019s primary issue. The president is calling on people to conserve energy\u2026 But the realities tell a different story.\u201d<\/p>\n

The \u201cdifferent story\u201d is the impasse of the bankrupt regime and its incurable crises. Following the defeat of supreme leader Ali Khamenei\u2019s warmongering policies in the region, these crises have emerged in various fields, including the shutdown of the country and the expansion of internal and social crises.<\/p>\n

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

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Ration Cards: A Failed Solution in Iran\u2019s Crisis-Stricken Economy<\/h3>\n

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While Iran\u2019s economy struggles with an unprecedented inflation crisis, the mullahs\u2019 regime has once again turned to the policy of distributing ration cards. This move, promoted under the guise of supporting low-income groups, is a clear indication of the failure of the regime\u2019s economic policies. Experience has shown that such measures do not solve people\u2019s livelihood problems and, in the long run, only deepen economic and social crises.<\/p>\n

A ration card is a digital version of the traditional coupon or support basket system, where instead of distributing physical goods or paper coupons, electronic credit is used. This transformation represents a shift from a traditional model to a technology-driven approach to welfare policies.<\/p>\n

According to the claims of the clerical regime, under this plan, specific credit is allocated to some household heads, which can be used without the need for physical documents or paper coupons\u2014just through their national ID number and bank card. These individuals can visit designated stores to purchase essential goods such as meat and poultry.<\/p>\n

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

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Iran\u2019s Economic Crisis Deepens as Inflation and Low Wages Squeeze Workers<\/h3>\n

\"Retirees<\/p>\n

Journalists and labor rights activists in Iran report a sharp increase in installment and single-piece purchases of essential goods, such as food and clothing, following a new wave of price hikes. These price increases, triggered by the rising exchange rate of the dollar since early February 2025, have placed additional strain on Iranian households, forcing many to adopt desperate measures to meet their daily needs.<\/p>\n

At the same time, labor activists have expressed strong dissatisfaction with the 1404 (March 2025\u2013March 2026) Nowruz bonus allocated to workers. Rahmatollah Norouzi, a representative from Aliabad-e Katul in Iran\u2019s parliament, criticized the three million toman Nowruz bonus, stating that it is wholly inadequate to address the severe financial hardships faced by Iranian workers and employees.<\/p>\n

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

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Severe Inflation and Economic Instability Overshadow Iran\u2019s Nowruz Market<\/h3>\n

\"iran-andimeshk-market\"<\/p>\n

Iranian media have reported extensively on the severe recession and rising prices overshadowing the Nowruz market\u00a0(the Persian New Year which starts on March 21),\u00a0noting that demand has dropped to a minimum in the final days of the year. The state-run website Etemad Online, in a report titled\u00a0\u201cNowruz Nuts More Expensive Than Gold,\u201d\u00a0wrote that weak government oversight and insufficient support for domestic producers, along with excessive exports of certain nuts such as pistachios, have exacerbated price hikes ahead of Nowruz.<\/p>\n

Etemad Online reported that the price of nuts has reached 16.5 million rials per kilogram (approximately $17). Meanwhile, the minimum wage for a worker supporting two children is around $116.<\/p>\n

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

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Copenhagen Rally: MEK Supporters Condemn Death Sentences, Call for Release of Political Prisoners<\/h3>\n
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Copenhagen Rally: MEK Supporters Condemn Death Sentences, Call for Release of Political Prisoners<\/div><\/div>
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