{"id":329157,"date":"2025-03-04T08:08:38","date_gmt":"2025-03-04T07:08:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/?p=329157"},"modified":"2025-03-04T21:09:39","modified_gmt":"2025-03-04T20:09:39","slug":"iran-news-in-brief-march-4-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/news\/iran-news-in-brief-news\/iran-news-in-brief-march-4-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Iran News in Brief \u2013 March 4, 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Supporters of the Iranian Resistance in Oslo, Norway, held a rally on March 1, 2025<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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

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

US Implements Designation of Yemen’s Houthis as ‘Terrorist Organization’<\/h3>\n

WASHINGTON, March 4 (Reuters) – The U.S. State Department on Tuesday said it was implementing the designation of Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi movement as a “foreign terrorist organization” after President Donald Trump’s\u00a0call for the move earlier this year<\/a>.<\/p>\n

“The Houthis’ activities threaten the security of American civilians and personnel in the Middle East, the safety of our closest regional partners, and the stability of global maritime trade,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement.<\/p>\n

“The United States will not tolerate any country engaging with terrorist organizations like the Houthis in the name of practicing legitimate international business,” he added.<\/p>\n

The move, however, triggered concerns it could impact regional security and worsen Yemen’s humanitarian crisis because importers fear being hit with U.S. sanctions if supplies fall into Houthi hands.<\/p>\n

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

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Treasury Sanctions Head of Online Darknet Marketplace Tied to Fentanyl Sales<\/h3>\n

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WASHINGTON \u2014 Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury\u2019s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned Iran-based\u00a0Behrouz Parsarad\u00a0<\/strong>(Parsarad), the sole administrator of Nemesis, an online darknet marketplace, which was the subject of an international law enforcement operation and was taken down in 2024. Prior to its takedown by law enforcement, narcotics traffickers and cybercriminals openly traded illegal drugs and services on Nemesis, which was designed with built-in money laundering features. Nemesis had over 30,000 active users and 1,000 vendors and facilitated the sale of nearly $30 million worth of drugs around the world between 2021 and 2024, including in the United States. \u00a0Today\u2019s sanctions designation is OFAC\u2019s first action as a member of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)-led interagency Joint Criminal Opioid and Darknet Enforcement (JCODE) Team.<\/p>\n

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

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UPDATE: 5:00 PM CET<\/span><\/p>\n

Time to Hold Iran Accountable for Human Rights Violations<\/h3>\n

\"AmericanThinker_23102020\"<\/p>\n

The Iranian regime\u2019s blatant disregard for human rights and its deliberate use of executions to silence political dissent demand urgent international attention. The case of Mehdi Hassani (not to be confused with MSNBC\u2019s Mehdi Hassan), a political prisoner facing imminent execution in Qezel-Hesar Prison, serves as a glaring example of Iran\u2019s oppressive judicial practices and the latest illustration of the Islamic Republic\u2019s systemic use of violence as a tool to stamp out dissent.<\/p>\n

Despite the Supreme Court of Iran\u2019s previous decision to accept Hassani\u2019s retrial request, recent reports indicate that this request has now been rejected, putting his life in immediate danger. This case is not an isolated incident but, rather, a continuation of Tehran\u2019s long-standing pattern of executing political prisoners under fabricated charges. It is imperative that the international community intervenes immediately to halt this injustice and hold Iran accountable for its egregious human rights violations.<\/p>\n

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

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Iran Approaches Change: Resistance, Internal Crisis, and Global Reaction<\/h3>\n

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The Islamic Republic of Iran is experiencing one of its most critical periods in more than four decades. Economic collapse, widespread internal discontent, and regional changes\u2014including the fall of the regime in Syria\u2014have significantly weakened Iran\u2019s position in the Middle East.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n

At the same time, the Iranian opposition, particularly the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), has intensified its efforts to overthrow the regime in Tehran. During a significant congressional hearing in the United States, opposition leader Maryam Rajavi emphasized the need for international support for the Iranian people’s struggle for freedom and democracy.<\/p>\n

Maryam Rajavi, the President-elect of the NCRI, describes the current situation as “explosive” and highlights the role of youth and the resistance movement in the fight against the regime. Furthermore, she stresses that the authorities rely on widespread executions and fear-mongering to maintain control.<\/p>\n

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

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

Economy Minister Ousted in Latest Bout of Infighting within Iran\u2019s Regime<\/h3>\n

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

Despite all of the efforts by the Iranian regime’s president, Masoud Pezeshkian, to prevent the impeachment of his Minister of Economy, on Sunday, March 2, Abdolnaser Hemmati was ousted with 182 votes in favor. Hemmati was removed while Pezeshkian, from the moment the issue began to the very last day, spared no effort in groveling, pleading, and flattering to keep him in the position of Minister of Economy.<\/p>\n

As soon as the impeachment was proposed on Tuesday, February 18, without prior coordination or notice, he rushed himself to the Ministry of Economy building and said: \u201cAll banking, currency, and monetary policies have been decided in the meeting of the heads of the three branches, and it has nothing to do with the Minister of Economy. If we are at fault, then we are at fault; come and arrest us\u201d (ISNA, February 19). This turned into a new scandal in the parliament, and MP Hamid Rasaee played it on the parliament\u2019s loudspeakers, lashing out at him.<\/p>\n

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

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The Escalation of Protests in Iran Against Looting and Corruption Amidst A Severe Economic Crisis<\/h3>\n

\"Retirees<\/p>\n

Iran is witnessing a growing wave of popular protests reflecting public outrage against the regime\u2019s oppressive policies and the plundering of the nation\u2019s wealth to benefit its corrupt institutions and fund its foreign projects. In recent days, retirees, telecommunications employees, steel workers, and education ministry applicants have taken to the streets to voice their opposition to the worsening economic situation and widespread corruption within the regime.<\/p>\n

In\u00a0Shiraz, retirees staged a protest in front of the governor\u2019s office, demanding their living rights and rejecting the regime\u2019s policies that have led to their economic hardship.<\/p>\n

In\u00a0Zanjan, telecommunications retirees gathered in front of the company\u2019s central office, chanting slogans against the\u00a0organization for the Execution of Imam Khomeini\u2019s Order (EIKO) and the\u00a0Cooperation Foundation of the IRGC, which systematically loot their funds through organized plundering schemes.<\/p>\n

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

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Helene Carreiras to Simay Azadi: Iranian Women Empower the Global Fight for Justice<\/h3>\n
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Helene Carreiras on Iranian Women\u2019s Fight for Freedom | IWD 2022 Conference<\/div><\/div>
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