{"id":329459,"date":"2025-03-14T09:20:28","date_gmt":"2025-03-14T08:20:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/?p=329459"},"modified":"2025-03-14T20:04:30","modified_gmt":"2025-03-14T19:04:30","slug":"iran-news-in-brief-march-14-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/news\/iran-news-in-brief-news\/iran-news-in-brief-march-14-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Iran News in Brief \u2013 March 14, 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Employees and workers of the Iran Communication Company went on strike on March 11, 2025<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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

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

Turkish Police Detain 5 for Allegedly Spying for Iran<\/h3>\n

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Five people have been detained in police operations across three provinces in Turkey on accusations of engaging in espionage for Iran, the state-run TRT Haber reported on Friday.\u00a0The suspects were detained in simultaneous operations in \u0130stanbul, Antalya, and Mersin following a joint investigation by the National Intelligence Organization and the \u0130stanbul Chief Public Prosecutor\u2019s Office.<\/p>\n

Prosecutors accuse the suspects of gathering intelligence on military bases and critical locations in Turkey and abroad and relaying the information to the Iranian intelligence service, the Intelligence Organization of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).<\/p>\n

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

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

Holt to Newsmax: Be Very Concerned About Iran<\/h3>\n

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Retired U.S. Air Force Brig.\u00a0On Tuesday, Gen. Blaine Holt told\u00a0Newsmax<\/a> that<\/span>\u00a0“we need to be very concerned” about Iran.<\/p>\n

When asked on “American Agenda<\/a>” about the likelihood of Iran producing a nuclear weapon, Holt responded, “We need to be very concerned. This has gone far longer than it ever should have.<\/p>\n

“And it was all started in terms of the diplomacy on this fake” Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, commonly referred to as the Iran nuclear deal, “that John Kerry brokered, which all that did was slow them down their path to get this done.”<\/p>\n

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

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

The IRGC\u2019s Fuel Smuggling Mafia<\/h3>\n

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Amid the power struggle and the impeachment battle of Abdolnaser Hemmati, the Iranian regime\u2019s minister of economy, the issue of large-scale fuel smuggling has resurfaced. On February 26, Iranian regime president Masoud Pezeshkian said, \u201cWho is responsible for taking this massive amount of reserves out of the country? It is not possible for someone to smuggle diesel by hand or in small barrels across the border. Such large-scale smuggling requires an extensive network, so it must be clarified who is involved in this cycle\u201d (Jamaran website, February 26, 2025).<\/p>\n

Even if it is unclear to others who is involved in this cycle, Pezeshkian knows well. He understands that the fuel smuggling corruption is linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the military arm of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, for whose longevity Pezeshkian prays daily.<\/p>\n

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

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Iran\u2019s Nursing Crisis: Low Wages, Heavy Workloads, and Mass Migration<\/h3>\n

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The\u00a0ongoing crisis<\/a>\u00a0in Iran\u2019s healthcare system is pushing nurses to the brink. Low wages, excessive workloads, and poor working conditions have led to a mass exodus of healthcare professionals seeking better opportunities abroad.<\/p>\n

The Iranian regime has kept\u00a0nurses\u2019 salaries<\/a>\u00a0below the poverty line while\u00a0increasing their workload<\/a>\u00a0by reducing the number of hospital staff. As a result, many nurses are leaving their jobs, switching professions, or migrating to other countries.<\/p>\n

According to official data from the Ministry of Health, approximately 1,800 nurses\u00a0leave their jobs<\/a>\u00a0in Iran each year. A report in the state-run newspaper\u00a0Vatan-e Emrooz<\/em>\u00a0(February 19, 2025) acknowledges the worsening situation, stating:<\/p>\n

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

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Iran: Rising Inflation and Exchange Rates, Economy on the Brink of Collapse<\/h3>\n

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According to the latest official report from the Iranian regime\u2019s Statistical Center, the inflation rate in February has broken the record for the past 12 months, with the monthly inflation rate surpassing 4% for the first time in a year.<\/p>\n

Beyond this year\u2019s inflation, data extracted from reports indicate a continued rise in inflation during the first six months of the next year. This suggests that the value of the U.S. dollar will continue to increase against the Iranian rial, as one of the fundamental methods for calculating the intrinsic value of the dollar is based on the difference in inflation rates between Iran and the U.S.<\/p>\n

According to the latest report from Iran\u2019s Statistical Center on February inflation, the prices of goods and services used by the public have increased by 4.1% compared to November 2024. This level of price surge has been unprecedented in the past year.<\/p>\n

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

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The Decline of Iranian Workers\u2019 Purchasing Power<\/h3>\n

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The state-run ILNA news agency reported that the ever-widening gap between the minimum wage and the cost of living has reached alarming levels. It stated that the officially announced figure of 235 million rials (approximately $248) as the minimum cost of living does not even cover half of the living expenses in medium or large cities this year.\u00a0ILNA, quoting labor activist Nader Moradi, stated that a comparison between the minimum wage in 2007 and 2024 highlights a dramatic decline in workers\u2019 purchasing power.<\/p>\n

He explained that in 2007, minimum-wage workers could afford to buy a full gold coin with their salary. However, today, their wages barely cover less than half of a quarter of a gold coin.<\/p>\n

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

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Wave of Protests in Iran: Public Outcry Against Poverty and Repression<\/h3>\n

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A new wave of public protests has erupted across Iranian cities, as citizens continue to demonstrate against economic hardship and state repression. On Wednesday, March 12, 2025, people from various social groups\u2014including workers, employees, healthcare personnel, people with disabilities, and students\u2014took to the streets, voicing their anger over poverty, skyrocketing inflation, and government inefficiency.\u00a0These protests not only reflect the depth of Iran\u2019s economic crisis but also highlight the widening gap between the people and a regime that refuses to tolerate dissent, responding instead with brutal repression.<\/p>\n

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

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Gothenburg, March 11, 2025: MEK Supporters Rally in Support of the \u2018No to Executions Tuesdays\u2019 Campaign<\/h3>\n
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Gothenburg, March 11: MEK Supporters Rally in Support of the 'No to Executions Tuesdays' Campaign<\/div><\/div>
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