{"id":329800,"date":"2025-03-25T09:18:15","date_gmt":"2025-03-25T08:18:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/?p=329800"},"modified":"2025-03-25T17:38:24","modified_gmt":"2025-03-25T16:38:24","slug":"iran-news-in-brief-march-25-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/news\/iran-news-in-brief-news\/iran-news-in-brief-march-25-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Iran News in Brief \u2013 March 25, 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Supporters of the Iranian Resistance in Geneva held a rally on March 19, 2025<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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

UPDATE: 5:30 PM CET<\/strong><\/p>\n

U.S. Demands Iraq Regain Control of Iran-Backed Militias<\/h3>\n

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In a firm statement<\/a> on Monday, the U.S. State Department called on the Iraqi government to assert full control over all armed forces within its borders, specifically the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), many of whose factions are aligned with the Iranian regime.<\/p>\n

State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce emphasized that, \u201cThe Government of Iraq must ensure it has command and control of all security forces within its borders, including the PMF. These forces must respond to Iraq\u2019s commander-in-chief, not to Iran.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bruce also voiced concern over the violent and destabilizing role played by Iran-aligned groups within the PMF, including entities designated by the U.S. as foreign terrorist organizations. She noted that these groups act against Iraqi sovereignty and pose a threat to regional stability, often operating with impunity under Tehran\u2019s influence.<\/p>\n

The statement comes amid political deadlock in the Iraqi parliament over legislation that critics say would entrench the power of Iran-backed militias rather than reform them. The U.S. reiterated its call for accountability, urging Baghdad to rein in these groups and enforce national law.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe President has no higher priority than the safety of U.S. personnel,\u201d Bruce added, warning that the United States will defend its interests and personnel if necessary.<\/p>\n

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Treasury Sanctions Additional Iranian Intelligence Officers Involved in the Probable Death and Cover-Up of Robert Levinson<\/h3>\n

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WASHINGTON \u2014 Today, the Department of the Treasury\u2019s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), in coordination with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), is imposing sanctions on three Iranian Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS) officials who were involved in the abduction, detention, and probable death of former FBI Special Agent Robert A. \u201cBob\u201d Levinson. \u00a0The individuals designated today, Reza Amiri Moghadam, Gholamhossein Mohammadnia, and Taqi Daneshvar, all played a role in Mr. Levinson\u2019s abduction, probable death, and Iran\u2019s efforts to cover up or obfuscate their responsibility. \u00a0This action follows the December 2020 OFAC designations of two Iranian MOIS officers, Mohammad Baseri and Ahmad Khazai, who acted in their capacity as MOIS officers in Mr. Levinson\u2019s abduction, detention, and probable death.<\/p>\n

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

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

Iran Sanctions Come to China<\/h3>\n

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Judge a sanctions campaign by its targets. The Biden Administration, which allowed Iran\u2019s oil exports to soar from 300,000 barrels a day in 2020 to 1.7 million a day in 2024, played whack-a-mole, sanctioning front companies for PR purposes. On Thursday, by contrast, the Trump Administration sanctioned a Chinese refinery that has bought some $500 million in Iranian oil.<\/p>\n

Designating the refiner, Shandong Shouguang Luqing Petrochemical Co., is the first real proof that \u201cmaximum pressure\u201d sanctions are on their way back. That\u2019s because the Iranian oil-export problem is really a Chinese import problem. About 90% of Iran\u2019s illicit oil exports go to China, which receives a large discount.<\/p>\n

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

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US Airstrikes Targeting Yemen\u2019s Houthi Rebels Kill at Least 2 People, Group Says<\/h3>\n

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) \u2014 U.S. airstrikes targeting\u00a0Yemen\u2019s Houthi rebels<\/a>\u00a0pounded sites across the country into early Tuesday, with the group saying one attack in the capital killed at least two people and wounded more than a dozen others.<\/p>\n

The American strikes on the rebels, who\u00a0threaten maritime trade<\/a>\u00a0and Israel, entered their 10th day without any sign of stopping. They are part of a campaign by U.S. President Donald Trump targeting the rebel group while also trying to pressure\u00a0Iran<\/a>, the Houthis\u2019 main benefactor.<\/p>\n

So far, the U.S. has not offered any specifics on the sites it is striking, though Trump\u2019s national security adviser Mike Waltz claimed the attacks have \u201ctaken out key Houthi leadership, including their head missileer.\u201d That\u2019s something so far that\u2019s not been acknowledged by the Houthis, though the rebels have downplayed their losses in the past and exaggerated their attacks attempting to target American warships.<\/p>\n

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

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

What Khamenei Didn\u2019t Say in His Nowruz Address<\/h3>\n

\"Iranian<\/p>\n

The deadly defeats of Iran\u2019s regime in the Persian Calendar year 1403 (March 2024\u2013March 2025) have been so clear, frequent, and incurable that regime supreme leader Ali Khamenei was forced to begin both his Nowruz (Persian New Year) message and speech by addressing them.\u00a0In his Nowruz message, Khamenei made a meaningful comparison: \u201cThe year 1403 was an eventful year. The incidents that occurred repeatedly this year were similar to those of the year 1360 and brought hardship and suffering for us.\u201d<\/p>\n

The \u201ceventful\u201d year 1360 (1981) began on June 20 when regime founder Ruhollah Khomeini brutally crushed a peaceful demonstration of 500,000 people, executing scores of young girls and boys, and permanently lost his regime\u2019s legitimacy. That year, People\u2019s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI\/MEK) members and activists broke the myth of the bloodthirsty regime on September 27, with the slogan \u201cKhomeini your end has come,\u201d marking a turning point in the revolutionary resistance to overthrow the entirety of the mullahs\u2019 regime.<\/p>\n

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

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Escalating Violence Against Women in Iran: Rising Cases and Lack of Legal Protections<\/h3>\n

\"Iran:<\/p>\n

Escalating Violence Against Women in Iran: In the first eight months of 2024, over 28,000 women in Tehran sought medical examinations at forensic medical centers due to injuries sustained from physical altercations, a significant portion of which experts attribute to domestic violence. According to Omidreza Kargar-Bideh, director of Tehran\u2019s forensic medicine organization, 74,845 people visited these centers due to violent incidents, marking a 2.5% increase compared to the same timeframe in the previous year.<\/p>\n

Among those seeking forensic medical evaluations, 46,528 were men, while 28,317 were women. The rise in cases involving women highlights the ongoing issue of gender-based violence in Iran. Despite obtaining forensic medical reports as evidence, victims of domestic abuse face significant legal obstacles, as Iranian courts\u00a0do not criminalize domestic violence<\/a>\u00a0against women due to legal loopholes within the country\u2019s judicial system.<\/p>\n

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

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The Growing Exodus of Faculty Members from Iran\u2019s Universities: A Threat to the Future of Higher Education and Healthcare<\/h3>\n

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The ongoing exodus of faculty members from Iran\u2019s universities, particularly medical institutions, has become a source of great concern. Mohammad Jalili, Head of the Faculty Recruitment Center at Iran\u2019s Ministry of Health and Medical Education, has warned that this alarming trend is now impacting the country\u2019s major universities. Professors who leave the academic system often either seek employment in their respective fields of expertise or, in many cases, emigrate to other countries.<\/p>\n

In an interview with the Shafqna website on March 23, Jalili described the situation as \u201cvery worrying.\u201d He emphasized that university professors are considered the intellectual elite of society. \u201cThese individuals represent a significant investment made by the country, and we cannot afford to lose them easily,\u201d Jalili stated.<\/p>\n

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

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Tehran\u2019s Air Pollution Crisis: A Growing Threat to Public Health<\/h3>\n

\"iran-tehran-air-pollution-19022021\"<\/p>\n

According to the latest data from the Tehran Air Quality Control Company, residents of Tehran experienced clean air for only seven days between March 20, 2024, and March 20, 2025. This means that, on average, Tehran\u2019s citizens had just one day of clean air every 52 days.\u00a0The state-run news agency IRNA warned on Sunday, March 23, citing statistics from the Tehran Air Quality Control Company, that the number of days with clean air in the capital has been declining significantly in recent years. IRNA reported that while Tehran had only 10 days of clean air in 2023, this figure dropped to seven in 2024.<\/p>\n

The statistics further reveal that the majority of the year was marked by air quality levels deemed unhealthy for sensitive groups and, at times, for the entire population. This means that for a considerable portion of the year, Tehran\u2019s residents were exposed to hazardous air conditions.<\/p>\n

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

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Repeated School Closures in Iran<\/h3>\n

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Ali Farhadi, the spokesperson for the Iranian regime\u2019s Ministry of Education, warned that repeated school closures in Iran have had a negative impact on students\u2019 learning quality.<\/p>\n

On Saturday, March 22, in an interview with the official IRNA news agency, Farhadi stated that each day of school closure costs approximately 10 trillion rials, and online education cannot be an effective substitute for in-person learning.<\/p>\n

He added that frequent school closures and reduced in-person teaching time have significantly harmed students\u2019 learning quality and have prevented them from achieving satisfactory educational outcomes.<\/p>\n

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

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Heidelberg, March 22, 2025: MEK Supporters Hold Exhibition to Protest Human Rights Violations in Iran<\/h3>\n
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Heidelberg, March 22: MEK supporters held an exhibition protesting Human Rights Violations in Iran.<\/div><\/div>
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