{"id":330254,"date":"2025-04-08T07:12:02","date_gmt":"2025-04-08T06:12:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/?p=330254"},"modified":"2025-04-08T22:17:25","modified_gmt":"2025-04-08T21:17:25","slug":"iran-news-in-brief-april-8-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/news\/iran-news-in-brief-news\/iran-news-in-brief-april-8-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Iran News in Brief \u2013 April 8, 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Oil
Oil workers in Lavan Island, southern Iran, protested on April 7, 2025<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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

UPDATE: 11:00 PM CEST<\/strong><\/p>\n

Iran on Cusp of Deployable Nuclear Weapons<\/h3>\n

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

Speaking before a U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on March 25, 2025, U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard stated in her opening remarks that “The IC continues to assess that\u00a0Iran is not building a nuclear weapon<\/a>\u00a0and Supreme Leader Khamenei has not authorized the nuclear weapons program he suspended in 2003.”<\/p>\n

Gabbard\u2019s denial of an active and accelerating Iranian regime nuclear weapons program echoes a similar startling absence of significant threat assessment of Iran\u2019s nuclear weapons program in the\u00a0March 2025 Intelligence Community Annual Threat Assessment<\/a>, where the barest of mentions is made about it, “Tehran will try to leverage its robust missile capability and expanded nuclear program, and its diplomatic outreach to regional states and U.S. rivals to bolster its regional influence and ensure regime survival.”<\/p>\n

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

\n

UPDATE: 9:30 PM CEST<\/strong><\/p>\n

EU Reaffirms Opposition to Iran\u2019s Nuclear Escalation in UN Disarmament Commission Statement<\/h3>\n

\"european-eu-flags\"<\/p>\n

In a statement delivered<\/a> at the United Nations Disarmament Commission on April 7, the European Union reiterated its commitment to ensuring that the Iranian regime does not acquire nuclear weapons.<\/p>\n

The EU delegation, speaking on behalf of all 27 member states and aligned partners, declared: \u201cIt is a key security priority for the EU to ensure that Iran does not acquire a nuclear weapon.\u201d<\/p>\n

The statement voiced \u201cdeep concern\u201d over the clerical regime\u2019s continued nuclear expansion and lack of cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), describing Tehran\u2019s actions as carrying \u201cvery significant proliferation risks\u201d with \u201cno credible civilian justification.\u201d<\/p>\n

Citing the Iranian regime\u2019s failure to return to its commitments under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the EU called on Tehran to \u201creverse its alarming nuclear trajectory\u201d and immediately rejoin non-proliferation commitments, including the IAEA\u2019s Additional Protocol.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe urge Iran to return to the provisional implementation of the Additional Protocol and resume implementation of all JCPOA-related monitoring and verification measures,\u201d the statement read.<\/p>\n

The European bloc also emphasized that Tehran\u2019s refusal to cooperate with international oversight is pushing the region closer to a crisis: \u201cThe risk of further nuclear proliferation in the region is increasing due to Iran\u2019s escalating nuclear trajectory.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

UPDATE: 11:00 AM CEST<\/strong><\/p>\n

EU Extends Sanctions Against Iranian Officials<\/h3>\n

\"european-union-extertnal-action\"<\/p>\n

The European Union has extended its restrictive measures against Iranian officials accused of human rights violations for another year, following a review of Council Decision 2011\/235\/CFSP.<\/a> The decision, officially adopted on April 4, 2025, and published on April 7, will now be in effect until April 13, 2026.<\/p>\n

The updated sanctions list includes amendments concerning 20 individuals, whose entries have been revised, while two individuals have been removed. Those who remain sanctioned are accused of involvement in systematic violations of human rights, including the suppression of protests, issuing death sentences against demonstrators, and facilitating cyberattacks targeting dissidents.<\/p>\n

The European Council emphasized its commitment to addressing Iran\u2019s human rights abuses, citing documented cases of torture, imprisonment, and extrajudicial killings.<\/p>\n

\n

UPDATE: 8:30 AM CEST<\/strong><\/p>\n

German Foreign Office on the Extension of the Fact-Finding Mission’s Mandate on the Human Rights Situation in Iran<\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Once again, the UN Human Rights Council demonstrates that the international community is not losing sight of the serious human rights violations in Iran.<\/p>\n

A large majority of member states extended the mandate of the Fact-Finding Mission, established two and a half years ago, reaffirming that the work of the evidence-gathering and documentation mechanism will continue.<\/p>\n

The Fact-Finding Mission found that the Iranian regime is responsible for serious human rights violations, including crimes against humanity. Numerous witnesses were interviewed, documents were analyzed, and legally admissible evidence was collected. Germany has worked closely with the mission in this regard.<\/p>\n

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

\n

Recruited by Gangs, Exploited by Iran<\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

As darkness enveloped Stockholm one evening last May, the city set into its nocturnal rhythm and its criminal underworld came alive.<\/p>\n

In a home in V\u00e4ster\u00e5s, a lakeside city 60 miles west of the capital, a mother completed her nighttime routine, comforted by the sight of her 15-year-old son safely in bed. But, just before midnight, the teenager silently rose and slipped out.<\/p>\n

A job awaited him, one he believed would be over before daybreak, well ahead of his national math examination.<\/p>\n

Outside, an Uber arrived. Someone else had arranged the transportation for him, court and police documents show. The documents, which include texts he exchanged, detail his journey.<\/p>\n

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

\n

UPDATE: 7:00 AM CEST<\/strong><\/p>\n

Message to the Conference in Estonia with the Presence of Members of Parliament<\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Maryam Rajavi’s message: “One year ago, the majority of members of the Parliament of Estonia issued a statement\u00a0in support of the Iranian Resistance for freedom and democracy.<\/p>\n

“This statement, signed by the Parliament\u2019s President and the heads of eight committees, is a valuable document that reflects the ties and common values between the people of our two countries in the face of religious fascism and in their commitment to universal values.
\nThe majority of the Parliament of Estonia emphasized: \u201cGiven that the Iranian regime has blocked all political avenues for change, the free world must recognize the right of the Iranian people to rise up and the right of the\u00a0PMOI<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0Resistance Units to fight against the Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).\u201d<\/p>\n

“This is exactly the right emphasis in Resolution 1148 of the U.S. House of Representatives, sponsored by the majority of members of Congress from both parties. The Belgian Senate and the Spanish Senate have passed similar resolutions in the past year.”<\/p>\n

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

\n

Iran Human Rights Monitor \u2013 Monthly Report: March 2025<\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

In March 2025, the Islamic Republic of Iran continued its systematic use of capital punishment at an alarming rate. According to Iran Human Rights Monitor\u2019s findings, at least 74 individuals, including four women, were executed across the country during the month. This wave of executions coincided with the start of the Iranian New Year and the holy month of Ramadan, underscoring the regime\u2019s persistent disregard for fundamental human rights and international appeals to end the death penalty.<\/p>\n

Key Highlights<\/strong><\/h4>\n