{"id":330532,"date":"2025-04-15T06:23:58","date_gmt":"2025-04-15T05:23:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/?p=330532"},"modified":"2025-04-15T18:53:41","modified_gmt":"2025-04-15T17:53:41","slug":"iran-news-in-brief-april-15-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/news\/iran-news-in-brief-news\/iran-news-in-brief-april-15-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Iran News in Brief \u2013 April 15, 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"
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IRIB retirees in Tehran, Iran’s capital, protested on April 15, 2025<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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

UPDATE: 7:30 PM CEST<\/strong><\/p>\n

Trump Envoy Demands Iran Eliminate Nuclear Programme in Apparent U-Turn<\/h3>\n

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Donald Trump\u2019s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, has announced\u00a0Iran<\/a> must totally eliminate its nuclear programme, seeming to reverse the policy he had articulated on Fox News only 12 hours earlier that would have allowed Iran to enrich uranium at a low level for civilian use.\u00a0The switch to a more hardline policy is likely to make it much harder for the US to reach a negotiated agreement with Tehran, bringing back the threat of an attack on Iran\u2019s nuclear sites.<\/p>\n

In a further switch, it was agreed that the next round of indirect US-Iran talks, due to start on Saturday, will continue to be in Oman and the venue would not switch to Italy as proposed by the US.<\/p>\n

In a\u00a0statement posted to social media on Tuesday<\/a>\u00a0Witkoff said: \u201cA deal with Iran will only be completed if it is a Trump deal. Any final arrangement must set in place a framework for peace, stability and prosperity in the Middle East \u2013 meaning that Iran must stop and eliminate its nuclear enrichment and weaponisation program. It is imperative for the world that we create a tough fair deal that will endure, and that is what President Trump has asked me to do.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

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UPDATE: 1:30 PM CEST<\/strong><\/p>\n

Iran Is Playing for Time in the US Nuclear Talks<\/h3>\n

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Over the weekend, the US and Iran held opening talks in Oman on Teheran\u2019s nuclear programme. With the first round concluded, the Iranian regime\u2019s position on the negotiations is becoming clearer. The Islamic regime, which prides itself on its strategic patience, intends to buy time while avoiding any major and irreversible concessions. Whether Donald Trump\u2019s administration will prove willing to accommodate Iran\u2019s demands is another matter entirely.<\/p>\n

Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Ismail Baqaei said on Sunday that Iran would refuse to discuss anything other than the nuclear programme in the talks. Tehran, Baqaei said, \u2018will not have any talks with the American side on any other issue.\u2019<\/p>\n

One of the major criticisms of the 2015 nuclear deal (known as the JCPOA) negotiated by Barack Obama\u2019s administration was that it failed to address other aspects of Iran\u2019s drive for regional hegemony. Specifically, the Iranian ballistic missile program and Tehran\u2019s support for an array of proxy political-military organisations across the Middle East were left out of the discussion.<\/p>\n

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

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UPDATE: 8:00 AM CEST<\/strong><\/p>\n

UK Sanctions Swedish-Based Iranian Criminal Network Over Plots in Europe<\/h3>\n

LONDON, April 14 (Reuters) – The British government on Monday sanctioned what it said was a Swedish-based Iranian criminal network and its leader, citing the group’s role in attacks against Israeli and Jewish targets across Europe.<\/p>\n

Britain imposed an asset freeze on the group known as “Foxtrot Network” and an asset freeze and travel ban on Rawa Majid, who the government said was in charge of the network.<\/p>\n

“The UK has targeted this criminal network and its leader, Rawa Majid, due to their involvement in violence against Jewish and Israeli targets in Europe on behalf of the Iranian regime. The UK will not tolerate these threats,” Foreign Minister David Lammy said in an emailed statement.<\/p>\n

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

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

Congresswoman Tenney Leads Letter Praising President Trump\u2019s Commitment to Countering Iran\u2019s Nuclear Proliferation<\/h3>\n

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Washington, DC \u2013 Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24)<\/strong>\u00a0today led\u00a0eight\u00a0of her colleagues in sending a letter to President Trump, commending\u00a0his efforts to dismantle Iran\u2019s nuclear weapons program.\u00a0The letter also expresses support for the President\u2019s National Security Presidential Memorandum 2 and the renewed Maximum Pressure Campaign against Iran.<\/p>\n

Additional signers of the letter include Representatives Derek Schmidt (KS-2), Barry Loudermilk (GA-11), Rudy Yakym (IN-2), Abraham Hamadeh (AZ-08), Burgess Owens (UT-4), Michael Baumgartner (WA-5), Mike Bost (IL-12), and Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-1).<\/p>\n

This letter comes as the Trump administration prepares to engage in nuclear talks with Iran over the weekend of April 12, 2025. It reaffirms Congressional support for the President\u2019s position that Iran can never be allowed to acquire or continue developing nuclear weapons.<\/p>\n

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

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Khamenei\u2019s \u201cMaximum Readiness\u201d Rhetoric: A Hollow Display Amid Secret Talks with the U.S.<\/h3>\n

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Amid negotiations with the United States over Tehran\u2019s nuclear program, the Iranian regime\u2019s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei appeared before top commanders of his armed forces on April 14, 2025, calling for \u201cmaximum readiness\u201d and praising what he described as \u201cunparalleled national progress.\u201d But behind the theatrical tone of defiance lies a regime shaken by international pressure, economic collapse, and growing internal dissent.<\/p>\n

Khamenei\u2019s speech, published on his official website, reflects a clear contradiction between reality and rhetoric. While claiming that \u201cthe enemies are frustrated by the Islamic Republic\u2019s advancements,\u201d he simultaneously admitted to \u201cserious problems in the country\u2019s economic sectors\u201d\u2014a rare acknowledgment of the dire domestic conditions crippling the regime\u2019s foundations.<\/p>\n

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

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U.S. Senator Cory Booker: \u201cYou Are Not Alone\u2014We Will Bend the Arc Toward Justice\u201d<\/h3>\n
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Simay Azadi Exclusive: Cory Booker Stands with Iran\u2019s People<\/div><\/div>
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