{"id":330637,"date":"2025-04-18T06:33:34","date_gmt":"2025-04-18T05:33:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/?p=330637"},"modified":"2025-04-18T12:31:32","modified_gmt":"2025-04-18T11:31:32","slug":"iran-news-in-brief-april-18-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/news\/iran-news-in-brief-news\/iran-news-in-brief-april-18-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Iran News in Brief \u2013 April 18, 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Residents of Shahrekord, western Iran, rally against water theft and dam projects \u2014 April 17, 2025<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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

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

U.S. Secretary of State Urges Europeans Must Make a Major Decision on Triggering Snapback Mechanism Against Iran<\/h3>\n

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U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned<\/a> today that European powers face a critical decision on whether to trigger the snapback mechanism under the current nuclear deal, following new assessments indicating that Iran is closer than ever to obtaining a nuclear weapon.<\/p>\n

Speaking to reporters at Le Bourget Airport in Paris, Rubio confirmed that the Iran file was a key topic in discussions with European counterparts ahead of further diplomatic talks scheduled for Saturday. He emphasized that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) had issued public findings in Tehran just yesterday, warning that the Iranian regime is \u201cas close as it\u2019s ever been to nuclear weapons.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe President has made clear Iran will not have a nuclear weapon. That is not going to happen,\u201d Rubio stated.<\/p>\n

While reiterating that the United States seeks a peaceful and lasting resolution, Rubio stressed that any new agreement must permanently prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear arms, not merely delay it with \u201csome sort of sunset provision.\u201d He cautioned that the E3 \u2013 the UK, France, and Germany \u2013 will soon receive an IAEA report confirming Iran\u2019s serious noncompliance, and said that if Iran remains in breach, Europe must reimpose sanctions.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf Iran is not in compliance, they have to reimpose the sanctions,\u201d Rubio said, calling the snapback mechanism a key test of the West\u2019s resolve.<\/p>\n

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

US Strike on Yemen Fuel Port Kills At Least 38, Houthi Media Say<\/h3>\n

WASHINGTON, April 17 (Reuters) – U.S. strikes on a fuel port in Yemen killed at least 38 people on Thursday, Houthi-run media said, one of the deadliest days since the United States began its attacks on the Iran-backed militants.<\/p>\n

The United States has vowed not to halt the large-scale strikes begun last month in its biggest military operation in the Middle East since President Donald Trump took office in January, unless the Houthis cease attacks on Red Sea shipping.<\/p>\n

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

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Treasury Targets International Bank of Yemen for Support to the Houthis<\/h3>\n

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WASHINGTON \u2014 Today, the Department of the Treasury\u2019s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is sanctioning Yemen-based\u00a0International Bank of Yemen Y.S.C.<\/strong>\u00a0(IBY) for its financial support to Ansarallah, commonly known as the Houthis, which is part of the Iran threat network. \u00a0As part of this designation, OFAC is also sanctioning key leaders or officials of IBY, Kamal Hussain Al Jebry, Ahmed Thabit Noman Al-Absi, and Abdulkader Ali Bazara. \u00a0The designation of IBY complements the whole-of-government effort to stop Iran-backed Houthi attacks against commercial shipping in the Red Sea.<\/p>\n

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

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U.S. General Warns of Iran\u2019s Deceptive Nuclear Tactics: “They’ve Reopened the Same Dangerous Playbook”<\/h3>\n

Retired U.S. Army General Jack Keane has sounded the alarm over the Iranian regime’s renewed efforts to manipulate nuclear negotiations, accusing Tehran of reviving the same deceptive strategy it used during the Obama-era talks. Speaking on Fox News<\/a> on April 16, 2025, Gen. Keane described the regime as both economically cornered and strategically dangerous, warning that it is weeks away from assembling a nuclear arsenal.<\/p>\n

\u201cTheir economy is in the tank, their currency is spiraling, inflation is at 30 percent, and even elites close to the regime are now feeling the pressure,\u201d Gen. Keane said, outlining what he described as Tehran\u2019s desperation amid mounting sanctions and internal decay.<\/p>\n

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'I AM STUNNED': Retired general exposes Iranian 'playbook' with nuclear weapon<\/div><\/div>
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