THIS PAGE WILL BE UPDATED WITH THE LATEST NEWS
UPDATE: 7:30 PM
Supreme Leader Khamenei Warns Against Factional Conflict Amid New Parliament Formation
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei made a public statement today to meet with the Assembly of Experts, cautioning against escalating conflicts between factions within his regime to prevent the disclosure of internal disputes. He emphasized, “The divisive rhetoric, incitement of quarrels, and fostering of enmity can sour the atmosphere of the new parliament.”
Khamenei also warned that failing to preserve “unity” within the newly formed parliament would make the regime vulnerable in facing social upheaval. He said, “We must be vigilant to prevent the dissolution of the harmony and the emergence of bitter rivalries. Failure to do so will result in growing discontent among the people and a souring political landscape.”
In the aftermath of recent parliamentary and Assembly of Experts elections, state media and officials have criticized the credibility of the sham elections, questioning the consequences of the record-low results, particularly targeting rival factions.
Among many instances, the newspaper Javan, associated with the Revolutionary Guards, called out MP Hamid Rasaee, urging him to refrain from actions that could cause division and disrupt the parliamentary process. Rasaee had previously stated, “Individuals should not advance in politics through family connections, cozying up to influential figures, or wielding financial power without the necessary qualifications.”
US Threatens Action Against Iran At IAEA Over Continued ‘Stonewalling’
VIENNA, March 7 (Reuters) – The United States on Thursday threatened future action against Iran at the U.N. nuclear watchdog if Tehran keeps “stonewalling” the watchdog by denying it the cooperation and answers it seeks on issues including long-unexplained uranium traces.
At a quarterly meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s 35-nation Board of Governors, Washington again told Iran to cooperate with IAEA inspectors who for years have been seeking explanations from Tehran on the origin of uranium particles at undeclared sites.
The United States has stopped short, for now, of seeking a resolution against Iran, however. Diplomats have cited the U.S. presidential election in November as a reason Washington has been reluctant to do that. Tehran bristles at such resolutions and often responds by stepping up its activities.
UPDATE: 5:30 PM
Why Do Rogue States Bother Holding Elections?
What do Iran, Russia, and North Korea have in common? They are all oppressive dictatorships, led by corrupt, autocratic despots who despise opposition and murder their opponents. They are all rogue states who eschew democracy, pervert justice, disdain freedom, and have impoverished their people. They all share aggressive nuclear ambitions. Unsurprisingly, they are all close allies.
Recently, elections took place in Iran. Voters were asked to elect members of the Majlis (parliament) and Assembly of Experts. The elections were a complete sham. The Iranian constitution states that a Guardian Council, comprising six theologians appointed by the Supreme leader, the ailing and delusional Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and a further six jurists appointed by the Head of the Judiciary, who is also incidentally appointed by the Supreme Leader, were allowed to vet candidates for the elections.
UPDATE: 1:30 PM
Explosion and Fire at Aftab Oil Refinery in Bandar Abbas Results in Casualties
An explosion and subsequent fire broke out in a furnace at the Aftab Oil Refinery in Bandar Abbas, southern Iran, today, causing “several fatalities and injuries.”
According to reports from the semi-official news agency ISNA, citing individuals present at the Aftab Oil Refinery, the incident resulted in “several deaths and injuries.” However, the exact number of casualties has not yet been confirmed.
Meanwhile, the Public Relations Officer of the refinery stated that the facility sustained “no significant damage,” and only two employees suffered minor injuries. They were promptly transported to the hospital for treatment.
The incident occurred during routine repairs at the refinery when one of the oil refining furnaces at the Aftab Oil Refinery caught fire.
Aftab Oil Refinery, touted as the “largest private refinery in the country” and a major producer of petroleum derivatives, is featured on the company’s website.
Former Minister Salehi Amiri Warns of Societal Crisis and Growing Hunger in Iran
Former Minister of Guidance, Reza Salehi Amiri, warned of the growing discontent among the hungry masses, highlighting the dire living conditions facing Iran’s society today.
Salehi Amiri told a meeting on March 7, “When we examine the past two decades, indicators have largely trended towards decline. Issues such as violence, privacy infringements, social divides, marginalization, widespread brain drain affecting youth and celebrities, the matter of dress and veiling, personal security, societal concerns, and judicial approaches are among the indicators that have declined.”
Salehi Amiri emphasized the cultural deadlock gripping all cultural institutions, lacking discourse and innovative ideas for overcoming the present situation. He expressed deep concern over the inefficiency of the educational system and the changing crises, and preferences of society, leading to conflicts between governance and the populace.
The former official warned, “We are faced with a phenomenon known as the rampant growth of the army of the hungry. In a society where a majority of its people go to bed hungry, you cannot say that our governance is satisfactory. A significant issue in Iranian society is the discussion of efficiency, and the lack of efficiency and incapability to respond to societal problems is one of the indicators of flawed governance. Efficiency is an element observed at the people’s table and does not require speeches. We have lost social power, and social divides in society have deepened, and now we are on the brink of a chasm.”
US Urges Iran To Dilute All Its Near-Weapons-Grade Uranium
VIENNA, March 6 (Reuters) – The United States called on Iran on Wednesday to dilute all of the uranium it has enriched to up to 60% purity, close to the weapons-grade level of roughly 90%, in a statement denouncing many of Tehran’s recent nuclear moves.
The International Atomic Energy Agency said in a confidential report to member states last week that Iran’s stock of uranium enriched to up to 60% had fallen slightly in the past quarter as it had diluted, or “downblended”, more of its most highly enriched material than it had produced.
Iran still has enough of that material, if enriched further, to fuel two nuclear weapons by a theoretical IAEA definition, and enough for more bombs at lower enrichment levels, the report seen by Reuters showed.
EU Highlights Tehran’s Non-compliance on NPT Safeguards Agreement, Expresses Concern at IAEA Board Meeting
The European Union (EU) delivered a statement at the IAEA Board of Governors on March 7, 2024, regarding the NPT Safeguards Agreement with the regime ruling Iran.
The EU expressed concern over Tehran’s lack of progress in resolving outstanding safeguards issues, stating, “The EU is gravely concerned that the Agency reports, once more, that it is still not in a position to provide assurance that Iran’s nuclear programme is exclusively peaceful and that it is not able to confirm the correctness and completeness of Iran’s declarations under its NPT safeguards agreement. Iran has, once again, not made any progress in resolving the remaining outstanding safeguards issues and has not provided the Agency with any technically credible information as requested, despite numerous resolutions of the Board and many opportunities provided by the DG over a number of years. These issues stem from Iran’s legally binding obligations under its Safeguards Agreement and still need to be resolved to provide assurance that this nuclear programme is exclusively peaceful. In November 2022 the Board decided in its resolution that it was “essential and urgent in order to ensure verification of the non-diversion of nuclear material” that Iran clarify all outstanding safeguards issues. We reiterate our call on Iran to act promptly to implement its safeguards obligations so as to restore confidence by entering into full, substantial and constructive cooperation with the Agency. All safeguards issues will remain under our close scrutiny, until the DG reports that they are no longer outstanding.”
Social Media Platforms Suspend Accounts of Iranian Regime-Affiliated Al-Alam Network
Iranian state media reported that the regime’s Arab-language network, Al-Alam, had its accounts terminated across various social media platforms. The report stated that all Al-Alam accounts on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and X were shut down and unable to post new content as of March 5.
Furthermore, the state-run Borna News Agency stated that Facebook abruptly shut down Al-Alam’s Instagram page, citing a post from approximately three years ago featuring Emad Mughniyeh as the reason for the closure. No prior warning was issued regarding the closure.
The Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) information platform reported on March 5, “The founders of social networks (Twitter, YouTube, Instagram) took the initiative to close the Al-Alam news network pages in cyberspace in an unprofessional and contrary move to any freedom of expression, without providing any explanation. Additionally, YouTube closed Al-Alam’s account on its site without any prior notice or violation, while also deleting the channel’s account on Google contrary to normal procedure, which includes sending warnings and allowing for appeals via email.”
Three Killed In First Fatal Houthi Attack On Red Sea Shipping, CENTCOM Says
LONDON, March 6 (Reuters) – A Houthi missile attack killed three seafarers on a Red Sea merchant ship on Wednesday, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said, the first fatalities reported since the Iran-aligned Yemeni group began strikes against shipping in one of the world’s busiest trade lanes.
The Houthis claimed responsibility for the attack, which set the Greek-owned, Barbados-flagged ship True Confidence ablaze around 50 nautical miles off the coast of Yemen’s port of Aden.
In an earlier message on X responding to the Houthi claim, Britain’s embassy wrote: “At least 2 innocent sailors have died. This was the sad but inevitable consequence of the Houthis recklessly firing missiles at international shipping. They must stop.”
Mar. 6 Red Sea Update
At approximately 7:14 p.m. (Sanaa Time), United States Central Command conducted self-defense strikes against two unmanned aerial vehicles in a Houthi controlled area of Yemen that presented an imminent threat to merchant vessels and U.S. Navy ships in the… pic.twitter.com/Wv6AXMYNll
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 7, 2024
Germany And Allies Push For EU Sanctions on Iran’s Missile Industry
Germany and eight other countries are calling on the European Union to impose sanctions against the Iranian missile industry, according to Spiegel.
Iran is supplying missiles and drones on a massive scale not only to Russia but also to radical Islamists in the Middle East.
In connection with this, Germany and eight other EU countries are calling for new sanctions. This emerges from a letter from German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and several of her colleagues to EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell.
However, Borrell is not rushing to respond. The letter, signed by Baerbock and the foreign ministers of France, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, and the Netherlands, is dated February 19. However, Borrell has not responded yet.
UPDATE: 8:30 AM
Invalid Votes and Empty Polls: How The Iranian Regime’s Elections Became A Total Disaster
While Iranian regime supreme leader Ali Khamenei and the main leaders of the regime continue to suffer a heavy blow from the devastating impact of the nationwide boycott of their sham elections, confessions about this undeniable defeat have become prevalent in the comments and writings of regime media. Heshmatollah Falahatpisheh, the former head of the security commission of Majlis (parliament), said, “The results indicate that the parliamentary elections are a failure, not a victory.”
In an interview with the state-run Setareh Sobh newspaper on March 3, Falahatpisheh said, “It is unprecedented in the history of Iranian elections that to such an extent all the country’s resources are mobilized to push people to the ballot box.
Unofficial Data Reveals Thousands More Iranian Youth Suicides Than Reported
A discussion on rising youth suicide rates in Iran sparks concern among experts. A sociologist highlights the lack of open dialogue within families and the prevalence of child marriage, forced marriage, and poverty as major factors.
As reported by Ham Mihan newspaper on March 6, Ardeshir Bahrami, speaking at a Children’s Rights Association event, reports a significant rise in suicides among individuals under 18. While the suicide rate in this age group accounted for only eight percent of total suicide deaths from 2007 to 2017, it surged to 10% by 2020.
Iran’s Sham Elections: Nationwide Boycott Reveals Deep-Rooted Dissatisfaction
In an unprecedented display of public disaffection, Iran’s recent parliamentary elections have faced a monumental boycott, casting a long shadow over the legitimacy of the regime’s leadership. Heshmatollah Falahatpisheh, the former head of Majlis’s security commission, admitted the elections’ failure, marking a significant moment of acknowledgment from within the regime itself. This event underscores a growing crisis within the Iranian political landscape, as citizens express their dissatisfaction with the authoritarian rule of the mullahs through a nationwide boycott, challenging the regime’s portrayal of democratic engagement.
The lead-up to the elections saw the regime employing all available resources, from media persuasion to direct threats, in an attempt to garner votes. Despite these efforts, participation rates plummeted, with some areas reporting a voter turnout as low as 8.2%, according to the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI). This decline was accompanied by an unprecedented number of invalid votes, signaling a passive yet potent form of protest against the regime’s electoral process.
Two Journalists Fined for Posting Content about Armita Geravand
Two journalists, Zeinab Rahimi and Maryam Shokrani, have been fined for disseminating information on social media on the case of Armita Geravand.
Armita Geravand entered one of Tehran’s metro stations on October 1, 2023, to go to school with her friends. Since the 17-year-old was not covering her hair, Hijab patrols gave her a warning on the metro train, and since she did not obey, they attacked her, shoving her to the ground. Her head hit a sharp edge, suffering a brain hemorrhage and subsequently slipping into a coma.
The clerical regime’s intelligence services took control of the situation and did not allow access to Armita by any reporter or even her family. Until they announced her death on October 28, 2023.
Inflation Cuts Deep, Iranian Workers Face Protein Shortage
Iran’s state-run news agency ILNA acknowledged on Monday, March 4, the alarming surge in inflation and consumption statistics. According to February’s inflation data, the cost of the essential basket of goods in the country’s major cities has surpassed 30 million tomans.
ILNA reports that the exclusion of high-quality protein products such as red meat began for the working class in the mid-2010s. This trend escalated in 2018 with a sudden spike in gasoline prices and subsequent economic shocks, entering a new phase in 2021 and 2022.
This can be characterized as the complete elimination of high-quality protein from the diets of hardworking individuals. ILNA further notes that the upward trajectory of food inflation indices remains robust. Recent data from the Iranian Statistics Center reveals that 38% of selected food items experienced higher inflation rates than the overall annual inflation in February. Notably, all protein types continue to experience record annual inflation.
How Iran’s Regime Fuels Inequality and Poverty
Throughout history, inequality has been a central concern for thinkers. Many people widely perceive government policies in Iran as the primary source of this issue. The past four decades have witnessed an unprecedented rise in societal inequality, fostering rampant corruption and powerful institutions seen as its key drivers.
These are the views of economist Hossein Raghfar, who recently spoke about the social and psychological harms of Iran’s crisis-ridden society. He delves into the roots of the crisis, highlighting the role of the regime’s ideological leaders and officials. However, he avoids mentioning the crucial role of the regime’s former supreme leader, Ruhollah Khomeini, and his successor, Ali Khamenei, who continued Khomeini’s policies.
Raghfar criticizes Khomeini’s dismissive attitude towards the economy, famously stating that “the economy belongs to a donkey” and promising “free water and electricity.” These policies, Raghfar argues, have plunged millions of Iranians into poverty and misery, laying the foundation for a corrupt and dysfunctional economic system.
Breathing Difficulty in Boomtowns: Iranian Cities Choke on Mazut Despite Rainfall
Protests in Different Cities Across Iran
Simultaneously with the protest gathering of retirees from the national pension and social security system in at least three cities, Yazd, Kermanshah, and Ahvaz, and ongoing protests by workers, the people of Arak also raised slogans against the “mazut burning” at the Shazand power plant. Based on images and videos released, protesting retirees in Yazd on March 5 gathered in front of the National Retirees Organization, holding placards emphasizing their demands, including the adjustment of pensions according to the costs of living, supplementary insurance, and addressing livelihood issues.
Retirees in Ahvaz and Kermanshah resumed their weekly protests to reiterate their demands for higher pensions. On the other hand, workers in various locations have gone on strike in protest of insufficient wages.
Paris, France—March 5, 2024: MEK Supporters Organized and Exhibition in Support of the Iranian Revolution
Paris, France—March 5, 2024: Freedom-loving Iranians and supporters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) organized an exhibition in solidarity with the Iranian Revolution.
Zurich—March 4, 2024: MEK Supporters Exhibition in Solidarity With the Iran Revolution
Zurich, Switzerland—March 4, 2024: Freedom-loving Iranians and supporters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran(PMOI/MEK) organized an exhibition to express support for the Iranian Revolution.
MEK supporters in Zurich demanded the trial of the mullahs’ regime leaders, especially Ali Khamenei (Supreme leader of the mullahs’ regime) and the mass murderer Ebrahim Raisi for crimes against humanity, in an international court.
