THIS PAGE WILL BE UPDATED WITH THE LATEST NEWS
UPDATE: 11:30 PM CEST
Iran-Pakistan Ties on Brink after Khan’s Ouster
Iran is concerned that the progress it has made in bilateral relations with Pakistan may evaporate with the ouster of prime minister Imran Khan.
Iranian experts expect new Pakistani PM Shehbaz Sharif to pay a visit to Iran soon as part of a revision of his predecessor’s foreign policy.
Pakistan is geopolitically significant to Iran in spite of the clash of interests and political stances over regional and international issues.
UPDATE: 7:30 PM CEST
Iraqi Parliament Says IRGC Must Pay for Its Missle Attack on Erbil
In its final report, the Iraqi parliament’s fact-finding committee called the Revolutionary Guards missile attack on Erbil a violation of international law and an invasion of Iraqi territory and dismissed Tehran’s claims that there was an “Israeli spy center” in the Kurdish city.
The Iraqi parliament’s fact-finding committee set up to investigate IRGC’s missile strike on Erbil said in its final report that there was no evidence to support the Iranian regime’s claim that there was an Israeli spy center in Erbil.
“The report of the fact-finding committee emphasizes that Iran must compensate all those who have suffered losses,” Iraqi Parliament Speaker Shakhwan Abdullah told Kurdistan TV.
UPDATE: 3:30 PM CEST
US Expresses Concern Regarding Freedom of Religion in Iran
The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom 2022 report states: “In 2021, religious freedom conditions in Iran remained poor. In February, then-President Hassan Rouhani signed amendments to articles 499 and 500 of Iran’s penal code imposing prison time on those guilty of “insulting Islam” and conducting “deviant activity” that “contradicts or interferes with the sacred law of Islam.” In June, three Christians were arrested, charged, and sentenced to five years in prison each on the basis of these amendments. Iran also continued using charges of “corruption on Earth,” “enmity against God,” and national security-related charges to persecute religious minorities.”
UPDATE: 10:30 AM CEST
IRGC Calls on Judiciary to Investigate former Minister for Insulting Supreme Leader
The Iranian regime’s Revolutionary Guards wrote on its Telegram Channel on April 24: “While the Leader openly asked for a ban on the import of iPhones and the parliament is implementing his demand, Azari Jahromi interpreted this as ‘communist teachings’! How long does the Judiciary want to remain silent to insults of the likes of Jahromi and Faezeh Hashemi?”
Responding to the Supreme Leader’s ban on the American iPhone, Mohammad Javad Azari Jahromi, the former Minister of Communications under Hassan Rouhani said on May 25: “I think these decisions will hurt the users more than the producers or even the policymakers. Of course, like opposing the import of cars to counter the luxury show-offs, this action may have similar intentions but I have no opinion on communist teachings.”
Prize-winning Elite Students Jailed for 16 Years
On April 25, Amir Hossein Moradi and Ali Younesi, two elite Sharif University students, were sentenced to 16 years in prison by the Iranian regime’s Judiciary. According to the state-run Tasnim news agency, the two students were charged with “corruption on earth, conspiracy, and propaganda against the state”.
The state-run Ensaf News reported: “This morning, two security criminals were sentenced and they were informed about their verdict. The two criminals were arrested in April 2019 during a terrorist operation inside the country. “AY” and “AHM” were connected to the hypocrites— the Iranian regime’s pejorative term for the Mujahedin-e Khalq (MEK/PMOI)— who were arrested in April 2019 during a terrorist operation inside the country.”
NJ Man Lived Double Life as ‘Sleeper Agent’ for Hezbollah Unit: Feds
A New Jersey software engineer lived a dark double life as a “sleeper agent” in an elite Hezbollah unit, scouting terror targets in New York City for the militant group, federal prosecutors charged at the start of his trial Monday.
Alexei Saab, 45, kept up appearances as a “normal” law-abiding US citizen — all while gathering intelligence on a number of Big Apple landmarks, tunnels and bridges, Assistant US Attorney Sam Adelsberg said in his opening statement.
“He posed as a regular guy,” Adelsberg said. “In reality, he was a sleeper agent for Hezbollah ready to strike.”
UPDATE: 12:00 AM CEST
Iran: New Cyberattack Takes Down Regime Ministry
More than 100 servers and computers, dozens of applications and databases, 37 websites and 12 internal applications associated to the Iranian’s “Ministry of Agriculture Jihad” (MAJ) were taken down on Monday, April 25. Images of Iranian Resistance leader Massoud Rajavi, and Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, President-elect of the Iranian opposition coalition National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) were posted on these MAJ websites along with an image of regime Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei with a red X. The slogans “Hail to Rajavi” and “Death to Khamenei” were also seen.
Why Iran’s Regime Invited UN Special Rapporteur on the Negative Impact of Unilateral Coercive Measures
According to the UN Human Rights Office, the UN Special Rapporteur on the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures on the enjoyment of human rights will visit Iran from May 7 to 18 to assess the impact of sanctions on human rights. In a world where the Russian invasion of Ukraine has brought about a human and economic disaster, Alena Douhan’s trip to Iran for 11 days raises eyebrows. The role of this Special Rapporteur was created by a 2014 resolution at the UN Human Rights Council introduced by Iran on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement.
Iran Regime Dreads MEK’s Resistance Units
One of the biggest concerns these days for the Iranian regime has been the projection of images of the leaders of Iran’s main opposition group, the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) on walls in Iran’s cities. The projections in Tehran alarmed the regime, prompting the media outlets to write about them and warn about the security consequences.
At 9:30 pm on Monday, April 11, at the intersection of Iranshahr and East Kourosh Street, the MEK’s Resistance Units projected a large picture of the opposition’s leaders onto a wall. This image was clearly visible even from a distance.
Toronto, Canada: Freedom-loving Iranians, MEK Supporters Rally, Against Iran’s Regime – April 23, 2022
April 23, 2022, Toronto, Canada: Freedom-loving Iranians, supporters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) demonstrated against the mullahs’ regime. Iranians, in their rally, demanded for regime change and establishing a free and democratic republic in Iran. Iranian Resistance supporters, also expressed their solidarity with Iran protests and cherished the memory of Prof. Kazem Rajavi the great martyr to the cause of human rights.
Gothenburg, Sweden: Freedom-loving Iranians, MEK Supporters Rally, in Support of Iranian Teachers, Workers, and Students Protests – April 23, 2022
April 23, 2022: Freedom-Loving Iranians, the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) supporters demonstrated in Sweden (Gothenburg) and expressed their support of the Iranian teachers, workers, and students’ protests.
Read more: Iran News in Brief – April 25, 2022
