THIS PAGE WILL BE UPDATED WITH THE LATEST NEWS
UPDATE: 9:00 PM
WSJ: The Iranians Pay a Price in Syria
In an editorial published on April 1, the Wall Street Journal argued that the killing of Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Zahedi, who was the head of the IRGC’s Quds Force in Lebanon, represents the “first real price” Iran has had to pay for its “proxy war” in the Middle East.
The WSJ editorial questioned whether the Iranian consulate in Damascus, where the strike occurred, was a diplomatic or military facility, suggesting the latter. It stated that the IRGC and its Quds Force are designated terrorist organizations by the U.S. and are responsible for Iran’s “belligerent and expansionist regional strategy.”
While Iran has threatened a harsh response to the attack, the editorial notes that Tehran has not sought to escalate the tensions further. The WSJ frames the strike as a significant blow against Iran’s regional proxy activities, arguing that targeting such senior Iranian commanders is a necessary step to counter Tehran’s destabilizing influence in the Middle East.
According to the journal, Zahedi was responsible for coordinating Iran’s regional operations, including overseeing the firing of over 3,500 rockets into northern Israel and supplying weapons to the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. The killing of Zahedi represents a particularly high-profile target, given his senior role in coordinating Iran’s regional operations.
UPDATE: 2:00 PM
Iran’s Currency Plummets as Dollar Hits Record High
The US dollar exchange rate in Iran’s free market hit a new record high in less than 10 days, reaching nearly 63,000 tomans on Tuesday, April 2. In just one month, the Iranian rial has depreciated by approximately 14 percent.
This comes as the Iranian regime’s resident Ebrahim Raisi had promised to preserve the value of the rial and curb inflation in his election campaign as well as throughout his tenure. However, since his government took office in August 2021, the dollar rate against the Iranian rial has increased by more than 2.5 times.
Iranian authorities have not explained why the value of the Iranian rial is plummeting at such a rapid pace, and Iran’s customs administration has yet to release the country’s foreign trade statistics for the year 2023.
Due to the surge in the non-oil trade deficit in recent months, Iran’s customs and economic authorities have also included statistics on oil exports, electricity, and engineering services in the country’s customs statistics for the first time to disguise the massive non-oil trade deficit.
Mosque Construction Aimed to Fight Dissent, State Media Outlet Admits
A state-affiliated media outlet has admitted to regime initiatives to counter uprisings and popular protests by constructing mosques in parks and establishing what they call “Islamic neighborhoods.”
The website Iran-DideBan wrote on March 30, “Apart from the hype, one can imagine a second scenario for implementing this type of project (building mosques in parks) in the city, which is the creation of ‘Islamic neighborhoods.’ The plan is aimed at expanding Basij forces at the neighborhood level under the pretext of mosques.”
The source highlighted that the mayor of Tehran committed to extensive collaboration to curb civil protests and unrest by executing the mosque construction plan. This involves overseeing neighborhoods to suppress civil protests effectively. The plan aims to expand Basij forces’ presence through mosque construction and achieve financial self-sufficiency for these forces by commercializing parts of the mosques.
For several days, residents of Tehran have been protesting the mayor’s decision to build a mosque in Qeytarieh Park.
UPDATE: 9:30 AM
Iran’s Regime Faces Triple Deadlocks in The New Persian Year
As we delve into the prospects of the Iranian year 1403 (2024-2025), a comprehensive examination reveals a critical intertwining of political, social, and economic elements. These intertwined elements form the pillars of both state and society, suggesting a year ahead filled with significant challenges and opportunities for Iran. The fate of Iran, particularly under the current regime, has been increasingly tied to these three foundational factors more than ever before, especially in the aftermath of the widespread 2022 uprising. This uprising intensified internal conflicts within the regime and accelerated the erosion of its declining social base, marking a pivotal moment in Iran’s contemporary history.
The essentiality of analyzing the intertwined nature of Iran’s political, social, and economic issues has never been more crucial. The unique intertwining under the current regime, where authoritarianism spans across all three areas, ensures that these issues are inseparable and collectively contribute to the nation’s fate.
Raheleh Rahemipour, 73, Deprived of Proper Medical Treatment and Hospitalization
Despite her physical condition, the political prisoner Raheleh Rahemipour has been deprived of proper medical care and hospitalization. Mrs. Rahemipour, 73 years old, suffers from several physical ailments, including a brain tumor, and needs specialized treatment. However, the Evin prison officials have prevented her from being sent to medical centers outside the prison due to her failure to comply with the mandatory hijab. Recently, Raheleh Rahemipour has been banned from meeting her family.
The political prisoner Raheleh Rahemipour is one of the families of the prisoners executed in the 1980s. Mrs. Rahemipour has been trying for years to clarify the truth about the disappearance of her brother and nephew who were imprisoned in the 1980s.
Average Housing Price in Tehran at 830 Million Rials
According to the latest report by the Central Bank of Iran, the average housing price in Tehran has reached over 830 million rials (approximately $1,353). The regime’s 90 Eghtesadi website reported a 60% decline in transactions in this sector in 2023.
Iranian media reports indicate that the housing price in Tehran, based on the latest official data released on March 18 by the Statistical Center of Iran, has reached 833.12 million rials per square meter.
Reports suggest that the average price of houses in Tehran has increased to 833.12 million rials after almost a year, precisely an increase of 168.72 million rials (approximately $275) per square meter.
IRGC Commander and 7 Others Killed In Strike on Consulate In Damascus
DAMASCUS, April 1 (Reuters), Israeli warplanes struck the Iranian consulate in Damascus on Monday, and a Lebanese security source told Reuters a senior commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), Mohammad Reza Zahedi, had been killed in the attack. Reuters reporters at the scene in the Mezzeh district of the Syrian capital saw smoke rising from the rubble of a building that had been flattened, and emergency vehicles parked outside.
Syrian state television confirmed the consulate building had been attacked. Earlier, Iranian media reported that a building close to the embassy had been hit, and Iran’s student news agency reported that the target was the consulate and ambassador’s residence.
Since the Iranian-backed Palestinian faction Hamas’s attack on Israel on Oct. 7, Israel has ramped up airstrikes in Syria against Lebanon’s Iranian-backed Hezbollah militia and Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), both of which support the government of President Bashar al-Assad.
Heidelberg, Germany—March 29, 2024: MEK Supporters Exhibition in Solidarity With the Iran Revolution
Heidelberg, Germany—March 29, 2024: Freedom-loving Iranians and supporters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) organized an exhibition to express solidarity with the Iranian Revolution.
MEK supporters in Heidelberg 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.
The Iranian community in Heidelberg emphasized the Iranian people seeking a democratic republic and rejecting any kind of dictatorship, be it the mullahs or a return to that of the Shah’s regime.
Winchester, England—March 30, 2024: Freedom-Loving Iranians Organize an Exhibition to Support the Iranian Revolution
Winchester, England—March 30, 2024: Freedom-loving Iranians, and supporters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) organized a book exhibition, and petition collection in support of the Iranian Revolution, political prisoners, and to stop torture and executions.
