THIS PAGE WILL BE UPDATED WITH THE LATEST NEWS
UPDATE: 9:00 PM CET
Leaked Docs Said To Reveal Extent of Syrian Debt to Iran
An NGO on Friday said Iranian Foreign Ministry documents leaked by hackers reveal that Syria owes the Islamic Republic $50 billion, in funds sent to support Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime over the past decade in the form of military and civilian assistance. According to Middle East Monitor, the documents were leaked by the hacktivist group Uprising till Overthrow, which is affiliated with the Iranian opposition group Mojahedin-e-Khalq. The NGO said the docs show how agreements reached between Iran and the Syrian regime to restore the “debts” cover only $18 billion out of the total that Tehran wants to recover, in the form of “investments and transfers of phosphates, oil, and other resources of Syria.”
UPDATE: 1:30 PM CET
IRGC Commander Calls to Vigilance as Uprising Threat Looms in Universities
Brigadier Hamid Khorramdel, the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province, issued a cautionary call to the regime’s security forces, urging them to brace for a potential surge in protests.
Speaking at a meeting with local paramilitary Basij forces, he highlighted, “The enemy’s strategy for the upcoming months revolves around orchestrating internal unrest, particularly within universities. Your vigilance is crucial; starting tomorrow, focus on reopening universities and uncovering the enemy’s schemes. The university is today’s frontline, and it will remain so tomorrow and the day after. The enemy has laid plans for October, demanding your readiness to confront it.”
Iran’s Fate Hangs on Success of Raisi’s Government, Warns Analyst
Predicting that voter turnout in the upcoming parliamentary sham elections will be less than ten percent, Ahmad Zeydabadi, a state-affiliated analyst warned against the decline of the clerical regime. Cautioning that the Raisi administration represents the regime’s final opportunity for survival, he also acknowledged the lack of effective solutions within the current structure of the regime.
In a recent video posted on Youtube, Zeydabadi said, “I had mentioned before that this administration under Mr. Raisi is the last chance. If it doesn’t succeed, it’s unlikely that anyone else will. Essentially, given its current mindset and resources, this administration will not succeed either. By success, I mean unraveling the complexities, enabling public participation, and transitioning from the current state to a completely normal and natural state. If this isn’t achieved, the situation becomes incredibly difficult. By ‘incredibly difficult,’ I don’t mean I have a magical solution where we can simply do something else. Unfortunately, our options are limited due to our past mistakes, our historical context, and the chaotic situation we are currently facing.”
“Regrettably, we are entering a phase where regional and external powers are becoming mobilized both inside and outside the country. Dissatisfied forces are expressing their protests in various forms. On the other hand, there are groups outside the country that ultimately want to seize power and are becoming active in different ways. Consequently, the country is in such a state of disarray that, as I mentioned, is unprecedented. If these threats are not recognized, it’s extremely alarming,” he warned.
Deadly Ambush Targets Local IRGC Members in Southeast Iran
Two members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) were targeted in an ambush by armed youths on August 12 in Qasr-e Qand County.
The attack resulted in the death of “So’ali Baluch,” an IRGC member stationed at the Gandawak base. Another IRGC member was wounded in the incident.
The assailants targeted the victims as they were heading to the village of Kalaskan on a motorcycle. Coupled with dozens of similar cases reported across Iran since September 2022, the attack underscores the escalating public outrage against the regime’s security forces.
UPDATE: 7:30 AM CET
Iran: MEK Resistance Units Increase Activities Despite Wave of Executions
As the anniversary of the 2022 nationwide uprising approaches, Iran’s regime has resorted to repressive measures to prevent public rage to boil into anti-regime protests again. Chief among these measures is the unprecedented wave of executions happening across Iran. On August 10 the regime hanged two of Baluch’s compatriots in Mashhad’s Vakilabad Prison and a Kurdish compatriot in Hamedan’s Central Prison. On August 9, two prisoners were executed in Hamedan and one in Yasuj Central Prison. On the same day, state media quoted the prosecutor of Marand as saying that five prisoners were hanged in the city. On August 8, the regime hanged two prisoners in Shiraz Central Prison and on August 6, they executed eight prisoners in different cities. A tally of different reports shows that since August 6, the regime has executed 24 prisoners to maintain its hold on power and intimidate the public.
Iran’s Capital and Talent Drain: A Nation Grapples With Exodus
In the records of Iranian history, a recurring theme stands out—the flight of its citizens from oppression. The shah, an autocrat of the bygone monarchy, once believed himself to be Iran’s omnipotent force. His decree to dissolve parties and establish the singular Rastakhiz party reflected his despotic tendencies. This move led to the imprisonment of dissenters or their exile abroad, a trend that continues to haunt the Iranian populace. Today, the citizens grapple with the inhumane grip of the Velayat al-Faqih regime, which is the flip side of the coin of the Shah dictatorship, where thoughts of escaping torture, imprisonment, and executions dominate minds.
Iran: University Entrance Exam Controversy Continues
Some media outlets, including Fars and Tasnim, reported that the Supreme Administrative Court has issued a one-year “suspension from service” order for Abdul Rasool Pour Abbas, the head of the National Organization of Educational Testing. It is said that Pour Abbas did not allow the suspicious candidates involved in the university entrance exam fraud case to return to the university, and that is why this order has been issued against him. Tasnim and Fars, both news agencies affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and security agencies, wrote on August 9 that the Administrative Court has ordered the suspension from service of Abdul Rasool Pour Abbas, the head of the National Organization for Educational Testing.
Raisi’s Government Sets New Record in Bank Note Printing
On Friday, August 10, the state-run website “Eco Iran” reported about the record-breaking bank note printing by President Raisi’s administration.
The source wrote, “In the month of Farvardin 1402 [April 2023 on Iranian calendar], the monetary base growth rate reached 45 percent, surpassing a 14-year record. The growth rate of monatery base this year has been among the highest rates ever recorded in Iran’s economic history.”
“Furthermore, the increase in the share of money from the total liquidity can be considered as one of the indicators of rising levels of uncertainty in the society. This ratio reached 26% in the first month of the year 1402 [Iranian calendar],” Eco Iran added.
Also, read Iran News in Brief – August 11, 2023
