THIS PAGE WILL BE UPDATED WITH THE LATEST NEWS
UPDATE: 11:30 PM CET
Monday Protests in Iran
Tehran, Iran’s capital- Retirees from the Telecommunication Company of Iran have resumed their weekly protest rallies in Teheran, demanding higher pensions and other basic rights as stipulated by the regime’s laws. The protestors are adamant about their grievances, emphasizing the need for fair treatment and improved living conditions.
Kermanshah, Western Iran- In the western city of Kermanshah, retirees and pensioners from the Telecommunication Company of Iran gathered for a rally to express their dissatisfaction with low pensions and poor living conditions. The protesters are openly accusing the government of corruption, adding a political dimension to their demands for better economic prospects.
Hamedan, Western Iran- Similar sentiments echo in Hamedan as retirees of the Telecommunication Company of Iran restart their weekly protest rallies, echoing the nationwide call for higher pensions and improved basic rights. The persistence of these protests across various regions underlines the widespread concern among retirees about their financial and living situations.
Zanjan, Northwest Iran- Retirees and pensioners of the Telecommunication Company of Iran in Zanjan joined the nationwide movement, rallying to protest against low pensions and substandard living conditions. The collective outcry against these challenges is becoming a focal point of discontent that transcends regional boundaries.
Tabriz, Northwest Iran- Tabriz sees another gathering of retirees and pensioners from the Telecommunication Company of Iran, united in their efforts to protest against low pensions and poor living conditions. The consistent nature of these protests emphasizes the urgency and importance of addressing the retirees’ concerns at a national level.
The growing momentum of these protests indicates a significant challenge for the Iranian government, as retirees from the Telecommunication Company of Iran voice their demands for improved pensions and living conditions across various regions.
December 18—Tehran, #Iran
Retirees of Telecommunication Company of Iran resume weekly protest rallies, demanding higher pensions and other basic rights according to the regime's own laws.#IranProtestspic.twitter.com/TioCCiUFJH— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) December 18, 2023
December 18—Hamedan, western #Iran
Retirees of Telecommunication Company of Iran resume weekly protest rallies, demanding higher pensions and other basic rights.#IranProtestspic.twitter.com/YYfdsczpJa— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) December 18, 2023
December 18—Tabriz, northwest #Iran
Retirees and pensioners of the Telecommunications Company of Iran rally to protest low pensions and poor living conditions.
Protesters chanting, "Enough with the promises, our tables are empty!"#IranProtestspic.twitter.com/L2CHNbjPZ5— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) December 18, 2023
UPDATE: 8:30 PM CET
The ‘Butcher of Tehran’ Forced to Abandon Geneva Trip
UPDATE: 7:00 PM CET
Red Sea Attacks Force Rerouting of Vessels, Disrupting Supply Chains
DUBAI/TEL AVIV, Dec 18 (Reuters) – Attacks by Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi militants on ships in the Red Sea are disrupting maritime trade and prompting U.S. efforts to build a coalition to deal with the threat, as freight firms reroute around the Cape of Good Hope to avoid the Suez Canal.
The Houthi group said it launched a drone attack on two cargo vessels in the area on Monday, the latest in a series of missile and drone strikes on shipping which it says are a response to Israel’s assault on the Gaza Strip.
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, speaking on a visit to Israel, said Washington was building a coalition to address the Houthi threat and said defence ministers from the region and beyond would hold virtual talks on the issue on Tuesday.
Fears Over Citizens’ Privacy as Iran Reveals New Mandatory Antivirus Mobile App
Iranian authorities revealed a new mobile antivirus software which they plan to make it mandatory on all phones, for all citizens.
Named Farez, it’s a security scanner system that promises to check all the apps on a device for any sign of malware to block those categorized as malicious.
The Iranian Cyber Police, also known as FATA, hasn’t disclosed any details on how the system will work in practice. Both citizens and experts are now worried that Farez might be yet another tool for censorship and surveillance.
UPDATE: 1:30 PM CET
Fuel Distribution Halted in Tehran and Several Cities
In a surprising turn of events, fuel distribution operations came to a standstill in some gas stations across Tehran and other cities this morning, according to state-affiliated news agencies. The cause of this disruption has not been officially announced.
Reports indicate that the electronic fuel distribution system in the Markazi Province has also been disconnected at gas stations. A real-time update on the regime’s Khabar Fory [Persian for Breaking News] Telegram channel states that “a software glitch in some intelligent fuel systems at certain stations is believed to be the root cause. The head of the Gas Station Owners’ Association stated that experts are actively working to resolve the issue, with further updates expected. This disruption is not widespread and appears to be localized to specific gas stations. Those without an urgent need for fuel are advised to refrain from visiting gas stations in the coming hours.”
The state-run Eqtesad Online quoted the spokesperson for the Gas Station Owners Association as saying,” The issue of disruption in fuel supply is nationwide. Still, it is limited to certain locations, occurring not only in Tehran but also in other provinces. The suspension of supply is observed in both gasoline and diesel. All industry experts are actively involved and working to resolve this disruption in the coming hours. There is no gasoline or diesel shortage, and there are no plans to increase prices.”
In recent years, a growing sense of public distrust towards the state has intensified due to what is perceived as deceitful tactics by the regime. Many individuals now hold the belief that the government may be attempting to raise fuel prices, or alternatively, that it is conducting a social experiment by using incidents like the current fuel supply disruption to gauge if public outrage approaches the levels seen during the November 2019 uprising.
Ban Iranian Group that Exports Terror to Britain’s Streets
Iranian-sponsored terrorism has long been a menace. There are growing signs it has reached Europe and the UK. It must be dealt with swiftly. On November 9, the former vice-president of the European Parliament, Alejo Vidal-Quadras, was shot in Madrid. In a hospital, he claimed Iran had ordered his assassination, noting he has “no other enemy”. He had been included on the Iranian regime’s list of official enemies last year.
The Iranians are not afraid to bring terror to Britain either. In February, the Metropolitan Police’s counterterror chief revealed police and security services had foiled 15 abduction and murder plots by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). MI5 has said that on ten occasions in 2022, the IRGC tried to assassinate British residents.
The Houthi Assault on Global Shipping
The USS Carney, a destroyer operating in the Red Sea, shot down no fewer than 14 attack drones launched from Houthi-controlled territory in Yemen on Saturday. A British warship shot down a Houthi drone after it was dispatched to the region to protect commercial ships. This follows weeks of similar attacks that U.S. warships have felt obliged to intercept to protect themselves and other ships.
UPDATE: 7:30 AM CET
The Awful Conditions of Workers in Iran
Inside the Corruption Scandal of Musa bin Jafar’s Loans in Iran
The structure of Iran’s economy has consistently revealed various corruption cases in recent decades, each time surprising society with more astronomical figures than before. Corruption cases within the regime encompass all types of illegal business practices, characterized by the golden signature of managers and support from influential political and economic groups at the regime’s highest echelons. A dispute between two representatives from the city of Qom in the parliament has brought to light their involvement in the corruption case of Qarz-ul-Hasaneh marriage loans, commonly known as ‘Musa bin Jafar’s loans’.
Canadian Government Initiates Deportation Proceedings for Iranian Officials in 2023
The Canadian government has initiated deportation proceedings against Iranian officials residing in the country, notably targeting Salman Samani, the deputy minister of interior in Hassan Rouhani’s government. This action, prompted by sanctions imposed on Iranian government members following the suppression of protests, signifies Canadian government commitment to upholding sanctions and addressing human rights concerns within the Iranian regime.
Implemented in November 2022 after protests in Iran, the sanctions bar senior Iranian officials from entering or residing in Canada. Salman Samani’s case represents the first instance of these sanctions being enforced. Despite confirmation from a refugee delegation spokesperson, the Canadian government has opted not to comment, underscoring the significance of this move in enforcing sanctions against repressive actions within the Iranian regime.
Iran’s “SMA Patient Ambassador” Hospitalized Due to Lack of Medicine
The hospitalization of Sina Alikhani, a young person suffering from Superior mesenteric artery (SMA), in Iran due to the lack of medication and the release of a video of him lying on a hospital bed has once again drawn attention to the importance of providing medication for specific diseases and the indifference of Iranian authorities to this issue.
After releasing a video of himself requesting the provision of medication for SMA patients in front of the regime’s parliament, Sina Alikhani became known as the “SMA Patient Ambassador.”
Sina recently stated in one of his Instagram posts that after two years and three meetings with the regime’s President, Ebrahim Raisi, he is still deprived of the necessary medication.
Also, read Iran News in Brief – December 17, 2023