THIS PAGE WILL BE UPDATED WITH THE LATEST NEWS
UPDATE: 10:00 PM
BEIRUT/CAIRO/GAZA, Jan 2 (Reuters) – Israel killed Hamas deputy leader Saleh al-Arouri in a drone strike in Lebanon’s capital Beirut on Tuesday, Lebanese and Palestinian security sources said, as its tanks and warplanes pummelled Gaza in further “high-intensity” warfare against the Islamist militant group in the enclave.
Arouri, 57, was the first senior Hamas political leader to be assassinated since Israel launched a shattering air and ground offensive against Gaza’s Hamas rulers almost three months ago after a shock Hamas militant rampage into Israeli towns.
UPDATE: 9:00 PM
Government Forces Seize Bahá’í-Owned Agricultural Lands in Mazandaran Province
On Monday, December 31, 2023, under the directives of Ebrahim Raisi, the Iranian regime’s president, State Security Forces, and intelligence agents raided the village of Ahmadabad near Sari in the Mazandaran Province. On January 1, 2024, these forces, acting on behalf of the Raisi government, seized lands that had belonged to Iranian Bahá’ís for over 70 years.
The regime’s official news agency, IRNA, reported, “In alignment with the President’s order to combat illegal logging in the north, today, Tuesday, January 2, with the presence of the special representative of the governor of Mazandaran for environmental protection, the representative of the prosecutor, law enforcement, and the commander of the natural resources protection unit in the province, an operation to reclaim and release 22 hectares of natural resources in Ahmadabad, Sari, was carried out.”
Last year, security forces attacked the village of Roshankuh in Mazandaran, demolishing the homes of Bahá’í citizens and confiscating their lands.
Iraqi Central Bank Imposes Restrictions on Currency Exchange with Iran
State media outlets in Iran have reported a recent decision in Iraq that is anticipated to impede Iran’s access to the US dollar. According to these reports, the Central Bank of Iraq, through a new law covering the currency sector, has prohibited official exchange offices and banks in the country from engaging in any currency transactions with five countries, including Iran, making it impossible for the clerical dictatorship to secure dollars through legal channels.
The Donyaye Eghtesad newspaper delved into this matter, highlighting that, under this law, any acquisition of currency from the Iraqi market must occur through the country’s free market, where “the exchange rate difference is 20 percent.”
The newspaper also stressed in its report that the “new law by the Iraqi government could impact the Iran-Iraq trade relations.
Have Iran’s Mullahs Reached a Tipping Point With West Over Their Attacks on Commercial Shipping?
Since the start of the Israel-Hamas war on Oct. 7, the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen have stepped up their drone and missile attacks on cargo vessels in the Red Sea, forcing major firms to take the longer, costlier route around the southern tip of Africa. According to the Pentagon, the Houthis have launched more than 100 such attacks, targeting shipping from at least 35 different countries. The Houthis have been trained and armed by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), the Iranian regime’s main military force. Kamikaze drones manufactured in Iran have been used in the attacks.
UPDATE: 3:30 PM
Mounting Financial Circulation in Tehran’s Waste Sector: A Multibillion-Dollar Industry
An Iranian state-run newspaper has explored the topic of waste management in the capital city, providing insights into the operations of more than 7,000 waste collectors who generate an annual revenue of $3.5 billion. However, the report omitted any mention of individuals exploiting the financially vulnerable in connection with this business.
The newspaper Donyaye Eghtesad likened waste management to a “complex game” and described the daily routine of over 7,000 waste collectors as akin to playing their part in a series, seeking the approval of the “lords of waste.”
Abu Ali Golzari, a waste management specialist, spoke to the newspaper about the revenues generated in this sector, stating, “The financial turnover of these ‘lords’ reaches $3.5 billion annually, according to the statistics of the Waste Recycling Association.”
Golzari emphasized that when considering both dry and municipal waste from industrial and construction sectors, the annual financial circulation in this trade industry amounts to “tens of billions of dollars.”
Severe Air Pollution Continues to Grip Iranian Metropolises
According to meteorological data, it is anticipated that intense air pollution will persist in the major cities of Iran for at least the next three days. Reports indicate that certain areas of Tehran experienced a critical “purple” crisis on Tuesday, January 2.
The National Crisis Management and Prediction Center for Weather Conditions announced this morning, without specifying details, that an increase in air pollutant concentrations and a decline in air quality are expected in industrial cities over the next three days.
The Iranian Meteorological Organization had previously issued a warning on December 29 and 30 about a new wave of pollution in industrial cities due to “stagnation and calm air.” They mentioned that the current trend is likely to continue at least until Sunday. According to these reports, nine cities, including Tehran, Karaj, Arak, Yazd, Tabriz, Isfahan, Urmia, Ahvaz, and Semnan, have experienced “unhealthy” air quality this week.
State TV Debate Highlights Concerns Over Economic Policies and Corruption
In a recent debate on state television, Saeed Leilaz, a state-affiliated economist, voiced critical concerns about the economic policies and corruption plaguing Iran. Leylaz addressed a range of issues, emphasizing the high human cost associated with certain decisions.
Indirectly warning that increasing the price of basic items will lead to more unrest, Leylaz said, “We cannot afford to have a thousand, fifteen hundred people killed every two or three years just because you want to bring gasoline prices to the global level while you either do not want to or cannot control the inflation rate.”
The economist attributed the root cause of inflation to the Raisi government, singling out a corrupt banking network. He added, “In fact, we are all trying to cover the government’s budget deficit. Do you know why? All our economists, whether left or right, are either on the payroll of the corrupt banking network in Iran or have some affiliation with it. This imbalance has tripled the amount of debt of Iranian banks to the Central Bank in the past year, or the fact that our current bank is accumulating about 150 to 200 billion tomans in losses. You know these are mere calculations, otherwise, the accumulated loss is three times that.”
Blaine Holt to Newsmax: Iran Sees ‘Clown Show’ Instead of Strong US
The U.S. Navy destroyed three speedboats operated by Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in the Red Sea on Sunday, but it will not deter Tehran until the Biden administration starts acknowledging the danger the Islamic Republic represents, retired Air Force Brig. Gen. Blaine Holt told Newsmax.
“We’ve got to be very clear about the truth here otherwise, we’re going to get ourselves into even more trouble,” Holt told “Rob Schmitt Tonight” and guest host Carl Higbie on Monday. “This administration has looked the other way on [Iranian] sanctions and let them become flush with cash. Over $100 billion in oil sales, billion-dollar payments on hostages, unfrozen bank accounts while they just go ahead and keep enriching uranium in the background and start a regional war.”
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Yemen’s Houthis Are Baiting the World in the Red Sea, Risking All Progress Towards Peace
In the past two months, the Houthi rebel group has seized a cargo ship, attacked several other commercial vessels and fired at least half a dozen missiles hundreds of kilometers from its base in western Yemen. In the past nine years since it emerged from northern Yemen and mounted a violent takeover of Sanaa, the Yemeni capital, the group has carried out more than 1,000 attacks against infrastructure important to the global economy – most of it oil facilities and airports in Saudi Arabia. The Houthis may control less than half of Yemen’s territory, but their aggression leaves an outsized footprint on the world stage.
UPDATE: 7:30 AM
Rice Imports Are the Latest Domain of Government Embezzlement in Iran
Iran is suffering from a shortage of medicine and medical supplies. But the country’s financial assets are in the hands of a government that uses oil revenues and national resources not to provide medicine, but to carry out various embezzlement schemes to fill the pockets of its greedy officials and finance its malicious goals across the region. After the recent Debsh tea scandal, there are reports of a large-scale embezzlement case and currency theft for importing rice, to be distributed at the expense of domestic rice farmers. As usual, regime officials will achieve legendary wealth from rice, but the problems of the country and the people will remain unsolved.
As rice was being imported into the country, economists were busy examining the budget bill for the upcoming year. And they were warning about the shortage and difficulties of providing currency for medicine and powdered milk. Meanwhile, regime president Ebrahim Raisi was busy distributing oil revenue among his gang of criminal officials.
Iran’s Escalating Nuclear Program is A Threat to Regional and Global Security
The Iranian regime’s nuclear program has been a subject of concern for the international community for many years. Recently, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported that Iran has increased its production of highly enriched uranium close to weapons grade. According to the confidential report, Iran has enough enriched uranium to 60% purity, which, if further enriched, can be used to make three nuclear bombs. This revelation has sparked widespread condemnation from Western powers, who accuse Iran of violating international law.
Iran’s enrichment of uranium to 60% purity is a significant escalation of its nuclear program. The IAEA’s theoretical definition states that about 42 kg of uranium enriched up to 60% is an amount that cannot be ruled out for making a nuclear bomb.
Iran’s Regime Hikes Mobile Internet Tariffs by 30%
While protests over the quality and limitations of internet communications in Iran continue, the Regulatory Authority for Telecommunications and Radio Communications announced a 30% increase in the tariffs of communication operators in Iran.
News agencies in Iran reported that the CEOs of communication operators have committed to improving the quality of their services in response to this price increase permit.
Among the accepted conditions for operators, it has been announced that the amount of 5G coverage will increase by 10%, the coverage of 4G in the country will reach 96%, and the average internet speed will increase by 30% in the next six months.
Berlin—December 31, 2023: Iranian Community Invites Compatriots to Participate in the 28th #FreeIranTelethon in Support of Simay-e-Azadi (INTV)
Berlin, Germany—December 31, 2023: The Iranian community and supporters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) organized a book exhibition in solidarity with the Iranian Revolution,. They also invited all freedom-loving Iranians to participate in the 28th #FreeIranTelethon in support of Simay-e-Azadi (INTV).
Hamburg—December 30, 2023: MEK Supporters Organize an Exhibition to Express Solidarity With the Iran Revolution
Hamburg, Germany—December 30, 2023: Supporters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) and freedom-loving Iranians, organized a photo exhibition in solidarity with the Iranian Revolution.
Also, read Iran News in Brief – January 1, 2023
