THIS PAGE WILL BE UPDATED WITH THE LATEST NEWS
UPDATE: 9:30 PM
Airstrike in Baghdad Kills Iran-Backed Militia Leader Abu Taqwa Amid Escalating Regional Tensions
An airstrike on the logistical support headquarters of an Iran-backed militia in central Baghdad Thursday killed a high-ranking militia commander, militia officials said. The airstrike was carried out by the United States, a U.S. official told CBS News.
Thursday’s strike comes amid mounting regional tensions fueled by the Israel-Hamas war and fears that it could spill over into surrounding countries. It also coincides with a push by Iraqi officials for US-led coalition forces to leave the country.
The Popular Mobilization Force – a coalition of militias that is nominally under the control of the Iraqi military – announced in a statement that its deputy head of operations in Baghdad, Mushtaq Taleb al-Saidi, or “Abu Taqwa,” had been killed “as a result of brutal American aggression.”
Guardian Council Rejects Qualifications for Half of Parliamentary Election Candidates
The Iranian regime’s Guardian Council, responsible for vetting candidates in every sham election, announced on Thursday, January 4, that it has rejected the qualifications of nearly half of the candidates, including 26 sitting representatives.
According to the spokesperson for the Guardian Council, Tahan Nazif, the council has approved the qualifications of 52% of the candidates running for seats in the regime’s parliament, commonly known as the Majlis. He further disclosed that “26 current members of the parliament, out of those who registered for the upcoming elections, have not been confirmed as qualified so far.”
In November 2023, a group associated with the Ministry of Interior disqualified dozens of sitting MPs from running in the upcoming Majlis.
The spokesperson highlighted that this rejection rate shows a significant decrease compared to the previous election cycle when 90 individuals faced disqualification. The Guardian Council had previously stated that 5,000 disqualified candidates, as confirmed by the executive bodies of the Ministry of Interior, had filed objections to their disqualification. However, Nazif did not provide specific details on how many of these objections have resulted in the candidates regaining their eligibility.
UPDATE: 12:30 PM
US Again Renews Protection for Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Top Aide Over Iran Threats
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration has once again renewed taxpayer-funded protection for former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and one of his top aides, who have been the target of persistent threats from Iran.
The State Department notified Congress late last month that the threats against Pompeo and Trump administration Iran envoy Brian Hook remain “serious and credible” and continue to warrant government-provided security details.
The notifications are dated Dec. 19 but were not transmitted to Congress until Dec. 22. They were obtained by The Associated Press on Wednesday.
Four Iran-Backed Militia Fighters Killed in Baghdad Drone Strike –Sources
BAGHDAD, Jan 4 (Reuters) – At least four militia fighters were killed and six others wounded in a drone strike on an Iran-backed militia headquarters in eastern Baghdad on Thursday, police and security sources told Reuters.
Police sources and eyewitnesses said at least two rockets struck inside a building used by Iraqi militia group al-Nujaba’a.
A spokesperson for the group said the death toll had risen to four after one fighter died of his wounds. Health sources confirmed the toll.
UPDATE: 7:30 AM
Iran’s Regime Hikes Internet Prices to Fund Its Evil Goals
On December 28, Finally, after a few days of speculation and media coverage, the news of the internet price increase was announced by regime-affiliated websites in Iran. It was quite evident that this timing was carefully calculated and planned to avoid public backlash and minimize societal reactions. On December 28, the state-run Fars News Agency reported that “the Ministry of Communications has agreed to a 34% increase in internet tariffs.” The outlet further claimed that “previously, the operators had requested a 100% increase in internet tariffs, which was opposed.”
The regime orchestrated the scene in such a way that the operators would first write a letter to Iranian regime president Ebrahim Raisi, expressing their helplessness and lamenting about the “sharp increase in exchange rates and high inflation,” and requesting his approval for a 100% increase in internet prices, which would be double the current rates.
Women Lead Protest Against Air Pollution in Arak
The people of Arak held a protest gathering in the city’s Bagh-e Melli (National Garden) on Tuesday, January 2, 2024. They protested Shazand Power Plant’s use of Mazut as its source of energy. The plant significantly contributes to air pollution in this metropolitan city. Women’s participation in this protest was considerable. Government troops initially collected the protesters’ placards and dispersed them after half an hour.
Arak is one of eight Iranian metropolises with severe air pollution. Some time ago, officials of the Markazi Province endorsed that the Shazand Power Plant used Mazut as its fuel.
The Global Threat of Iran’s Drone Program
The recent events, including the attacks on the merchant vessel Chem Pluto in the Arabian Sea, the Hamas raid on Israel, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and Houthi attacks in the Gulf of Aden, have highlighted a common factor: the use of cheap unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) manufactured by Iran’s regime. Despite Iran’s isolation and heavy sanctions, it has emerged as a pioneer in drone warfare, strategically positioning itself as a formidable drone superpower.
In the 1980s, during the Iran-Iraq war, the regime recognized the need for cost-effective reconnaissance solutions, leading to the development of drones like the Ababil 1 and Mohajer 1. The realization of the human and financial costs of directly engaging US forces in the US Navy’s operation Praying Mantis prompted Iran to invest heavily in its indigenous drone program. Collaborations with nations like China and Russia played a crucial role in achieving technological advancements.
Youth Suicides Spike in Iran’s Border Cities Due to Poverty
Ali Akbar Bastami, a member of the Iranian regime’s Majlis (parliament), criticized the country’s economic conditions and a trend in the suicide of youths during a public session of the parliament on Monday, December 31.
The state-run Jomhouri-e Eslami newspaper reacted to this issue on Monday, January 1st, and wrote that Ali Akbar Bastami, the representative of Ilam, emphasized the need for special attention to “this gruesome phenomenon.”
It has been announced that the main reason for these daily suicides among young people is their unemployment despite the presence of oil and gas projects in the region.
Iranian Political Prisoner Maryam Akbari Monfared to Spend 18 Years in Prison
After 15 years behind bars, Iranian political prisoner Maryam Akbari Monfared has been sentenced to an additional three years of imprisonment by the Semnan Province Criminal Court. The court convicted Maryam Akbari Monfared, a long-standing political prisoner and a relative of members of the Iranian opposition the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK), in a new case and sentenced her to three years of imprisonment.
According to the human rights organizations, Ms. Akbari Monfared, a 48-year-old mother of three, has been charged with “propaganda against the regime,” “collusion and conspiracy against national security,” and “insulting” the regime’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei.
Also, read Iran News in Brief – January 3, 2023