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Spotting A True Alternative Through Decades-Long Experience in Politics
“The people of Iran have sussed this regime. The people of Iran have shown it by their mass abstentionism from the parliamentary and the presidential elections. The reason why they’ve gone for mass abstentionism and boycott is not that they are in a state of undiluted bliss about this regime, but because they feel utter undiluted, unreserved contempt for the way in which the regime abuses its own people,” said, John Bercow, Former Speaker of the UK House of Commons, at the Free Iran 2024 World Summit.
Bercow, who held one of the most important political positions in the UK for ten years, made several important points in his speech.
Unmasking The So-Called Reformists in Iran’s Regime
What happened in the first and second rounds of the Iranian regime’s sham presidential election in July 2024 was a nationwide referendum that called for the overthrow of the regime. Once again, it was clear that the main divide in Iran is not between the various factions of this regime, but between the people and the tyrants ruling the country. The slogan “My vote is regime change” was the main message of the people. The remnants of the so-called reformist movement tried to distort this main divide and reduce it to a power struggle between different regime factions. But the display of election boycott and overthrow was so strong that it forced regime supreme leader Ali Khamenei to accept the presidency of Massoud Pezeshkian, a so-called reformist who had expressed his full allegiance to the criminal supreme leader. This brings no benefit to the Supreme Leader, nor does it count as a revival of the so-called reforms.
Six Women’s Rights Activists Arrested to Serve Their Prison Time
Today, Saturday, July 13, 2024, six women’s rights activists in Gilan were arrested to serve their prison sentences and transferred to Lakan Prison in Rasht.
Matin Yazdani, Forough Samii Nia, Jalveh Javaheri, Negar Rezaei, Shiva Shahsiah, and Azadeh Chavoshian were detained to endure their prison terms and transferred to Lakan Prison in Rasht. Their case, along with five other women’s rights activists in Gilan, named Sara Jahani, Yasmin Hashdari, Zahra Dadras, Zohreh Dadras, and Houman Taheri, was referred to the Enforcement Branch of the Rasht Prosecutor’s Office in the latter half of June this year.
These six women’s rights activists were separately arrested by security forces in Gilan in mid-August 2023 and were released from Lakan Prison in Rasht after posting bail.
The High Cost of Summer Fruits in Iran: A Burden on Workers
Recent reports on fruit prices in Iran’s daily market reveal that a worker must sacrifice two to three days’ salary to purchase just four kilos of summer fruit. This estimate is based on prices at fruit and vegetable markets; prices at city fruit shops are even higher.
According to the Iranian Statistics Center, June saw record inflation for all types of fruits, with prices escalating unprecedentedly during the spring and continuing into summer.
On Tuesday, July 9, the ILNA news agency published a report titled “Father’s Basket Lacks Fruits,” highlighting the impact of rising fruit prices. The report stated, “Summer fruits are absent from the shopping baskets of low-income households.”
U.S. Department of State Imposes Sanctions on Iranian Company for Chemical Weapons Development
The U.S. Department of State has announced the imposition of sanctions on Hakiman Shargh Research Company due to its involvement in the Iran regime’s chemical weapons research and development. These sanctions are enacted under Executive Order 13382, which targets proliferators of weapons of mass destruction and their supporters. The United States has designated Hakiman Shargh Research Company for engaging in activities or transactions that materially contribute to the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction by the Iranian regime. This action follows repeated calls by the United States for Iran to address its noncompliance with the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). These calls were reiterated during this week’s meeting of the Executive Council of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).
Water Crisis in Iran: 200 Villages in Golestan Province Facing “Water Stress”
Due to the ongoing water shortage crisis in Iran, water has been cut off or become unusable in several cities, and 200 villages in Golestan Province are experiencing water stress.
Reports indicate that drinking water in the cities of Damavand, Khash, Genaveh, Harris, and Mahshahr has either been cut off or is experiencing a decline in quantity and quality.
Based on images published on social media, residents in Hersin County, Kermanshah Province, are also deprived of access to potable water.
Summer, Heat, and Power Outages in Iran; Government Asks People to “Save” Without Explanation
While the Iranian regime has spent a significant portion of the country’s capital over the past 20 years on its nuclear programs under the pretext of “power generation” and the “completion of the Bushehr power plant,” people are facing the recurring problem of widespread power outages as summer temperatures rise in Iran. The Bushehr nuclear power plant, which has cost billions of dollars to build and has led to numerous sanctions-related issues for the country, has a capacity of only 1,000 megawatts of electricity, whereas the country’s electricity consumption in recent days has been around 77,000 megawatts.
Despite the Iranian regime’s propaganda over the past years and the vast amounts of money spent, the Bushehr nuclear power plant is only able to supply one percent of the country’s electricity needs. This amount of electricity could have been supplied at much lower costs through clean energy sources.
A New Military Escalation: Iranian Ballistic Missiles to Russia
The ongoing war in Ukraine has brought about a significant shift in the geopolitical landscape, particularly in the relationship between Russia and Iran. The two nations, facing Western sanctions and political isolation, have found common ground in their opposition to Western influence. This has led to unprecedented cooperation in various spheres, including military, economic, and political domains. One of the most striking manifestations of this cooperation is Russia’s use of Iranian drones and missiles in the Ukrainian conflict. This development marks a new chapter in the military collaboration between the two countries, which has steadily increased since the onset of the war.
MEK Supporters Rally in Vienna: Denounce Sham Trial of MEK Members, Demand IRGC Terrorist Designation and International Prosecution of the Mullahs’ Regime Leaders
Vienna, Austria—July 12, 2024: Freedom-loving Iranians and supporters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) held a rally against the regime’s sham trial of MEK members. They demanded the designation of IRGC as a terrorist organization and tried the regime’s leaders in an international court.
Also, read Iran News in Brief – July 13, 2024