THIS PAGE WILL BE UPDATED WITH THE LATEST NEWS
UPDATE: 4:30 PM
US Military Says it Destroyed 2 Houthi Missile Launchers in Yemen
The US military said on Tuesday that its forces had destroyed two anti-ship cruise missile launchers in a Houthi-controlled area of Yemen. US Central Command said on the social media site X that the missile launchers “presented an imminent threat to US and coalition forces and to merchant vessels transiting the region.”
Houthis claim to continue targeting ships owned or operated by Israeli companies or transporting goods to or from Israel in support of Palestinians in Israel’s war in Gaza.
June 11 U.S. Central Command Update
In the past 24 hours, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces successfully destroyed two anti-ship cruise missile (ASCM) launchers in a
Houthi-controlled area of Yemen.It was determined the launchers presented an imminent threat to U.S. and… pic.twitter.com/kCzHajAnKm
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) June 11, 2024
UPDATE: 9:00 AM
Defendants Sentenced to Prison for Conspiracy to Sell Sanctioned Iranian Petroleum to China
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced that Zhenyu (“Bill”) Wang, 43, of Dallas, Texas, and Daniel Ray Lane, 42, of McKinney, Texas, who were convicted at trial in November 2023, were sentenced to prison today by United States District Judge Harvey Bartle III on charges of attempting to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (“IEEPA”), conspiracy to violate IEEPA, and conspiracy to commit money laundering, based on their attempt to transact in sanctioned petroleum and launder the proceeds.
Wang, a Chinese citizen, and Lane, a U.S. citizen, were each sentenced to 45 months’ imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release. In January 2024, Wang and Lane’s co-conspirator Nicholas Hovan was sentenced to imprisonment for 12 months and a day, and co-conspirators Nicholas Fuchs and Robert Thwaites were each sentenced to 10 months’ imprisonment.
US Intelligence Assesses Houthis in Yemen in Talks to Provide Weapons to Al-Shabaab in Somalia, Officials Say
US intelligence has learned of discussions between Houthis in Yemen to provide weapons to the Somali militant group al-Shabaab, in what three American officials described to CNN as a worrying development that threatens to further destabilize an already violent region.
Officials are now searching for evidence that Houthi weapons have been delivered to Somalia, and are trying to work out whether Iran, which provides some military and financial support to the Houthis, is involved in the agreement.
The US has been warning countries in the region about this possible cooperation in recent weeks, according to a senior administration official, and African countries have also begun to proactively bring it up with the US to raise their concerns and get more information.
UPDATE: 7:00 AM
Legislative Support for The Iranian Resistance Continues to Grow
As we approach the annual grand gathering of the Iranian Resistance, parliamentary majorities in the legislative bodies of Estonia, the United Kingdom, Italy, Belgium, Malta, Moldova, Norway, Wales, the Netherlands, and the Canton of Geneva supported the democratic alternative for regime change in Iran and the establishment of peace in the Middle East. The parliamentary majorities, which generally include representatives of various parties in these countries as well as the heads of parliamentary committees, condemned the gross violations of human rights, particularly the suppression of women in Iran, and have called for accountability for those responsible for the 1988 massacre of more than 30,000 political prisoners.
Iran’s Regime Disqualifies Most of Its Own Loyalists in Upcoming Election Circus
The Iranian regime’s Guardian Council finally settled the fate of the participants in the upcoming presidential elections. Out of the 80 regime loyalists who registered to take on the hollow role of president in the mullahs’ regime, more than 70 were disqualified, leaving only six remaining, excluding a few who withdrew themselves. Among those disqualified are a former president, a former parliament speaker, several ministers and deputy ministers, a few members of the parliament, and a member of the office of regime supreme leader Ali Khamenei.
The extensive purges under the guise of “disqualification” clearly demonstrated how farcical the registration circus was and how it masked the internal crisis following the demise of regime president Ebrahim Raisi. Not to mention, the ridiculous antics of the regime’s agents, lined up with ID cards in hand before government TV cameras, even became a subject of ridicule and embarrassment among the regime’s own officials.
Iran’s Regime Faces Growing Infighting Ahead of Electing Raisi’s Substitute
Iranian regime supreme leader Ali Khamenei had been preparing for the rise of Ebrahim Raisi since 2019 when he called for the assembly of a “Young Hezbollahi Government.” Through a well-planned and long-term process, and by eliminating all internal factions, he placed Raisi in the presidential seat. Khamenei knew that his regime would face severe storms, which could only be countered by a completely obedient pawn who had burned all bridges behind him. This was the only way to confront popular uprisings and extend the regime’s survival.
However, Raisi’s sudden death overturned all the arrangements Khamenei had made, leaving him unprepared amid the widespread crises facing the regime.
Atena Farghadani Sentenced To Six Years in Prison
The 26th branch of the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced Atena Farghadani, a cartoonist and former political prisoner, to six years in prison.
Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court issued this verdict on June 9, 2024, and notified Athena Farghadani on June 10. She has been sentenced to 5 years in prison for “insulting the sanctities” and to 1 year in prison for “propaganda against the state.”
Atena Farghadani was violently arrested on April 13, 2024, by security forces while putting up one of her caricatures on a wall in Pastor Street where the presidential palace is located. A week after the arrest of an Iranian cartoonist and former political prisoner, Atena Farghadani, her lawyer said she was tortured in a safe house run by the regime’s security police.
Iranian FM Dismisses IAEA Resolution As Having No Effect On Nuclear Activities
In response to the possibility of Europe using the snapback mechanism against Tehran’s nuclear program, Iran’s Foreign Ministry announced that Iran will act within the framework of its “rights and obligations” and that the issuance of a resolution by the IAEA Board of Governors will not affect Tehran’s plans for “nuclear development.”
Nasser Kanaani, the spokesperson for Iran’s Foreign Ministry, said at his press conference on Monday, June 10, regarding the potential use of the snapback mechanism by European countries: “I will not speculate on what Europe intends, but naturally, Iran has acted and will act within the framework of its rights and obligations.”
The snapback mechanism is a procedure provided for in UN Security Council Resolution 2231, which allows JCPOA parties to request the automatic re-imposition of all international sanctions suspended under this resolution if Iran violates its commitments.
Brain Drain from Iran Accelerates Every Year
The migration of educated and skilled individuals from Iran to other countries, known as the brain drain, seems to be intensifying as time goes by. In 2019, Iran ranked second in the world for brain drain, with nearly 180,000 educated professionals emigrating. In recent years, with the worsening of all aspects of life in Iran and the complete control of the three branches of government by Khamenei’s closest and most trusted individuals, and the increase in public discontent, this statistic has undoubtedly increased.
Brain drain from any country generally occurs for three reasons: economic, social, or political. The ongoing brain drain crisis in Iran can be attributed to the combined effects of multiple factors, including decades of poor governance, widespread and continuous political and social repression, severe human rights abuses, a bleak economic outlook, corruption, and social and demographic factors.
Bern—June 10, 2024: MEK Supporters Exhibition in Solidarity With the Iranian Revolution
Bern, Switzerland—June 10, 2024: Freedom-loving Iranians and supporters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran(PMOI/MEK) organized an exhibition to support the Iranian Revolution. They also protested against the increasing wave of executions carried out by the Iranian regime. MEK supporters in Bern demanded the trial of the mullahs’ regime leaders for crimes against humanity, in an international court.
The members of the Iranian community in Bern invited all freedom-loving Iranians to participate in the great gathering of Free Iran on June 29, 2024, in Berlin.
Iranians demanded the immediate release of all political prisoners from the prisons of the mullahs’ regime in Iran. They also condemned the brutal repression of Iranian women under the pretext of hijab and supported the resistance of Iranian women against the oppression of the regime with the slogan of women, resistance, and freedom.
Heidelberg, Germany—June 8, 2024: MEK Supporters Organize an Exhibition and Call for Participation in Berlin Gathering
Heidelberg, Germany—June 8, 2024: Freedom-loving Iranians and supporters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) organized an exhibition to express solidarity with the Iranian Revolution. They also protested against the increasing wave of executions carried out by the Iranian regime.
Berlin, June 10, 2024: MEK Supporters Exhibition and Call for Participation in #BerlinDemo29June
Berlin, Germany—June 10, 2024: Freedom-loving Iranians and supporters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) continued to set up an exhibition to express solidarity with the Iranian Revolution. They also protested against the increasing wave of executions carried out by the Iranian regime.
Vancouver, Canada—June 8, 2024: MEK Supporters Rally and Call for Participation in Berlin Gathering
Vancouver, Canada—June 8, 2024: Freedom-loving Iranians and supporters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) organized a rally to express solidarity with the Iranian Revolution. They also protested against the increasing wave of executions by the Iranian regime.
Also, read Iran News in Brief – June 11, 2024