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UPDATE: 9:00 PM CET
Pentagon Aide Part of ‘Covert Campaign’ To Undermine Iran Opposition: Report
An Iranian-born Pentagon aide, who was revealed earlier this year to be part of a years-long, Tehran-backed influence operation, also sought to undermine the leading group resisting Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, according to a new report delivered to President Biden.
Ariane Tabatabai has retained her security clearance and position as chief of staff to the Pentagon’s assistant secretary of defense for special operations and low-intensity conflict — despite a bombshell Semafor report in September detailing her ties to senior Iranian Foreign Ministry officials.
But Tabatabai and founding members of the influence operation, known as the Iran Experts Initiative, were also engaged in a “covert campaign” to smear the nation’s leading opposition group, known as the Mojahedin-e Khalq (MEK), according to a recent report endorsed by former vice presidential national security adviser Lincoln Bloomfield and written by a University of Baltimore professor.
UPDATE: 6:30 PM CET
Former US Army Deputy Chief: Addressing IRGC is Crucial for Regional Stability
General Jack Keane, a former Deputy Chief of Staff of the United States Army, discussed the Iranian regime’s role in regional conflicts during an interview with Fox News on November 12. He suggested that the United States should focus on targeting the Revolutionary Guard Corps’ facilities in Iran.
General Jack Keane also talked about the U.S. military’s vulnerability in deterring the Iranian regime, stating that when you undermine the capabilities of proxy forces and highlight the training centers of the Revolutionary Guard Corps within Iran, where these forces are trained, it gets their attention.
Additionally, General Keane mentioned that a similar approach was taken by Ronald Reagan in the mid-1980s when he eliminated all the platforms and naval bases of the Revolutionary Guard Corps because they were disrupting the flow of oil from the Persian Gulf, a top priority. He also emphasized the importance of putting the Revolutionary Guard Corps’ headquarters in Iran on the table, as these actions would capture their attention.
UPDATE: 1:30 PM CET
Skilled Labor Migration Threatens Iran’s Economic Stability
In an article titled “The Trauma of Skilled Labor Migration,” the state-run Hammihan newspaper discussed the likelihood of Iranian factories shutting down in the coming years due to a labor shortage.
The source wrote today, “Iran’s industrial landscape is turning into a hub of aging factories, and a handful of factories are benefiting from monopolies, while industrial exports are in a steep decline. According to experts, the instability, uncertainties pervading the country’s economic, political, and social environment, the lack of a clear vision, the high risks associated with production, impromptu regulations, and the complex and challenging business environment in Iran are among the main reasons for the migration of skilled labor out of the country.”
Hammihan added, “The Chairman of the Social Responsibility and Corporate Governance Commission at Iran’s Chamber of Commerce emphasized that the absence of skilled labor in various fields due to migration is a significant challenge for Iran’s economy, especially in the private sector. Despite warnings over the years, the government has not addressed this issue with clear policies. He warned, ‘In the coming years, the shortage of skilled labor will undoubtedly become one of the primary challenges for our economic enterprises.'”
Two Young Freight Carriers Caught in Regime’s Security Forces Crosshairs
Two young “kulbars” from Saqqez and Marivan were injured while transporting heavy cargo near the borders of Baneh County. This occurred as a result of direct gunfire from Iranian regime security forces.
According to a report from a local human rights organization, on Monday, November 12, border guards at the Hengawar border near Baneh opened fire on a group of kulbars. This incident left 19-year-old Yunus Ghaderi from Saqqez with severe leg injuries, and he was subsequently taken to Salahuddin Ayyubi Hospital in Baneh for treatment.
Furthermore, on Sunday, October 11, at the same border, a young kulbar from the village of Doyseh in Marivan, identified as Nariman Saadi, sustained arm and back injuries while engaged in kulbar activities on the border. He, too, was transported to medical facilities for treatment.
According to reports, over the past 50 days, three kulbars have been fatally shot by border guards on the Baneh borders, and 28 others have been wounded.
Monday Protests in Iran
Today, a gathering of retired telecommunications workers in various cities such as Kermanshah, Ahvaz, Isfahan, Tehran, Sanandaj, Rasht, Shiraz, Ardabil, Hormozgan, and more, staged a protest outside the telecommunications company. They were expressing their grievances regarding unaddressed issues, which included demands for the full implementation of the personnel and hiring regulations from 2010, as well as resolving healthcare insurance problems.
November 13—Kermanshah, western #Iran
Retirees of Telecommunication Company of Iran rally to demand higher pensions and other basic rights based on the regime's own laws.
"Shout for your rights!" protesters chant#IranProtestspic.twitter.com/KzirvVQ4lX— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) November 13, 2023
November 13—Ahvaz, southwest #Iran
Third day of strikes & protests by workers of Iran National Steel Industrial Group, reiterating their demands for payment of overdue wages, better pay, and the return of dismissed workers.#IranProtestspic.twitter.com/quLiFAdbep— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) November 13, 2023
November 13—Sanandaj, western #Iran
Retirees of Telecommunication Company of Iran hold protest rally, demanding higher pensions and other basic rights.
Based on its own laws, the regime is required to adjust the pensions of retirees according to the costs of living. But regime… pic.twitter.com/ezktwST4dM— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) November 13, 2023
US Carries Out Air Strikes in Syria Against Iran-Linked Facilities
Nov 12 (Reuters) – The United States carried out two air strikes in Syria against Iran and its aligned groups on Sunday, the Pentagon said, in the latest response to a series of attacks against American forces in Syria and in Iraq.
In a statement, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the strikes targeted a training facility near the city of Albu Kamal and a safe house near the city of Mayadeen. He said President Joe Biden ordered the strikes.
“The President has no higher priority than the safety of U.S. personnel, and he directed today’s action to make clear that the United States will defend itself, its personnel, and its interests,” Austin said in a statement.
UPDATE: 8:00 AM CET
Iran: Protests Increase as the Economy Nosedives Under the Regime’s Destructive Policies
While Iran’s regime is trying to take advantage of the ongoing war in Gaza to divert attention to the many problems inside Iran, protests against the regime’s destructive policies continue to increase. On Saturday and Sunday, people from various walks of life held strikes and protests in several cities across the country.
In Aghajari, southwest Iran, the official staff of the Ministry of Oil and Gas rallied on Saturday to protest the failure of their demands as in previous days. On Sunday, oil workers in Mahshahr and workers of the Offshore Oil Company in Siri Island, southern Iran, held similar rallies. In recent weeks, protests have been held by official oil ministry staff at operational centers, including at the Offshore Oil Company in Khark and Ahvaz.
Iran’s Workers Are Paying the Price Of The Regime Negligence In Safety Measures
Due to the lack of strict government supervision and the absence of independent trade union organizations, Iranian workers face deadly risks every day. The situation is so dire that, in a single day, we hear of a worker losing their lives due to a fire in a guardhouse in Neyshabur, and another worker tragically falling to their death while working on a building in Mashhad. Despite numerous domestic and international warnings about the high number of labor accidents, the news of workers’ deaths and injuries continues to spread. Just recently, we learned of the death of a worker in Dehgolan, Kurdistan province, and the tragic loss of two workers in a power plant during the early days of November.
On November 7, reports revealed yet another tragic incident. A construction worker in the Abdol Mutalib Boulevard area of Mashhad lost his life after falling from a significant height while working in a construction unit. It is disheartening to note that this worker, around 65 years old, fell due to not having safety equipment. Although rescuers rushed him to the hospital in an ambulance, he succumbed to his severe injuries.
Mahsa Basir Tavana Arrested for Seeking Justice for Slain Brother
The Intelligence Department of Rasht, the capital of Gilan Province, had summoned her by phone. Mahsa Basir Tavana, the mother of two, was immediately transferred to the detention center of the Intelligence Department. No information has been available on her or the reason for her arrest since this morning. Mahsa Basir Tavana comes from Fouman. She is the sister of Mehran Basir Tavana, 29, who was shot and killed by security forces during Iran protests in Some’e Sara last year on November 16, 2022.
This is the second time Mahsa Basir Tavana has been arrested. The first time was in Fouman on August 17, 2023, when she was accompanying her sick mother in a hospital. She was released after some time on bail.
British Committee for Iran Freedom (BCFIF) Condemns Terrorist Attack on Dr. Alejo Vidal-Quadras
The British Committee for Iran Freedom (BCFIF) issued a statement regarding the terrorist attack on Dr. Alejo Vidal-Quadras, the former Vice-President of the European Parliament and President of the International Committee in Search of Justice (ISJ) in Madrid on November 10, 2023. The full text of the press release is as follows:
“The British Committee for Iran Freedom is saddened and appalled by the attempted assassination of the Spanish politician and former Vice-President of the European Parliament, Dr. Alejo Vidal-Quadras, in Madrid yesterday. We wish Dr. Vidal-Quadras a swift recovery and express our solidarity with his family.”
Bremen, Germany—November 11, 2023: MEK Supporters Held a Rally in Solidarity With the Iran Revolution
Bremen, Germany—November 11, 2023: Freedom-loving Iranians and supporters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) organized a rally in solidarity with the Iranian Revolution and victims of of terror, torture and execution by the mullahs’ regime. This demonstration served as a tribute to the martyrs of the nationwide Iranian uprising.
Malmö, Sweden—November 11, 2023: MEK Supporters Held a Rally in Solidarity With the Iran Revolution
Malmö, Sweden—November 11, 2023: Freedom-loving Iranians and supporters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) organized a rally in solidarity with the Iranian Revolution and victims of terror, torture, and execution by the mullahs’ regime. This demonstration served as a tribute to the martyrs of the nationwide Iranian uprising.
Also, read Iran News in Brief – November 12, 2023