THIS PAGE WILL BE UPDATED WITH THE LATEST NEWS
UPDATE: 4:00 PM CET
Statement From Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III on Steps to Increase Force Posture
Following detailed discussions with President Biden on recent escalations by Iran and its proxy forces across the Middle East Region, today I directed a series of additional steps to further strengthen the Department of Defense posture in the region. These steps will bolster regional deterrence efforts, increase force protection for U.S. forces in the region, and assist in the defense of Israel.
First, I redirected the movement of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group to the Central Command area of responsibility. This carrier strike group is in addition to the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group, which is currently operating in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. It will further increase our force posture and strengthen our capabilities and ability to respond to a range of contingencies.
UPDATE: 12:30 PM CET
New Sanctions Against Iran’s Missile Program
Forty-six countries simultaneously called for the continuation of missile sanctions against the Iranian regime, following the end of Iran’s arms sanctions based on UN Security Council Resolution 2231, which was passed in 2015.
According to a joint statement released by the US State Department on October 18, these countries stated that the lifting of Iran’s missile sanctions was contingent on the regime’s adherence to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which the regime has been violating for several years. The statement highlights that Iran’s missile program remains one of the greatest international challenges to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
Maryam Rajavi Trailblazing The Road to Gender Parity in a Free Iran
October 22, marks the anniversary of the announcement of the election of Maryam Rajavi as President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran for the transitional period when sovereign power is transferred to the people of Iran after the overthrow of the clerical regime.
Her election kicked off the Iranian Resistance’s strategic, cultural, political and ideological campaign against the misogynous ruling mullahs of Iran.
Maryam Rajavi became the face of the movement which is totally the opposite of what the mullahs are, and the face of the future free Iran.
The Complex Dynamics of Iran’s Oil Exports in 2023: China’s Role and the Global Market
The global oil market has been closely monitoring Iran’s oil exports, and the situation is marked by perplexing contradictions and controversies. Iranian officials have made claims, supported by independent observers, that the volume of Iran’s oil exports has reached its highest point since the secondary U.S. sanctions were imposed. However, despite this surge in exports and oil prices exceeding budgetary predictions for Iran’s current fiscal year, the government’s income from oil exports during the first four months of the year fell far short of expectations.
This perplexing conundrum can be attributed to a combination of factors, including the concentration of Iran’s oil customers, increased demand for Russian oil, a fiercely competitive refining market in China, U.S. government policies to control oil prices, and the enduring international sanctions against Iran.
UPDATE: 10:00 AM CET
Khamenei relies on the inaction of Europe and the US when he resorts to warmongering and executions. The massacre of innocent civilians fuels religious fascism in #Iran and serves as a shield and cover to suppress the uprising and avoid its downfall. To achieve peace and freedom, one should target the head of the snake (leadership) in Tehran.
Khamenei relies on the inaction of Europe and the US when he resorts to warmongering and executions.
The massacre of innocent civilians fuels religious fascism in #Iran and serves as a shield and cover to suppress the uprising and avoid its downfall. To achieve peace and freedom,… pic.twitter.com/tBEEKvSV5w— Maryam Rajavi (@Maryam_Rajavi) October 22, 2023
The Erosion of Iran’s Geopolitical Advantages
In international politics, Iran has been acknowledged for its unique geopolitical characteristics and advantages. However, geopolitical advantages are not immutable; they can fluctuate, weaken, or strengthen in response to the political, economic, cultural, and human circumstances of each country.
Before delving into the discussion of how the Iranian regime has eroded, or at the very least diminished, Iran’s geopolitical advantages, which could have yielded significant political, economic, and social gains, we must first examine these geopolitical advantages, along with their strengths and weaknesses.
The most significant of these can be summarized as follows: a distinctive geographical location, abundant subterranean resources, particularly oil and gas, human resources, cultural and historical influence in the region, and more.
The Attack of Rebellious Youths on the Command Headquarters of the Tehran Protection Corps
The rebellious youth attacked the headquarters of the Greater Tehran Protection Corps in Ishratabad, located in the heart of Tehran, leading to heavy explosions in the area.
The barracks, known as Vali Asr, houses not only the command headquarters of the Revolutionary Guards, named after Mohammad Rasulollah but also several other IRGC commanders. These include the operational command of the northeastern areas of Tehran, known as the Nasr camp, the Basij organization of the Revolutionary Guards, the Basij district command of the 7th district of Tehran (Motahari), the Fatehin Basij Airborne Battalion, and the security unit known as Sahib al-Zaman.
In critical conditions and during social upheavals, all the military and security forces of northeast Tehran fall under the command of the Nasr operational command. The Sahib Al-Zaman security unit is responsible for nine Imam Ali Suppression Battalions and two IRGC Rangers Battalions.
The primary mission of the Greater Tehran Protection Corps is to manage social unrest and uprisings, suppress protests and demonstrations, apprehend and detain demonstrators, and interrogate and torture those arrested in solitary confinement cells.
Cologne, Germany—October 21, 2023: MEK Supporters Held a Rally in Support of the Iran Revolution
Also, read Iran News in Brief – October 21, 2023