THIS PAGE WILL BE UPDATED WITH THE LATEST NEWS
UPDATE: 7:30 PM
Major Fire Erupts at Gandhi Hospital in Tehran, Patients Evacuated Safely
A major fire broke out at the Gandhi Private Hospital in Tehran. The Ministry of Health spokesperson claimed that none of the individuals at the medical facility were harmed, but added that efforts are underway to transfer patients to other medical centers.
Jalal Maleki, the spokesperson for the Tehran Fire Department, announced, “Around 7:00 PM local time, a fire incident was reported at Gandhi Hospital on Valiasr Street, and immediately, firefighters equipped with full gear were dispatched to the scene.”
The cause of the incident has not been officially announced yet. The Tehran Prosecutor’s Office has declared that a legal case has been initiated regarding the hospital fire.
U.S. and UK Target Houthi Forces Leadership for Supporting Acts of Terrorism
WASHINGTON — Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) imposed sanctions on key officials of the forces of Ansarallah, commonly known as the Houthis, for their support to acts of terrorism targeting commercial shipping. Today’s action targets four individuals who have supported the Houthis’ recent attacks against commercial vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, including holding civilian crews hostage. Concurrent with OFAC’s designations, the United Kingdom is also imposing sanctions on these key figures of Houthi forces.
“The Houthis’ persistent terrorist attacks on merchant vessels and their civilian crews lawfully transitting the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden threaten to disrupt international supply chains and the freedom of navigation, which is critical to global security, stability, and prosperity,” said Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian E. Nelson. “Today’s joint action with the United Kingdom demonstrates our collective action to leverage all authorities to stop these attacks.”
UPDATE: 1:00 PM
U.S. Issues $15 Million Bounty Targeting Alleged Iran Drone Middleman
The U.S. said it would pay up to $15 million for tips on Hossein Hatefi Ardakani, an Iranian businessman who is alleged to have helped acquire technology for attack drones sold to Russia.
The move to put out a bounty for information on an alleged export-control violation comes after the U.S. sanctioned and charged Ardakani, chair of an electronics company, over his alleged work sourcing dual-use technology for drone production by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
The Commerce Department, which administers U.S. export controls, publicized the bounty on Wednesday.
US Will Remain in Iraq and Holds Iran-aligned Militia Groups Responsible, State Secretary Spox Says
At his press briefing on January 24, Vedant Patel, Principal Deputy Spokesperson of the US Department of State said, “Iran is an adversary. It is the world’s largest exporter of terrorism. It has a clear and potent track record of destabilizing behavior not just in the Middle East but elsewhere. It is a serial human rights violator. And nothing has changed about our approach to Iran.”
Patel stated that the United States is maintaining close communication with the Iraqi Government and has clearly conveyed that Iran-aligned militia groups, which pose a threat to both coalition and Iraqi forces, must be held accountable. The U.S. has taken necessary and proportionate action, conducting strikes on facilities used by these militia groups in response to escalating attacks on U.S. and coalition forces in Iraq and Syria, he added.
Patel also said, “U.S. military forces remain in Iraq, and we’re there working alongside Iraqi military forces. We are there at the invitation of the Iraqi Government in order to ensure the enduring defeat of ISIS. I will also note that there is absolutely no equivalence between the steps that the United States has taken to protect Iraqi and coalition personnel between the strikes that Iranian-aligned militia groups are undertaking in Iraq. Again, we are defending ourselves, defending our personnel, and Iranian-aligned militia groups are targeting civilians.”
Fresh Houthi Attacks Fuel Fears UK Could Be Dragged Into Prolonged Conflict
Houthi rebels launched fresh missiles against civilian shipping on Wednesday, sparking fears that the latest US and UK air strikes have not done enough to curb the group’s capability to mount attacks.
Defence Secretary Grant Shapps told MPs the joint military action on Monday evening had destroyed eight targets near the country’s capital Sanaa, and had degraded the Houthis’ “ability to hold our seas to ransom”.
But US Central Command reported the Iran-backed Houthis had fired three anti-ship ballistic missiles from Yemen towards the M/V Maersk Detroit, a US-owned and registered container ship in the Gulf of Aden.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk Alarmed by Sharp Spike in Use of Death Penalty in Iran
I am alarmed by the sharp spike in the use of the death penalty in Iran, including the executions of two men on 23 January. At least 54 people have reportedly been put to death in the country so far this year. The death penalty is not consistent with the most fundamental of rights – the right to life. This practice must be stopped immediately.
Mohammed Ghobadlou became the ninth person yesterday to be executed in connection to the 2022 protests. Farhad Salimi, a Kurdish man, was executed on the same day after spending 14 years in jail.
The right to due process and a fair trial for all defendants must be adhered to. I am also deeply disturbed by reports of forced confessions obtained under duress. Such confessions should not be invoked as evidence in any proceedings.
UPDATE: 9:00 AM
Femicide in Iran Persists: Two More Women Become Its Heartbreaking Victims
A middle-aged woman in Tehran was set ablaze by her husband and subsequently transferred to a medical center. Unfortunately, she lost her life due to the extent of her burns.
On the night of Thursday, January 11, 2024, a man set fire to his 50-year-old wife, who tragically passed away after a day of hospitalization.
According to the state-run Etemad daily, the woman shared with medical staff in her final hours, “My husband stopped the car, got out, approached my side, and said, ‘Let’s settle our problems. I will divorce you.’ I replied that I had no problem. However, he brought out a bottle and doused me with some liquid. Initially, I thought it might be acid, but then I smelled the unmistakable odor of petrol. That’s when he set me alight.”
The Harsh Realities of Iran’s Deteriorating Economy
Iran’s economy is currently facing significant challenges, leading to a fading and disastrous situation. Several factors have contributed to this decline, including mismanagement and corruption. The surge in inflation and increased cost of imports make the everyday lives of Iranians more and more miserable. Despite increased oil exports, the regime’s finances remain in shambles, with a persisting large budget deficit.
Corruption and mismanagement have hindered economic growth and the country’s ability to recover from the regime’s devastating policies. According to information released by the Iranian Statistics Center for the fall of 2023, nearly 10 percent of individuals employed in the preceding fall have lost their jobs, with little hope of future employment.
Tourism in Limbo: How the Iranian Regime’s Shortcomings Hinder Industry Advancement
The latest data released by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) reveals a stark reality for Iran’s tourism industry in 2023, with the total number of tourists entering the country still lingering 37% below the pre-pandemic levels of 2019.
According to Isna, the World Tourism Organization updated its statistics on tourist arrivals for various countries, reporting that Iran hosted a total of 5,238,564 tourists in the first 11 months of the previous year.
Highlighting fluctuations throughout the year, Iran experienced its peak in tourist numbers in September, welcoming over 660,000 visitors, while January marked the lowest point with only 181,000 arrivals.
Economic Realities: The 20% Salary Increase Dilemma in Inflationary Times
The Iranian regime’s state-run media reports are sounding the alarm over a proposed 20% salary increase set for the upcoming year. This wage adjustment comes at a challenging time when annual inflation has surged beyond 45%, with no immediate signs of abating.
Tasnim news agency has revisited statements made by Ali Hossein Raitifard, deputy of labor relations of the Ministry of Cooperatives, Labor and Social Welfare in 2022.
Raitifard had then asserted that the government’s commitment to enhancing the living conditions of the working community led to a substantial 57% increase in workers’ salaries.
Iran: The Impact of Proposed Sugar and Bread Subsidy Reduction on Vulnerable Communities
In response to the Iran regime’s Ministry of Health’s proposition to reduce sugar and bread subsidies as a measure to control diabetes in the country, the Ilna news agency reported a significant shift in the composition of people’s food baskets.
Sugar and bread have replaced meat and dairy products, with bread consumption alone witnessing a remarkable fivefold increase over the past six years. This surge in bread consumption is closely linked to the prevalent food poverty experienced by workers and other vulnerable segments of society. Financial constraints often prevent many workers from accessing sufficient and nutritious meals, leading them to substitute meat and dairy with readily available bread and sugar.
Iran: Gasoline Ration Reduced from 150 to 100 Liters
Approximately one month after the promises made by the Iranian regime’s officials not to change the price or rationing of gasoline in Iran, Tasnim News Agency, linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), reported that the rationing of subsidized gasoline (approximately $0.05) on personal fuel cards has been reduced from 150 liters to 100 liters.
Tasnim News Agency announced this news on Monday, January 22, stating that the reserve for the 15,000-rials (approximately $0.02) gasoline ration has also been reduced to six months and a maximum of 360 liters. Previously, the reserve period was nine months with a maximum of 540 liters.
Annual 500,000 Abortions in Iran
Mohsen Zakerian, the head of the Nafas Foundation, has announced the latest statistics on abortion in Iran, stating that there are 500,000 cases per year. He also mentioned that 90 to 93 percent of these abortions are performed by married couples in official and permanent marriages. Analysts attribute the main cause of this to the country’s economic conditions and severe inflation.
According to the semiofficial ILNA news agency, Zakerian emphasized in a meeting of the Markazi Province Administrative Council that based on the available statistics nationwide, approximately 1,000 abortions are performed daily.
Zurich: MEK Supporters Exhibition in Solidarity With the Iran Revolution, Honoring the Martyrs Jafar Kazemi and Mohammad Ali Haj Aghaei
Zurich, Switzerland — January 22, 2024: Freedom-loving Iranians and supporters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) organized a photo exhibition in solidarity with the Iranian Revolution. This exhibition served as a tribute to the martyrs Jafar Kazemi and Mohammad Ali Haj Aghaei, who were executed on January 24, 2011.
Paris—January 23, 2024: MEK Supporters Organized an Exhibition in Solidarity With the Iran Revolution
On January 23, 2024, in Paris, France, freedom-loving Iranians and supporters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) organized a photo exhibition and set up a book table to express solidarity with the Iranian Revolution.
