....: August 2018

Friday, August 31, 2018

Iran: “Warning: PMOI/MEK have changed tactics

A PMOI/MEK resistance unit

Analysis by PMOI/MEK

Iran, Aug. 30, 2018 - The state-run “Baharestaneh” website in Iran, associated to Iranian regime Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, posted the following article on August 28^th, indicating the mullahs’ utter fear of the Iranian opposition People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK).

“It is necessary to take a look at the differences the PMOI/MEK have implemented in their tactics these days in comparison to the Dec/Jan uprising period. For some times now, the PMOI/MEK launched a coordinated chorus indicating the Islamic Republic of Iran is in its final phase. Cyberspace has the role of providing back-up fire in this regard… The PMOI/MEK have changed their tactic now and the protests, even in comparison to the Dec/Jan period, have surpassed an undeniable reality...

“It is worth taking the time and looking at the differences in the PMOI/MEK today in comparison to Dec/Jan:

“1. In the past, the PMOI/MEK were known to ride waves. Today, however, they have infiltrated into many social sectors and among people from all walks of life, including truck drivers, bazaar store owners, people whose life savings have been stolen by state-run firms, teachers, workers and … and [PMOI/MEK] are guiding them in their protests.

“2. The nature of today’s protests have changed. For example, in the past it would take one or two days for social/economic chants to evolve into [anti-regime] slogans. Today, however, this transition is quickly turned into a political demonstration and slogans change into [anti-regime] chants.

“3. During the Dec/Jan period the protesters were unorganized and lacked leadership. There were vivid leadership mistakes on the ground and the movement lacked the necessary complexity. Today, however, in addition to gaining a gangster-like and aggressive spirit, [the protests] have the potential of establishing bunkers and shields in the streets in the case of a faceoff with security forces. This means the protesters are far more ready these days.

“4. Protesters, with the PMOI/MEK topping the list, lack any political reservations. They do not recognize any factional divisions inside the [Iranian regime] and they put the same amount of energy in their slogans against reformists as they do against principalists.

“5. The PMOI/MEK’s role in the Dec/Jan uprising is so undeniable that the Supreme Leader said in his January 9^th speech: ‘A triangle was active in this regard… The PMOI/MEK were the third side of this triangle.”

“Currently, the fact that protesters are becoming organized is a game-changing factor in comparison to the Dec/Jan uprising. They have established entities dubbed ‘Resistance Units’ that are able to increase their numbers and have the potential of replacing leaders at the scene of protests [in case of arrests]!

“However, the most significant development is the linkage between these units to their leadership. Currently, these resistance units are receiving their guidance from Massoud Rajavi in the form of ‘Message to Resistance Units.’

“On August 2^nd of this year Massoud Rajavi sent a message titled, ‘Fist with fist, attack with attack, fire with fire’ to lift the protesters’ spirits, promising them these protests will continue and expand with each passing day. He described the protests as more organized in comparison to the past, claiming the [regime] lacks the capacity to confront these measures.

“Now that the enemy of the state, with such an apparatus, has prepared for a confrontation, we must acknowledge the fact that we are all in the same boat. Therefore, one must tell all government officials and the associated others that the status quo is a very serious threat that one cannot easily neglect.”

This text, posted in an article associated to Khamenei himself, vividly describes the dire situation of Iran’s regime and how the mullahs’ entire apparatus is literally crippled in the face of escalating protests across the country, especially with PMOI/MEK resistance units galvanizing and spearheading these efforts to target the regime’s core entities.

Thursday, August 30, 2018

Chamber of commerce warns: We are on the brink of a tsunami of bankruptcies

People live below the poverty line in Iran

Analysis by PMOI/MEK

Iran, Aug. 30, 2018 - On August 27, state-run news agency ISNA quoted Mahmoud Eslamian, deputy chief of the Chamber of Commerce in Isfahan saying that due to some unscientific decisions in the field of economy, we will soon witness a tsunami of manufacturing units going bankrupt and the causing unemployment.

The drying out of Zayanderud due to years of mismanagement

The deputy chief of the chamber of commerce in Isfahan continues: “The economic situation in the country is alarming and the private sector needs to take a stand against incorrect and unreasonable decisions more actively than before.”

He added: “Isfahan province, as the center of industry and the center of steel in the country, faces hard times in manufacturing and procuring raw materials and in addition is ordered to sell its products with a 42,000 rial currency on the stock exchange.”

About the unscientific decisions of the government, Esmalian said: “The dry out of Zahanderud is one of the results of such decisions. Unfortunately, the decision-making process is continuing on this path and soon we will witness a tsunami of manufacturing units going bankrupt and the following unemployment.”

Big manufacturing units hardly keep going

Eslamian continued: “Big manufacturing units hardly keep going. When the government faces a dead-end it consults the private sector. This is not right to come to us only when the decision-making body faces a fundamental problem. Unfortunately, the decision makers are deaf, and they won’t listen to the private sector.”

He said: “Unfortunately, the decision-making process of the government unintentionally increases the impact of the sanctions. While Trump spends time on how to sanction Iran, our authorities obstruct the cycle of trade and manufacturing with overnight-decisions.”

Turmoil is the result of a lack of coordination between the economic team

Pedram Soltani, deputy chief of the Chamber of Commerce of Iran also said: “The structure of planning in the country faces fundamental challenges and there are numerous unresolved issues on the table. Under these circumstances, we need to move towards a fundamental reform of the structure. The problem of the private sector is that they can’t act beyond a certain limit and opinions and decisions don’t go beyond ideas and theories. Turmoil in the country’s economy is the result of a lack of coordination between the economic team and the president.”

Creating economic rents under the pretext of supporting consumers

Bahram Sobhani, Chief Executive Officer of Isfahan’s Mobarakeh Steel Company, also criticized recent economic policies of the Ministry of Industry, Mine and Trade and said: “The price difference of a kilogram of sheet from the factory gates to the stock exchange is 22,000 rials and this pricing is under the pretext of supporting consumers but for some it creates economic rents.”

Wednesday, August 29, 2018

France limits diplomat travel to Iran

French and European flags flying half-mast at the Quai d'Orsay in Paris, France

By PMOI/MEK

August 28, 2018 - France is ordering its diplomats and foreign ministry officials to indefinitely postpone all non-dire travel to Iran, citing a thwarted bomb plot targeting the Iranian opposition NCRI annual event in Paris back in June and a toughening of the mullahs’ attitude towards Paris, according to an internal memo seen by international media outlets.

“The memo cites a foiled plot to bomb a rally held by an exiled Iranian opposition group near Paris that was attended by Trump’s lawyer Rudy Giuliani as a sign of Tehran’s more aggressive stance towards France,” according to Reuters.

The Iranian regime maintains it had nothing to do with the terror plot targeting the NCRI rally on June 30. Germany has apprehended a Vienna-based Iranian diplomat who stands accused of actually providing the explosives to a Belgian-Iranian couple missioned to carry out the attack. Belgium, where the plot was uncovered, is seeking the diplomat’s extradition.

“The behavior of the Iranian authorities suggests a hardening of their position vis-a-vis our country, as well as some of our allies,” Maurice Gourdault-Montagne, the ministry’s secretary general wrote in the Aug. 20 notice.

“Given the known security risks ... all departmental officers, whether from headquarters or (overseas) posts, are required to defer until further notice, except for urgent work, any travel plans in Iran,” Gourdault-Montagne added.

This hardening of relations comes from France, a country the Iranian regime desperately needs to maintain close relations with in its desperate effort to salvage the highly flawed 2015 Iran nuclear deal.

French oil/gas giant Total, carmakers PSA and Renault have all exited Iran after U.S. President Donald Trump departed his country from the Iran deal. This launched an exodus by European companies from Iran, all fearing the impact of Washington’s sanctions.

Reports indicate if the Iranian regime’s involvement with the Paris plot were proven, it would render quite a difficult task for France not to react strongly.

Tuesday, August 28, 2018

Iran opposition President Maryam Rajavi pays tribute to Senator John McCain

ran opposition President Maryam Rajavi pays tribute to Senator John McCain

By PMOI/MEK

Aug. 26, 2018 - Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, President of the Iranian opposition National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), sent a message expressing her deepest condolences to the family of Senator John McCain after his passing away.

Senator McCain was a strong critic of the mullahs’ regime ruling Iran and visited members of the People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) in 2017 after their successful transfer to Albania, where he also met with Mrs. Rajavi.

On December 30^th, 2017, coinciding with the Iranian people’s uprising across the country, Senator McCain expressed his support of their nationwide protests.

On April 19^th, 2017, Fox News reported the Iranian regime, its nuclear program and what critics consider this regime’s utter support for terrorism in the Middle East, were all in the center of discussions in a major rally held in Albania. This was a pivoting point for Iran’s main opposition group, Fox News added. Arizona Senator John McCain delivered a speech in this rally and hailed the Iranian opposition members.

During his meeting with Mrs. Rajavi the Senator expressed his support for the Iranian opposition’s objectives and once again criticized the Iranian regime for its support of terrorism across the Middle East and, for example, Tehran’s decision to stand alongside the Assad regime in Syria.

Senator McCain praised the Iranian opposition for setting an example for the entire world and proving anyone will be able to obtain freedom if determined and willing to sacrifice for it.

Monday, August 27, 2018

Iran’s 1988 massacre: End the 30-year injustice

30,000 pol. prisoners massacred in the summer of 1988

August 24, 2018 - A tragedy unfortunately gone unnoticed by the international community is the massacre of over 30,000 political prisoners by the Iranian regime in the summer of 1988. A variety of victims included mostly members and supporters of the Iranian regime opposition People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) sent to the gallows after two-minute kangaroo trials as the so-called judges only asked if they continue to pledge allegiance and/or support to the PMOI/MEK.

Ambassador Ken Blackwell, former U.S. envoy to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, serving from 1992 to 1993, shed light on the importance of this historic genocide.

The perpetrators of this inhumane crime, many serving in Iranian regime posts as we speak, should finally face justice. This is the least the families of these victims, the Iranian nation as a whole and the international community, deserves.

It is difficult to imagine the heartache of having a loved one taken from you only to then see the person or persons responsible escape justice. The lack of closure that results from an unsolved crime is surely made all the worse by the unique injustice of a perpetrator being identified and yet enjoying absolute impunity. Imagine being witness to such a thing, and then imagine how much worse it would be if your loved one’s killer was known to everyone but never faced a day in court, and instead went on to live high on the hog, ascending to greater levels of wealth and power in the society you both inhabit. Even more disturbing is to see that they take pride in the crimes they have committed, and that they continue their ruthlessness. Now imagine that experience stretching over 30 years, multiply it times 30,000, and you may begin to have a sense of what the families of murdered Iranian political activists are dealing with.

This summer marks the 30th anniversary of a massacre of political prisoners that has been widely described as one of the worst crimes against humanity to take place in the post-World War II era. Following a fatwa by the founder of the Islamic Republic, Iranian officials assembled three-person “death commissions” in cities throughout the country, which were tasked with interrogating dissidents over their political affiliations and their views regarding the theocratic system. The trials, such as they were, sometimes lasted as little as a minute, after which those who refused to renounce their political beliefs were summarily executed, usually in groups of several people and without regard for the prisoner’s age or any other mitigating factors, including pregnancy.

The main target of the massacre was the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK), which was then and still remains the leading voice for pro-democratic resistance to the government of the mullahs. Its membership makes up the vast majority of the 30,000 people who were hanged and quickly buried, in secret mass graves, over the course of a few months. As such, the MEK and its affiliates now count as their members, both within Iran and throughout the expatriate community, most of those who lost friends and family to the regime’s ruthless machinery. And these individuals and groups are leading the call for an international inquiry into the 1988 massacre, as a means to securing justice for its many victims.

This call is going to be reiterated on Saturday in the context of an event that is scheduled to take place simultaneously in nearly 30 cities across Europe and North America. The event will once again showcase the personal stories of the survivors and relatives of the victims. And given that the overlapping events will all be livestreamed to one another and to the global press, it may allow those stories to reach their largest audience to date.

Every defender of human rights should hope that the world is watching and that this commemoration of 30-year-old human rights violations finally spurs the international community to action. Some Western governments have passed resolutions over the years acknowledging the reality of this crime and formally condemning it. But few practical steps have been taken which might result in the United Nations identifying the perpetrators, clarifying the scope of the killings, and filing charges in the International Criminal Court. In absence of such steps, thousands of killings will continue to go unpunished, and so tens or even hundreds of thousands of people will be deprived of even the most basic sense of justice or closure.

After 30 years during which the Iranian regime has continued to perpetrate and defend its human rights abuses with impunity, this must be made a major priority for all the free, democratic nations of the world. As far as the United States is concerned, it is potentially significant that the 30th anniversary of the massacre coincides with the State Department’s creation of an Iran Action Group whose declared goal is to compel a serious alteration in the behavior of the Iranian regime.

That noble goal, which is a concrete step in the right direction under the leadership of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, cannot be accomplished as long as the people who are responsible for the very worst of that behavior continue to occupy some of the most influential positions in Iranian government and society, including, shockingly, the position of Justice Minister. These individuals must be removed and brought to justice if there is to be any hope of change. And it should be clear from the past 30 years of impunity and from the complete collapse of President Hassan Rouhani’s supposed reform initiative that the current institutions of Iranian government will never take action to remove them on their own.

The U.S. has already been reaching out to its European allies with a clear sense of purpose regarding Iran policy. Now, as the Iran Action Group works to move that strategy forward, it should recognize both the practical and symbolic importance of making human rights in general and the 1988 massacre in particular a major point of focus in that outreach. And if the international community truly values human rights, it cannot fail to follow the IAG’s lead.

Saturday, August 25, 2018

Iran will not become another Syria

Abolghasem Fouladvand in Gohardasht Prison of Karaj, west of Tehran, Iran

By: Abolghasem Fouladvand, a political prisoner in Rajaie Shahr (Gohardasht) Prison

Iran, Aug. 24, 2018

Excerpts from Fouladvand's letter

From the Dec/Jan uprising when protests across Iran have been linked with resistance units [associated to the PMOI/MEK], the inhumane mullahs’ regime senses its overthrow nearing more than ever before.

The Iranian regime has campaigned all domestic and foreign resources, including its lobbyists, to carry out terrorist attacks targeting the sole organized opposition, the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), and its pillar member, the People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK). This plot was foiled, fortunately.

Inside the country, all of the regime’s so-called factions are hand-in-hand to quell the nationwide protests and uprising.

From early January to this day these operative have been claiming Iran will become another Syria as a result of these protests. They are attempting to instigate the people’s fears and deceive the populace into believing this fiction.

The Iranian people, however, have time and again in their protests indicated that their enemy is inside Iran, while the regime lies in saying it is America.

Iran will not become another Syria because of an organized resistance movement providing an alternative to the regime. The following is necessary to overthrow the mullahs’ regime:

- An alternative with an independent objective

- This entity must rely only on the Iranian people and have a significant social base

- This entity must be comprised of an organized structure

- A specific agenda is needed to overthrow the mullahs and be prepared for the aftermath. This agenda must be in line with human rights standards and international customs.

- This entity must enjoy a specific history.

- This entity must always lead the line in the struggle against the mullahs’ dictatorship and constantly specify its boundaries with the Iranian regime.

Fortunately, the NCRI has a President-elect in Mrs. Maryam Rajavi who enjoys support in the international spectrum and inside the country not seen in many leaders across the globe.

Unfortunately, there was no alternative in Syria, let alone such an alternative that exists for Iran. While the Syrian opposition has sought support from the outside world, time and again NCRI President Maryam Rajavi has emphasized the Iranian regime will be overthrown by the Iranian people and their organized resistance.

Furthermore, the Iranian regime itself dispatched its forces to support the Assad regime to remain intact in Syria. All the while, the Iranian people have been chanting in their protests:

“Let go of Syria, think about us”

Rest assured there will be no country sending forces into Iran to prop the mullahs’ regime.

In Iran, with the support of PMOI/MEK resistance units, the mullahs’ regime will be overthrown. Those operatives who claim Iran will become another Syria have three options before them:

Either flee the country; we will take legal action against them afterward.
Request forgiveness and join the protesters’ ranks by exposing the mullahs’ regime.
They can wait and see the protesters and resistance units reach their doorsteps.

Death to the mullahs’ regime – Viva Freedom

Abolghasem Fouladvand – Rajaie Shahr Prison

Karaj, west of Tehran, Iran

Friday, August 24, 2018

Iranian officials fearfully anticipate further protests

Iran regime is incapable of controlling the escalating nationwide unrest

Analysis by PMOI/MEK

Iran, Aug. 24, 2018 - The Iranian regime’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei claims that the country is not faced with a dead end and its president Hassan Rouhani tries to convince others that the country has nothing to worry about. Meanwhile, Iran’s economic conditions continue to deteriorate every day and prices continue to soar, driving the Iranian society toward an explosion. Media outlets with ties to both factions of the Iranian regime are mocking Khamenei and Rouhani’s claims and warn against what is to come.

“The decrease of the people’s economic power is an important and dangerous issue and we must counter it,” the state-run Jahan-e Sanat newspaper, linked to the Rouhani faction, warns.

Pointing to the destruction of Iran’s middle class, Jahan-e Sanat further warns, “As the middle class diminishes and its members trickle to the lower classes, we should anticipate further protests.” Jahan-e Sanat concludes that the government no longer has the power and capacity to face the challenges it faces.

Amanollah Qaraee, a government official, points to another facet of this escalating crisis, which is the people’s large mistrust toward the regime. “In such a society, we’re moving toward implosion,” he said.

Ebtekar, another state-run newspaper, explained what “implosion” means, by writing, “If the people feel that the ruling power is hindering their lives, they will break it.”

These comments from different government outlets and officials fully show that the situation is spinning out of the government’s control and that the Iranian regime is moving toward a dead end. Meanwhile, the regime’s different factions are blaming each other for the country’s economic woes to try to control the escalating situation.

Eshaq Jahangiri, Rouhani’s Vice President, confessed to the economic corruption that is engulfing the entire regime while adding, “Corruption has unfortunately expanded and reached some of the highest authorities of the country. They didn’t prevent it when they could.” His remarks, published in Tasnim, were aimed at officials with ties to Khamenei’s faction.

In response, Keyhan, the mouthpiece of Khamenei, accused Jahangiri of being responsible for the corruption, inflation and currency crisis that has become problematic in the recent year.

The infighting between regime officials and factions is effectively fueling the protests in the country and the regime is finding it more difficult to get a hold of the situation.

The truth is that the regime in its entirety is responsible for the corruption that has stalled the country’s industries and is leading Iran toward economic bankruptcy. The only outcome of the regime’s efforts have been high prices, lower incomes, and higher unemployment rates.

But the Iranian regime’s real dead-end is its incapacity to control the escalating nationwide protests that are happening in every city and town of Iran. The regime’s own officials are warning that their ship is slowly sinking and none of them can do anything about it.

Thursday, August 23, 2018

Khamenei’s “mistake” that ensued a scandal

Iranian regime supreme leader Ali Khamenei

Analysis by PMOI/MEK

Iran, Aug 23, 2018 - Iranian regime supreme leader Ali Khamenei gave a speech on August 10 that was quoted in Iran’s media in different versions. In parts of his speech, Khamenei made remarks about negotiating with US and JCPOA that some state-run media initially published but later censored when the national television aired the full remarks. His office and affiliated websites also redacted the controversial parts of Khamenei’s speech.

In the initial coverage of the speech, websites quoted Khamenei as saying: “I made a mistake in the matter of the negotiations and in response to the gentlemen’s persistence I allowed this experience and indeed they crossed drawn red lines.”

Later, national television aired the remarks quoting Khamenei as follows: “Why should we negotiate? JCPOA is a clear example of this. And indeed, all the red lines that we drew were not respected. The other party behaved like this, acted like this…”

The clear censorship created a lot of controversy among both Iranians and the Iranian regime’s forces. Khamenei’s office was compelled to issue a statement saying that the matter “had created controversies in the cyberspace” and “caused questions for some people.” The statement continued to clear the matter by publishing the correct sentence in Khamenei’s remarks as saying: “In the matter of JCPOA, I made a mistake to allow our foreign minister to talk to them [and] we made a loss.”

But this statement is also different from what Iranian media initially published. It is also not what the national television aired. In the end, it’s not clear what the Iranian Supreme Leader has really said, and his office’s statement only adds to the charlatanism and deception of the matter.

But there are a few takeaways!

Even Khamenei’s remarks are heavily edited and altered before made public. This could indicate the precarious situation the Iranian regime is in.

It is important to note that a confession to mistake by “Imam Khamenei” in these times is a big mistake itself. For the Iranian regime’s low IQ base, it is vital to see Khamenei as the innocent Imam who doesn’t make mistakes.

Ahmad Alamolhoda, Khamenei’s representative in Mashhad and the city’s Friday prayer Imam, tried to cover and clear the matter and said in last week’s Friday prayers: “When the Supreme Leader says clearly that this much that we advanced and allowed was a mistake and then says that they didn’t respect my red lines. If they had respected my red lines, we wouldn’t be in so much trouble. Well, you didn’t respect the Supreme Leader’s red lines and we took the hit.”

It is evident that Alamolhoda is trying to cover up for Khamenei and pretend that the Supreme Leader has been able to contain damages until now. In other parts of his remarks, Alamolhoda tries to make a scapegoat out of Hassan Rouhani for the Supreme Leader saying: “The president confessed that if not for your constraints [referring to Khamenei’s constraints for the negotiations] we would have made more concessions.”

It is noteworthy that during the negotiations, Hassan Rouhani and some of the negotiations team, including Javad Zarif, Iran’s foreign minister, repeatedly said that the talks were under the supervision of the Supreme Leader. Khamenei himself, during the talks and after signing the JCPOA, repeatedly praised the negotiations team as trustworthy.

But now that the JCPOA turned to be a noose around the regime’s neck instead of the Holy Grail it was meant to be, Khamenei tries as usual tries to accuse the government and president to keep the holy and innocent aura that he needs in front of his followers.

If the negotiation team wasn’t respecting the Supreme Leader’s red lines, why didn’t he point that out back then, while they repeatedly told that the whole process was under his supervision?

Friday, August 31, 2018

Thursday, August 30, 2018

The drying out of Zayanderud due to years of mismanagement

Big manufacturing units hardly keep going

Turmoil is the result of a lack of coordination between the economic team

Creating economic rents under the pretext of supporting consumers

Wednesday, August 29, 2018

Tuesday, August 28, 2018

Price protests turn political in Iran as rallies spread

Monday, August 27, 2018

Saturday, August 25, 2018

Friday, August 24, 2018

Thursday, August 23, 2018