The Iranian regime Central Bank admits the government is facing severe budget deficits

The Iranian regime Central Bank admits the government is facing severe budget deficits

The Iranian regime’s Central Bank

Analysis by PMOI/MEK

Nov. 30, 2018 - According to a report by the Iranian regime’s Central Bank, Iran’s budget deficit in the first half of the current Persian year (March-September) has increased by 105% compared to the previous year.

In this regard, the state-run Mehr news agency reported: “The economic statistics of the first half of the year, reported by the Central Bank, show that while the new U.S. sanctions had not yet been fully implemented and the income from the export of oil and condensates was more than expected, the government’s budget deficit was more than 370 trillion rials.”

Mehr further writes: “The decline of other government incomes, including tax income, has caused this deficit. Therefore, thinking that next year, economic conditions will be better than this year is unrealistic.”

Economy expert describes the methods employed by the government of Hassan Rouhani to compensate the budget deficit as extremely inflationary.

According to Mehr, previous years have shown that the administration of Rouhani will resort to borrowing from the Central Bank to make up for the government’s budget deficit.

Moreover, the expert says that in addition to loans, the government of Rouhani will be forced to issue bonds and pour more cash into the free market, which creates the ground for increasing inflation.

Regarding the monetary and financial crisis of the Iranian regime, one economic expert said that the government is saving the banking sector at the expense of the people.

According to figures published by the Central Bank, in October, the average price of one square meter of residential property in Tehran was 91% more expensive compared to the previous year. These figures show that the number of residential contracts in October had decreased by 53.6% year over year and by 26.7% in comparison to the previous month.

In this regard, the state-run ISNA news agency reported on the deteriorating economic conditions for the construction mechanic workers. “The president of the Union of Construction Mechanics says the reduction of construction projects and the increase of family expenses has caused a decline in the business of construction mechanic workers. Families are now doing their own repairs instead of hiring professional services,” ISNA reports

Chabahar, Iran’s looted paradise

Chabahar, Iran’s looted paradise

Chabahar Port

Analysis by PMOI/MEK

Iran, Nov. 29, 2018 - “Chabahar is important not only because it is one of the most successful free areas of Iran, not only because it’s the only oceanic port of the country, not only because it has one of the most beautiful places in the world… Chabahar is important because it is a paradise of unknowns that will astonish any tourist with its beauties.”

That is how a state-run Iranian website describes Chabahar in an ad aimed at tourists. But in reality, while Chabahar is a paradise for tourists, it is also a living hell for its citizens.

Chabahar is the only oceanic port of Iran, located in the southeast fringes of the country in the poor province of Sistan Baluchistan. This strategic port is inhabited by hardworking and hospitable people who are unfortunately struggling with extreme poverty imposed by the ruling mullahs and the notorious Revolutionary Guards.

Markets in Chabahar are making the ruling mullahs richer while making its citizens poorer

Chabahar is one of the free-trade regions of the country, which effectively makes it a very lucrative venue for the IRGC’s smuggling activities. The port has become one of the “light-off” ports of the Revolutionary Guards, which means they use it to smuggle goods in and out of the country without documenting them. The IRGC uses this port for a variety of illicit activities, including the transfer of funds and weapons to their terrorist proxies.

Looking at Chabahar’s beauties, any observer would conclude that its people would have to live in happiness. But under the rule of the mullahs, Chabahar has become one of the poorest and most underprivileged areas of the country and its people are living in utter misery.

Chabahar has now effectively become the dominion of India, and the employment situation for the locals of the city has become even less favorable as workers from the contracting country pour into the port city.

The government is considering many plans for Chabahar, but the benefits of those plans effectively trickle into the pockets of anyone but the inhabitants of Chabahar.

1 Government plans to create two tourism complexes in Chabar, worth 4tn rials

When you look at state-run news outlets, Chabahar is a beautiful port with unrivaled tourist attractions. And to be fair, the images shown from Chahabar are truly stunning.

On the other hand, Chabahar always plays a special role in the commercial and industrial plans of the regime. Some of these plans include the creation of petrochemical complexes, transit port, joint gas pipeline projects with other states and more.

Even if it had none of these facilities, Chabahar’s beautiful and vast sea would be enough to ensure the comfortable livelihood of its citizens. Chahbahar’s water sources are rich with resources and can feed large portions of the Iranian population, including the Sistan Baluchistan province. However, presently, the poor fishermen of the city are suffering the consequences of the regime’s fishing contracts with other countries, which is making it harder and harder for them to make ends meet every day. Chabahar fishers are now considered strangers in their own waters, where companies from China, South Korea, and Thailand have become dominant and are not leaving any space for the locals.

Local fishermen are the victims of the Iranian regimes contracts with foreign companies

Chabahar previously possessed rich farmlands which was unique across the country. But the non-standard construction projects by the Iranian regime, which are aimed at benefitting regime-owned companies and institutions, the inhabitants of Chabahar are faced with the drying of water sources and subsidence. The same problems that farmers in Isfahan and other areas of the county are facing are now challenging the livelihoods of the people of Chabahar, even though they are living on the sides of a huge ocean.

6.3-magnitude earthquake hits western Iran

6.3-magnitude earthquake hits western Iran

Severe damages reported after 6.3-magnitude in western Iran

Reported by PMOI/MEK

Iran, Nov. 25, 2018 - On Sunday at around 8 pm local time a 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck near the town of Sarpol-e Zahab in Kermanshah Province, western Iran. Many provinces along the Iran-Iraq and even the Iran-Turkey borders felt the quake, as reports from as far away as Baghdad and Kuwait also indicated the earthquake’s reach.

There are conflicting reports about the number of injuries, with the latest figures reaching above 200.

Head of the Kermanshah Province Medical School reported 50 injuries in the town of Qasr-e Shirin, with four transferred to the city of Islamabad; 35 injured in Gilan-e Qarb, with two transferred to Islamabad; and 51 injured in Sarpol-e Zahab.

Unconfirmed reports posted in social media show seven deaths.

Iranian opposition President Maryam Rajavi called upon her compatriots to provide support to those in need after this quake.

I urge my countrymen and women, especially the brave youth, to rush to the aid of our afflicted compatriots struck by earthquake in #kermanshah and other cities and districts in western Iran, including Qasr-e Shirin, Sarpol-e Zahab, and Gilan-e Gharb.#Iran

— Maryam Rajavi (@Maryam_Rajavi) November 25, 2018

Iran sits upon major fault lines and is very prone to frequent tremors. Last November, a magnitude 7.3 earthquake hit Kermanshah Province, leaving over 600 dead according to regime figures while unofficial reports showed deaths in the thousands. In 2003, a 6.6-magnitude earthquake in Kerman Province killed at least 31,000 people and flattened the historic city of Bam.

The Iranian opposition coalition National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) cited sources inside the country placing the actual casualty numbers at above 70,000 deaths.

Read more:

Hundreds of people were killed by the earthquake that struck Iran and Iraq back November 2017. It was felt as far away as Turkey and Pakistan and eclipsed the deadly earthquake that hit Mexico in September.

One small village called Quik Hasan was particularly affected by the earthquake with over 50 deaths alone. The small farming village is home to just 170 households and the surviving inhabitants have had to survive outside in the cold since the earthquake struck.

Those that died have been buried in makeshift graves by their relatives.

The Iranian government has failed to deliver help to the people. It is the people of Iran helping their fellow citizens. The Iranian Red Crescent aid workers were only able to deliver 30 tents to the inhabitants of the village.

 

Iranian social media and news agencies showed images and videos of people fleeing their homes into the night. More than 100 aftershocks followed.

One inhabitant of the town, standing in the middle of her house which is now in ruins, said that the state has abandoned its people. The 60-year-old woman Ayasheh Karami said: “People are helping people.”

The people of the town have tried to salvage what they can from their homes and have dragged their possessions out onto the road.

The earthquake measured 7.3 and struck near the Iran-Iraq border late on Sunday night, marking this as the worst one in over ten years to hit the country. Hundreds of people in Iraq were injured and 10 people died. The latest reports indicate that there are 530 dead and almost 7,500 injured in Iran. This number is expected to rise in the coming days and weeks.
The worst damage occurred in the Kermanshah region. Reports indicate that around 12,000 residential buildings had collapsed and around 500 villages were affected resulting in dozens of thousands of people without shelter.

The Iranian regime has also refused international assistance meaning that the relief effort will be carried out by the Iranian Red Crescent and other NGOs

Iran regime’s President Hassan Rouhani visited Sarpol-e Zahab - a city near the Iraqi border that was badly hit. He made big promises claiming that he would oversee the reconstruction work and would provide loans for the rebuilding. He highlighted that the earthquake has caused a lot of pain for everyone in the country and said that the recovery efforts will be accelerated by the government “so that it can be done in the shortest time possible”. While making these claims, people chanted slogans and protested him, fearful Rouhani and his security guards left the scene panicky.

The worst damage occurred in the Kermanshah region

The Iranian regime has also refused international assistance meaning that the relief effort will be carried out by the Iranian Red Crescent and other NGOs. The country’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has also been assisting in some areas.

Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif tweeted earlier this week: “We are grateful for global expressions of sympathy and offers of assistance. For now, we can manage our own resources. Many thanks for all offers and we will keep you posted.”

It is very clear that the Iranian government is neglecting many of the people that have been affected. People are living in the street and have lost all their belongings and require assistance urgently. Once again, the Iranian people are showing their strength and compassion by helping each other out when the Iranian regime has failed them.

Iranian political prisoner sends message on the occasion of International Day for Elimination of Violence Against Women

Iranian political prisoner sends message on the occasion of International Day for Elimination of Violence Against Women

Iranian political prisoner Soheil Arabi

Reported by PMOI/MEK

Iran, Nov. 27, 2018 - Iranian political prisoner Soheil Arabi, who has been in the Iranian regime’s dungeons since November 2013, sent a message from the Greater Tehran Prison on the occasion of International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, describing the plight of Iranian women in prisons and the savage policies of misogynist mullahs ruling in Iran:

Talk about the struggle against violence against women!

About your struggle against tyranny, discrimination, and violence in society against women;

Talk about the violence against women in Qarchack prison or Evin, talk about hunger strikes;

Talk about the interrogator’s assaults and threats against women in prison;

Talk about teary eyes and hands in the short visits in prison;

Indeed, fighting the violence against women has always been a must for any freedom-seeking movement in the face of sexual discrimination;

Ruling systems have been always creating the impression that men own women and women are men’s property;

This belief made me break the silence;

Silence in front of violence is a betrayal;

Stand up and speak out:

Speak out that my mother does not deserve violence;

Speak out that my sister does not deserve discrimination, and I don’t deserve superiority;

Stand up warrior, and break the ignorant beliefs;

I salute everyone who has stood up against sexual discrimination and stands tall in front of violence against women, and especially salute those who have paid the price of such true beliefs, by suffering in cold and damp prison cells and bearing the pain of lashes, and even those who felt the noose around their necks.

I salute mothers who have given birth and have raised freedom fighters; those who saw the violence and stood firm against it.

“Violence” is a word that deserves to be eradicated, and society needs people who will fight for this cause.

Now, it’s time to stand tall against those aggressive fists targeted against women and freedom fighters.

So I stand up and shout alongside the great freedom-loving women of my country:

No to violence against women.

No to compulsory hijab

No to the silence in front of violence

Stand up to teach our children that human beings deserve the best.

Soheil Arabi

November 2018

Isfahan farmers protest over rights to water, clash with security forces

Isfahan farmers protest over rights to water, clash with security forces

Farmers of Gharneh clash with repressive security forces over the right to water

Reported by PMOI/MEK

Iran, Nov. 25, 2018 - On Sunday, the farmers of Gharneh, East Isfahan, gathered in front of the Yazd water pumping station in protest to the government’s mismanagement of water sources. In the past years, the Iranian regime’s corrupt policies has cut off adequate access to irrigation water, causing much damage to the farmers of Isfahan.

The IRGC, which controls a large part of the country’s economy, has been using the province’s water sources for its own benefit. The building of dams and water channels, which are serving the needs of IRGC-run companies, are threatening to destroy the farming lands of Isfahan.

Farmers of Gharneh protest for their right to water

In the past year, the farmers of Isfahan have protested for months and on several occasions, demanding their right to water. As the regime has failed to respond to the demands of the farmers, they decided to take matters in their own hands. Sunday’s protest was taking place in front of one of the IRGC-run water pumping stations, which channels Isfahan’s waters to the neighboring Yazd province to serve the needs of different regime-affiliated companies.

The protesters threatened to destroy the station if the government does not take concrete measures to fulfill their demands. The farmers had brought along their front loaders and machinery.

At noon, still having received no response, the farmers proceeded with destroying the pipeline that channels the station’s water to Yazd. Security forces subsequently attacked the farmers.

The pipeline that sends Isfahan's water to Yazd

East Isfahan is home to more than 300,000 people, most of whom are farmers. In the past years, drought and mismanagement of water by the government has caused a real threat to their livelihoods. The farmers have time and again protested to the transfer of the province’s water to Yazd.

Isfahan is not the only province where water protests are ongoing. In recent months, similar protests have taken place in Khuzestan and Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province. Regime officials have promised to respond to the demands of the farmers, but have yet to fulfill their promises.

Protests by farmers of Isfahan

UPDATE: Iran, Workers of Ahvaz steel company protest for 15th day

UPDATE: Iran, Workers of Ahvaz steel company protest for 15th day

15th day of protests by workers of Ahvaz Steel Company

Report by PMOI/MEK

Iran, November 24, 2018 - [Updated at 1800 CET] On Saturday, the workers of Iran National Steel Industrial Group in Ahvaz gathered for the 15^th day of their strikes and protest, demanding their unpaid salaries.

The workers began their demonstration in front of the Khuzestan governorate and marched toward Pol-e Sefid.

The workers were chanting, “Shame on a government that deceives the people.” During their march, the protesters stopped in front of the Bank-e Meli (National Bank) for another round of slogans and speeches, in which they addressing the government, saying, “Congratulations on your bondage with the mafia,” a reference to the widespread government corruption that is taking its toll on the livelihoods of the workers and their families.

“We are the workers of Ahvaz steel. We will fight against tyranny,” the workers were chanting.

The protests of Ahvaz steelworkers is happening in tandem with other popular protests by the workers of Haft Tapeh sugar factory, also in Khuzestan province. The two communities have grown very supportive of each other and have also earned the support of other communities across Iran, especially other workers who have also had first-hand experience of the corrupt practices of the Iranian regime.

In previous days, regime officials tried to assuage the workers of Ahvaz Steel through negotiations and promises. But the workers of Ahvaz, who have been run in circles by regime officials for months have made it clear that they will only stop their protests until they see concrete actions toward meeting their demands.

Government corruption has become an increasing focus of protests since last year, when nationwide uprisings erupted in December. The many social classes of Iran are suffering from the results of mismanagement from the government and the Iranian regime’s overspending on expenditures such as the war in Syrian and proxy terrorist groups in Iraq, Yemen, and Lebanon.

Protests over economic grievances quickly turned into anti-government protests that called for the overthrow of the regime in its entirety. After decades of witnessing and experiencing the corruption and the repression of the regime, the Iranian people have no doubt that there will be no solution from within the regime’s own ranks, and only regime change will solve their problems.

Update 12:00 pm local time: Security forces attacked the protesters tried to disrupt the demonstration of the workers of Ahvaz Steel company as their march reached the Amir Al-momenin University. But the protesters confronted the Iranian regime’s suppressive forces by chanting, “We will not give in to disgrace.”

November 24
Ahvaz, southwest #Iran
National Steel Group employees protesting delayed paychecks and rallying against regime officials.

Chants:
"Proud Ahvazis, support, support"#IranProtests pic.twitter.com/6xoUdf2P0i

— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) November 24, 2018

Addressing the security forces, one of the protesters shouted, “If you want to show force, show it to the people who have brought us workers to this misery. We are only here to defend our most basic rights.” 

November 24
Ahvaz, southwest #Iran
National Steel Group employees marching / protesting delayed paychecks and rallying against regime officials.

Chants:
"No to living in shame"#IranProtests pic.twitter.com/k1aSNEcSu1

— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) November 24, 2018

As the security forces encircled the protesters, the workers of Ahvaz chanted, “If our problems are not solved, Ahvaz will revolt.”

Iranian political prisoner Arzhang Davoodi under torture

Iranian political prisoner Arzhang Davoodi under torture

Iranian political prisoner Arzhang Davoodi in the quarantine

Reported by PMOI/MEK

Iran, Nov. 23, 2018 - Iranian teacher and political prisoner Arzhang Davoodi, who is being held in the quarantine section of the Zahedan prison is currently suffering from deteriorating physical conditions. There has been no news of Mr. Davoodi since March.

In his previous message, Davoodi had said that he had been transferred to a small solitary confinement unit and was deprived of family visits, phone calls and any communications with other prisoners. He was also deprived of free airtime, reading, television, and access to medication and food suitable for his health condition.

According to the latest news that was obtained in March, Davoodi had been on hunger strike in the quarantine section of Zahedan prison since February. Davoodi had described the reason for his hunger strike as such: “I am on hunger because I have been deprived of free air and sunlight since August.”

Davoodi suffers from diabetes and cholesterol as well as heart diseases.

In his latest message, Davoodi had said that his sight was becoming dim and he was deprived of the most basic rights. “I’m being held in a small cell that is known as ‘solitary confinement no. 2.’ I am deprived of visits, phone calls, communications with other prisoners, free airtime, walks, reading books, TV, medication, suitable food…”

Three months after his last message, there no news of political prisoner Arzhang Davoodi.

The Iranian regime has threatened the family of Davoodi and has put them under pressure. The only news there is of him is that he is under torture in the prison of Zahedan.

As a reminder, in March 2018, Davoodi had stressed in a message he had sent from Zahedan prison:

Hunger strike for a bit of air and sunlight

34 days pass from my hunger strike. I merely want some air and some sunlight, of which I’ve been inhumanly deprived since August. This shameless and lengthy suppression of my rights has worsened my heart condition and diabetes. It has caused my eyesight to become dim. In February, when I was returned to Zahedan prison, my physical conditions further deteriorated, because I’m being held in a very small cell, known as ‘solitary no.2’ of the prison’s quarantine section.

I’m deprived of visits, phone calls, communications with other prisoners, free airtime, walks, reading books, TV, medication, suitable food…

Fellow compatriots,

Certainly, the vicious practices of the regime’s authorities vis-à-vis prisoners, especially those exiled from their hometowns, is far from the customs of the brave people of Sistan & Baluchistan Province [in southeast Iran]… [Iranian regime Supreme Leader] Ali Khamenei… knows very well that only officials of this religious theocracy ruling our country carry out such vicious practices. Therefore, the very harsh measures seen in the prisons of this province is not only imposed against political prisoners. This nature is literally seen in all forms of this regime’s authorities who always resort to force.

“Therefore, I am expecting Mr. Zeid Ra’ad al-Hossein, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and other human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, to dispatch observers to inspects these medieval era prisons.

Iran’s Rouhani acknowledges money-laundering, corruption

Iran’s Rouhani acknowledges money-laundering, corruption

Iran regime FM, Javad Zarif is under fire from MPs for admitting of money laundering in Iran

Analysis by PMOI/MEK

Iran, Nov. 22, 2018 - As the Iranian regime’s internal disputes flare into crisis mode over remarks made recently by Iranian regime Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif over money laundering skyrocketing in recent weeks, Iranian regime President Hassan Rouhani also acknowledged this reality by saying such cases of money laundering has become common in Iran.

All the while, Sadegh Amoli Larijani, head of the regime’s so-called judiciary and a figure very close to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, described such revelations as a “dagger in the heart” of the mullahs’ regime. The regime’s parliament, known as the Majlis, is weighing the possibility of impeaching Zarif, Larijani added.

In a recent cabinet meeting Rouhani, however, resorted to actually justifying Zarif’s remarks.

“… The whole world has money-laundering problems. Show me one country not having problems with money laundering… Yes, we have cases of bribery, unfortunately, but we should not get angry about it. Yes, in government institutions, there may be bribes in small corners here or there, which should be confronted, yet there should not be any harsh feelings about this subject… When there are drugs, there is also dirty money. When there is dirty money, where does it go? This means there are also cases of money laundering here and there,” he said.

As crises increase across the board for the Iranian regime over Zarif’s money laundering remarks, the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) posted an exclusive report in its mouthpiece, the Fars news agency: “The judiciary has sent a letter to Zarif issuing a 10-day deadline for him to present evidence for his remarks.”

Furthermore, Iranian regime Deputy Foreign Minister Morteza Sarmadi confirmed the issue of money laundering in Iran.

“The numbers of smuggled goods, narcotics and fuel reaches around $10 to $15 billion. Most of this amount enters Iran’s financial system through money laundering,” he said.

Mahmoud Vaezi, Rouhani’s chief of staff, added his remarks on this subject, backing Zarif’s remarks.

“There is no wrongdoing in Zarif’s remarks and his position is completely correct. This issue is not limited to the foreign minister and it is the position of the government. It is unfortunate that despite Zarif’s correct remarks, there are those who are attacking him due to previous enmity,” he said.

Hamid Baeidinejad, the Iranian regime’s ambassador in London said, “State officials have precise information about the amount of money laundering taking place in the country.”

In the meantime, Hesamodin Ashna, Rouhani’s advisor and a former deputy intelligence minister, called for an end to this exchanging of remarks over money laundering inside the Iranian regime.

“It would be better to refrain from challenging the ‘[Khamenei faction] on this issue,” he said, in yet another indication of internal feuds becoming a major concern of the mullahs’ regime in its entirety.