Bijan Zanganeh, oil minister of the Iranian regime
Reported by PMOI/MEK
Iran, Dec. 30, 2018 -
On Friday, the parliament of the Iranian regime summoned oil minister Bijan Zanganeh to question him about bribery cases involving French oil giant Total. The event was another manifestation of inner-feud between the different ruling factions that display the endemic corruption that is plaguing the regime in its entirety.
Discussing payment of bribes by Total managers to Iranian authorities, MP Hedayotallah Khademi said, “This will definitely be one of our questions and we need to know the contracts, the amount of bribes and the authorities involved as well as how those persons were dealt with.”
On December 21, a Paris court fined Total 500,000 euros for paying bribes to Iranian officials in relation with contracts dating back to 1997. According to court documents, Total authorities paid $30 million to Iranian authorities under the cover of consultancy expenses to facilitate a contract for Iran’s South Pars gas field. The bribes involved Mehdi Hashemi Rafsanjani, the son of the former Iranian regime president Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani.
Total eventually managed to clinch a $2 billion contract for developing the South Pars gas field. Years later, investigations into the contract began. Some of the people involved in the case disappeared and their destinies and whereabouts remain unknown. It is said that some of these people were possibly killed in suspicious accidents.
The court proceedings and investigations regarding Total’s alleged bribery charges began in 2006. 12 years later, the French court finally gave its verdict and sentence. However, several of the people in the case are either dead or not reachable. This includes two Iranian citizens, who have since disappeared and Christophe de Margerie, the former CEO of Total, who died in an airplane crash in 2014.
Dec. 30, 2018 - In his address to the parliament, while presenting next year’s budget bill, Iranian president Hassan Rouhani repeated his false claims of economic success by his administration, although he acknowledged that this “glorious” advancements towards prosperity were stopped and reversed due to “American conspiracies.”
The usual fake data and statistics aside, contrary to his usual tactic of spreading false hope, Rouhani inevitably accepted that sanctions have put the country’s economy in a bad situation.
Such claims could only be justified if one disregarded the mullahs’ unrelenting bid for nepotism, kleptocracy, and general economic mismanagement over the past four decades.
But, the mere confession of economic misery by Rouhani, even if he blames everyone except for the main culprits, shows that the problems have grown so big that denial and pretense don’t work anymore.
Kunlun, the main official channel for money flows between China and Iran, confirmed in October 2018 that it will stop accepting yuan-denominated Iranian payments to China from November 1. The bank is controlled by the financial arm of Chinese state energy group CNPC, which makes it a big deal for Iran and the success of U.S. sanctions. In late August 2018, Kunlun already suspended euro-denominated payments from Iran.
“Financial transactions between Iran and China are among things that are vital to the country’s economic activities and if disrupted it could face our imports and exports to serious challenges. Challenges like a stop to economic activities!” Ebtekar newspaper wrote.
According to Ebtekar, some trading officials previously promised that “economic players can follow up on their transactions with the Chinese bank (Kunlun) through their native banks… but less than two weeks after this statement, [Kunlun] bank announced that it had some conditions to resume trading relations and one of its provisions is to stop transactions and (financial exchanges) with some industries. It’s clear that under such conditions, Iranian trading relations start to slow down and in such a situation, the future of Iran’s economy can face serious challenges.”
Jahan-e Sanat, another newspaper affiliated with Rouhani’s faction, reports that one hundred paper production units out of 600 have shut down after various problems in the paper market.
“If this trend continues, the rest of the active units in this industry will shut down too. The shut down of paper-producing workshops following a series of other shutdowns in the textile, shoe-making, home-appliances, and clothing industries indicate a deepening economic stagnation and the increasing unemployment rate,” according to Ebtekar.
International institutions are also issuing alarming reports about the future of the Iranian economy.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) predicts a negative growth rate for the Iranian economy during the current and next year.
According to the IMF, Iran’s economy will shrink by 1.47 and 3.61 percent in 2018 and 2019 respectively.
After the U.S. left the JCPOA and announced a new round of sanctions against the Iranian regime, the ruling theocracy in Tehran was wishfully expecting countermeasures from Europe, Russia, and China.
The grandiosely touted Special Purpose Vehicle that the EU presented to the Iranian regime as a remedy to sanctions turned out to be nothing more than an exchange mechanism for oil to food and drugs, which isn’t realized as of now.
The whole dilemma has disillusioned the Iranian political elite about circumventing the sanctions. Javad Zarif, Iranian foreign minister and one of the most outspoken proponents of the Iran nuclear deal and hopeful of Europe’s help, said in an interview with an Iranian newspaper this week: “The Europeans had a serious opportunity in Iran and lost it because of inaction and passivism towards the U.S. or a lack of internal cooperation or opportunism (where they wanted to have the benefits without paying the price). Unfortunately, Europe isn’t ready to pay the price and the losing party in the SPV case in Europe.”
In 2018, the European Union has been among Iran’s top three trading partners, accounting for 16.3 percent of the country’s foreign trades, after China and the United Arab Emirates. In contrast, Iran ranks 33 among EU’s trading partners, accounting for less than one percent of the Union’s overall amount of global trading. Not surprisingly, U.S. is EU’s top trading partner with a close-to-17-percent share.
Now, how Europe “is the losing party in the SPV case” is hard to explain, but there is an appropriate Iranian proverb that translates somewhat to the following: “If a gambler doesn’t say I don’t give a damn after losing, what else can he do?”
Massoud Khayatzadeh, member of Iran’s chamber of trade says: “While almost all countries have cut their relations with Iran, China was the only country that continued to keep its small relations with us. The fact that Kunlun bank was supposed to restart banking exchanges but hasn’t done it as of now can have a great impact on the economic future.”
“Currently, more than 80 percent of our imports and exports are maritime and this cut of connections isn’t good news and in other words, there will be a tsunami in our trading,” Khayatzadeh adds.
Majid Pourkaed, another member of the trading chamber, says about the impact of Kunlun bank’s sanctions on Iran’s economy: “There is no doubt that the discontinuation of relations will create a huge disruption in our economic system. In other words, it will put us in a state of uncertainty.”
Faezeh Hashemi, the daughter of late Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, former Iranian president and one of the founders of the Islamic Republic, recently said in an interview with a local newspaper that “intimidation” and “fear” were the main things propping up the Islamic Republic.
“In my view, a breakdown of principles has already happened, there hasn't been a physical collapse, but I see that as very likely,” she added.
Considering Iran’s pathologically sick economy, its “collapse of principles” and rule through “intimidation” and “fear”, and severe U.S. sanctions without much help from Europeans, Russia, and China, it isn’t farfetched to expect an economic tsunami and a “physical collapse” soon.
Iran, Dec.29, 2018 - On December 25, Iran regime president Hassan Rouhani presented the next year’s budget bill to the parliament. In his speech, Rouhani touted the bill for its “attention to creating jobs.” Mohammad Bagher Nobakht and Eshaq Jahangiri, both Rouhani’s vice presidents, had already started this a few days ago.
But the claim of “creating jobs” is so flimsy that even media from Rouhani’s own faction find it ridiculous.
Addressing Rouhani, Jahan-e Sanat newspaper wrote: “With this budget, you can’t keep the available jobs, let alone creating new ones.”
But the truth is far beyond Rouhani’s ability—or lack thereof—to create jobs. It’s about evil schemes by all the ruling factions among the Iranian theocracy to provide for laws that allow them to better exploit Iranian workers.
On December 24, Eshaq Jahangiri, Rouhani’s first vice president, unveiled a plan to grant facilities for creating jobs in rural areas.
Iranian state-run television said: “In the Higher Employment Council meeting this afternoon, Jahangiri asked the relevant institutions and banks to speed up facilitation granting processes for rural and tribal plans to create more jobs. Considering 3.2 million unemployed individuals in the country, the first vice president said that 800 thousand new job seekers are added to this number every year.”
Just one day after Jahangiri’s claims, it turned out that the crocodile tears for over 3 million unemployed Iranians are nothing but a cover to give credit and financial facilitations to “employers,” who, in the current pathologically corrupt ruling elite, are affiliated with the regime one way or another.
On December 25, Jahan-e Sanat newspaper published an article titled, “Government’s show of creating jobs, hopeful of the parliament’s confirmation,” and wrote: “These gentlemen don’t say how they intend to create jobs! Even now the government doesn’t quit its show to pretend that it’s trying to create jobs.”
The newspaper article then continues to describe the behind-the-scenes of Jahangiri’s statements and reveals an exploitative plan called “abolition of the minimum wage for workers in rural areas” which is circulating the Iranian parliament right now.
And it becomes clear that the government is giving financial facilities to Iranian Aghazadehs—an Iranian term that literally means “children of the masters” and describes rampant nepotism and corruption in colloquial language—under the guise of “creating jobs in rural areas,” while the parliament is removing the “minimum wage for workers in rural areas” to pave the way for blatant exploitation of Iranian workers.
On December 1, state-run Mehr news agency quoted a member of the Higher Council of Labor saying: “The Institution that is behind this bill is from Isfahan and a member of the parliament is currently seeking to pass it.”
On December 18, ILNA news agency described the situation as follows: “Mafia gangs have targeted ‘minimum wages.’ The only verb that is conjugated correctly in Iran is ‘to accumulate.’”
Over the past year, the living standards of Iranian workers have plummeted sharply. According to official sources, the 19.5-percent increase to their wages at the beginning of the Iranian year couldn’t even equate their wages to what they received two years ago. Current statistics show that Iranian workers’ purchasing power is 50 to 80 percent less than two years ago.
Over the past 12 months alone, the Iranian currency has lost more than 50 percent of its value while minimum wages have stayed the same.
Iranian workers’ cries in Haft Tappeh or the continuous protests of the steelworkers in Ahvaz are just the tip of the iceberg that the Iranian regime couldn’t manage to suffocate and censor.
And one can’t expect more from a regime that is based on 1,400-year-old laws and customs. The only solution is a fundamental transformation in the system that is nothing less than regime change.
From the morning of Thursday, December 27, based on a previous call, teachers, and educators of Isfahan gathered in front of the city's Education Department. This is while intelligence agents and state security forces threatened teachers in various ways not to participate in the demonstrations, otherwise, they would face consequences. Since the morning, police and intelligence forces have been trying to prevent the formation of this protest rally by deployment in the streets around the Education Department.
Subsequently, teachers, most of whom brave women, went to Darvazeh Dowlat street, in front of the municipality and gathered at Bagh Behesht Park. The suppressive forces attacked them with batons and pepper sprayed them. Demonstrations and clashes took place on the streets of Darvazeh Dowlat, Hasht Behesht and Bagh Behesht Park, and dozens of protesters were arrested.
The mercenaries attacked a woman filming the events to arrest him, but the people went to help her and escaped her.
Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, President-elect of the Iranian Resistance, hailing to the courageous brave educators and teachers of Isfahan who despite all the repressive measures continued their protests, asked the public in Isfahan, especially the youth, to support the teachers and to protest their arrest and suppression. Mrs. Maryam Rajavi also called on human rights defenders, trade unions and teachers and academics all over the world to support their protests and demands and to take urgent action to release the arrested.
Secretariat of the National Council of Resistance of Iran
Iran, Dec. 26,2018 - A group of workers and family members of apprehended National Steel Group employees arrested by Iranian regime authorities rallied on Wednesday for the third consecutive day outside the Khuzestan Province governor’s office.
They were holding a large banner reading:
“Release jailed workers”
“Workers belong in factories; thieves belong in prison”
The protesters were also raising signs reading:
“Your economic austerities; Our workers in prison”
“What happened to your promises, Mr. Governor?”
Workers of the National Steel Group issued a statement in this regard saying: “We are awaiting the release of our colleagues. Investors cannot play with the workers’ lives.”
Families members of apprehended National Steel Group workers are outside the Khuzestan Province governor’s office.
Families members of apprehended National Steel Group workers are outside the Khuzestan Province governor’s office.
Families members of apprehended National Steel Group workers are outside the Khuzestan Province governor’s office.
Families members of apprehended National Steel Group workers are outside the Khuzestan Province governor’s office.
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Suppressive security forces of the ruling religious fascism in Iran conducted midnight raids in Ahwaz on Monday, December 17, for the second consecutive night. The raids targeted the homes of Iranian National Steel Industries Group (INSIG) workers and led to the arrest of more workers. Dozens of workers arrested Sunday night and Monday are still in detention. Many workers are spending nights outside their homes to avoid arrest.
The steelworkers are entering the 39th day of their strike and protest action despite the repressive actions of the regime. They announced that they will continue to strike until the last steelworker is freed from detention.
Hundreds of pensioners protesting outside the regime’s Parliament in Tehran voiced their support for the striking Ahwaz steelworkers on Tuesday morning. The protesters shouted: “From Ahwaz to Tehran, workers are in jails”; “Free the steelworkers”; “Imprisoned workers must be freed”; “Imprisoned teachers must be freed”; “Government engages in crimes, parliament supports it”; “Free insurance is our right”; “The enemy is here, they lie to us that it’s America”.
Brutal and mass arrests of workers by the Iranian regime speaks loudly of the corrupt and criminal clerical regime’s frustration with the growing tide of striking and protesting workers. The Iranian Resistance calls on all Iranian people, especially on other workers, youth, and students, to rise in support of the striking workers and in protest to their arrest. The Iranian Resistance also calls on all international organizations supporting human and workers’ rights, and on all labor unions and syndicates in various countries to call for the immediate freedom of arrested workers in Iran.
Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi, senior Iranian cleric and a former chief justice of Iran, died on Monday
Reported by PMOI/MEK
Iran, Dec. 25, 2018 - On Monday, Iranian state-run media reported that Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi, a senior Iranian cleric, had died of illness. Shahroudi, 70, was the chairman of the Expediency Council, a body that resolves disputes between the Iranian regime’s parliament and the Guardian Council.
Shahroudi previously served as the chief of the Iranian regime’s judiciary for 10 years. Shahroudi was also the first chief of the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq, a militia group the Iranian regime founded after the 1979 revolution to pursue its expansionist goals in Iraq. The Council has had an active role in carrying out terrorist attacks in Iraq.
At one point, Ali Khamenei, the supreme leader of the Iranian regime, was rumored to be grooming Shahroudi to become his successor. In 2011, Khamenei appointed Shahroudi as the head of the Supreme Delegation to Resolve Disputes Between Government Branches.
During his tenure as the head of the judiciary, Shahroudi played a major role in the execution and torture of thousands of political prisoners and members of ethnic and religious minorities. Human rights activists have made calls that he is brought to justice in international tribunals. Earlier this year, Shahroudi was forced to cut short a visit to Germany because activists had filed complaints against him for his role in passing death sentences to political prisoners.
British labor unions expressing their solidarity with labor protests in Iran
Reported by PMOI/MEK
Iran, Dec. 22, 2018 - The Trade Union Congress (TUC), one of the largest labor unions in England and Wales with 5.6 million members, issued a statement condemning the Iranian regime’s ongoing crackdown of workers, college students and other protesters across Iran. The TUC also expressed its solidarity with employees of the National Steel Group in Ahvaz and Haft Tapeh sugarcane mill in Shush, both in Khuzestan province of southwest Iran. The TUC condemned the raids by security forces into the homes of many protesting steelworkers across Ahvaz and their arrests, emphasizing the apprehended workers must be immediately released.
The TUC denounces the actions of the Iranian government and their continuing campaign of oppression against trade unionists, students, and activists across Iran.
The TUC expresses deep solidarity with the workers of INSIG Ahvaz and the Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Complex in the campaign for the realization of their just and legitimate demands.
We support the nearly six-week-long strike of steelworkers in Iran, protesting against the failure of their employers to pay them for months at a time.
Workers at the Iran National Steel Industry Group (INSIG) factory in Ahvaz have been in dispute for over a year now with their private sector owners who have failed to fulfill their obligations to run the plant in Ahvaz at full capacity. Workers have been demanding the plant’s return to the public sector and strategic investment in order to ensure that it is profitable and sustainable.
The response of the Iranian authorities to the escalating industrial action and protests has been typically brutal. In the early hours of Monday 17th December, the security forces raided the homes of many of the strikers and arrested 31 of their leading representatives. A further ten strikers were detained in the hours that followed.
Consequently, the strikers have refused to meet with the governor of Khuzestan province and have announced that until all of the arrested workers are released, they will not enter into any negotiation.
The demands of the workers at INSIG Ahvaz and at the Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Complex, to reverse the tide of privatisation and implement the workforce demand for labour control of production, is backed by a large number of trade unions, workers organisations and social and political organisations, and is garnering ever-increasing support in wider Iranian society.
The TUC calls on the Iranian authorities to immediately fulfill the following demands:
the release of all arrested workers and trade unionists;
the payment of all delayed and unpaid wages;
the removal of anti-riot police from the factory and the surrounding area and the immediate ceasing of all measures designed to coerce the workforce;
the Iranian government to start meaningful negotiations with a view to return the factory to the public sector based on constitutional provisions covering the failure of privatized factories;
the Iranian government to recognize, implement and respect trade union rights based on ILO core conventions including ILO conventions 87 and 98.
The TUC, alongside the global trade union movement, is watching closely!
The Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) issued a similar statement voicing its support and emphasizing its stance alongside Iran’s oppressed workers.
The IWW recently published a statement in support of striking workers in Iran, and has received the below disturbing update from the Association in Defence of Freedom in Iran (ADIF):
Authorities raided the homes of dozens of protesting National Steel Group workers in the midnight hours of Monday local time, reports indicate.
This raid continued until 2 am and resulted in the arrest of many workers. The raid was carried out without any arrest warrant, and the arrested workers were transferred to an unknown location.
Workers of steel factory rallied for the 38th day in protest about their unpaid wages & demanding the release of detained workers. Many of these workers had to be taken to the streets of Ahwaz through the night to prevent more arrests.
The names of 11 workers who have been arrested so far are as follow:
Meysam Ghanavati
Isa Marei
Amin Allavani
Morteza Akbari
Tariq Khalfi
Masoud Afri
Jafar Sabhani
Mostafa Abyat
Gharib Houizawi
Karim Siyahi
Hamed Jodaki
Reportedly, the special security unit along with the chief of the Security Forces of Ahwaz entered the Iran National Steel Group and threatened to arrest the workers on the morning of Dec 17. Despite this brutal attack, the workers of the National Industrial Steel Group are determined to hold a protest rally today.
We ask you to condemn these inhuman acts against Iranian workers and urge you to take an urgent position by requesting the UN, The UN Human Rights Commissioner, The ILO President, and all of the other Workers’ Unions to condemn this inhuman measure and to take urgent action for the release of these workers.
The IWW stands in solidarity with workers everywhere fighting for a better deal and wholeheartedly condemns these actions by the Iranian authorities. We further redouble our call to all labor organizations to condemn trampling of the workers’ basic rights and to demand the ruling dictatorship in Iran release all detained workers, to respect the basic rights of workers and to adhere to all international labor laws.
We demand the quick and unconditional release of all workers and truck drivers who were arrested during strikes.
We express our support for the demands of the workers, drivers and the working people of Iran and urge all labor unions to assist their colleagues in Iran and to support their rightful demands, however they can.
Albania, Dec. 23, 2018 - In an interview with Albanian Vizion Plus network, Albanian Interior Minister Sandër Lleshaj talked about the reasons why two Iranian diplomats, including Tehran’s ambassador to Tirana, were expelled from the country.
“Albania is more secure today than yesterday. The international community considers the Iranian regime the main supporter of terrorism,” said Lleshaj during the interview.
“MEK isn’t a threat to us. We have welcomed them as our friends. MEK has been threatened in other countries too.”
The following are passages translated from the interview.
Reporter: We are talking about the expulsion of the Iranian ambassador and, while it’s still not confirmed, the expulsion of a commander of the intelligence service in the Iranian embassy… As far as I know, in the past 30 years, this is the first time that the Albanian government is expelling an ambassador.
Lleshaj: …It’s obvious that the two Iranian diplomats are expelled for reasons that have been revealed: national security reasons. The issue has raised much attention from the U.S. president [Donald] Trump, Secretary of State [Mike] Pompeo, and National Security Advisor [John] Bolton.
This means that the decision is very important, and the Albanian government has come to it for its own national security and national interest.
You know that we have accepted the responsibility of giving refuge to a large number of Iranian citizens who were facing an imminent threat in Iraq.
Albania has accepted these Iranian citizens for humanitarian reasons to give them refuge and security. But it is known that these Iranian citizens are part of the Iranian resistance. This fact has brought part of the battle between the Iranian resistance and the Iranian government to Albania… To prevent these dangers, the Albanian government has made such a decision…
Reporter: When you put it this way, we learn that the Iranian ambassador has been the main responsible person for potentially increasing these dangers and fights. When you, as a government, have come to the point that you expel the ambassador, it means that it isn’t guesswork anymore, but fact. Is that right? We are talking about real efforts to organize incidents, attacks, and terrorist actions, is that right?
Lleshaj: Everything that comes out of an embassy, good or bad, belongs to the ambassador who has been in charge of that diplomatic mission. In this case, the ambassador is an important part of our, and our international allies’ concerns. Please understand that when we’re talking about national security matters, I can’t reveal facts…
Reporter: You mean the investigations are ongoing?
Lleshaj: Sure, no responsible government, including Albania, can base its decisions on opinions or allegations. This has been based on concrete proof in connection to potential threats to the national security.
Reporter: This must be a very important issue…
Lleshaj: If you look at the recent developments in Europe, you’ll see similar incidents where members of the MEK have been threatened by the Iranian regime’s intelligence services.
Reporter: This year, I was at their gathering in Paris and their leader Maryam Rajavi was also present and was threatened with an attack. If I’m not mistaken, two Iranian diplomats were detained in Austria. Is there a connection between these incidents?
Lleshaj: I can’t talk about the connection between them but there have been similarities between different incidents in Europe that connect them to the MEK.
So, we have signs that members of the Iranian intelligence service, under the diplomatic guise, have done things against the security of particular countries. Considering this, Albania has made this decision to prevent such actions and protect its security…
Teachers of Isfahan protest in front of the offices of the education ministry
Analysis by PMOI/MEK
Dec. 23, 2018 - Since the beginning of the year, teachers of Iran have been intermittently demonstrating and going on strike to protest against the trampling of their rights by the Iranian regime. More recently, the teachers of Isfahan came to the streets and gathered in front of the offices of the education ministry to protest against the Iranian regime’s lack of response to their demands.
The demands of the teachers and education workers included the release of their imprisoned colleagues, health insurance for retired teachers, the increase of the budget of the education sector and the increase of the salaries of teachers and university professors.
In the same week, the teachers of Yazd gathered in Park-e Fanavari and staged a protest for demands that were similar to those of Isfahan’s teachers.
Some of the slogans that teachers have been shouting in their demonstrations in the past weeks include the following:
Imprisoned teachers must be freed
We must pay our expenses in dollars, but our salaries are paid in rials
Teachers, students, workers, unity! Unity!
Neither the governor nor the government are thinking about the grievances of the people
Stellar salaries [of government officials] have become all too common
No to high prices, discrimination and theft!
Our enemy is right here; [the government] is lying that it’s the U.S.
Teachers protesting in Abhar, Zanjan province, chanted similar slogans and made similar demands in their protests. Addressing the regime, one of the teachers said, “We are the people. We brought you to power. Why isn’t the national television broadcasting our protests? Why are they focusing on protests in France? We are the people, why should our demands be met with torture and violence? If you’re competent, reduce the inflation. If you’re not, move aside and let someone rule the country who can fix the country’s problems.”
This is a situation that can be seen in many other cities in Iran. In the past year alone, the teachers have staged nationwide strikes on two occasions, in October and November. The teachers’ demands can be summarized in the following:
An end to repression
An end to discrimination
Respect for the rights of the hardworking people of Iran
Presently, there are more than a million teachers in Iran with very meager salaries and difficult working conditions, who are selflessly trying to educate the future generations of Iran. They are demonstrating for their rights and to ensure that the children who will be building the future of Iran have the proper privileges and rights to enjoy proper education.
But the Iranian regime not only ignores their demands but also answers their protests with violence and arrests the representatives and leaders of their movements every once in a while.
Interestingly, the slogans and demands of Iran’s teachers are being echoed in protest by many other communities across Iran, including workers, truck drivers, and merchants. Like many other classes of the society, the teachers of Iran have become the victims of the corrupt policies of the Iranian regime, which has led to the quasi-collapse of the country’s economy.
And therein lies the Iranian regime’s dilemma. It is hard-pressed to fulfill the demands of the teachers, because if it does, it will also have to do something about the just demands of the farmers of Isfahan, the workers of Khuzestan, the merchants of Kurdistan, the truck drivers across the country, and the millions of people who have been deprived of their most basic rights.
But while Iran is not short in wealth and resources, the regime is spending them on terrorism and repression, the main pillars of its rule. Responding to the demands of the people will come at the cost of the regime’s terrorist ambitions abroad, which is costing billions of dollars out of the pockets of the Iranian people. It will have to respect the rights of the people and level down its expenditures on strengthening its security apparatus. All of that will eventually undermine its power and lead to the collapse of its regime.
On the other hand, continuing to repress the people’s protests also isn’t a long-term solution for the problems of the regime. After 40 years of repression under the rules of the mullahs, the people of Iran are fed up, and the regime’s attempts at causing panic and fear through violence is proving to be less and less effective. As the people of Iran continue to take to the streets, the Iranian regime is finding itself in a tightening deadlock, one that will inevitably lead to its downfall.
Dec 21, 2018 - Yesterday, Albania expelled two Iranian diplomats, including Tehran’s ambassador to Tirana, Reuters reported.
Albania has expelled Iran’s ambassador and another diplomat for “damaging its national security”, Tirana’s foreign ministry said to Reuters.
While Albania did not identify the two individuals, and it’s still not clear whether they have already left the NATO member country, it’s known that Gholamhossein Mohammadnia has been Tehran’s ambassador to Tirana since August 2016.
Back in February, the Security and Counterterrorism Committee of the National Council of Resistance of Iran issued a statement describing how the Iranian Regime is deploying Quds Force agents to Albania following the relocation of about 3,000 members of the Iranian opposition People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) to this county.
The NCRI statement singles out two Iranian individuals:
Gholamhossein Mohammadnia, the now-expelled Iranian ambassador to Tirana and reveals that he is in fact an agent of the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence (MOIS).
Mostafa Roodaki, a veteran agent of the Ministry of Intelligence, and the first secretary of the Iranian embassy in Albania.
While the identity of the second Iranian diplomat is still not clear, some pundits believe that it could be Roodaki.
According to NCRI’s statement, Mostafa Roodaki oversaw the intelligence station at the Iranian embassy in Austria in the early 2010’s. At the end of his mission in Austria, he was promoted and became responsible for intelligence stations in all European countries.
“Since the time he was in Austria, Mostafa Roodaki has been working on the PMOI’s case and was in contact with a number of ex-members of PMOI (now working for the regime). In this regard, he had occasional trips to France. By paying money, Roodaki uses ex-members to carry out MOIS conspiracies against the PMOI,” the statement continues.
Considering that all Iranian regime terrorist activities in Europe could have been under his supervision as a senior MOIS official, his résumé is a very good match for being the second Iranian diplomat expelled from Albania.
But Iranian regime activities run deeper.
In fact, in the last two years the Iranian regime has been developing its terrorist network under the guise of diplomatic missions all over the Balkan countries.
Media report indicate that a few days ago, American sources revealed the Iranian regime has established an intelligence station specifically designated to control its terrorist activities in Balkan countries.
This recent development has followed the Iranian regimes earlier failed terror plots on European soil, especially after the fiasco of a June bombing plot against the annual Iranian opposition convention in Paris.
American intelligence sources confirm that the Iranian regime has secretly scattered its agents in counties like Bulgaria, Macedonia, and Kosovo to create the necessary logistical support for its future terror plots.
But why the Balkan countries, the question begs.
The strategic location of the Balkan gives Iran an easy transit to the mainland Europe and it appears that over the last three decades, Tehran has meticulously and gradually transformed this region to a home for its sleeping cells.
It’s evident that the Iranian regime wouldn’t balk at recruiting local individuals. The 2011 terrorist attack on the U.S. embassy in Bosnia was carried out by a Serbian national, Mevlid Jašarević, with help from his accomplices in a place called the “Jihadi Village.”
In Balkan, Lebanese Hezbollah is essentially playing the same role it plays in South America. Hezbollah members fly to Balkan countries with European asylum seeker passports. These European passports increase their mobility and chances to succeed in their malign objectives.
The 2012 terrorist attack in Bulgaria was carried out by two individuals with Canadian and Australian passports. According to the Bulgarian interior minister, there is well-grounded evidence that Hezbollah was behind it.
Recent Iranian activities on European soil has created much concern among these countries and despite Europe’s dedication to the JCPOA and interest in Iranian petrodollars, a recent United Nations Security Council meeting showed that even European patience with the Iranian regime’s malicious activities is running thin.
