Iran’s FATF crisis times IRGC’s terrorist designation

Iran’s FATF crisis times IRGC’s terrorist designation

The FATF crises escalates more than ever, haunting the mullahs’ regime

Analysis by PMOI/MEK

Iran, April 24, 2019 - In Iran, the fate of bills related to the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) remain a subject of controversy and infighting between the two factions of the political elite of the regime ruling Iran, while the terrorist designation of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) by the U.S. State Department has pushed the issue further in a crisis.

Both factions argue the IRGC’s blacklisting proves that their particular approach is the best for the future of the ruling theocracy in Iran.

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, a former member of the IRGC and former mayor of Tehran, who was previously opposed to the FATF bills, has now changed sides.

Ghalibaf, a member of the Expediency Discernment Council, where the fate of the aforementioned bills is under review, acknowledged the current pressure on the ruling mullahs. “We can’t walk by the U.S. and other issues like FATF and ignore them. Their pressure is real anyway and increases day after day,” he said.

He reiterated that not joining FATF under the current circumstances is not in the interests of the mullahs’ regime. “If we step aside, we won’t be able to learn these new mechanisms and prevent the resulting threats, while the threat of these institutions won’t be eliminated by our lack of participation,” he emphasized.

Kamal Dehghani Firouzabadi, deputy chair of the national security and foreign relations committee in the regime’s Majlis (parliament), also voices concern in this regard. “Through reason, we need to use our international relations and convention to our interests,” he said.

“By joining these conventions, we need to have an active presence in the international community and not distance ourselves from structures, and thus isolate ourselves,” he further said in defense of joining FATF.

Ali Najafi, the spokesperson for the committee said: “We shouldn’t politicize the issue of reviewing the FATF related bills in the Expediency Council. In regards to international laws, there is no connection between the IRGC’s terrorist designation and the FATF.”

“After the U.S. malevolently put the IRGC on its foreign terrorist organization's list, some issues have been raised regarding the outcome of reviewing the [FATF] bills in the Expediency Council. It is normal for this issue to have a psychological impact and resulting in some hesitation about international documents and mechanisms,” he added.

Ahmad Tavakkoli, a conservative member of the Expediency Council, said: “After the U.S. designated the IRGC as a terrorist organization, the feeling of danger increases and the situation worsens. The U.S. also supports the FATF and the root of their malevolence is the same.”

Tavakkoli also went on to criticize Europe for asking Tehran to join the FATF. “They are maximalists. They don’t respect their obligations under the 2015 Iran nuclear deal [JCPOA] while putting conditions for us under INSTEX not to have precision missiles. We are facing a handful of maximalist beasts, so to speak,” he said. “I say it clearly that accepting FATF will make it harder on us because they will advance,” he then concluded.

Mohammad Hassan Asafary, a former Majlis member, argued that the IRGC designation has changed the equation. “The recent U.S. measure is in line with the plan of the so-called international organizations, such as the FATF, to put a siege on the country in all sectors. Therefore, we need to be vigilant in this regard and review our membership in communities like FATF and CFT,” he added.

Alaeddin Boroujerdi, a member of the Majlis national security and foreign relations commission, made remarks about the chances of the Expediency Council to approve FATF bills. “Considering the recent developments and latest U.S. measure against the IRGC, the mood towards these bills in the council is not positive,” he said.

Hossein Shariatmadari, editor-in-chief of Keyhan, known as the mouthpiece of Iranian regime Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, used strong words against those supporting the initiative of joining the FATF. “Accepting the FATF is tantamount to inviting the U.S. to put more pressure on us,” he warned.

“When we see that the country’s officials say that by accepting a convention the country’s problems will be solved or after the JCPOA negotiations, some say there is room for negotiations in other sectors, one would think that they are giving coordinates to the enemy,” he added.

Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), has repeatedly called for the IRGC blacklisting for its role in suppressing the Iranian people and exporting Islamic fundamentalism, extremism, and terrorism around the world.

Iran regime officials concerned of “surprising” U.S. sanctions

Iran regime officials concerned of “surprising” U.S. sanctions

As new US sanctions on Iran set, regime officials express greater concern

Analysis by PMOI/MEK

November 8, 2018 - Mike Pompeo and Steve Mnuchin, U.S. Secretaries of State and Treasury, respectively, announced the second round of economic sanctions imposed against the Iranian regime.

The two senior U.S. officials emphasized these sanctions will continue as long as the Iranian regime continues to support terrorism and its military meddling in Syria, and refuses to completely stop its nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

Mnuchin said 700 Iranian individuals and entities have been added to the blacklist in the course of these new sanctions. This is a significant addition of Iranian regime individuals and entities to this blacklist; all involved in facilitating the mullahs’ efforts aimed at bypassing U.S. sanctions.

As more details of U.S. Treasury Department sanctions against the Iranian regime are revealed, Ahmad Amir Abadi Farahani, a member of the Iranian regime’s Majlis (parliament) governing board and a member of Qom Province said in his twitter account:

“Nearly all individuals and complexes involved in bypassing the previous sanctions are seen in this list.”

Surprised, he continued his remarks: “Where did the enemy receive this information?”
The German news agency, DPA, wrote in this regard, “According to Ahmad Amir Abadi Farahani, branches of these financial entities were secretly involved in bypassing U.S. sanctions and their blacklisting has been surprising.”

Senior Iranian regime officials, including the Central Bank chief, have claimed they have plans on how to bypass U.S. sanctions.

“Necessary measures have been carried out under the framework of precise planning for our currency resources and consumption” and “necessary negotiations with our trading partners have been carried out, and we have coordinated our engagement with them,” claimed Abdul Nosser Hemmati.

Despite the fact that not all European countries support U.S. sanctions against the Iranian regime, due to America’s economic and political weight, they will be facing a grave challenge in continuing their economic relations with the Iranian regime.

The European Union, especially the three signatories of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, had promised to continue their support of this agreement. However, to this day these countries have failed to present a clear plan on how to confront U.S. sanctions. Although they intend to implement a financial blueprint known as the “special payment vehicle” and continue legal trade and banking transactions with the Iranian regime, no nation has actually stepped forward to host this mechanism. On the other hand, the Iranian regime has not welcomed their efforts in general.

Iranian regime President Hassan Rouhani criticized French President Emmanuelle Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Europe’s suggestive financial package.

Read more:

The United States officially re-imposed Monday (Nov. 5) all sanctions lifted under the 2015 Iranian nuclear deal as the Trump administration adds nearly 700 regime targets, including 50 financial institutions linked to the mullahs’ regime.

The Treasury Department blacklisted hundreds of entities, including individuals, banks, vessels, aircraft and the Iranian regime’s energy sector as part of measures to reapply crippling measures. These sanctions follow the decision made by the Trump administration's decision in May to pull out of the highly flawed nuclear deal.

This recent initiative brings the total of Iranian regime targets blacklisted to 900 in less than two years and represents a significant increase in Washington's efforts to enforce economic pressure on the Iranian regime.

"The maximum pressure exerted by the United States is only going to mount from here," said Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin in a statement ahead of a briefing with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. "We are intent on making sure the Iranian regime stops siphoning its hard currency reserves into corrupt investments and the hands of terrorists."

Among the sanctioned entities are 92 entities owned or controlled by Ghadir Investment Company, previously identified the US government as an investment firm with links to the Execution of Imam Khomeini's Order, a regime-owned enterprise under direct control of Iranian regime Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

The Treasury Department also blacklisted 70 financial institutions linked to the Iranian regime, including their foreign and domestic units. These entities have assisted in funnelling billions of dollars to the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) Quds Force, designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S. Those firms include Bank Melli, Arian Bank, Future Bank and the Export Development Bank of Iran.

Some of the banks sanctioned on Monday have served as "financial conduits" for the regime’s Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces Logistics and the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting, according to Washington.

"This action is aimed at cutting off Iranian banks that facilitate Iran's domestic repression and foreign adventurism from the international financial system, and will highlight for the world the true nature of the regime's abuse of its domestic banking system," Sigal Mandelker, Treasury's counter-terrorism chief, said in a statement.

The Trump administration also blacklisted more than 200 individuals and vessels involved in the Iranian regime’s shipping and energy sectors, including the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines, being a maritime carrier, and the oil transport entity National Iranian Tanker Company.

"They're the strongest sanctions we've ever imposed," said President Donald Trump on Sunday evening (Nov. 4), hours before the sanctions on Iran's energy, shipbuilding and banking sectors kicked in at midnight. "We'll see what happens with Iran," adding "they're not doing very well."

Monday’s sanctions are yet another sign of the failed appeasement policy vis-à-vis the Iranian regime receiving a major blow and setback. The mullahs’ regime has enjoyed significant concessions under this approach, prolonging its rule through the infliction of enormous pains and suffering on the Iranian people in the past three decades.

Those who have chosen to appease the Iranian regime have blatantly neglected the mullahs’ atrocious human rights violations. This includes the 1988 massacre of over 30,000 political prisoners in prisons across the country consisting of mainly members and supporters of the main Iranian opposition People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK). These states have also allowed the mullahs to acquire weapons of mass destruction, export terrorism and fuel wars across the Middle East and beyond.

Maryam Rajavi

✔@Maryam_Rajavi

Appeasement of the mullahs’ religious fascism has been the most significant factor helping the regime to survive and prolonging the Iranian people’s pain and suffering over the past three decades.#Iran

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Maryam Rajavi Condemns Missile Attacks on HQs of Kurdish Parties and Execution of Three Kurdish Activists Mrs. Rajavi urged the United Nations Security Council to intervene and address the atrocities

hree Kurdish Activists Mrs. Rajavi urged the United Nations Security Council to intervene and address the atrocities

Ramin Hossein-Panahi, Zanyar Moradi, and Loghman Moradi, by the Iranian regime, were executed.

The Iranian regime today hanged three Kurdish political prisoners, Ramin Hossein-Panahi, 24, Zanyar Moradi, 30, and Loghman Moradi, 32, in Gohardasht Prison, Karaj.

Faced with overwhelming popular outrage and detestation, the regime carried out the executions despite repeated international calls, to terrorize the public and prevent further anti-regime protests.  

The three prisoners had been on dry hunger strike for several days. Zanyar and Loghman were in jail for more than nine years, and Ramin had been imprisoned over the past 14 months. They were under severe duress during their incarceration. 

The Iranian Resistance has repeatedly called, including yesterday, on the UN Security Council and its member states, to take urgent action to prevent these arbitrary executions in blatant contradiction to recognized international norms.

In another development, the Iranian regime launched missiles at the headquarters of the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran and the Kurdistan Democratic Party, deep inside the territory of the Iraqi Kurdistan. A number of members and peshmergas of the two parties were killed and more were wounded.

Run by Mohsen Rezaii, former IRGC Commander and Secretary of the State Exigency Council, Tabnak website wrote a few hours after this criminal attack, “The forces of the Revolutionary Guard Corps… have targeted since this morning, Saturday (September 8), the military positions... of the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran and the Democratic Party near the city of Kouyeh, 200 km from the Iranian border.”

Tabnak added, “The IRGC launched six surface-to-surface missiles at the headquarters of the Kurdistan Democratic Party which left dozens dead and wounded.”

The President of the Council of Ministers of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq issued a statement condemning the strikes at the headquarters of both parties “by the Islamic Republic of Iran which lead to a number of deaths and casualties.”

Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, the President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran, described the Iranian regime’s execution of three Kurdish activists and the missile attacks on the headquarters of the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran and the Kurdistan Democratic Party as crimes against humanity, and called on the United Nations Security Council to address these atrocities.

She hailed those martyred and offered her condolences to the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran and Kurdistan Democratic Party as well as the fellow activists and relatives of those who lost their lives or were executed. She also wished the quick recovery for those wounded in these criminal attacks.  

Mrs. Rajavi called on the people of Kurdistan and across Iran to rise and protest against the Iranian regime. “The mullahs’ anti-human regime is hell-bent on stepping up the atmosphere of terror and repression to extinguish the Iranian people’s uprising through suppression, executions, bombardment and missile attacks. But it will take that wish to the grave,” she said.

Secretariat of the National Council of Resistance of Iran

September 8, 2018

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

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.”

Iran will not become another Syria

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

Iranian officials fearfully anticipate further protests

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.

Iran Regime Arrests Family Members of the Victims of 1988 Massacre

Iran Regime Arrests Family Members of the Victims of 1988 Massacre

Family members of the martyrs of the 1988 massacre arrested

Simultaneous with the 30th anniversary of the massacre of political prisoners in 1988, and while the nationwide uprising continues, the ruling religious fascism in Iran, in fear of the rise in Justice-Seeking Movement, has arrested a number of families of these martyrs.

In an instance in Gorgan, a number of family members of martyr Mohsen Mehrani, including Dr. Mojtaba Mehrani, dentist and 67 years old, Masih Mehrani, 62, and ladies Sousan Mehrani, 55, Mohaddaseh Mehrani, 50, and Elnaz, 28, (daughter of Mohaddaseh Mehrani), were arrested on July 19, 2018. There is no news about the detainees. Mohsen Mehrani was executed in 1988 during the massacre of political prisoners in Gorgan prison.

Iranian Resistance calls on all the people, especially the brave youth, to protest these arrests and show support and solidarity with the prisoners of the uprising. It also asks the Security Council, the Secretary-General, the Human Rights Council and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and other relevant international bodies, as well as the European Union and the member states, to take immediate action to free these innocent individuals and other arrestee in the uprising, the names of many of whom have been sent by the National Council of Resistance (NCRI) to concerned authorities. A number of those arrested during the past months have been killed under the brutal tortures of Khamenei’s murderers.

Secretariat of the National Council of Resistance of Iran

August 20, 2018

Iranian authorities confess: Chinese are fishing in Iranian deep waters

Iranian authorities confess: Chinese are fishing in Iranian deep waters

The Iranian regime allow Chinese fishers to hunt in Iranian deep waters

Analysis by PMOI/MEK

Iran, Aug 20, 2018 - On 18^th August, Tasnim News Agency close to the IRGC Quds force, published a piece literally saying that the Iranian regime has allowed Chinese fishers to hunt in Iranian deep waters.

According to the Tasnim article, Mohammad Ali Hassanzadeh, deputy chief of Ports and Maritime Organization, said: “Chinese ships have signed an official long-term agreement with Iran’s Fishery that allows them to fish up to 200 meters deep in Iran’s waters in the Gulf of Oman.”

 

Treacherous policies of the mullahs’ regime

Allowing Chinese ships to trawl the bottom of the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman is among the treasonous policies of the Iranian regime. It’s also in line with their other policies like exporting Iranian soil and potable water to Arab states of the Persian Gulf and Iraq or selling out Iranian shares in the Caspian Sea to Iran’s northern neighbors to secure their support in international bodies.

Around 300 foreign persons are working in Iranian vessels and totally around 85 vessels are active in the field of fishing Lantern Fish in southern Iranian waters.

Trawling is the practice of dragging heavily weighted nets across the seafloor to sweep up fish – like cod and haddock – that thrive there. The long-term consequences for the eco system and fisheries is devastating.

 

 

Official confirmation of Chinese fishing in Iranian deep waters in the Gulf of Oman

The deputy chief of Iran’s Ports and Maritime Organization said: Chinese ships have official agreements for long-term leases that allows them to fish in 200 meter deep waters of Iran in the Gulf of Oman. The Chinese have a long-term leasing agreement with Iran’s Fishery. It seems like the technology of these Chinese boats doesn’t exist in Iran so that we can fish in 200-meter-deep waters.”

He continued: “The Chinese have an official warrant and agreement to fish in 200 meter deep waters. As to whether the crews are Chinese or not, it should be said that currently the crews of all boats that frequent ports are from every country.”

 

Keeping Iranian fishers in check and giving Chinese fishers a free rein

Chinese fishers with their industrial fishing boats use high voltage electricity to increase their rewards. This method hurts aquatic animals that are out of the fishing radius.

On 8^th May, an Iranian fisher from Parsian Port told a reporter from state-run ISNA News Agency: “Why are Chinese boats allowed to enter Iranian waters and destroy everything while this type of fishing is forbidden? Why can foreign fishers easily fish with their boats in Iranian waters and nobody cares, but when an Iranian fisher enters the water of other countries around the Persian Gulf, they will be instantly stopped and sent to courts?”

Another fisher says: “The Chinese take everything they get by fishing and we’ve had clashes with them a number of times over why they destroy the sea bottom by trawling, but they don’t listen and it is beyond our power to force them.”

The bitter truth for mullahs’ regime in IranReza Shafiee

The bitter truth for mullahs’ regime in IranReza Shafiee

Ali Khamenei, Iranian regime’s supreme leader finally broke his silence and spoke on August 13th on a number of hot political issues facing the nation. He was awfully quite these days. Yet the country is boiling in dissent. Listening to his speech leaves no doubt that he is desperate. He talked about problems his regime has no clue how to tackle. On the top of the list was the recent protests in cities like Tehran, Karaj, Shiraz, Esfahan, Mashhad, Ghahdarijan, and many other cities with such slogans as “Death to Khamenei” and “Death to Dictator.” He was off balance since people in the streets had him in their crosshair.

Khamenei wasted no time and took the bull by the horns. He called his cronies “cowards” and not trustworthy at hard times. Considering the recent unrests as the extension of January protests, Khamenei once again branded the protesters as agents of foreign powers such as the United States, Israel and Saudi Arabia. He said that “they had planned for years to disrupt the country’s security in January this year, but the people came out with admirable awareness, and stopped the enemies’ years-long plans.”

He added: “The enemies then set their hearts on this (Persian) year, with some US officials saying that there’ll be some news from Iran in the next six months. They were clearly pointing to the events earlier this month which turned out to be so limited despite the enemies’ huge financial and political investments.”

Iranian citizens have pushed the regime to the edge before. The difference this time is that the regime has gone too far in putting pressure on all citizens. The gap between rich and poor is at its highest level in 40 years. It is a recipe for disaster and the top officials of the regime publicly confirmed it.

He used his admission of the guilt as a temporary band aid and admits that he made a “mistake” in the nuclear deal.  “With regard to the nuclear deal, what I did was wrong, allowing some officials’ insistence to give a shot at nuclear talks, in which our red lines were not respected,” said Khamenei, according to regime’s official news agency.

He made it clear to his power base: the Revolutionary Guards and Bassij Forces that he has no intentions of taking the risk of going to war with the US. The mullahs’ supreme leader said: “There’ll definitely be no war. In Short, I have to inform the Iranian people that there’ll be no war and we will not negotiate, either.”

The leader of theocratic regime in Iran admits the deadly state of the country’s economy. But he makes sure to leave out his own massive financial conglomerate feeding off Iran’s poor economy. There is a rough estimate that Khamenei is sitting on top of a 95 billion dollars trust found. He is not the only one; there are other sharks in the tank related to his powerhouse that are taking their lion’s share of dying Iranian market.

Khamenei in his speech pictured himself as the champion of fighting corruption. A claim hardly anyone in his right-mind would take it seriously. He said: “The main cause of such problems is not sanctions, but domestic policies. This is what many officials and experts alike have confirmed. That however doesn’t mean that the sanctions have nothing to do with this situation. Of course they do, but the main factor is rooted in our performance. Among the measures that must definitely be taken into account is fighting against corruption. This was also reflected in the letter that the reverend head of judiciary wrote to me two days ago, in response to which I underlined that the proposed measures are an important and positive step toward fighting against corruption and punishing those who are involved.”

Fighting crime has never been a priority for the regime because the top criminals are well connected individuals with strong ties to Khamenei. To make it somewhat believable the security forces targeted some small-time currency dealers in the midst of currency crisis driven by a sharp decline in the value of Rial (the official currency). Khamenei and top Revolutionary Guards know better that Iranian citizens will not easily fall for their theatrics anymore and some heads needed to roll. The first to be sacked was the head of Iran’s Central Bank, Valiollah Seif.

Alarmed by public frustration with the way economy is run in Iran, Khamenei tried in his address to pour some cold water on the matter. He promised swift actions against fat cats. But people know full well that he is not willing to clip former Revolutionary Guards turned businessmen. They are running the country in a mafia style gang.

The bitter truth for the theocratic regime in Iran is plain and simple; the people are fed up with the mullahs and the regime is no longer able to force itself on them. This is the story of all dictators toward the end and Iran is no exception.

Iranian regime’s status quo & fear of PMOI/MEK

Iranian regime’s status quo & fear of PMOI/MEK

Iranian regime is fearful of the organized PMOI-MEK

Analysis by PMOI/MEK

Iran, August 14, 2018 - In recent weeks and months with protests escalating across Iran, the issue of this regime’s opposition and alternative has understandably transformed into a highly sensitive political subject. Despite all the claims and disputes, we are witnessing Iranian regime Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and a long list of Iranian regime officials signaling the very source of their main concerns. In their remarks one can conclude that from the Iranian regime’s perspective, the subject of its alternative is crystal clear.

During the past few weeks numerous warnings are issued by Iranian regime elements regarding the role of the People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK). It has apparently become certain for Iranian regime officials that the PMOI/MEK are behind developments in regards to the ongoing protests.

Iranian regime President Hassan Rouhani, the Foreign Ministry spokesman, various members of the regime’s parliament, numerous seminars, roundtables broadcast on state TV, state websites and etc. are continuously expressing concerns regarding the PMOI/MEK’s increasing role and being the very alternative against their regime.

The regime’s Ministry of Intelligence has gone as far as producing a report on the role of the PMOI/MEK resistance units inside Iran.

 

History

The Iranian regime is mainly concerned of the PMOI/MEK’s deep roots in Iran’s society and history. The mullahs’ regime also understands how extremely organized the PMOI/MEK is.

From the Iranian regime’s viewpoint, these two qualities are seen in no other entity claiming to be an alternative to this regime. Therefore, the mullahs’ are certain they pose no threat to their rule.

When it comes to the PMOI/MEK, however, despite their years of claiming this organization has been obliterated and destroyed, the mullahs’ understand very well the PMOI/MEK currently pose a major threat to their rule, especially after their successful 2016 transfer from Iraq to Albania and a list of other countries in Europe. Prior to that year Iran’s proxies in Iraq were able to sustain continuous attacks and threats against the PMOI/MEK to contain their threat.

As we speak the PMOI/MEK are connected to their people inside Iran like never before and play a leading role in the current protests across the country.

An interesting development is recent remarks heard from the Iranian regime’s judiciary spokesman.

“These days we are hearing people chant against the judiciary, the government and officials. Be careful! God forbids a PMOI/MEK member should not infiltrate into the crowd and begin directing the crowd!” he said Monday. “We must be on alert to prevent the PMOI/MEK from taking advantage of us.”

“The people are angry… they might throw an insult at the state… However, we must draw our lines in the sand. The most important issue is that a PMOI/MEK is not involved… if they are not involved, we must tolerate people insulting us,” he concluded.

 

Iran’s protests evolving

It is undeniable how the Iranian people have reached a complete impasse with the mullahs’ regime. Protesters are radicalizing their slogans in the streets, which is completely expected as calls for regime change are heard on a daily basis as demonstrators are chanting, “Death to the dictator.”

The Iranian people are overcoming obstacles one by one against the mullahs’ regime and specifically transforming their protests into an organized fashion.

Is there any organization other than the PMOI/MEK with the capability to actually organize Iran’s protests and spearhead these efforts specifically against the mullahs’ regime?

With the answer unfortunately being no, the Iranian regime’s concerns about the PMOI/MEK are completely understandable.

As Iran’s protests evolve in the weeks and months ahead, the seriousness of the PMOI/MEK’s role in linking with nationwide uprising will become even more evident.