Why Is Iran Facing A Gas Crisis Despite Having The Second-Largest of Reserves?
The state-run Hamdeli newspaper examined Iran’s gas crisis in a report published on December 1. The review addressed several aspects, including outdated infrastructure and mismanagement as major challenges in the gas industry, as well as the social and economic impacts of gas shortages during winter, which have had severely negative effects across all areas.
Iran: 40 Evin Prison Inmates Protest Death Sentences of Six Political Prisoners
Forty political prisoners in Evin Prison signed a joint statement protesting the issuance of death sentences for six political prisoners. In the statement, they expressed their “fundamental opposition to the death penalty” and declared their support for all political and ideological prisoners facing such sentences.
The joint statement of the political prisoners reads: “The increasing trend of issuing and executing numerous death sentences against political prisoners over the past two years not only recalls the state repression of the 1980s but also reflects the fear and panic of the political elite in response to the rise of a just and awakening society in Iran.”
On December 1, six political prisoners were sentenced to death by Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court in Tehran on charges of “rebellion through membership in groups opposing the regime.” These individuals were arrested in connection with the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI).
The six political prisoners are Akbar Daneshvarkar, Mohammad Taghavi Sangdehi, Babak Alipour, Pouya Ghobadi Bistuni, Vahid Bani-Amerian, and Abolhasan Montazer.
The statement notes that the collective death sentence for these six political prisoners comes shortly after a group of youth faced similar sentences in a case referred to as the “Ekbatan kids.”
The statement further highlights other death sentences issued since March 21 against political prisoners such as Pakhshan Azizi, Varisheh Moradi, Shahriar Bayat, Behrooz Ehsani, Mehdi Hassani, and Mohammad Javad Vafaie-Sani. It adds, “The 2022 uprising, as a significant milestone in the Iranian people’s struggle for freedom, has so shaken the foundations of the established government that it sees no choice but to intensify repression in various forms.”
The statement continues, “We believe that the struggle for freedom requires collective solidarity in defending human rights, including the formation of social resistance against the issuance of death sentences.”
These political prisoners called on all Iranians and social groups to join them in protesting “by any means possible against these inhumane and reactionary sentences.”
They emphasized, “Today is the time to stand in the streets against executions. It is the time to save the lives of political prisoners, the time to say, ‘No to executions.’”
Iranian Regime Hackers Target Trump’s Pick for FBI Director
Kash Patel, Donald Trump’s nominee for the directorship of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), has been targeted by Iranian regime hackers.
According to CNN, the incident occurred just days after 44-year-old Kash Patel was announced as President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the FBI.
CNN reported on Wednesday, December 4, citing two informed sources, that the FBI recently informed Kash Patel he had been targeted in a hacking operation by the Iranian regime.
One of the sources stated that the hackers had accessed at least some of Mr. Patel’s communications.
CNN also reported that Alex Pfeiffer, a spokesperson for Donald Trump’s transition team, described Kash Patel in a statement as “a central figure” in the Trump administration’s early efforts against the “terrorist regime of Iran.”
The Trump transition team spokesperson added that, as FBI director, Kash Patel would implement Donald Trump’s policies to “protect America against its enemies.”
During Donald Trump’s first term as president, Kash Patel served as Chief of Staff at the Department of Defense, Deputy Director of National Intelligence, and Senior Director for Counterterrorism on the National Security Council.
Close associates of Donald Trump have also been targeted by hacking attempts from foreign governments, including Iran and China, in recent months.
Earlier this summer, CNN reported on a hacking attempt by the Iranian regime targeting Lindsey Halligan, one of Donald Trump’s lawyers.
Reuters reported that hackers linked to the Iranian regime also targeted Donald Trump’s campaign during the U.S. presidential election.
Trump’s campaign recently stated that the Iranian regime’s hacking operations were intended to interfere in the 2024 election and disrupt the entire democratic process in the United States.
The Iranian regime has denied allegations of involvement in hacking attacks aimed at interfering in the U.S. presidential election process.
U.S. Sanctions 35 Entities And Ships For Smuggling Iranian Oil
The U.S. Department of the Treasury has imposed new sanctions on 35 entities and ships for their involvement in smuggling Iranian oil to foreign markets.
On Tuesday, December 3, the U.S. Treasury described this measure in a statement as part of increased pressure on Iran’s “shadow fleet.”
The term “shadow fleet” refers to a network of tankers and shipping companies that violate Western sanctions by smuggling Iranian oil and delivering it to foreign customers.
According to the U.S. Treasury, tactics used by Iran’s oil smuggling network include forging documents, tampering with ship tracking systems, and frequently changing ship names and flags.
The statement noted Iran’s attack on Israel on October 1 and reports of increased nuclear activities by the Iranian regime, emphasizing that the new U.S. sanctions would impose additional costs on Iran’s oil sector.
The U.S. Treasury stated that the Iranian regime uses oil revenues to advance its nuclear program, enhance its missile and advanced drone capabilities, and fund the terrorist activities of its regional proxies.
In recent years, the United States has repeatedly imposed sanctions on individuals and entities linked to the Iranian regime, as well as in countries like Syria, Lebanon, and Yemen.
In this context, on November 14, the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) imposed sanctions on 26 individuals, entities, and vessels associated with Syria’s Al-Qatirji Company, a financial backer of the IRGC Quds Force and Yemen’s Houthis.
The U.S. Treasury had noted that Al-Qatirji Company, through the sale of Iranian oil to Syria and China, generated hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue for the IRGC Quds Force and Yemeni Houthis.
According to the statement, Al-Qatirji Company, previously sanctioned by the U.S. for facilitating oil sales between Bashar al-Assad’s government and the ISIS terrorist group in Iraq and Syria, has become “one of the primary channels” for generating revenue for the IRGC Quds Force and its regional proxies.
Bradley T. Smith, Acting Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence at the U.S. Treasury, stated: “The Iranian regime increasingly relies on key commercial partners like Al-Qatirji Company to support its destabilizing activities and terrorist network in the region.”
He emphasized that the United States will continue to take all possible actions to limit the Iranian regime’s ability to benefit from illegal schemes enabling its dangerous policies in the region.
In recent years, the European Union, the United Kingdom, and Australia have also imposed sanctions on the Iranian regime.
Iran’s Regime Preparing “Chastity and Hijab” Law and Financial Penalties for Girls Aged 9 to 15
The “Chastity and Hijab” law, set to be implemented soon, is regarded as one of the most significant measures aimed at reinforcing compulsory hijab in society. It has sparked widespread reactions and protests. This law is seen as a tool for exerting increased pressure and control over women.
This law consists of 74 articles, detailing various duties and responsibilities related to enforcing compulsory hijab and monitoring compliance.
The second section of the law explicitly outlines different penalties and fines for those who do not comply with hijab regulations.
These penalties include hefty financial fines, imprisonment, deprivation of certain social rights, and even “educational measures” for women and girls who fail to observe the hijab. Alongside fines, there are restrictions on accessing government services such as passport issuance, driver’s licenses, and other civil rights.
Additionally, building managers and ride-hailing drivers are required to monitor and report hijab compliance among the public, illustrating a widespread and oppressive surveillance system.
The “Chastity and Hijab” Law: A Repressive Plan
One controversial aspect of this law is its focus on girls aged 9 to 15, who are required to abide by hijab rules. This not only directly violates children’s rights but also imposes psychological pressure on this vulnerable group. Additionally, financial penalties are imposed on them, raising widespread concerns about the erosion of children’s rights and the violation of their privacy. The law has drawn criticism from legal experts, civil activists, and even some former Iranian officials. Many have described it as an example of “gender apartheid” and a violation of women’s rights and individual freedoms. The passage of this law comes against a backdrop of heightened political and social repression, particularly since the 2022 uprising after the killing of Mahsa Amini by the Morality Police. This law continues a pattern of using tools such as widespread executions and other repressive measures to instill fear and silence in society. The main objective of these measures is to suppress society, particularly women, and create an atmosphere of fear and silence in the face of any opposition or protest.Penalties and Fines
This parliamentary bill must be signed by the Iranian regime’s president by December 18. According to the law, the Ministry of Interior is responsible for its coordination, but numerous governmental and non-governmental agencies, from the Ministry of Roads and Urban Development to the police and even the Atomic Energy Organization, have roles in its implementation. Penalties for not wearing the hijab include: “Receiving two warning SMS messages about improper hijab results in a fine of 150 million rials (approximately $215). Sixth-degree financial penalties range from 200 million to 800 million rials (approximately $285 to $1,140), while fifth-degree fines range from 800 million to 1.65 billion rials (approximately $1,140 to $2,357).” Shockingly, individuals who fail to pay these fines are barred from accessing administrative, financial, and social services. Those who do not pay their fines are denied access to social services, including passport issuance or renewal, vehicle registration or plate replacement, exit permits, vehicle release, and driver’s license issuance or renewal. It is noteworthy that the minimum wage for a worker with two children is approximately 110 million rials (around $157).Iran’s Oil Smuggling Network and Its Proxies in Iraq Generate $1 Billion Annually
Five intelligence sources have told Reuters about the activities of a complex oil smuggling network in Iraq that has been operating during the tenure of Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani. According to these sources, the network generates at least $1 billion annually for Iran and its proxies.
According to these five sources and three relatively recent reports from Western intelligence agencies, the network exploits an Iraqi government policy of providing low-cost fuel oil to asphalt companies. It involves a wide range of companies, groups, and individuals in Iraq, Iran, and Gulf countries.
Reuters states that each month, between 500,000 to 750,000 tons of heavy fuel oil, including high-sulfur fuel oil (HSFO), equivalent to 3.4 to 5 million barrels of oil, are diverted from asphalt companies and exported to Asian countries.
One of the routes involves mixing Iraqi fuel oil with Iranian fuel oil and exporting it as a purely Iraqi product.
According to the five sources who spoke to Reuters, Tehran uses this method to partially circumvent stringent U.S. sanctions on its energy exports.
Due to the striking similarity between Iranian and Iraqi fuel oil, it is scientifically impossible to distinguish between homogeneous or blended exported materials.
The second route involves exporting fuel oil that is legally allocated at a very low cost to asphalt companies under Iraqi government regulations.
According to the report, Tehran “directly benefits” from the first method. Iran has long been forced to sell its oil at deep discounts to a limited pool of customers, such as China, due to sanctions. By passing it off as Iraqi oil, it can achieve higher revenues.
The second method primarily serves as a source of income for Tehran-backed militia groups, which control the entire smuggling network in Iraq.
Three sources, based on an approximate calculation of the volume of oil passing through this network and its average price, estimate the network’s annual revenue at between $1 billion and $3 billion.
Iran views Iraq as a critical economic lifeline, leveraging powerful militia groups and its supported political parties to exert significant political, military, and economic influence in the neighboring country.
In recent years, Baghdad has tried to maintain close ties with Tehran while also being a reliable ally for Washington. However, with Donald Trump’s return to the White House and his potential crackdown on Iran’s sanction-evading efforts, Iraq’s cooperation with the Iranian government will come under greater scrutiny.
Iraqi leaders’ heavy reliance on Iran-backed Shia militias to remain in power has made it extremely difficult for them to address illegal activities, including oil smuggling.
The “No to Executions Tuesdays” Campaign: 28 Executions in One Week
Prisoners participating in the “No to Executions Tuesdays” campaign in 25 prisons across the country went on hunger strike on Tuesday, December 3, marking the 45th week of the campaign.
In a statement, they highlighted the execution of over 28 prisoners in the past week and emphasized their commitment to continuing the campaign.
A portion of the statement reads: “As usual, the government’s execution machine of crime and oppression continues its killings unabated. Since last Tuesday, over 28 individuals, including two juvenile offenders, have been hanged in various prisons. According to published reports, the total number of executions since March 21 has reached approximately 743.”
The statement continues: “In recent days, the judiciary issued a death sentence against a political prisoner named Mehrab Abdollahzadeh in Urmia prison, detained since 2022. Additionally, six political prisoners in Evin Prison have been sentenced to death on charges of rebellion.”
The names of these political prisoners are: Vahid Bani-Amerian, Pouya Ghobadi, Babak Alipour, Ali-Akbar Daneshvar, Abolhasan Montazer, and Mohammad Taghavi. They are supporters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI).
These death sentences come just weeks after similar rulings were issued against six political prisoners known as the “Ekbatan Kids.”
The political prisoners asserted that these sentences and brutal crackdowns will not go unanswered, and the brave men and women of Iran, as proven in the past, will not be intimidated and will act more resolutely for freedom and liberation.
The “No to Executions Tuesdays” campaign, aimed at opposing the inhumane death penalty for any charge, views the right to life as inherent to human dignity and calls for the abolition of executions and an end to violence and repression in Iran.
The “No to Executions Tuesdays” campaign calls on all human rights organizations and authorities to take immediate and effective action to save the lives of prisoners and secure the release of all political detainees. Perpetrators and instigators of these crimes must be held accountable before justice.
The political prisoners expressed their support for the protests of various social groups and called for the continuation of these demonstrations against the Iranian regime.
The political prisoners’ hunger strike campaign began in February 2024 with political detainees in Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj, later joined by prisoners from other facilities.
Iran’s Regime is Increasing Its Cyberattacks
The Israeli internal security and intelligence agency (Shin Bet) announced that it has identified more than 200 phishing cyberattacks by the Iranian regime aimed at obtaining personal information of senior Israeli officials.
According to Shin Bet, senior security, political, academic, and media figures in Israel were among the victims of these cyberattacks.
Phishing is a type of cyberattack often used to steal user information.
The Times of Israel reported that hackers attempted to access personal information by persuading Israelis to install software and, in some cases, used this information for future attacks against these individuals.
Shin Bet stated that hackers fabricated a separate story for each victim to avoid suspicion. For example, in one case, a hacker posed as a cabinet minister and told the victim they were coordinating a meeting between them and the Israeli Prime Minister.
Shin Bet reported that it has identified the victims of this cyber campaign and informed them.
In recent months, the Iranian regime has sought to establish contact with Israeli targets and officials through a series of deception operations and the dissemination of fake information.
On November 24, Israeli media reported that Iranian regime agents sent fake invitations to two Israeli ministers to collect information or establish contact with senior Israeli officials.
In September, Reuters reported on hacking groups known as “APT42” or “Charming Kitten,” associated with the intelligence arm of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), emphasizing that their activities against high-value targets in Washington and Israel are significant.
In February 2024, Mandiant, a cybersecurity and IT company owned by Google, reported identifying a new threat linked to Iran-Nexus espionage activities targeting the aerospace, aviation, and defense industries in several countries, including Israel, the UAE, Turkey, India, and Albania.
Widespread Protests by Retired Telecom Workers Across Iran
Economic protests by retired telecommunications workers took place on Monday, December 2, in several provinces of Iran, with demonstrators chanting slogans against the Iranian regime’s policies.
According to reports on social media on Monday, protesting retirees participated in gatherings in at least six provinces: Tehran, West Azerbaijan, Gilan, Zanjan, Kermanshah, and Kurdistan. They emphasized that the Parliament and the government do not care about the Iranian people and demanded the dismissal of the minister.
In Tehran, protesting retirees chanted: “Retiree, shout out, demand your rights!”
In Urmia, protesters objected to ongoing misconduct by officials and their disregard for the retirees’ demands.
As the Parliament reviews the national budget bill for the Persian calendar year 1404 (starting in March 2025), with analysts warning about worsening living conditions, protesting telecommunications retirees in Kermanshah chanted: “Neither the Parliament nor the government cares about the people!”
Economic protests by retired telecommunications workers were also held on Monday in Zanjan.
In Rasht, the capital of Gilan Province, protesters chanted: “Indifferent minister, we don’t want you!”
In Kurdistan, retired protesters carried signs with slogans such as: “Boastful government, where are the results of your promises?”
Weekly protests by retired telecommunications workers have been ongoing for months. Their grievances include the lack of updates to welfare allowances in 2022 and 2023, management’s disregard for the 2010 regulations, issues with supplementary insurance, and the failure to pay past dues adjusted for current rates.
The expansion of sectoral protests by various groups, including retirees, industrial workers, teachers, defrauded investors, and nurses and healthcare workers, highlights the worsening economic hardships in Iran and the indifference of the regime authorities.
Iranian regime-Backed Militias Enter Syria to Support Besieged Syrian Army
The militias backed by the Iran’s regime enter Syria from Iraq to assist the besieged Syrian army.
Reuters, quoting two Syrian army sources, reported that Iran-backed militias entered Syria from Iraq overnight and moved towards northern Syria to reinforce Syrian army forces besieged in battles against rebels.
A senior Syrian army source told Reuters, “Dozens of fighters from Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces (Hashd al-Shaabi), linked to the Iranian regime, entered Syria through a military route near the Al-Bukamal crossing.”
The officer stated, “These are new reinforcements being sent to assist our comrades on the front lines in the north.” He added that the militias include Iraq’s Kata’ib Hezbollah and the Afghan Fatemiyoun Brigade.
During the Syrian civil war, the Iranian government sent thousands of its terrorist proxy forces to Syria and, alongside Russia with its air force, enabled Bashar al-Assad, Syria’s dictator, to suppress uprisings and reclaim much of his territory.
According to the same report, two other army sources said that a shortage of manpower to counter recent rebel attacks contributed to the Syrian army’s swift retreat and withdrawal from Aleppo city. Iranian-backed militias, led by Hezbollah, have a strong presence in the Aleppo region.
Hezbollah, which is supported and affiliated with the Iranian regime, has been significantly weakened over the past year in its conflict with Israel.
