New Resolution Against Iran’s Nuclear Program Submitted To IAEA
Diplomatic sources told Agence France-Presse (AFP) that Western countries formally submitted a new critical resolution against the Iranian regime to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Wednesday, ahead of the agency’s Board of Governors meeting.
Previously, the Iranian regime’s Foreign Minister had warned against submitting a new resolution, stating that such an action “would only complicate the matter further.” According to AFP, Western powers aim to condemn the Iranian regime for its poor cooperation with the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog regarding its nuclear program.
Yesterday, Reuters reported that the regime had proposed not to increase its stockpile of uranium enriched to 60%, provided that Western powers refrain from adopting a resolution against the Iranian regime at the IAEA Board of Governors meeting.
According to Reuters, in one of its two confidential reports, the IAEA stated that the Iranian regime has begun preliminary steps to implement this proposal. However, Western diplomats have described the proposal as a last-minute attempt to avoid condemnation, emphasizing that 60% uranium enrichment has no civilian justification and that the Iranian regime could easily resume this process.
The Reuters report also notes that as of October 26, the Iranian regime’s stockpile of enriched uranium had reached 182.3 kilograms, which, according to IAEA standards, is sufficient for the production of four nuclear weapons. This is despite the regime’s consistent denial of seeking to develop nuclear weapons.
Reuters states that the IAEA’s second report mentions that the Iranian regime has agreed to consider allowing four new inspectors into the country. However, these inspectors cannot be from those previously barred from operating in Iran.
According to this report, the resolution, submitted by Britain, France, Germany, and the United States, condemns the Iranian regime for insufficient cooperation with the IAEA and calls on the agency to prepare a comprehensive report on the regime’s nuclear activities.
Reuters added that the resolution is highly likely to pass, as only Russia and China traditionally oppose such resolutions.
Reuters emphasized that the purpose of this resolution is to increase pressure on the Iranian regime to return to negotiations and accept new limitations on its nuclear program.
Two State-Owned Automakers in Iran Increased Their Prices By 30% Overnight
Iran Khodro and SAIPA, two state-owned carmakers in Iran, have jointly raised the prices of their products.
On the morning of Monday, November 18, the two automakers issued similar announcements stating that they had “adjusted” their product prices in accordance with the “Market Regulation Guideline of the Competition Council.” As a result, the government-set factory delivery prices of the two companies have increased by up to 30%.
Reports from Iranian media indicate that following the official announcement of state-approved price hikes by the two automakers, a new shock hit the market, and prices in the open market also increased starting Monday morning.
A parliamentarian criticized the price hikes, describing Iran’s car market as “one-sided,” and stated, “People have no choice when it comes to buying cars.” Javad Hosseini-Kia, a representative from Kermanshah in the regime’s parliament, said, “Under the current circumstances, the Industries and Mines Committee of the Islamic Consultative Assembly will definitely oppose the price increases.”
The simultaneous announcement of price hikes by Iran Khodro and SAIPA on Monday morning drew critical reactions from social media users. The companies stated that the price increase would not apply to immediate or exceptional sales plans, but buyers are concerned about the impact on their previous purchase orders.
Previously, the automakers had sent a letter to the Vice President, requesting an increase in factory prices due to “financial losses and heavy debts.”
The price hikes for domestic vehicles, along with the rising costs of Chinese-assembled cars by companies such as Modiran Khodro and Kerman Motor, have led to increased dissatisfaction and widespread protests among pre-order holders.
It is worth noting that the Iranian regime has banned car imports to support these two companies affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), allowing it to sell its substandard products in the market. The lack of safety and failure to meet international standards in these vehicles result in the deaths of thousands of people annually.
Snapback Sanctions and Iran’s Nuclear Weapons Program
The Foreign Minister of Iran’s regime has warned about the “critical conditions” of the one year remaining until the end of the JCPOA and the possibility of European activation of snapback sanctions. Meanwhile, several members of the Iranian regime Majlis (parliament) have suggested that the regime should move towards developing nuclear weapons.
Abbas Araghchi, the regime’s Foreign Minister, stated on the evening of Saturday, November 16, during a television program that there is not much time left for diplomacy and nuclear negotiations. He described this opportunity as “very limited.”
According to him, the JCPOA will expire in October next year, and if no new negotiations for an agreement take place, a “crisis situation” will arise.
UN Security Council Resolution 2231, which emphasizes the JCPOA will expire on October 18, 2025. This resolution lifts the nuclear restrictions imposed on the Iranian regime.
Abbas Araghchi warned that if no new agreement is reached within this year, “European countries may activate the snapback mechanism.”
The snapback mechanism, sometimes referred to as “snapback,” leads to the immediate reinstatement of UN Security Council sanctions if the Iranian regime breaches its nuclear commitments. Araghchi’s concern about the activation of the snapback mechanism and the return of international sanctions is very prominent.
These statements come ahead of the IAEA Board of Governors meeting, which is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, November 20.
Reports indicate that European powers are seeking to issue a resolution against the Iranian regime. Abbas Araghchi threatened that the Iranian regime would respond to any resolution with “reciprocal action.”
The International Atomic Energy Agency has repeatedly criticized the Iranian regime for its lack of cooperation in recent reports. This agency has also pointed to unanswered questions and a lack of transparency in the Iranian nuclear program.
According to the agency’s report, the Iranian regime is enriching uranium to a purity level of 60%, which is very close to the level required for nuclear weapons production.
Masoud Pezeshkian, President of the Iranian regime, emphasized “cooperation” and “clarifying ambiguities” during a meeting with Grossi.
Meanwhile, several members of theMajlis have called for a change in the nuclear doctrine.
Ahmad Naderi, a member of the Majlis, stated that the regime should move towards producing nuclear weapons.
Seyed Mahmoud Nabavian, Behnam Saeedi, Mohammad Mannan Raeisi, and Mohammad Reza Sabaghian are also among them.
Naderi claimed that this issue is the “desire of many elites and the public.” He also emphasized that “regional balance has been disturbed” and there is no solution other than changing the nuclear doctrine.
39 Majlis members also called in a letter to the Supreme National Security Council for a review of the defense doctrine and a move towards the development of nuclear weapons.
Kamal Kharazi, senior advisor to Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Iranian regime, has also referred to this issue and mentioned the “possibility of changing the military doctrine.”
The repeated use of the term “snapback mechanism” in the statements and warnings of the regime’s foreign minister indicates the depth of the Iranian regime’s concerns.
This situation complicates conditions for the Iranian regime and makes the future of the nuclear agreement more uncertain.
Iran’s Prisoners Warn of “Barbaric” Executions on Anniversary of 2019 Uprising
On Tuesday, November 19, the “No to Executions Tuesdays” campaign, in its 43rd consecutive statement, announced that the Iranian regime executed 28 people in the past week. Additionally, 18 individuals were executed on November 6.
The statement added that since October 22, the number of executions has exceeded 133, including three women and 13 Afghan nationals.
Authors of the statement, reporting from prisons across the country, warned that on the fifth anniversary of the November 2019 protests, the issuance and implementation of death sentences, particularly for youths arrested during the 2022 protests, have intensified, amplifying concerns over the rise in such inhumane actions.
The campaign expressed concern over the case of six defendants from the Ekbatan case. It announced that last week, six individuals, including Milad Armoon, Alireza Kafaei, Alireza Baramarzpoornak, Hossein Nemati, Navid Najaran, and Amir Mohammad Khosh Eghbal, were sentenced to death in a process fraught with contradictions and injustice.
The statement also revealed that a political prisoner named Mohammad Mehdi, arrested during the 2022 nationwide protests, was sentenced to death by the Criminal Court of Khorasan Razavi Province.
In another part of the statement, it mentioned that the Iranian regime executed Ahmad Alizadeh twice in Ghezel Hesar Prison in an inhumane act and publicly hanged another prisoner.
Furthermore, Ghafar Akbari died under torture in Malekan detention center, and Seyed Alireza Razavi was executed around 20 days ago in Ghezel Hesar Prison without informing his family.
The campaign urged the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights, Mai Sato, to act to save death row prisoners and hold those responsible for these executions accountable.
It also called on the public to unite and support the campaign, becoming the voice of those on death row.
The statement concluded by noting that while the Iranian regime has intensified repression and executions, prisoners in 25 prisons across the country continue to resist. Members of the “No to Executions Tuesdays” campaign have protested through weekly hunger strikes for 43 consecutive weeks.
Iran’s Regime Allegedly Plotted to Assassinate Former Canadian Attorney General
Following reports about an “Iranian agents’ plot” to assassinate Irwin Cotler, former Canadian Attorney General and a vocal critic of the Iranian regime, Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs denied these claims.
On the evening of Monday, November 18, the Director-General for the Americas at Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs dismissed the reports as “fabrications,” without directly mentioning Cotler’s name.
Earlier, the Canadian newspaper The Globe and Mail reported that on October 26, Canadian officials warned Irwin Cotler that he faced a threat of assassination by Iranian agents within the next 48 hours.
According to the newspaper, Canadian authorities have been tracking two individuals linked to the assassination plot.
Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported that the Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights, where Cotler serves as a director, confirmed the Canadian newspaper’s account. It stated that Cotler has no information regarding the arrest of individuals connected to this case.
Cotler, now 84 years old, served as Canada’s Minister of Justice and Attorney General from 2003 to 2006.
He stepped away from politics in 2015 and has since been actively involved in human rights advocacy.
According to Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs website, the Director-General for the Americas described the accusation as part of a disinformation campaign against Iran.
He also claimed that the aim of such accusations is to divert public attention from events in Gaza.
Irwin Cotler has called for the global designation of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization.
The Globe and Mail reported that Cotler has been under police security protection in Canada since last year, following the outbreak of the current Gaza conflict.
Establishment of Hijab Rehabilitation Clinic in Iran with a Large State Budget
The Iranian regime, which has positioned “hijab” as one of the central aspects of its identity since its inception and imposed significant costs on the people, particularly women, over the years, has now launched a new initiative called the “Hijab Rehabilitation Clinic” with a budget of 2.55 trillion rials (approximately $3.73 million).
The Iranian regime uses the pretext of the hijab to suppress Iranian women, who have consistently been at the forefront of protests against injustice, employing it as a tool to control the shifting dynamics of Iranian society. The regime allocates large budgets for this purpose and utilizes governmental forces and agencies to maintain control.
In 2022, following the death of Mahsa Amini in the custody of the morality police, widespread protests erupted in Iran, which the regime brutally suppressed. This crackdown resulted in the deaths of at least 750 people and the imprisonment and torture of over 30,000 individuals.
On Saturday, November 16, Iranian newspapers linked the launch of the “Hijab Rehabilitation Clinic” in Tehran to an individual named Mehri Darestani. They reported that this person, who is behind the project, received 1.55 trillion rials (approximately $2.27 million) from the public budget and an additional 1 trillion rials (approximately $1.46 million) in special government funds to establish the clinic.
According to the state-run Etemad newspaper, the creators of this “clinic” claim that it was established with the collaboration of “experts and concerned individuals” at the “Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice Headquarters” and “based on frequent referrals to the headquarters in Tehran Province by families, women, and girls.” Following specialized assessments and expert sessions, they launched the first “specialized counseling and support clinic for returning to hijab” under the name “Hijab Rehabilitation Clinic” in Tehran.
The Jomhouri Eslami newspaper also commented, “The well did not yield water, but for some, it provided endless bread. The Hijab Rehabilitation Clinic generates no visible benefits but imposes significant costs. The simplest and least costly consequence is that it turns the matter into a joke. The second, in a more serious view, is the perception of insult to individuals, which not only fails to bring support but also deeply divides unity.”
According to state media, this center aims to emulate social harm prevention and intervention programs. Reports claim that the clinic will offer “individual counseling, group sessions, and skills workshops on self-awareness and managing social pressures.”
Two days after the announcement of the establishment of the “Hijab Rehabilitation Clinic,” which was claimed to be “voluntary,” an official from the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice Headquarters stated that “badly veiled” women would be referred to these centers by court order.
Mohammad Reza Mirshamsi, the deputy for social affairs of the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice Headquarters, mentioned that the “determination of alternative penalties” for individuals engaging in the “illegal act of unveiling” was one of the reasons for launching these clinics.
He added that judges from the judiciary had “requested that alternative punishments be established for individuals arrested for unveiling.”
Half a Billion Liters of Diesel Reserves Sold in Tehran Stock Exchange
Abbas Kazemi, former CEO of the National Iranian Oil Refining and Distribution Company, stated that Abadan Refinery “instead of supplying fuel to power plants, has offered 400 to 500 million liters of diesel, needed for winter reserves, on the stock exchange,” resulting in a depletion of diesel reserves.
In an interview with the state-run ILNA news agency, Kazemi described the sale of diesel on the stock exchange as “legal,” but he criticized it as lacking in “foresight and planning.”
It is noteworthy that according to domestic laws, refinery products are considered part of national assets. Therefore, the sale of diesel on the Tehran Stock Exchange, if it leads to a reduction in strategic reserves and harms national interests, can be legally pursued.
Kazemi explained that in past years, fuel reserves were built up between May and September to use diesel during winter when gas pressure drops and household consumption rises.
According to him, this process was not implemented this summer, and 1.3 billion liters of diesel were offered on the stock exchange over four to five months, of which 450 million liters were sold.
This is despite the fact that, according to this former oil official, refinery production has been at normal levels, and there have been no issues in terms of production.
Kazemi claimed that diesel production and consumption are currently balanced and added, “If this consumption trend continues, we will become a diesel importer.”
The claim by this former government official about the sale of national diesel reserves on the stock exchange comes amid reports of alarming increases in fuel prices.
It was previously announced that under the Seventh Development Plan bill, which has been submitted to the Guardian Council for final approval, as of the second year of the plan (2025), subsidized diesel will be distributed only based on mileage and online freight documents, with any excess subject to incremental consumption taxes.
Several experts have stated that any manipulation of gasoline and diesel prices will exacerbate economic pressures and disrupt political and social relations in Iran.
In recent days, blackouts at power plants and electricity rationing across cities have disrupted people’s lives. These outages are reportedly due to fuel shortages in a country that possesses the world’s second-largest gas reserves and fourth-largest oil reserves.
UK sanctions Iran Air and the Iranian regime’s shipping company
On Monday, November 18, the United Kingdom imposed sanctions on Iran Air and the Iranian regime’s shipping company, the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Line Group.
According to the British government’s statement, Iran Air and IRISL have been sanctioned, and their assets are subject to being frozen.
David Lammy, the UK Foreign Secretary, stated that the Iranian regime’s efforts to undermine global security are dangerous and unacceptable. He reiterated the UK’s call for the regime to cease its support for Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine.
Hours earlier, the European Union had also sanctioned the IRISL and its CEO, Mohammadreza Modarres Khiabani, in response to the regime’s support for Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine.
The European Union cited the Iranian regime’s military support for Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and armed groups and organizations in the Middle East and the Red Sea region as the reason for escalating sanctions against Tehran.
The European Union announced that the Iranian regime’s shipping company has been involved in transporting Iranian-made weapons and ammunition, including drone components, via the Caspian Sea to supply the Russian army in its war against Ukraine.
As a result, four entities, including the Iranian regime’s shipping company, three Russian shipping companies, and Mohammadreza Modarres Khiabani, the CEO of the Iranian regime’s shipping company, were added to the European Union’s latest sanctions list.
The European Union also banned any transactions with ports owned, managed, or controlled by these individuals or entities. This prohibition extends to all ports used for transporting drones, missiles, or Iranian components and technology to Russia.
The new sanctions also prohibit access to port facilities and waterways such as Amirabad and Anzali.
Under these sanctions, the export, transfer, supply, or sale of components used to upgrade and manufacture missiles and drones from the European Union to Iran has been prohibited.
On Monday, October 14, the European Union had also imposed sanctions on Iran’s Deputy Defense Minister, senior members of the IRGC, and three airline companies for allegedly sending drones, missiles, and other equipment to Russia for use in the war against Ukraine.
According to reports, the three sanctioned airlines included Iran Air, Mahan Air, and Saha, along with Seyyed Hamzeh Ghalandari, Iran’s Deputy Defense Minister.
The European Union stated that these airlines’ planes had repeatedly been used to transport Iranian-made drones and related technologies to Russia, which Russia utilized in its war against Ukraine.
Iran’s Carpet Exports Plummet by Over Tenfold
Iran’s carpet exports have faced a dramatic decline, dropping from $426 million in 2017 to less than $40 million in 2023.
Morteza Haji-Aghamiri, head of the Carpet, Art, and Handicrafts Commission of Iran’s Chamber of Commerce, announced these figures on Sunday, November 17, in an interview with ILNA, Iran’s Labor News Agency. He stated that India has now replaced Iran in the global carpet market, dominating the U.S. market, which accounts for 44% of global carpet imports.
He attributed this decline primarily to sanctions and misguided currency policies, especially the “foreign exchange repatriation policy.”
This policy has hindered exporters from promptly repatriating revenue from carpet sales, causing them to lag in the global market.
According to Haji-Aghamiri’s assessment, the damage caused by the currency repatriation policy reduced Iran’s carpet exports to under $100 million. This contrasts starkly with 1994, when carpets accounted for 44% of Iran’s total non-oil exports.
Despite the removal of the foreign exchange repatriation policy for hand-woven carpets, exports continue to face challenges. Competition from India, Turkey, and Afghanistan has further compounded the problem.
The decline in carpet exports has severely impacted jobs related to this industry, exacerbating unemployment in rural areas.
Previously, Faisal Mardasi, former head of the National Carpet Organization, mentioned that the carpet production chain is rooted in rural and nomadic regions, where unemployment has surpassed the “crisis stage.”
Smuggled Afghan Carpets in the Iranian Market
In his Sunday interview, Haji-Aghamiri identified Turkey and Afghanistan as other competitors in the global carpet market. He stated, “During its presence in Afghanistan, the United States invested in the country’s carpet industry, and now smuggled Afghan carpets of lower quality and price are being sold in the Iranian market.” According to the Economic Studies Department of Tehran’s Chamber of Commerce, Iran’s share of global hand-woven carpet exports decreased from 25.5% to 7.4% between 2011 and 2022, while the shares of competitors such as India, China, Nepal, and Pakistan increased during the same period. The report identifies the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Japan as the world’s top importers of hand-woven carpets. Customs data also reveal that Germany (17.6%), the United Arab Emirates (17.2%), China (16.2%), and Pakistan (6%) are the main destinations for hand-woven carpet exports. Currently, 80% of Iranian hand-woven carpets are exported, with only 20% sold domestically.Iranian Officials Make Contradictory Statements on Internet Censorship
On November 12, the second meeting of the Supreme Council of Cyberspace was held to discuss the state of the internet and social networks.
This meeting, ostensibly aimed at examining the possibility of lifting internet censorship measures, ended without any concrete outcome, as was the case previously.
Officials who themselves issued the filtering orders talk about reviewing the matter in such sessions; however, no solution to resolve users’ issues is provided.
Iranian state media wrote, “The agenda of the second meeting of the Supreme Council of Cyberspace was ensuring easy access to cyberspace.”
“In this session, the follow-up of the previous meeting’s resolutions regarding access to cyberspace was discussed.”
In this meeting, the formation of a “Filtering Committee” to address issues related to access to cyberspace was approved.
This committee is tasked with presenting actionable proposals. However, in practice, nothing materializes.
In other words, how can those imposing the filters now lift them?!
Zarepour, Minister of Communications under former President Ebrahim Raisi, had previously stated, “In 2022, the filtering of Instagram was a decision made by the Supreme National Security Council. This decision was made in the council’s secretariat with the presence of the heads of the three branches and has nothing to do with the Ministry of Communications or the government.”
Filtering has become a tool for restricting freedom of expression and communication in the Iranian regime in recent years.
With the expansion of public protests, the regime’s leaders have continuously restricted access to the internet and social networks.
The widespread filtering imposed on platforms like Instagram, WhatsApp, and even utility services has disrupted people’s daily lives and affected numerous businesses.
Interestingly, many regime officials who issued the filtering orders themselves talk about the necessity of reviewing this issue in public speeches.
These contradictions persist as people continue to struggle with the problems caused by filtering.
Instead of offering practical solutions to reduce restrictions, the council tends to repeat its previous positions.
The council members, who are decision-makers on filtering, not only fail to find solutions to this problem but also complicate the situation with their actions.
Many online businesses operating on social network platforms have been stagnated or shut down due to these restrictions.
Platforms like Instagram, which had become a source of income for millions, have jeopardized their livelihoods by being filtered.
Moreover, filtering has restricted users’ access to free information and made international communication more difficult.
The decision-makers of this council are the same people who initially implemented the filtering. Consequently, it is unrealistic to expect them to change their decisions.
On the one hand, government officials talk about the necessity of reviewing the lifting of filters, but on the other hand, they take no actual steps to remove these restrictions.
Filtering remains a part of the Iranian regime’s overarching policies as a tool to suppress individual freedoms and control cyberspace.
