Iran’s Regime Bypassing Sanctions Through 2 British Banks
According to a report by the Financial Times on Sunday, February 4, the Iranian regime has exploited two major British banks to carry out covert money operations worldwide as part of an extensive network to evade sanctions, supported by Iranian government intelligence agencies.
Based on documents obtained by Financial Times, Lloyd’s and Santander UK have allocated several cover accounts to British companies secretly owned by a sanctioned Iranian petrochemical trading company based in London.
The report further states that the mentioned petrochemical trading company is part of a network that the United States accuses of collecting hundreds of millions of dollars for the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and cooperating with Russian intelligence organizations to finance proxy paramilitary forces associated with the regime.
This covert money movement around the world has taken place while the petrochemical trading company and its British cover company, PCC UK, have been under US sanctions since November 2018.
The report reveals that the Iranian regime has abused the complex structures of Lloyd’s and Santander UK to evade sanctions and conceal ownership.
Revelations about the regime’s sanctions evasion operations in the heart of London came after the Royal Air Force of Britain joined the US airstrikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen, who are supported by the Iranian regime.
According to the UK Companies House, Pisco UK is wholly owned by a British citizen named Abdollah Siavash Fahimi. However, internal documents, some of which have been published online by a website, indicate that Pisco is fully controlled by the British cover company PCC UK, and Fahimi takes possession of it as a trustee under a contract.
Fahimi has used the email address of the petrochemical trading company to communicate with officials of the company in Tehran. According to British company files, he served as the manager of the British cover company PCC UK from April 2021 to February 2022.
Earlier, the British Foreign Secretary David Cameron mentioned in an interview with The Sunday Times that he had a frank conversation with the Foreign Minister of the Iranian regime and said they needed to send the clearest possible message to Iran that their activities through proxies are unacceptable.
Cameron said, “I’ve met with the Iranian foreign minister and had a very robust conversation where I said that these proxies are your proxies, you cannot disclaim your responsibility for them.
“Of course, you can claim they have a certain amount of independence, but you created them, you backed them, you financed them, you provided them with weapons, and you will ultimately be held accountable for what they do.”
Central Bank of Iran: Liquidity at Unprecedented 80 Quadrillion Rials
In response to Iranian regime’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei’s statements regarding the need to halt the growth of liquidity, the Central Bank of Iran has published a report indicating a close to 32% increase in the inflation rate in December 2023 compared to the same period in 2022.
On January 30, Khamenei called for a halt or reduction in the growth of liquidity in Iran and claimed that the dissatisfaction of producers was a result of the government’s failure to heed his warnings in the past year.
The Central Bank of Iran’s report highlights the significant increase in the rate of liquidity growth, which contradicts the estimate of the International Monetary Fund.
The report does not mention the actual amount of liquidity in the country but emphasizes the reduction in the pace of liquidity growth. The report on the January liquidity level from the Central Bank of Iran has not been published yet.
However, it is widely acknowledged that the distorted growth of liquidity, resulting from the government’s pressure on the central bank to print banknotes without adequate backing to cover budget deficits, is considered the primary factor contributing to the rampant inflation in Iran.
However, the Central Bank’s statistical archive shows that liquidity was equivalent to 59,070 trillion rials (approximately $107.2 billion) in December 2022. With a growth rate of 31.7% over the course of a year, this figure has reached 77,800 trillion rials (approximately $141.197 billion) in December 2023.
At the beginning of Ebrahim Raisi’s presidency, the liquidity in the country was 39,210 trillion rials (approximately $71.161 billion), which means that it has doubled in just two years.
Over the past decade, Iranian governments have resorted to extensive borrowing from the Central Bank, other banks, and the National Development Fund to cover budget deficits, forcing the Central Bank to print banknotes without sufficient backing. This has been the main factor contributing to rampant inflation in Iran.
While the Central Bank’s report does not provide details about the money supply volume, the estimates from the International Monetary Fund suggest that the pace of liquidity growth in Iran is increasing this year.
According to these estimates, which were published in the fall of this year, the average annual liquidity growth in Iran over the past decade was around 25%, but it reached 31% last year and is expected to be around 47% this year.
Iran has the highest liquidity growth among Middle Eastern and African countries. For comparison, Iran’s money supply growth is five times that of Saudi Arabia, and the inflation rate in Iran is more than 17 times higher than that of Saudi Arabia.
The International Monetary Fund has assessed the inflation rate in Iran to be 47% this year.
The report also states that Iran’s government debt has reached $112 billion in the current Iranian year and is projected to increase by another $6 billion next year. Iran’s government debt is equivalent to one-third of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP).
The UK Parliament Supports Plan For Freedom And Democracy In Iran
On January 31, the British Parliament, in a session, endorsed a proposed plan for establishing freedom and democracy in Iran.
During this session, attended by several Members of Parliament, and initiated by Bob Blackman, a Member of the Conservative Party, the actions of the Iranian regime, including the severe repression of protests, were strongly condemned.
The participating MPs also expressed deep concerns about the increasing use of “terrorism, espionage, cyber-attacks, and hostage diplomacy” by the Iranian regime in its efforts to eliminate the National Council of Resistance of Iran, particularly members of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI) in Ashraf 3 in Albania.
They urged European governments, especially Albania, to confront the unlawful activities of the Iranian regime and to support the rights of PMOI members in Ashraf 3, in accordance with the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees in Geneva, the European Convention on Human Rights, and international law.
The participating MPs in this session also expressed concerns about the threats posed by the Iranian regime against dissidents in the UK and called on the UK government to add the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to the list of terrorist organizations.
They also demanded that the UK government, in coordination with its international partners, impose further sanctions against the Iranian regime and hold the Iranian government accountable for its unlawful actions inside and outside of Iran.
The need to confront the unlawful actions of the Iranian regime and add the IRGC to the list of terrorist organizations are among the demands that have been raised in recent years by many lawmakers in various European countries and by Iranians living abroad.
Baluch Student Killed Under Torture at IRGC Detention Center
Sepehr Shirani, a 19-year-old Baluch student, lost his life three days after being detained at the Zahedan Intelligence Detention Center, according to Haalvash news website. The Baloch Activists Campaign has attributed his death to torture. Shirani was arrested by Zahedan security forces on Tuesday, January 30, for his activities on social media.
According to Haalvsh, which covers news in Sistan and Baluchestan province, the Revolutionary Guards’ intelligence forces informed Shirani’s family on Thursday, February 1, that Sepehr had lost his life.
The report stated that the body of the deceased young man had been in the possession of the Zahedan Intelligence at the time of the report, and his family and relatives are currently engaged in the necessary procedures to receive the body from the coroner.
In another report, Haalvsh, quoting its sources, wrote: “On Tuesday, January 31, around 4:00 PM, Sepehr left his house, and his phone was turned off. After searching and following up, the family confirmed his detention by the intelligence forces. They announced that his arrest was due to his activities on social media and stated that they would release him after answering a few questions.”
Following the bloody Friday in Zahedan on September 30, 2022, which resulted in the killing and injury of hundreds of people, the city came under tight security control.
According to the Baloch Activists Campaign (balochcampaign), in an update on the news of Sepehr Shirani’s killing, citing informed sources, they wrote, “The intelligence forces have killed Sepehr through torture and in a fabricated scenario, they made it look like he committed suicide by shooting himself in the head and transferring him to the rooftop of his house.”
Another informed source told Haalvsh about the killing of this Baloch citizen: “In the early hours of Thursday, around 4:30 AM, Sepehr’s body was found on the rooftop of their apartment while he had been shot in the head. The family had no information about how he was released from the intelligence detention center without their knowledge and went to the rooftop of the house. The manner of his death has been staged according to the precedent of security agencies.”
Haalvsh further wrote, citing this informed source: “Earlier, the security forces had warned Sepehr about his activities on social media and his presence in the protests of Zahedan on Fridays, and told him that he had no right to post anything about the protests anymore, but he did not pay attention to these warnings.”
Previously, in December 2023, Haalvsh reported that Mahmoud Rakhshani, a 19-year-old college student who was detained by the Revolutionary Guards Intelligence in Sistan and Baluchestan province on September 3, 2023, and fell into a coma as a result of torture and head injuries, died on December 11, 2023, at Amir-al-Momenin Hospital in the city of Zabol (eastern Iran).
On December 6, 2023, Amnesty International released a report detailing the violations committed by the Revolutionary Guards, Basij, the Ministry of Intelligence, and various police units against women, men, and children during the popular uprising in Iran. The report published testimonies from some of the victims.
In recent years, many political prisoners have lost their lives in Iranian detention centers and prisons due to pressure, torture, and the denial of medical services. However, the Iranian regime has refused to take any responsibility for their deaths.
Price Surge in Iran’s Automotive Market
Simultaneously with the continued turmoil in the currency exchange rate in Iran, the prices of both domestic and foreign cars in the country have risen, with reports indicating an increase in the prices of imported cars to 12 billion rials.
On Thursday, February 1, the regime’s Donya-e-Eghtesad newspaper reported that the upward trend in prices began about a month ago, but in the past 14 days, there has been a significant surge in the automotive market.
The newspaper’s report emphasized that car prices have experienced an average increase of 3.3% in the last two weeks.
Analyses show that the highest price growth is related to used imported cars, with an average growth of 7.1%.
A review of prices indicates that domestic products have, on average, increased by 200 million rials (approximately $345), representing a 3.3% growth, while assembled cars have seen a 290 million rials (approximately $500) increase, equivalent to a 1.87% price growth.
The increase in the price of cars is influenced by the rise in the value of the US dollar, one of the main factors contributing to price fluctuations in the automotive market.
Among other influential factors in the past month are the Competition Council’s withdrawal from car pricing, as well as the government’s decision to determine car prices, taking into account total costs and a 2.5% producer profit from the next year.
Another notable event in the Iranian market is the prices of imported cars. The prices of used imported cars in Iran are several times higher than their global market prices, with the government being the sole beneficiary, allowing the import of used cars and receiving customs duties.
This situation unfolds while a year has passed since the statements and plans of the Ministry of Industry, Mines and Trade for the import of brand-new cars and used car imports, and yet no significant developments have taken place in this area.
A review of news in this sector shows that in the past year, there has been no increase in production performance by domestic car manufacturers, no stabilization or reduction in prices, and the promised imports of cars for market regulation have not materialized.
Low quality, exorbitant prices, lack of warranty and standards, and the pollution of domestically produced vehicles are among the criticisms raised by experts.
Accumulated losses of three Iranian car manufacturers reach 1,740 trillion rials
Reports from Iranian media indicate that the accumulated losses of three major Iranian car manufacturers reached 1,740 trillion rials (approximately $3 billion) by January 2024. The most indebted among them is Iran Khodro, with its debt reaching 1,040 trillion rials (approximately $1.79 billion) in January, equivalent to twice its registered capital. The continued growth of debt for the three Iranian car manufacturers comes as in May 2023, the average price of domestic cars increased by 40%. The accumulated losses for all three companies exceed their registered capital, placing them on the verge of bankruptcy according to law. On the other hand, the global automotive market reached nearly $2.9 trillion in the past calendar year and is expected to approach $3.5 trillion by the end of this decade. In the past year, sales of electric and hybrid cars worldwide experienced a 31% leap, while the Iranian car market still predominantly produces ICE cars. In 2018, the Iranian regime banned the import of foreign cars, practically monopolizing the entire market in the hands of domestic car manufacturers, subsidiaries of the government. In the midst of this, car market intermediaries are reaping substantial profits, and the Iranian automotive industry is making no progress. It is worth mentioning that the main shareholders of Iranian automotive companies are the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and the substantial profits derived from the monopoly of the automotive market in Iran are used to fund terrorism in Middle Eastern countries.US, UK Impose Sanctions on Criminal Network Linked to Iran’s Regime
On Monday, January 29th, the United States and United Kingdom jointly sanctioned 11 individuals for their connections to a criminal network that has been planning assassinations of dissidents abroad at the order of the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence and Security.
Matthew Miller, the spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, said, “
The United States and United Kingdom are taking joint action today to impose sanctions on 11 individuals for their connection to a criminal network that has targeted foreign dissidents and Iranian regime opponents for assassination at the behest of Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS). The individuals designated today are believed to be involved in a network that has carried out acts of transnational repression, including numerous assassinations and kidnappings, and has also plotted operations in the United States.”
The U.S. Department of the Treasury is implementing the sanctions on these individuals following the public disclosure of the indictments by the U.S. Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) released a statement saying:
“The OFAC and the United Kingdom are taking joint action against a network of individuals that targeted Iranian dissidents and opposition activists for assassination at the direction of the Iranian regime. The network is led by Iranian narcotics trafficker Naji Ibrahim Sharifi-Zindashti (Zindashti) and operates at the behest of Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS). Zindashti’s network has carried out numerous acts of transnational repression including assassinations and kidnappings across multiple jurisdictions in an attempt to silence the Iranian regime’s perceived critics. The network has also plotted operations in the United States.”
Brian Nelson, the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence at the U.S. Department of the Treasury, also stated that the United States, along with its international allies and partners, will continue to use all available tools to hold the Iranian regime accountable for its efforts to expand its repression and ongoing violations of human rights against its own people, as well as its destabilizing actions in the Middle East and beyond.
The Department of Justice, in a statement on Monday, provided further details, stating that an Iranian national and two Canadian nationals have been accused of conspiring to use interstate commerce to lure an individual for the purpose of carrying out a murder.
According to court documents, Naji Sharifi Zindashti, 48, Damion Patrick John Ryan, 43, and Adam Richard Pearson, 29, conspired between December 2020 and March 2021 to plan the killing of two residents of the state of Maryland.
The suspects, one of whom is based in Iran, communicated through the encrypted messaging service Sky ECC. They used this messaging service to discuss the identities and locations of potential victims, plan the logistics and details of the killings, and negotiate the payment amount for carrying out these acts in the state of Maryland.
The targeted victims of this conspiracy, who were living in Maryland at the time, had fled to the United States after one of them left Iran.
Simultaneously with the issuance of the indictment on Monday, January 29, the U.S. Department of the Treasury imposed sanctions on this criminal network led by Zindashti, which targeted opponents and activists opposed to the Iranian government for abduction and assassination purposes at the order of the Iranian regime.
Consequences of the sanctions:
According to the U.S. Department of the Treasury, as a result of this action, all property and interests in property of these individuals that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons must be blocked and reported to the OFAC. The sanctions generally prohibit all transactions by U.S. persons or within the United States (including transit transactions through the United States) that involve any property or interests in property of designated or blocked persons.
Furthermore, individuals who engage in certain transactions with the designated individuals today may themselves be subject to the sanctions. Additionally, any foreign financial institution that knowingly facilitates a significant transaction or provides significant financial services for any of the designated individuals may be subject to U.S. sanctions.
What Iran’s Regime is Hiding Behind its Warmongering in the Middle East
Iran’s regime has been engaged in a series of conflicts in the Middle East, capturing global attention since October 2023. Initially, questions arose regarding the regime’s role in sparking these conflicts. However, after three months of intense fighting and the evident involvement of Iran’s proxies in the region, it is now widely acknowledged that the regime has inflamed the entire region. But what lies behind Iran’s warmongering? The answer lies in the regime’s desperate attempts to divert attention from its internal problems.
The regime’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, faced with widespread discontent and ongoing uprisings, feared his own overthrow during the 2022 uprising. To safeguard the regime, Tehran’s primary objective in fomenting regional crises is to create a smokescreen that conceals the precarious internal state of the regime and the volatile conditions within Iranian society. This tactic of exporting crises abroad is not a demonstration of strength but rather a means of running away from the regime’s profound domestic vulnerabilities, as the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) writes in a new analysis report.
Iranian society is a rumbling volcano, characterized by a convergence of socio-economic challenges and escalating political repression. This volatile mix has frequently erupted into significant protests and uprisings nationwide, highlighting the regime’s failure to address the root issues. Insiders within the regime have persistently warned about the inevitable troubles that lie ahead.
One such warning came from Azar Mansouri, the Secretary-General of the Islamic Iran Nation Party, who highlighted the economic hardships faced by different groups within Iranian society. The income for various professions, including workers, teachers, and retirees, falls short of meeting their daily expenses, exacerbating the discontent among the population. Mansouri stated, “If we cannot describe this situation as insecurity, what term would be fitting for this trend of diminishing the resources available to people?”
Hossein Marashi, the Secretary-General of the Kargozaran Party, echoed these concerns, acknowledging that over 75% of the Iranian population expresses dissatisfaction. Marashi warned, “If those dissatisfied take to the streets, no one can put up with them… We have a significant dissatisfied population, a portion of whom actively protest in the streets, and a small fraction might resort to causing disturbances.”
Former intelligence interrogator Abbas Abdi pointed out the negative public sentiment towards the current political and managerial situation in Iran. Abdi cited recent polls suggesting that only 7% of Iranians advocate for the existing state of affairs. He emphasized the urgent need for effective and sustainable resolutions to address the serious disparities within Iranian society, warning of a bleak future if the regime fails to act.
The regime’s own media outlets have also issued stark warnings. The Jomhouri Eslami newspaper cautioned, “Don’t presume the people’s patience is unlimited. Beware of the day when the army of the hungry rises against you.” In a report titled “Heed the footsteps of a crisis larger than 2022,” the state-run Eqtesad24 emphasized that immediate action is required to address inequalities and prevent future unrest.
Despite the calls for change from various factions within Iran, the collective tenure of these officials at the helm of the country’s political and socio-economic affairs has fallen short of meaningful action. Iranians are disillusioned and have moved beyond the regime’s internal factions. Public statements, even those criticizing the regime’s leadership, offer no solace and cannot save the regime from the imminent burst of outrage.
Faced with an unwilling and incapable regime resistant to change, the clerical regime seeks to export its crises by instigating major conflicts in neighboring countries. Unfortunately, due to misunderstandings or the influence of the regime’s deceptive campaigns, the international community has failed to comprehend the true motives behind Iran’s illicit regional activities. The NCRI highlights the need to recognize that Tehran does not require a mere policy change but rather a complete regime change for lasting peace in the Middle East.
Iran-Backed Militias Kill US Forces at Jordan-Syria Border
Following the death of three American soldiers and the injury of at least 34 others in a drone attack in the Syria-Jordan border region, several prominent US figures have called for decisive action against Iran.
The US military had announced on Sunday, January 28, an armed drone attack against US forces in the area, and US President Joe Biden attributed it to Iran-backed militias.
In its initial response, Iran’s permanent mission to the United Nations stated that the Islamic Republic has “no connection” to the attacks on US forces and described it as a result of “clashes between the US army and resistance groups in the region.”
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Nasser Kanaani, also stated that Iran is not responsible for the attack on the US base and that “Iran has no involvement in the decisions made by resistance groups to defend Palestine and their own country.”
In response to the killing of three American soldiers in the drone attack in Jordan, Jack Reed, the Democratic chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said in a statement that he is confident that the Biden administration will respond to this attack in a measured and proportionate manner.
Following the drone attack on the US military base on the Jordan-Syria border, The Washington Post reported that the “Islamic Resistance in Iraq,” composed of several Iran-backed militia groups, has claimed responsibility for the attack.
President Joe Biden, in his latest response to the deadly attack by Iran-backed militias that led to the killing of three American soldiers in northeastern Jordan, said, “We shall respond.”
Also Kamala Harris, the US vice president holds the Iranian regime responsible for this attack:
“Today, America’s heart is heavy. Last night, three U.S. service members were killed—and many wounded—during an unmanned aerial drone attack on our forces stationed in northeast Jordan near the Syria border. While we are still gathering the facts of this attack, we know it was carried out by radical Iran-backed militant groups operating in Syria and Iraq.”
Iran’s regime is backing many terrorist groups in the region. It has been using these proxy groups to attack US forces in the region, especially since the beginning of the war in Gaza in October. Iran-backed forces have carried out more than 150 attacks on targets in the region since the beginning of the war. This is the first such attack that has resulted in American casualties.
Four Iranian Kurdish Political Prisoners Executed in Ghezel Hesar Prison
Despite widespread international protests, four Iranian Kurdish political prisoners, Pejman Fatehi, Mohammad Faramarzi, Vafa Azarbar, and Mohsen Mazloum, were executed in Karaj’s Ghezel Hesar Prison.
These four individuals were members of a Kurdish dissident group and were arrested last year in Urmia, accused of spying for Israel, an accusation strongly denied by the four individuals themselves. Their lawyer also protested against the unfair trial process regarding these charges.
Since their arrest in August 2022, these four Iranian citizens have been deprived of meeting their families. The families of these four political prisoners were able to visit them in Evin Prison on January 28, after 19 months of being unaware of their status, and were informed that it would be their last visit.
On Sunday afternoon, these prisoners were transferred from Evin to Karaj’s Ghezel Hesar Prison, where their death sentences were carried out.
Human rights organizations reported on January 16, that the Supreme Court of the country confirmed the death sentences of Mohsen Mazloum, Mohammad (Hazhir) Faramarzi, Vafa Azarbar, and Pejman Fatehi in absolute silence.
On Saturday, January 27, the campaign for the defense of the four political prisoners issued a statement, expressing serious concern about the imminent execution of Pejman Fatehi, Mohammad Faramarzi, Vafa Azarbar, and Mohsen Mazloum, and calling for immediate and effective action by human rights organizations and international forums.
At the same time, Juana Taymasi, the wife of Mohsen Mazloum, wrote in a message on X: “During these 19 months, I have pursued all human rights avenues, international organizations, and even went on hunger strike, but I received no response.”
Earlier, the wife of Mohsen Mazloum had said that the families of the political prisoners should inform Nada Al-Nashif, the Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights at the United Nations, about the human rights violations in Iran.
Amnesty International and eighteen other human rights organizations and institutions warned in recent weeks about the “imminent” execution of these four prisoners, urging the global community to take immediate action to prevent these executions.
Vedant Patel, the Deputy Spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State, had previously told on Wednesday, January 24, that none of the dimensions of the political system in the Iranian regime are democratic or transparent, including the management, judiciary, and elections. According to him, the world has been aware of this reality for some time.
Protest Gathering of Steel and Oil Industry Workers in Southern Iran
Workers of the National Iranian Steel Group in Ahvaz (Southwest Iran) gathered for the sixth consecutive day of their protests.
The workers of this company marched on the streets of the city on Sunday, January 28, after gathering in front of the Khuzestan Governorate, Ahvaz Governorate, and the central building of the National Bank of the province, chanting slogans.
“We haven’t seen justice; we won’t vote anymore” was one of the slogans chanted by the protesters.
In the past year, the protests and strikes of Ahvaz Steel workers have seen a significant increase.
According to reports, in response to the workers’ protesting the non-implementation of the job classification plan in recent months, the managers of the steel company have suspended dozens of workers in this complex.
The judicial system of the Iranian regime had also announced on September 27, 2023, that it had sentenced 17 protesting workers in this industrial group to flogging and imprisonment or fines.
At the same time, reports have also been published about the protest gathering of unofficial oil workers on Sunday, January 28, in Gachsaran.
The implementation of the employee organization plan, justice in payment of wages and job benefits, and the elimination of contractor workers are among the demands of these workers.
Groups of unofficial workers also gathered on January 27 at the Pars Jonoubi (south Pars) complex in protest against the non-response to their demands for the fourth consecutive week and stopped working.
According to reports, the gatherings of unofficial workers were held at least in five refineries in Asaluyeh, and the protesters demanded the implementation of the job classification plan, job security, and appropriate work schedules.
On January 27, groups of workers from the Iranian offshore Oil Company (IOOC) also held protest gatherings in two operational areas in southern Iran.
The organization of various trade union gatherings in protest against the inappropriate living conditions since the inauguration of the government of Ebrahim Raisi in 2021 has been a growing trend.
