The dismissal followed months of speculations and upheaval within the Iranian regime. Shamkhani, a significant figure with close ties to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, hinted at his departure with a cryptic tweet last week, leading to an official announcement within 24 hours. This development sparked interest due to the pivotal role the SNSC plays in Iran’s governance, overseeing everything from foreign policy to domestic unrest, and reporting directly to Khamenei.
The release of this terrorist diplomat takes place while the Constitutional Court had clearly stated in its judgment that the Belgian government should inform the victims before transferring the convicts so that they have the opportunity to once again take the issue to court.
Truck drivers, a particularly hard-hit demographic, have extended their nationwide strike to the fourth day, with their demands for economic relief being largely ignored by the ruling regime.
This decision came in the wake of Rabbani’s worsening health condition, characterized by severe, persistent headaches that had required an MRI test.
From mourning a past disaster to denouncing new atrocities, these anti-regime demonstrations have been met with heavy suppression, resulting in over 750 deaths and more than 30,000 arrests as reported by the Iranian opposition group, the People’s Mojahedin of Iran (PMOI/MEK).
In an unprecedented move, 107 former world leaders from 45 countries have jointly signed a letter demanding global support for pro-democracy protests in Iran and the blacklisting of the Iranian regime’s Revolutionary Guards (IRGC). The collective call to action comes on the heels of the regime’s execution of three protesters, underscoring the severity of the crisis.
Khamenei, known for his persistent commitment to the “consolidation of power” agenda, reaffirmed his regime’s policy of steadfast resistance, despite escalating tensions with the West. This comes in the wake of President Ebrahim Raisi’s ascension to power, marked by increased belligerence and exploitation of Western powers’ lackluster responses.
As the crisis escalates, the regime’s authorities, primarily Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, persist in their questionable practice of “privatizing” significant economic sectors rather than addressing the financial disaster engulfing the nation.
Marzieh Nikara, a prominent human rights lawyer and activist, was handed a one-year imprisonment sentence by Tehran’s Revolutionary Court, Branch 29, on Sunday, May 14, 2023. The charges leveled against Nikara included “anti-regime propaganda activities” and “dissemination of falsehoods.” Human rights lawyer Mohammad Seifzadeh was similarly sentenced to a year’s incarceration on matching charges.
The meeting convened on Thursday, May 18, featured an address by Iranian opposition President-elect Maryam Rajavi of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI).
