The French government has reportedly begun proceedings to target and ban multiple groups associated with the Young Guard Antifa cell in Lyon, allegedly linked to the killing of a conservative student earlier this month.

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The large bronze statue of British hero and wartime Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill has again been defaced.

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FIRST ON FOX: A new report detailing the inner workings of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s office says the Islamic Republic’s real command structure lies not in Iran’s visible government, but in a shadow apparatus designed to preserve regime control even if the supreme leader himself disappears from public view.

The report, Unmasking the Bayt: Inside the Supreme Leader’s Office, published by United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) and authored by Saeid Golkar and Kasra Aarabi, describes the Bayt, the Office of the Supreme Leader, as a vast institutional network embedded across Iran’s military, economy, religious institutions and state bureaucracy.

"It is the hidden nerve center of the regime in Iran… it operates as a state within a state," Aarabi said in an interview with Fox News Digital.

WITKOFF WARNS IRAN IS ‘A WEEK AWAY’ FROM 'BOMB-MAKING MATERIAL' AS TRUMP WEIGHS ACTION

According to Aarabi, the system allows Khamenei to oversee and influence decision-making at every level of the Islamic Republic, including nuclear policy, war planning and internal security.

"This is what gives Khamenei absolute control. It’s not the visible state, this is the invisible state," he said.

The report estimates roughly 4,000 people operate inside the Bayt’s core structure, with tens of thousands more working through affiliated institutions across the country.

"There’s around 4,000 close employees… think of them as commissars… the real policymakers," Aarabi said. "Beyond that, the Bayt’s umbrella has 40,000 individuals working for it… entrenched at every single layer of policy, every single state entity."

The report maps a tightly controlled inner circle at the top of the Bayt, including Khamenei’s sons, particularly Mojtaba Khamenei, who is described as operating like a "mini-supreme leader" within his father’s office. 

It details how the structure reaches directly into Iran’s military chain of command, with senior promotions requiring approval from the Supreme Leader’s office and parallel counterintelligence bodies monitoring loyalty across the armed forces. The Bayt, the report says, also plays a decisive role in nuclear negotiations and wartime decision-making, ensuring ultimate authority remains concentrated around the supreme leader.

The network, Aarabi said, effectively duplicates state ministries inside Khamenei’s office, allowing direct oversight and ideological enforcement across government agencies, universities and cultural institutions.

TRUMP ISSUES STERN IRAN WARNING AS TEHRAN ANGRILY REACTS TO SPEECH AMID MUTED WORLD REACTION

The report also outlines how the Bayt sustains regime durability through control of the economy, religious institutions and the education system. Networks of foundations and conglomerates tied to the supreme leader oversee major sectors of Iran’s economy, while clerical institutions, universities and cultural bodies are monitored by embedded representatives tasked with enforcing ideological compliance and suppressing dissent.

"Think of the Bayt as the nucleus of the core power of the regime," Aarabi said.

The findings come amid renewed speculation about Khamenei’s health and reduced public visibility, as well as growing regional tensions and the possibility of military confrontation involving Iran.

Aarabi pushed back on suggestions that Khamenei’s absence from public appearances signals weakening authority or internal fragmentation.

"We saw this during the 12-day war… even if he is hiding in a bunker, he is in full control. The Bayt has been tightening Khamenei’s grip on power," he said.

The structure, he argued, was deliberately built to function even without the supreme leader physically present.

"Even if he is eliminated, the Bayt as an institution enables the supreme leader to function," Aarabi said. "Think of the supreme leader as an institution rather than just a single individual."

The report places the Bayt at the top of Iran’s power hierarchy, above the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and the formal government.

PRESIDENT TRUMP’S IRAN WARNING IS SERIOUS — BUT AMERICANS NEED THE FULL FACTS

"The Bayt is the core apparatus… the strategic policymaking body that is driving the ballistic missile program, the nuclear program, [and] regional destabilization," Aarabi said.

The implications, he added, are significant for policymakers in Washington and across the region, particularly as the U.S. weighs options for confronting Iran’s nuclear program and regional activities.

"Eliminating Khamenei in isolation on its own is not enough… you have to dismantle this extensive apparatus that he has created," Aarabi said.

Instead, any effort to weaken the regime would require targeting the broader institutional structure surrounding the supreme leader, not just the individual at its center.

"It involves a comprehensive strategy… cyber operations, sanctions, [and] a military component," he said. "For any meaningful change in Iran… you have to go after the core nucleus of power within the Islamic regime, and that is the Bayt."

He said on reports of Khamenei being a target that, "the elimination of Khamenei alone is not enough… dismantling the extensive apparatus of the Bayt is essential," he added.

Rep. Al Green (D-TX) was escorted out of the room on Tuesday after holding up a sign as President Donald Trump began his State of the Union address.

The post WATCH: Democrat Rep. Al Green Removed for Protest Sign During Trump’s SOTU appeared first on Breitbart.

The CIA on Tuesday published a Persian-language video on its X account calling on Iranian dissidents to make secure contact with the agency amid renewed anti-government protests inside the country.

The post came as CIA Director John Ratcliffe joined Secretary of State Marco Rubio in a classified "Gang of Eight" briefing on Iran on Capitol Hill, a source familiar with the matter told Fox News Digital.

Written in Farsi, the CIA message says the agency "can hear your voice and wants to help you," and provides operational guidance for those considering reaching out.

The agency urges activists not to use office computers or personal phone lines and instead, if possible, to rely on a disposable "burner" device. It advises ensuring no one can view their screen or monitor their activity.

The video walks viewers through digital security precautions designed to protect their identities. 

IRAN TO HOLD LIVE-FIRE DRILLS IN STRAIT OF HORMUZ WITH US ARMADA IN MIDDLE EAST

It recommends using updated browsers such as Google Chrome, Safari or Firefox in Private Browsing or Incognito mode and clearing device and browser histories after making contact.

The video says the CIA also strongly encourages the use of encryption and anonymity tools such as Tor or a VPN, warning that without such protections, visiting the CIA website could be visible to Iranian security services.

The agency provides instructions for accessing its secure contact portal through Tor and other anti-filtering services.

TED CRUZ URGES US TO ARM IRANIAN PROTESTERS AS MILITIAS THREATEN ‘TOTAL WAR’ AGAINST AMERICA

The post comes as Iran entered its fourth day of escalating university protests and as U.S. negotiators are set to meet Iranian counterparts in Geneva Thursday for a second round of talks.

Tehran announced it would be building on "understandings forged in the previous round" and expressed determination to reach a "fair and equitable deal" swiftly.

In a post on X, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran reiterated that it would "under no circumstances ever develop a nuclear weapon," while insisting it would not relinquish its right to peaceful nuclear technology.

Calling the moment a "historic opportunity," Tehran said a deal was within reach if diplomacy is prioritized, while affirming it would defend its sovereignty "with courage" at home and at the negotiating table.

Meanwhile, Iranian state television reported Tuesday that the Revolutionary Guard conducted military drills involving missile launches, drone flights and live-fire exercises along the country’s coast, according to Ynet.

Fox News Digital reached out to the CIA for comment, who had nothing further to add.

A fresh round of protests broke out in Iran on Saturday as student demonstrators clashed with the regime’s thuggish Basij militia.

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Anti-government protests are resurging across Iran, with videos showing students chanting slogans against the regime as nuclear negotiations with the United States are set to resume on Thursday.

A video translated by Reuters showed demonstrators shouting "We’ll fight, we’ll die, we’ll reclaim Iran," reflecting growing anger towards the country’s leadership.

The renewed unrest follows months of frustration over economic hardship, repression and previous crackdowns, placing additional domestic pressure on the regime as talks unfold. Analysts say the convergence of protests at home, military pressure abroad and a stalled diplomatic track has hardened rhetoric on both sides rather than pushing them toward compromise.

TRUMP SAYS IRAN HAS 15 DAYS TO REACH A DEAL OR FACE 'UNFORTUNATE' OUTCOME

The Iranian regime, meanwhile, is striking a defiant tone. President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tehran would "not bow down" to pressure tied to nuclear negotiations, warning that external coercion would not change Iran’s stance, according to Al Jazeera.

His remarks come ahead of a new round of U.S.–Iran talks set for Thursday in Geneva, confirmed by Oman, which is mediating the discussions. The negotiations aim to address Tehran’s nuclear program amid rising regional tensions, though major disputes remain over enrichment limits, sanctions relief and the scope of any deal.

In a February speech analyzed by the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei ruled out abandoning uranium enrichment and rejected U.S. demands to include Iran’s ballistic missile program and regional proxy activity in negotiations. 

The analysis, authored by FDD research analyst Janatan Sayeh and Iran Program senior director Behnam Ben Taleblu, noted that Khamenei has escalated attacks on Washington’s leadership, calling President Donald Trump a "criminal" for backing Iranian protests and circulating rhetoric likening him to a tyrant.

US POSITIONS AIRCRAFT CARRIERS, STRIKE PLATFORMS ACROSS MIDDLE EAST AS IRAN TALKS SHIFT TO OMAN

Meanwhile, the United States has expanded its military presence in the Middle East while signaling force remains an option. The deployments have shaped both the tone and urgency of the negotiations, reinforcing that diplomacy is unfolding under the shadow of potential escalation.

Special Envoy Steve Witkoff warned Saturday that Iran could be "a week away" from having "industrial-grade bomb-making material," citing enrichment levels he said are approaching weapons capability.

"It’s up to 60%," Witkoff said. "They’re probably a week away from having industrial-grade bomb-making material." He made the remarks on "My View with Lara Trump," describing the situation as dangerous and accusing Iran of violating President Trump’s "zero enrichment" red line.

U.S. officials have warned that failure to reach an agreement could trigger serious consequences, while Tehran has signaled readiness to retaliate if attacked, reinforcing the sense that negotiations are taking place under intense pressure.

Reuters contributed to this report.

Tensions flared Sunday across Iran as anti-government protests reignited at major universities and in the streets of Tehran, with reports of tear gas and shots fired in the capital.

Students gathered in Tehran and the northeastern city of Mashhad to mark 40-day memorials for those killed during January’s nationwide anti-government demonstrations before violence broke out.

Ali Safavi, a member of Iran’s Parliament-in-Exile, the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), told Fox News Digital anti-government protests at the University of Tehran featured chants such as, "This is the year of blood," and noted that Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) shot at protesters at another location in the city.

"At Khajeh Nasir University in Tehran, students trampled on Khamenei’s picture, while similar acts took place at Ferdowsi and Sajjad universities," Safavi said.

IRAN OPERATING SECRET ‘BLACK BOX’ SITES HOLDING THOUSANDS IN DETENTION: REPORTS

"Students were shouting ‘death to the oppressor, whether the Shah or the Leader,’ while in Tehran’s Vali Asr Street forces fired at the crowds, which were mostly young people," he added.

Safavi also claimed that two motorcycle units composed of men and women affiliated with resistance groups paraded through parts of Tehran carrying flags of the National Liberation Army (NLA), the armed wing associated with the NCRI.

IRAN LOCKS NATION INTO ‘DARKER’ DIGITAL BLACKOUT, VIEWING INTERNET AS AN ‘EXISTENTIAL THREAT’

In a statement circulated online, university students also condemned what they described as renewed attempts by authorities to suppress dissent.

"Once again we see that the tainted hands of monopolists seek to turn this sacred space into a playground for reactionary forces," the statement read. "We who have tasted the bitter experience of repression accept no form of dictatorship, whether with a turban or with boots," it said.

IRAN OPERATING SECRET ‘BLACK BOX’ SITES HOLDING THOUSANDS IN DETENTION: REPORTS

Iran's state TV showed videos of what it said were people "pretending to be students" attacking pro-government students in Tehran who were taking part in protests to condemn January's protests.

The individuals were allegedly injuring students by throwing rocks, Reuters reported.

Some witness accounts and opposition groups described a more forceful response by authorities.

Security forces reportedly fired tear gas at crowds of demonstrators, many of them young people. 

At other locations, the protesters also confronted groups of pro-regime demonstrators.

Reports from opposition sources indicated that shots were also fired as security units attempted to disperse gatherings that had spilled beyond campus grounds into surrounding streets.

Nighttime mobilizations also continued for a second time, with large-scale protests reported across several campuses.

The clashes marked one of the most visible displays of unrest since January’s crackdown and came as Iran faces a potential military strike by the U.S. and amid ongoing talks to negotiate over Iran’s nuclear program.

Eine Dissertation setzt sich zum Ziel, den Antisemitismus an Universitäten in Deutschland zu erforschen. Doch die Interviewmethoden sind bestenfalls fragwürdig – und die Befragten werden ohne Not bloßgestellt.

Dieser Beitrag Neue Dissertation Aus „Antisemitismusforschung“ mach verdeckte Ermittlung wurde veröffentlich auf JUNGE FREIHEIT.

France has summoned U.S. Ambassador Charles Kushner over comments from the Trump administration over the alleged Antifa mob killing of a conservative student in Lyon earlier this month.

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Thousands of people took to the streets Lyon in France on Saturday to protest against the alleged Antifa mob killing of a conservative Catholic student earlier this month.

The post Thousands Protest Against ‘Antifa Murderers’ in France Following Killing of Conservative Student appeared first on Breitbart.

President Trump said in June he would decide "within the next two weeks" whether to strike Iran. He made the decision two days later.

On Thursday, he gave Tehran another deadline, saying the Islamic Republic has 10 to 15 days to come to the negotiating table or face consequences.

The compressed timeline now sits at the center of a new round of high-stakes nuclear diplomacy. But with Trump, deadlines can serve as both a warning and a weapon.

Jason Brodsky, policy director at United Against Nuclear Iran, told Fox News Digital, "The Iranian regime has been operating under a grand delusion that they can turn President Trump into President Obama, and President Trump has made it clear that that’s not happening."

TRUMP MEETS NETANYAHU, SAYS HE WANTS IRAN DEAL BUT REMINDS TEHRAN OF ‘MIDNIGHT HAMMER’ OPERATION

Brodsky said there is little expectation inside the administration that diplomacy will produce a breakthrough. 

"I think there’s deep skepticism in the Trump administration that this negotiation is going to produce any acceptable outcome," he said. 

Instead, he said, the talks may be serving a dual purpose. 

"They’re using the diplomatic process to sharpen the choices of the Iranian leadership and to buy time to make sure that we have the appropriate military assets in the region," Brodsky said. 

A Middle Eastern source with knowledge of the negotiations told Fox News Digital Tehran understands how close the risk of war feels and is unlikely to deliberately provoke Trump at this stage.

However, the source said Iran cannot accept limitations on its short-range missile program, describing the issue as a firm red line set by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Iranian negotiators are not authorized to cross that boundary, and conceding on missiles would be viewed internally as equivalent to losing a war.

The source indicated there may be more flexibility about uranium enrichment parameters if sanctions relief is part of the equation.

According to Brodsky, Iran’s core positions remain unchanged. 

"They’re trying to engage in a lot of distraction — shiny objects — to distract from the fact that they’re not prepared to make the concessions that President Trump is requiring of them," he said. 

"The Iranian positions do not change and have not changed fundamentally. They refuse to accept President Trump’s position on zero enrichment. They refuse to dismantle their nuclear infrastructure. They refuse limitations on Iran’s missile program, and they refuse to end support for terror groups."

VANCE WARNS IRAN THAT 'ANOTHER OPTION ON THE TABLE' IF NUCLEAR DEAL NOT REACHED

Behnam Taleblu, senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, warned that Tehran may be preparing a different kind of proposal altogether.

"The first kind of deal that we have to be worried about … they may pitch an agreement that is based more on transposing the current reality onto paper. … These kinds of agreements are more like understandings," Taleblu said.

"You take the present reality, and you transpose that onto paper, and then you make the U.S. pay for something it already achieved."

Taleblu outlined what he sees as Tehran’s strategic objectives. 

"The Iranians want three things, essentially," he said. "The first is they want to deter and prevent a strike.

"The second is that they are actually using negotiations … to take the wind out of the wings of Iranian dissidents. And then the third is… they actually do want some kind of foreign financial stabilization and sanctions relief."

"What the Iranians want is to play for time. … An agreement like this doesn’t really require the Iranians to offer anything."

RETIRED GENERAL ARGUES MILITARY ACTION AGAINST IRAN IS 'BEST OPTION' AS TRUMP FACES 'HISTORIC OPPORTUNITY'

At the same time, Taleblu said the administration’s intentions remain deliberately opaque. 

"It’s hard to read the tea leaves of the administration here," Taleblu said. "Obviously, they don’t want a nuclear Iran, but also obviously they don’t want a long war in the Middle East.

"The military architecture they’re moving into the region is signaling that they’re prepared to engage in one anyway. The question that the administration has not resolved politically … is: What is the political end state of the strikes? That’s the cultivation of ambiguity that the president excels at."

Jacob Olidort, chief research officer and director of American security at the America First Policy Institute, told Fox News Digital, "The President has been clear that he wants to give diplomacy a chance. However, if, in his estimation, diplomatic efforts prove unsuccessful, he will almost certainly turn to military options. What is rightfully unpredictable is the specific objective and scope of military action the President may take.

"Specifically, will military action serve as a new layer of diplomatic pressure towards creating a new opportunity to make Iran agree to our demands — military force as coercive diplomacy — or simply achieve the intended objectives that diplomacy could not? Regardless, the President has a record of taking bold action to protect the American people from Iran’s threats."

Public sentiment inside Iran remains deeply divided, Iranian sources told Fox News Digital. Many view a foreign military invasion as unacceptable, while anger over the killing of young protesters continues to fuel domestic tensions and uncertainty.

With a 10 to 15-day window ticking, Trump’s deadline may function less as a calendar marker and more as leverage.

The French political and media establishment are complicit in the violence of the far-left, National Rally president Jordan Bardella said in response to the alleged Antifa mob killing of a 23-year-old conservative university student in Lyon last week.

The post ‘Red Line Crossed’: Bardella Warns French Democracy at a ‘Tipping Point’ After Alleged Antifa Killing of Conservative Student appeared first on Breitbart.

A high school principal in Pennsylvania is earning praise for shutting down a student anti-ICE protest walkout.

The post Pennsylvania High School Principal Shuts Down Student Anti-ICE Walkout appeared first on Breitbart.

Thousands of anti-government protesters violently faced off against riot police outside government buildings in Albania’s capital, Tirana, earlier this week, as people called for the resignation of the government following a massive corruption scandal.

The main Albanian opposition party called for people to take to the streets and demand the resignation of Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku after she was indicted by a special prosecutor who alleged she had been improperly influenced in her decision to favor one company in a tender for the construction of a 3.7-mile tunnel in southern Albania.

Albania’s Special Court Against Corruption and Organized Crime suspended Balluku from the government in November, but Prime Minister Edi Rama took the issue to the country’s Constitutional Court, which reinstated Balluku in December.

STATE DEPARTMENT STAYS QUIET AS ALBANIA REINSTATES DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER ACCUSED OF CORRUPTION

Balluku denied the allegations, calling the accusations against her amounted to "mudslinging, insinuations, half-truths and lies." Rama has refused to dismiss her.

The corruption allegations touched off widespread outrage, sparking protests in recent months. 

"The wave of popular protests in Albania reflects a growing societal backlash against what critics describe as the increasingly autocratic rule of Prime Minister Edi Rama," Agim Nesho, former Albanian ambassador to the U.S. and the United Nations, told Fox News Digital.

"Over more than a decade in power, Rama is accused of centralizing authority and personalizing state institutions, while his government has faced persistent allegations of cooperation with organized crime and the misuse of public funds and public assets for the benefit of politically connected clients," Nesho claimed.

The shady circumstances surrounding Rama’s most important ally and the lack of accountability reinforces the sentiment that is pervasive in Albanian society that their government is rife with corruption. With both the incumbent government and opposition figures accused of corruption, public confidence in institutions and the justice system has steadily been eroded.

ITALY ROCKED BY ANARCHIST-LED RIOTS AS OVER 100 POLICE INJURED, MELONI CONDEMNS VIOLENCE

Albania has a long legacy of government corruption and ranks 91st out of 182 countries in Transparency International's 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index.

The protests on Tuesday turned violent when supporters of Berisha’s opposition Democratic Party threw rocks and Molotov cocktails at government offices in Tirana. Security forces responded with water cannons and tear gas.

Berisha claims the protests have been peaceful, and people are only voicing their opposition to Rama’s increasing autocratic rule and his attacks of the justice system.

At least 16 protesters were treated for injuries and 13 protesters were arrested, according to The Associated Press. 

Observers of the region believe Berisha, who was prime minister from 2005 to 2013 and faced his own corruption charges, is angling to topple the socialist prime minister and main political rival, Rama, and return to power.

The turmoil in Albania comes as the country has long sought European Union membership, which began in 2014 when it became an official candidate for accession. While the 2025 annual European Commission report stated that Albania made significant strides in judicial reforms and combating organized crime, the latest allegations against Rami’s government will complicate its path to EU membership.

The United States helped implement Albania’s judicial reform process, including the creation of the Specialized Anti-Corruption Structure (SPAK). The State Department’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) invested millions to foster democratic progress in Albania and assisted in combating Albania’s struggles with corruption and strengthening its weak institutions.

Nesho warned the U.S. and European Union need to get serious with policy in the Western Balkans and help move Albania closer to European integration.

"If Washington and Brussels continue to look the other way — failing to enforce the rule of law, restore real checks and balances, and cut the regime’s ties to organized crime and drug trafficking — Albania risks drifting into the orbit of Eastern-style autocracy," Nesho said.

Anti-Iran regime protesters gathered in major cities across the globe Saturday calling for a leadership change in a Global Day of Action Rally.

Over 250,000 protesters rallied in Munich, Germany, Saturday with the Munich Security Conference as a backdrop.

"With the number of participants recorded, this gathering is one of the largest rallies held in Munich in recent years," the Munich Police reported in a press release. "The peaceful atmosphere is particularly noteworthy, despite the high number of participants in the meeting."

IRAN REGIME REPORTEDLY ISSUED NATIONWIDE SHOOT-TO-KILL ORDERS AS PROTEST DEATH TOLL SURGES

Crowds reportedly chanted "change, change, regime change" and "democracy for Iran" with green, white and red flags with lion and sun emblems waving in the air with a few "Make Iran Great Again" red hats spotted.

Exiled Iranian Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi was among the hundreds of thousands protesting, telling Reuters a possible attack on Iran will either weaken the regime or accelerate its fall.

"It's a matter of time. We are hoping that this attack will expedite the process, and the people can be finally back in the streets and take it all the way to the ultimate regime's downfall," said Pahlavi.

He said he hopes President Trump will have the United States intervene and "have the people's back."

UPROAR AFTER IRAN NAMED VICE CHAIR OF UN BODY PROMOTING DEMOCRACY, WOMEN’S RIGHTS

On Friday, President Trump said regime change in Iran would be the "best thing" to happen while speaking to troops at Fort Bragg in North Carolina.

"People are hoping that, at some point, the decision will be made that there's no use, there's no point, we're not going to get anywhere with negotiations," said Pahlavi. "Intervention is a way to save lives."

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., was present in Munich for the security conference and echoed a similar sentiment in a sideline interview  Friday.

NIKKI HALEY URGES TRUMP TO MAKE IRAN ACTION A 'LEGACY-DEFINING MOMENT' BEFORE LEAVING OFFICE

"There's no negotiating with these people in my view. They're hell-bent on enacting an agenda based on religion that teaches them to lie, teaches them to destroy in the name of God," said Graham.

He shared that the regime is the weakest it has been since 1979, adding, "It is a regime with American blood on its hand." And he called on protesters to "keep protesting."

The senator also took the stage at the Global Day of Action, speaking to the crowd and holding up a black "Make Iran Great Again" hat.

Large demonstrations were also held in Toronto, Melbourne, Athens, Tokyo, London and Los Angeles.

An estimated 350,000 people marched on the streets of Toronto, the city’s police spokesperson, Laura Brabant, told The Associated Press.

Iranian American activist and Beverly Hills plastic surgeon Sheila Nazarian told Fox News Digital the protests across the globe represent a universal truth. 

"When regimes silence their people, the people eventually find their voice. Whether in the streets of Tehran or in diaspora communities around the world," she said.

Nazarian left Iran when she was 6 years old along with her family.

"As someone who came to this country from Iran, I know firsthand that these protests are not about politics. They’re about basic human dignity, women’s rights and the fundamental freedom to live without fear," she added. 

The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.

The Islamic Republic of Iran’s atrocities against demonstrators opposed to the regime has reportedly resulted in security forces killing at least 19 Iranian Christians, according to Article 18, an organization that promotes religious freedom in Iran.

Article 18 reported on Feb. 9 that "The total number of Christians confirmed to have been killed during the protests is at least 19, including members of Iran’s recognized (Armenians and Assyrians) and unrecognized (converts) communities."

According to the Article 18 statement, the Islamic Republic’s "brutal response to last month’s mass demonstrations" resulted in the security forces murdering Iranian Christians Nader Mohammadi, 35, and Zahra Arjomandi, 51, who were both shot dead on Jan. 8 in separate protests 1,000 miles apart.

INSIDE TRUMP’S IRAN WARNING — AND THE UNEXPECTED PAUSE THAT FOLLOWED

Mohammadi was the father of three young children, and was killed in Babol in northern Iran. Arjomandi, who was a mother of two children, died in her son’s arms on the Persian Gulf island of Qeshm, in southern Iran, noted Article 18.

The Iranian Christian website Mohabat News stated that regime security forces refused to release Arjomandi's body for six days. Mohabat reported that her body was only released for burial under "strict security measures", which included a media blackout and prohibiting a memorial service.

Mansour Borji, the executive director for Article 18, told Fox News Digital that, "Today, Christians, like millions of other Iranians, seek the freedom and justice that they have been denied for nearly five decades, and they know well that this comes at a price. Every year many Christians are arrested and imprisoned under torturous conditions for practicing their right to religious freedom, where a simple act like praying together in house-churches seems like an act of civil disobedience."

IRAN WILL RETALIATE 'WITH EVERYTHING WE HAVE' IF US ATTACKS, SENIOR DIPLOMAT WARNS

He continued, "Our organization considers the Islamic Republic’s massacre of all peaceful protesters a crime against humanity that should not go unpunished. There must be an end to the impunity that, for far too long, has enabled this regime to commit crimes like at home and abroad. Branding peaceful protesters as ‘terrorists,’ and Christians that are persecuted every year as ‘Zionist mercenaries,’ is nothing but scapegoating."

He warned that "The Islamic Republic's regime has, since its inception, demonstrated all traits of a totalitarian state. Most Iranians have now come to realize that their fundamental rights have been taken away from them, including the freedom to choose one’s own religion or belief, political self-determination and even their lifestyle choices. Christians were some of the earliest to experience this, when an Anglican priest and convert to Christianity, Rev. Arastoo Sayyah, was killed in his church office less than 200 hours after the 1979 revolution."

A comprehensive 2025 report titled, "The Tip of the Iceberg" about the persecution of Iranian Christians was released by Article 18 in collaboration with Open Doors, Christian Solidarity Worldwide and Middle East Concern.

According to the "The Tip of the Iceberg" report, Mohammad Nasirpour, the deputy prosecutor of Tehran and head of the 33rd District Prosecutor’s office, stated in his indictment against four Iranian Christians on June 2022: "Armenian and Assyrian Christians in the Protestant denomination, with their evangelical nature and mission to Christianize Iran, are perceived as a security threat to the Islamic Revolution, aimed at undermining the Islamic foundation of the Islamic Republic. It could be said that Persian-speaking evangelical movements are supported by fundamentalist evangelical Christians and Zionists." 

According to a Feb. 10 report on the website of Christianity Today, Iranian Christians want President Trump to intervene to stop the Ayatollah’s regime from continuing with its massacre of Iranians.

RUBIO REVOKES IRANIAN OFFICIALS' US TRAVEL PRIVILEGES OVER DEADLY PROTEST CRACKDOWN KILLING THOUSANDS

"That’s probably one of the most frustrating aspects of the whole situation right now," said Shahrokh Afshar, founder of Fellowship of Iranian Christians. "Everyone was hoping he would do something," Afshar told the outlet after the Iranian authorities killed thousands of protesters in January, according to some estimates.

Fox News Digital has reported over the decades on the Islamic Republic’s high-intensity persecution of Iranian Christians in the wake of the growing popularity of Christianity in the Muslim-majority country. Iran’s regime targets diverse groups of Christians, including Evangelicals and Catholics. In 2017, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) arrested two Christians – a mother and her son – as part of a brutal crackdown on Catholicism in the country’s West Azerbaijan Province.

STATE DEPARTMENT DEMANDS IRAN HALT EXECUTION OF 19-YEAR-OLD WRESTLING STAR AS IOC REMAINS SILENT

The family’s bibles and literature on Christian theology were also seized during the raid.

The United States State Department has designated Iran as a "Country of Particular Concern" (CPC)" because the Islamic regime has "engaged in or tolerated particularly severe violations of religious freedom" with respect to violations of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998.

The Iranian regime -controlled statistical center of Iran claims there are 117,700 Christians of recognized denominations as of the 2016 census, according to the most recent U.S. State Department report on the plight of Iranian Christians. 

However, the State Department noted that, "The Christian advocacy NGO Article 18 estimates there are 500,000 to 800,000 Christians in the country, while the Christian advocacy NGO Open Doors International estimates the number is 1.24 million. Christian NGOs report many Christians are converts from Islam or other recognized faiths." The population of Iran is roughly 92 million.

UNITED NATIONS: Iran’s election as vice-chair of the United Nations Commission for Social Development is being slammed by human rights advocates and policy analysts, who have condemned the U.N.'s hypocrisy when it comes to its treatment of undemocratic regimes. 

The leadership role was approved without objection during a meeting of the commission, where delegates adopted agenda items and organizational decisions by consensus.

The United Nations has faced continued criticism over its inaction towards the regime's violent crackdown against protesters in December and January. On Wednesday, U.N. Secretary General António Guterres faced criticism for congratulating Iran on the anniversary of the 1979 Islamic revolution.

UN CHIEF BLASTED AS ‘ABJECTLY TONE-DEAF’ OVER MESSAGE TO IRAN MARKING REVOLUTION ANNIVERSARY

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz criticized the development, writing on X: "Yet another reason why we are not a member of, nor do we participate in, this ridiculous ‘Commission for Social Development.’"

Alireza Jafarzadeh, author of The Iran Threat and deputy director of the U.S. office of the National Council of Resistance of Iran, also criticized the decision. "Having the Iranian regime in the leadership of a U.N. body tasked with promoting democracy, gender equality, tolerance and non-violence is appalling and like fox guarding the hen house," Jafarzadeh said. "The vast majority of the Iranian people are calling for regime change because the mullahs are the world’s leading human rights violators, misogynist to the core, and they slaughter the voices of dissent by thousands."

He argued that Iran should face scrutiny rather than institutional advancement. "Instead, the Iranian regime must be a subject of intense investigation and accountability by all U.N. bodies for crimes against humanity and genocide, from the 1980s to January 2026 uprisings," Jafarzadeh said. "Decades of inaction by Western governments have emboldened the regime. This must stop now."

G7 THREATENS IRAN WITH NEW SANCTIONS OVER NATIONWIDE PROTEST CRACKDOWN KILLING THOUSANDS

"By electing Iran to help lead a commission devoted to democracy, women’s rights and non-violence, the U.N. makes itself into a mockery," said Hillel Neuer, executive director of UN Watch. "This is a regime that brutalizes women for not covering their hair, and that just massacred tens of thousands of its own civilians in two days."

Neuer argued that governments had the ability to block the appointment but chose not to act. "The EU states know how to stop abusive regimes from winning these seats — they’ve done so in the recent past with Russia — but this time on Iran, they chose silence and complicity," he said. "By rewarding the Mullahs right after their slaughter of innocents, the U.N. has now sent a very dangerous message to Tehran."

Lisa Daftari, an Iran analyst, said the optics of Iran holding a leadership role in a commission centered on social development and rights were deeply troubling.

US AMBASSADOR WARNS IRAN AT EMERGENCY UN MEETING THAT TRUMP IS 'MAN OF ACTION,' 'ALL OPTIONS ARE ON THE TABLE'

"For Iranian women who risk prison or worse just for taking off a headscarf, watching Tehran get a vice-chair on a U.N. social-development commission feels like a slap in the face."

She added that broader patterns in U.N. voting and resolutions contribute to perceptions of bias.

"When the same U.N. system has spent the last decade passing roughly 170-plus resolutions against Israel and only around 80 on all other countries combined, you don’t need a PhD to see there’s a bias problem," Daftari said. "When the U.N. has churned out well over a hundred anti-Israel resolutions in recent years while managing a fraction of that number on the world’s worst dictatorships, it looks less like moral leadership and more like political theater."

Daftari rejected that procedural nature of United Nations committees and committees.

"Some diplomats will wave this away as a procedural formality, but at the U.N. nothing is ever purely symbolic," she said. "The bottom line is that handing Iran’s regime a gavel on ‘social development’ confirms yet again that the place is biased and deeply hypocritical."

Der Zusammenbruch Venezuelas wird im Westen oft als einfaches Moralstück dargestellt – als warnendes Beispiel für sozialistische Übergriffigkeit und den unvermeidlichen Verfall des Autoritarismus. Francisco Rodríguez widerlegt diese Karikatur in seinem Buch „The Collapse of Venezuela“ (Der Zusammenbruch Venezuelas) und zeigt anhand ungewöhnlich genauer wirtschaftlicher Belege, dass der katastrophale Niedergang des Landes nicht allein auf Ideologie zurückzuführen ist, sondern auf die eskalierenden US-Sanktionen, die den Zugang zu Finanzmitteln, Ölmärkten und wichtigen Importen unterbanden. Diese Rezension bezieht außerdem eine wichtige neue Studie ein, die Rodríguez in The Lancet Global Health veröffentlicht hat. Sie zeigt, dass westliche Sanktionen weltweit mit mehr als einer halben Million zusätzlicher Todesfälle pro Jahr zusammenhängen – eine Zahl, die mit der von modernen Kriegen vergleichbar ist. Eine Rezension von Michael Holmes.

Nur wenige wirtschaftliche Zusammenbrüche außerhalb von Kriegszeiten waren so plötzlich und verheerend wie der Venezuelas. Um zu verstehen, wie ein Land mit den größten Ölreserven der Welt in weniger als einem Jahrzehnt einen Wirtschaftsrückgang von mehr als 70 Prozent erlebte, muss man über die Schlagworte hinausblicken und die Wechselwirkungen zwischen innenpolitischen Machtkämpfen und einem externen Sanktionsregime untersuchen, das die wirtschaftlichen Lebensadern des Landes stetig einschränkte.

Francisco Rodríguez, ein führender venezolanischer Ökonom und ehemaliger Leiter des Haushaltsamtes der venezolanischen Nationalversammlung, liefert diese notwendige Autopsie in seiner akribischen Studie „The Collapse of Venezuela: Scorched Earth Politics and Economic Decline, 2012 – 2020” (Der Zusammenbruch Venezuelas: Politik der verbrannten Erde und wirtschaftlicher Niedergang, 2012 – 2020). Rodríguez, der derzeit als Professor für internationale Angelegenheiten an der Universität von Denver tätig ist und seit Jahrzehnten an der Schnittstelle zwischen Hochfinanz und öffentlicher Politik arbeitet, bringt eine seltene Mischung aus technischer Strenge und historischer Perspektive in ein Thema ein, das allzu oft Polemikern überlassen wird. Im Mittelpunkt seiner Erkenntnisse steht der überraschende empirische Nachweis, dass etwa die Hälfte der gesamten wirtschaftlichen Katastrophe Venezuelas direkt durch Sanktionen der Vereinigten Staaten von Amerika verursacht wurde.

Seine Karriere ist seit Langem von einer ausgeprägten Unabhängigkeit geprägt, die ihm Kritik von allen Seiten einbrachte. Insbesondere während seiner Zeit beim Beratungsgremium für Wirtschaft und Finanzen der Nationalversammlung Venezuelas stand er unter starkem Druck sowohl einer radikalen Opposition, die seine objektiven Erkenntnisse verabscheute, als auch von Regierungsbeamten – darunter ein damaliger Abgeordneter namens Nicolás Maduro –, die versuchten, Wirtschaftsdaten zu unterdrücken, die der offiziellen Darstellung widersprachen.

Seine Arbeit ist heute von Bedeutung, weil sie den bequemen Konsens in Frage stellt, dass Venezuelas Ruin ausschließlich selbstverschuldet sei, und stattdessen aufzeigt, wie eine Kombination aus Misswirtschaft im Inland, einem eskalierenden Konflikt zwischen Regierung und Opposition und beispiellosen amerikanischen Sanktionen eine humanitäre Katastrophe historischen Ausmaßes verursacht hat.

Das Fegefeuer vor Chávez und der Geist des Caracazo

Um den Aufstieg von Hugo Chávez zu verstehen, muss man sich zunächst mit den Trümmern der Ära vor seiner Zeit auseinandersetzen. Die Jahrzehnte vor seiner Wahl im Jahr 1998 waren geprägt von einer tiefen Kluft zwischen einer wohlhabenden, Öl exportierenden Elite und einer wachsenden Unterschicht, die in den weitläufigen Ranchos von Caracas lebte. In den 1970er- und 1980er-Jahren sorgte der „Puntofijo”-Pakt – ein Abkommen zur Machtteilung zwischen den wichtigsten Parteien der Mitte – für den Anschein demokratischer Stabilität. Unter der Oberfläche jedoch zerbrach das soziale Gefüge. Obwohl Venezuela das reichste Land Südamerikas war, konzentrierte sich der Reichtum auf einen winzigen Teil der Bevölkerung, während die Mehrheit einen Verlust ihrer Kaufkraft hinnehmen musste.

Diese Ära gipfelte 1989 im Caracazo, einer Reihe massiver regierungsfeindlicher Unruhen, die durch die vom IWF verordneten Sparmaßnahmen ausgelöst wurden, welche über Nacht zu einer Erhöhung der Benzinpreise und Busfahrpreise führten. Die Reaktion des Staates war nicht Verhandlung, sondern Terror. Bei einer brutalen militärischen Niederschlagung kamen Hunderte, vielleicht sogar Tausende Menschen auf den Straßen der Hauptstadt ums Leben. Der Caracazo war der Todesstoß für die alte Ordnung; er bewies, dass die demokratische Fassade den sozialen Druck einer Nation, in der Millionen Menschen in extremer Armut lebten, nicht länger auffangen konnte. Das Blut auf den Straßen im Jahr 1989 schuf ein moralisches und politisches Vakuum, das Hugo Chávez, damals ein junger Fallschirmjäger, schließlich füllen sollte. Als er 1998 gewählt wurde, war dies eine populistische Rebellion gegen eine gleichgültige Elite, die jahrzehntelang für Stagnation und staatliche Gewalt gesorgt hatte.

Das bolivarische Versprechen: Wohlstand und institutioneller Verfall

Die ersten Jahre der Chávez-Ära waren geprägt von einem ehrlichen, wenn auch fehlerhaften Versuch, den Ölreichtum umzuverteilen. Wie Rodríguez feststellt, war die „bolivarische Revolution” nicht nur eine rhetorische Übung. Durch die Schaffung sozialer Missionen – der misiones – investierte die Regierung Milliarden von Dollar in das Gesundheitswesen, die Bildung und Lebensmittelprogramme. Zum ersten Mal in der Geschichte Venezuelas machte der Staat seine Präsenz in den Slums bemerkbar, nicht durch Polizeiknüppel, sondern durch Kliniken und Alphabetisierungsprogramme. Die Armutsquote sank von über 50 Prozent zu Beginn des Jahrzehnts auf fast 25 Prozent im Jahr 2012. Diese spürbare Verbesserung der Lebensbedingungen der Armen sicherte Chávez anhaltende Popularität und ermöglichte ihm, mehrere international überwachte Wahlen zu gewinnen.

Rodríguez steht vielen der von Chávez ins Leben gerufenen Flaggschiff-Programme zur Armutsbekämpfung skeptisch gegenüber und weist darauf hin, dass einige davon ineffizient oder schlecht konzipiert waren und dass ein erheblicher Teil der beobachteten Armutsreduzierung wahrscheinlich ohnehin in einer Zeit außergewöhnlich hoher Ölpreise stattgefunden hätte, die die Staatsausgaben insgesamt ankurbelten. Er verweist auch auf die Verfassung von Chávez aus dem Jahr 1999 als Wendepunkt in der Aushöhlung des institutionellen Gleichgewichts und argumentiert, dass die Neugestaltung des politischen Systems die Gewaltenteilung zunehmend schwächte und die Macht in der Exekutive konzentrierte, was das Misstrauen und die Feindseligkeit zwischen der Regierung und der Opposition vertiefte. In einem Kontext ohne sinnvolle Vereinbarungen zur Machtteilung, in dem die Kontrolle über den Staat gleichbedeutend mit der Kontrolle über enorme Öleinnahmen war, wurde die Politik zu einem Nullsummenspiel, das sowohl den Chavismus als auch eine radikalisierte Opposition in einen immer verzweifelteren Kampf trieb, in dem der Verlust des Amtes existenzielle wirtschaftliche und politische Folgen hatte.

Das demokratische Mandat der Revolution stieß fast sofort auf gewaltsamen Widerstand einer radikalen Opposition, die erhebliche Unterstützung aus den Vereinigten Staaten genoss. Im Jahr 2002 startete diese Fraktion einen kurzlebigen Militärputsch, der den demokratisch gewählten Chávez vorübergehend stürzte – ein verfassungswidriger Akt der Aggression, der von der US-Regierung sofort anerkannt und unterstützt wurde. Diese Unterstützung für einen Putsch entlarvte die Heuchelei des westlichen „Demokratie”-Diskurses, der in Wirklichkeit von dem Wunsch getrieben war, die Interessen der alten Garde und den Zugang zu Öl zu schützen. Als der Putsch aufgrund eines massiven Volksaufstands scheiterte, schwenkte dieselbe radikale Opposition Ende 2002 und 2003 auf ein umfassendes Ölembargo und einen Generalstreik um, wodurch die Wirtschaft des Landes effektiv lahmgelegt wurde und die Zivilbevölkerung enormes Leid erdulden musste. Dies war das erste Mal in der Neuzeit, dass eine Strategie der verbrannten Erde angewendet wurde – ein Präzedenzfall, der zeigte, dass die Opposition bereit war, die wichtigste Lebensgrundlage des Landes zu zerstören, um an die Macht zu kommen.

Die Saat für den späteren Ruin wurde auch durch die Art und Weise gesät, wie der Wohlstand verwaltet wurde. Die Regierung stützte sich auf eine massive Ausweitung der Staatsausgaben, die durch Rekordölpreise finanziert wurde. Rodríguez betont, dass die Regierung Chávez nur wenig in Stabilisierungsreserven investierte, wodurch das Land stark exponiert und finanziell anfällig war, als sich der Ölmarkt schließlich abkühlte. Institutionelle Kontrollmechanismen wurden zugunsten einer personalistischen Herrschaft abgeschafft, die oft politische Loyalität über fachliche Kompetenz stellte. Als Chávez 2013 starb, hinterließ er ein Land, das zwar gerechter, aber auch zutiefst fragil war und dessen gesamte Wirtschaftsstruktur auf dem volatilen Preis eines einzigen Rohstoffs beruhte.

Die verbrannte Erde und der Sanktionsmultiplikator

Der Übergang zu Nicolás Maduro fiel mit einer katastrophalen perfekten Sturmkonstellation zusammen: dem Tod eines charismatischen Führers, einem unerwarteten dramatischen Rückgang der weltweiten Ölpreise und dem Versagen eines staatlich gelenkten Modells, das es versäumt hatte, sich zu diversifizieren. Im Jahr 2014 befand sich Venezuela in einer tiefen Rezession, aber es war noch kein endgültiger Zusammenbruch eingetreten. Rodríguez’ bedeutendster Beitrag ist seine empirische Aufschlüsselung der folgenden Ereignisse, in der er den konkreten Punkt identifiziert, an dem eine beherrschbare Krise zu einer historischen Katastrophe wurde.

Er argumentiert, dass die US-Sanktionen, insbesondere die 2017 und 2019 verhängten, den Verlauf des Niedergangs grundlegend verändert haben. Vor 2017 hatte die venezolanische Regierung noch Zugang zu den internationalen Kreditmärkten und konnte ihre Ölinfrastruktur aufrechterhalten. Die von der Trump-Regierung im August 2017 unterzeichnete Durchführungsverordnung schloss Venezuela effektiv vom US-Finanzsystem aus und hinderte die Regierung daran, ihre Schulden umzustrukturieren oder Zugang zu internationalen Finanzmitteln zu erhalten. Rodríguez verwendet eine rigorose kontrafaktische Analyse, um zu zeigen, dass die Misswirtschaft der Maduro-Regierung die ursprüngliche Rezession zwar verursacht hat, die Sanktionen jedoch als „Kraftmultiplikator” dienten, der den Niedergang dramatisch beschleunigte.

Der tödlichste Schlag kam 2019 mit der Verhängung eines Ölembargos. Venezuelas Raffinerien, die für die Verarbeitung von Schweröl mit amerikanischen Maschinen und Verdünnungsmitteln gebaut worden waren, wurden plötzlich von ihrem Hauptmarkt und ihrer Hauptversorgungsquelle abgeschnitten. Rodríguez berechnet, dass fast die Hälfte des gesamten Wirtschaftsrückgangs in diesem Zeitraum – ein Verlust an Einnahmen und BIP von erschreckendem Ausmaß – direkt auf die Abkopplung Venezuelas von der Weltwirtschaft zurückzuführen ist. Die Sanktionen richteten sich nicht nur gegen die Bankkonten des Regimes, sondern auch gegen die Fähigkeit des Staates, die für die Aufrechterhaltung des Stromnetzes, der Wasserversorgung und der öffentlichen Gesundheitsinfrastruktur erforderlichen Einnahmen zu erzielen. Dies war die Politik der „verbrannten Erde“: eine bewusste Strategie interner und externer Akteure, die nationale Wirtschaft als Schlachtfeld zu behandeln, auf dem die Zivilbevölkerung das Hauptopfer war.

Die moralischen Kosten der wirtschaftlichen Kriegsführung

Die moralische Tragweite dieser Beweise liegt in der Erkenntnis, dass die „Maximaldruck”-Kampagne eine bewusste Entscheidung der westlichen Mächte war, dem Regimewechsel Vorrang vor Menschenleben zu geben. Indem sie den Konflikt als Kampf für die „Demokratie“ darstellten, rechtfertigten die USA und ihre Verbündeten Maßnahmen, von denen sie wussten, dass sie zu weitreichender Not führen würden. Rodríguez dokumentiert, wie die Einfrierung venezolanischer Vermögenswerte im Ausland, einschließlich der Beschlagnahmung von CITGO (US-amerikanische Tochter des venezolanischen Staatsölkonzerns PDVSA) und der Goldreserven des Landes in London, das Land selbst während einer globalen Pandemie ohne die Mittel zur Einfuhr lebenswichtiger Medikamente und Lebensmittel zurückließ.

Dies war kein passives Versagen der Politik, sondern eine aktive Strategie der Erstickung. Die von Juan Guaidó angeführte und von Washington unterstützte Opposition spekulierte darauf, dass das Leiden der Bevölkerung das Militär letztendlich dazu zwingen würde, sich gegen Maduro zu wenden. Es war ein Glücksspiel, das politisch scheiterte – das Militär blieb loyal –, aber das soziale Gefüge einer Nation zerstörte. Die Ergebnisse waren quantifizierbar: ein Zusammenbruch der öffentlichen Dienste, das Wiederauftreten ausgerotteter Krankheiten und eine Massenflucht von über fünf Millionen Menschen, die größte Vertreibung dieser Art in der Geschichte der westlichen Hemisphäre.

Globale Sanktionen töten jedes Jahr über eine halbe Million Menschen

Rodríguez’ Arbeit zu Venezuela ist Teil einer umfassenderen Forschungsagenda zu den menschlichen Folgen von Wirtschaftskriegen. In einer bahnbrechenden Studie mit dem Titel „Effects of international sanctions on age-specific mortality: a cross-national panel data analysis”, die in The Lancet Global Health – einer der weltweit renommiertesten medizinischen Fachzeitschriften – veröffentlicht wurde, analysieren Rodríguez und seine Co-Autoren die globalen Auswirkungen von Sanktionen auf die Sterblichkeit in mehr als 150 Ländern über einen Zeitraum von fünf Jahrzehnten.

Unter Verwendung von vier fortschrittlichen statistischen Methoden zur Ermittlung kausaler Effekte in Beobachtungsdaten schätzen sie, dass einseitige Wirtschaftssanktionen der USA und Europas in den letzten Jahren mit etwa 564.000 zusätzlichen Todesfällen pro Jahr in Verbindung stehen – eine Zahl, die mit den jährlichen Kriegstoten weltweit vergleichbar ist und diese nach einigen Schätzungen sogar übersteigt. Die größte Belastung trifft Kinder und ältere Menschen, wobei mehr als die Hälfte der Todesfälle bei Kindern unter fünf Jahren auftritt.

Obwohl in der Studie häufig der Fachbegriff „einseitige Sanktionen” verwendet wird, zeigen die Daten, dass die Auswirkungen auf die Sterblichkeit in erster Linie auf Sanktionen der Vereinigten Staaten und in geringerem Maße der Europäischen Union zurückzuführen sind, während multilaterale Sanktionen der Vereinten Nationen keine statistisch signifikanten Auswirkungen auf die Sterblichkeit haben. Sanktionen verringern die Staatseinnahmen, schränken den Zugang zu Devisen ein und stören die Einfuhr von Medikamenten und Lebensmitteln. Tatsächlich legt die Studie nahe, dass moderne Finanzsanktionen weniger als gezielte diplomatische Instrumente fungieren, sondern eher als umfassende wirtschaftliche Belagerungen, deren Hauptopfer die Zivilbevölkerungen sind.

In Verbindung mit „The Collapse of Venezuela“ erweitert die Lancet-Studie Rodríguez’ Argumentation von einer nationalen Tragödie zu einem globalen Muster. Venezuela ist kein Einzelfall, sondern ein Extrembeispiel für ein weit verbreitetes Phänomen: die Nutzung finanzieller Macht durch wohlhabende Staaten, die humanitäre Kosten für Bevölkerungsgruppen verursacht, die wenig Einfluss auf ihre Regierungen haben. Während das Buch dokumentiert, wie Sanktionen dazu beigetragen haben, eine tiefe Rezession in einen gesellschaftlichen Zusammenbruch zu verwandeln, deutet die Lancet-Studie darauf hin, dass sich ähnliche, wenn auch weniger sichtbare Dynamiken in weiten Teilen der sanktionierten Welt abspielen.

Das Laboratorium des imperialen Untergangs

Letztendlich enthüllt Rodríguez’ Werk eine beunruhigende Wahrheit über das moderne internationale Leben: Die Instrumente der globalen Finanzwelt können genauso zerstörerisch sein wie jede konventionelle Waffe. Venezuela war nicht nur ein Opfer der Hybris seiner eigenen Führer, sondern auch ein Labor für eine moderne Art imperialer Kriegsführung – eine, die über Banken und Finanzministerien statt über Bataillone geführt wird. Das Buch ist eine vernichtende Anklage gegen eine Weltordnung, die es den mächtigsten Staaten erlaubt, eine Bevölkerung im Namen ihrer eigenen imperialen Agenda auszuhungern.

Rodríguez kritisiert scharf die Rolle der Vereinigten Staaten bei der Unterstützung der Hardliner unter den venezolanischen Oppositionellen, die sich für außerinstitutionelle, konfrontative und häufig offen undemokratische Strategien einsetzten. Er argumentiert, dass die Anerkennungsmaßnahmen Washingtons, die umfassenden Sanktionen und die wiederkehrende Rhetorik des Regimewechsels den Konflikt weiter radikalisierten und das ohnehin schon polarisierte politische Umfeld vergifteten. Durch die Erhöhung des wahrgenommenen Risikos eines Machtverlusts und die beidseitige Stärkung der Akteure, die maximalistische Ansätze bevorzugten, habe die US-Politik seiner Meinung nach einen Verhandlungskompromiss weniger wahrscheinlich gemacht und den institutionellen und wirtschaftlichen Zusammenbruch Venezuelas intensiviert.

Für Rodríguez liegt der einzige gangbare Weg aus diesem destruktiven Gleichgewicht in Verhandlungen, die die Risiken des politischen Wettbewerbs durch glaubwürdige Vereinbarungen zur Machtteilung und gegenseitig akzeptierte institutionelle Garantien verringern – Schritte, die er als unerlässlich für die Wiederherstellung der wirtschaftlichen Stabilität, der politischen Koexistenz und der Voraussetzungen für ein wirklich demokratisches System ansieht.

Der Autor betont, dass die venezolanische Öffentlichkeit eine verhandelte, friedliche Lösung gegenüber einer Konfrontation durchweg bevorzugt: Die von ihm zitierten Umfragedaten zeigen, dass fast zwei Drittel der Befragten – 64,8 Prozent – die Wiederaufnahme der Verhandlungen zwischen der Regierung und der Opposition unterstützen, während nur ein Viertel dagegen ist. Gleichzeitig lehnt eine überwältigende Mehrheit externen wirtschaftlichen Druck ab – 75,1 Prozent befürworten eine Lockerung der Wirtschaftssanktionen. Diese Zahlen, die aus mehreren Umfragen stammen, deuten darauf hin, dass die einfachen Venezolaner den Dialog und eine Deeskalation bevorzugen, doch ihre Präferenzen wurden durch die harte Linie aller Seiten in den Hintergrund gedrängt: Die Regierung Maduro, die US-Politik, die auf Sanktionen und Regimewechsel setzt, und ein radikaler Flügel der Opposition, der sich dieser Linie angeschlossen hat, verfolgen jeweils auf unterschiedliche Weise eine Nullsummentaktik, die dem klaren Wunsch der Bevölkerung nach Verhandlungen und einer Entlastung vom Wirtschaftskrieg zuwiderläuft.

Die Tragödie Venezuelas erinnert daran, dass, wenn die Elefanten kämpfen, das Gras – die Millionen gewöhnlicher Menschen, die einfach nur in Würde leben wollen – unter schweren Füßen zertrampelt wird. Die Geschichte Venezuelas im 21. Jahrhundert ist somit die Geschichte eines Landes, das versuchte, seine Souveränität von einer gleichgültigen Elite zurückzugewinnen, nur um sich zwischen der Inkompetenz seiner Beschützer und der kaltblütigen Entschlossenheit seiner Feinde zerquetscht wiederzufinden. Francisco Rodríguez hat mehr als nur eine Wirtschaftsstudie vorgelegt; er hat ein Requiem für eine Republik geschrieben, die auf dem Altar geopolitischer Ambitionen geopfert wurde. Der Ruin einer Nation ist selten eine Einzelleistung; es ist eine Symphonie aus lokaler Gier und globaler Grausamkeit, gespielt unter der stillen Begleitung derer, die zu hungrig sind, um zu schreien.

Francisco Rodríguez: The Collapse of Venezuela: Scorched Earth Politics and Economic Decline, 2012–2020 (Kellogg Institute Series on Democracy and Development), 2025, University of Notre Dame Press, 506 Seiten, ISBN-10: 0268209014.

Titelbild: University of Notre Dame Press

UNITED NATIONS: U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres sent a congratulatory message to Iran marking the anniversary of the 1979 Islamic revolution, a move that drew sharp criticism from anti-regime Iranian voices and human rights advocates.

In a letter addressed to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Guterres "extended his warmest congratulations on the National Day of the Islamic Republic of Iran," describing such anniversaries as an opportunity to reflect on a country’s path and contributions to the international community, according to Iranian state and regional reporting published Wednesday.

The message comes weeks after the U.N.’s top human rights body condemned Iran over abuses tied to a violent crackdown on anti-government protests and mandated further investigation into alleged violations, with some reports citing casualty figures that could reach 30,000, pending verification.

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Furthermore, according to the NGO U.N. Watch, Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, is expected to address the U.N. Human Rights Council on Feb. 23.

Against that backdrop, critics said the secretary-general’s congratulatory message risked sending a conflicting signal.

"The U.N. secretary-general’s congratulatory message is not merely diplomatic routine — it is abjectly tone-deaf," said Iran analyst Banafsheh Zand. "At a time when the Iranian people continue to endure executions, repression and systemic abuse at the hands of the Islamic Republic, offering formal congratulations to the architects of that suffering reads as a moral failure."

Zand added that such gestures "erode [the U.N.’s] credibility and deepen the wound for those still fighting for freedom inside Iran."

Andrew Ghalili, policy director at the National Union for Democracy in Iran (NUFDI), said the message amounted to legitimizing a repressive system.

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"The United Nations is legitimizing a regime built on repression, executions and the systematic destruction of basic freedoms," Ghalili said. "Offering celebratory recognition to the Islamic Republic on the anniversary of its revolution ignores the bloodshed, the repression of protesters and the ongoing hostage-taking of innocent people."

Human rights groups have repeatedly warned that impunity has enabled ongoing abuses in Iran, urging U.N. member states to pursue accountability for what they describe as systemic violations and mass killings of protesters.

Stéphane Dujarric, spokesperson for the secretary-general, told Fox News Digital during a press briefing that the message to Tehran was part of a long-standing U.N. protocol.

IRAN’S TOP DIPLOMAT SAYS NATION’S POWER LIES IN DEFYING PRESSURE: ‘NO TO THE GREAT POWERS’

"The letter that came out from the secretary-general is a standard letter. Every year, each member state gets the exact same letter… congratulating them on the national holiday and conveying best wishes to the people of that country."

The spokesperson added that similar letters were sent the same day to other countries marking national holidays and "should not be interpreted… as an endorsement of whatever policies may be put in place by the government." He said the message "doesn’t change the secretary-general’s view" on Iran, noting Guterres has previously spoken out against the crackdown and violence.

On reports that Iran’s foreign minister is expected to address the Human Rights Council later this month, the spokesperson said the matter falls under the council’s authority.

"That’s a decision of the Human Rights Council," he said. "This is a membership organization. Every member state has a right to address legislative bodies… It’s not within the secretariat’s authority to bar member states from addressing a legislative body."

Eine Pressemitteilung des Netzwerkes „Zusammen für Frieden! JETZT!"

Am Samstag, den 14. Februar 2026, findet in München die jährliche Sicherheitskonferenz statt. Gegen ihren Kriegskurs protestieren in ganz Deutschland zahlreiche Bürgerinitiativen unter dem Dach des Netzwerkes „Zusammen für Frieden! JETZT!“. Sie fordern von der deutschen Politik eine konsequente Friedenspolitik im Sinne des Grundgesetzes – mit aktiver Diplomatie auch gegenüber Russland, mit Abrüstung, einer ausgewogenen und multiperspektivischen Berichterstattung sowie einer Abkehr von der Wiedereinführung der Wehrpflicht. 

In München wird es erneut zwei getrennte Protestveranstaltungen geben. Ein zentrales Anliegen ist es für das Friedensnetzwerk, dass alle Friedensgruppen im gemeinsamen Protest zusammenstehen. Die angeschlossenen Bürgerinitiativen rufen daher alle friedensbewegten Menschen auf, sich auf Grundlage des gemeinsamen Nenners – dem Einsatz für Frieden ohne Waffen – mit einer weißen Fahne als weltweit verstandenem Zeichen für die Niederlegung der Waffen und faire Verhandlungen an den Protesten am 14. Februar sowie am Schulstreik gegen Wehrpflicht am 5. März zu beteiligen.

An folgenden Orten und Tagen finden die Friedensaktionen statt:

München: 14.2., 13 Uhr

Macht Frieden-Demo, Odeonsplatz


Anti-SIKO-Demo, Stachus


13.-15.2. Friedenskonferenz


15.2., 18 Uhr, Friedensgebet der Religionen, Hansa-Haus, Brienner Str. 39 RG

Berlin: 14.02., 13 Uhr, Potsdamer Platz: 
Kundgebung gegen den Staatsterrorismus der USA
 & Aktion "Eine Million Stimmen für den Frieden"

15.02., 15-18 Uhr, Rathaus Friedrichshagen/Treptow
 "Eine Million Stimmen für den Frieden"

Dresden: Im Schmerz vereint – Gedenken an den 13.2.1945


14.2.26, 12 Uhr, Antreteplatz (Ausstellung), 14 Uhr Gedenkmarsch


13.2.26 Ausstellung Dr.-Külz-Ring/Nähe Altmarkt-Galerie

Hambach/Neustadt a.d.W.: 14.2.26 – Für den Frieden! Hinauf aufs Schloss!

13:00 Uhr Parkplatz Dammstraße OT Hambach


14:00 Uhr Kundgebung am Hambacher Schloss

Außerdem bundesweit: Do., 5.3.2026: Schulstreik gegen die Wehrpflicht

Links:
https://macht-frieden.org/
https://sicherheitskonferenz.de/
https://friedenskonferenz.info/
https://t.me/eineMillionStimmenFrieden
https://dresden-gedenken.de/
https://freieinig.de/
https://schulstreikgegenwehrpflicht.com/

Pressekontakt:
Katja Knoch für das Team von
Zusammen für Frieden! JETZT!
Kontakt: [email protected], 
Mobil: 0171-4774773
www.zusammen-fuer-frieden-jetzt.de

Wer wir sind
 „Zusammen für Frieden! JETZT!" ist ein bundesweites Netzwerk von eigenverantwortlichen Friedensinitiativen, zivilgesellschaftlichen Gruppen und engagierten Bürgerinnen und Bürgern – für Frieden ohne Waffen. Das Bündnis wurde im Oktober 2024 angesichts der eskalierenden weltweiten Konflikte gegründet und fordert eine klare Wende hin zu friedenschaffendem Handeln, Gewaltfreiheit und Menschlichkeit: Statt weiterer Aufrüstung, kriegstreiberischer Eskalation und der Unterstützung völkerrechtswidriger Interventionen müsse die Politik ihre Verantwortung wahrnehmen und – im Einklang mit den Friedensgeboten des nationalen und internationalen Rechts – konsequent auf Dialog, Diplomatie und Verständigung setzen. Das Zeichen des Netzwerks ist die weiße Fahne – weltweit verstanden als Symbol für Waffenstillstand und faire Verhandlungen. Mit vielfältigen Aktionen sollen Bewusstsein geschaffen, Menschen zum Mitwirken ermutigt und Termine der Friedensbewegung sichtbar gemacht werden. Ein zentrales Anliegen ist dabei, alle Friedensgruppen im gemeinsamen Protest zusammenzuführen. 
https://www.zusammen-fuer-frieden-jetzt.de/

"So werden wir ruhig gehalten und merken es nicht!" – Milena Preradovic

Friedvoll kämpfen wie Gandhi? Milena Preradovic über Widerstand, Denken & innere Stärke.

+++

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Frauen wird gern nachgesagt, sie wären ohnehin alle “woke” und würden die illegale Massenmigration entsprechend befürworten. Dabei sind es vor allem Frauen, die Opfer von importierter sexueller Gewalt und (Gruppen-)Vergewaltigungen durch Migranten werden. Die Women’s Safety Initiative im Vereinigten Königreich setzt sich aus Frauen zusammen, die überdeutlich ein Ende und eine Umkehrung der illegalen Einwanderung fordern. Mit “Amelia” hat die britische Regierung sie versehentlich mit der perfekten Fürsprecherin ausgestattet…

“Amelia” ist eigentlich ein Charakter im staatlich finanzierten Anti-Extremismus-Spiel “Pathways”: Mit ihr sollte vor den Gefahren vermeintlich rechtsextremer Propaganda gewarnt werden (Report24 berichtete). Die Entwickler hatten jedoch unterschätzt, wie groß der Widerstand gegen die illegale Massenmigration in der Bevölkerung bereits ist. Das regierungskritische Mädchen mit den lilafarbenen Haaren mauserte sich in den sozialen Netzen rasch zu einer Ikone des Widerstands und ging mit zahllosen KI-Videos viral.

Die Women’s Safety Initiative griff diesen Erfolg nun auf und holte “Amelia” in die Realität: Die Mitgliederinnen der Bewegung treten, ausgestattet mit passenden Perücken, als Amelia auf und fordern öffentlich Remigration.

“Wir haben es satt, dass die Sicherheit von Frauen und Mädchen für den Komfort von Migranten geopfert wird”, heißt es in einem Tweet, der mit einem Protestvideo versehen ist. “WIR ALLE SIND AMELIA! Die Bewegung hat gerade erst begonnen.”

Ein Foto der Frauen mit Amelia-Perücken und Regenschirmen mit Union-Jack-Motiv ist mit dem Text “AMELIA SAGT NEIN ZUR MASSENMIGRATION” versehen.

Die Initiative hat sich im April 2025 wegen der rasant erodierenden Sicherheit in Großbritannien infolge der unkontrollierten Massenmigration gegründet. Sie richtet den Fokus dabei vor allem auf die damit einhergehenden Gefahren für Frauen. Die Aktivistinnen gehen gemeinsam auf die Straße und machen dabei ihren Protest gegen die Migrationspolitik sichtbar. Auch medial treten sie immer wieder in Erscheinung, um die Öffentlichkeit wachzurütteln.

Mit “Amelia” hat die britische Regierung sie nun versehentlich mit einer Fürsprecherin mit maximalem Wiedererkennungswert ausgestattet. Der Protest dürfte so noch mehr Blicke auf sich ziehen.

Auf ihrem X-Account hat die Women’s Safety Initiative schon zahlreiche vermeintliche “Einzelfälle” gesammelt, in denen Migranten aus den immer gleichen Kulturkreisen Frauen verletzt, vergewaltigt oder ermordet haben. Der überwiegende Teil der Verbrechen wurde im Vereinigten Königreich verübt, doch auch über Horrortaten wie den Mord an einer 18-Jährigen in Hamburg durch einen Südsudanesen, der sie mit sich vor einen einfahrenden Zug zerrte, wird berichtet.

As indirect talks between the U.S. and Iran started on Friday in Oman, remarks from Vice President JD Vance earlier in the week questioning the absence of the Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei from talks have raised a core dilemma for Washington — the person with ultimate authority in Tehran is not sitting at the negotiating table.

In the interview, Vance said, "It’s a very weird country to conduct diplomacy with, when you can't even talk to the person who's in charge of the country. That makes all of this much more complicated… It is bizarre that we can't just talk to the actual leadership of the country. It really makes diplomacy very, very difficult," he said on Megyn Kelly's podcast.

IRANIAN SUPREME LEADER BLAMES TRUMP FOR INCREASINGLY INTENSE DEMONSTRATIONS

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, 86, has served as Iran’s supreme leader since 1989 and remains the country’s highest political and religious authority, with ultimate control over military, security and strategic decisions. That concentration of power means any diplomatic outcome must ultimately pass through him.

Sina Azodi, the director of the Middle East Studies Program at George Washington University, told Fox News Digital that Khamenei’s authority stems from direct control over Iran’s core power centers. "He is very powerful because he is the commander in chief of the armed forces and appoints the heads of the IRGC, the Artesh (conventional military), the judiciary and other important institutions."

Azodi added that protocol and hierarchy also explain Khamenei’s absence from negotiations. "Iranians are very adamant about diplomatic protocols — that since other countries don’t have the equivalent rank, he does not participate in any negotiations because his ‘equal’ rank does not exist," Azodi said. "Even when foreign heads of state visit him, there is only the Iranian flag, and foreign flags are not allowed."

Iranian sources familiar with internal discussions described Khamenei as operating from a legacy mindset at this stage of his life. "The supreme leader sees the confrontation with Washington as defining his historical role and believes Iran can retaliate against U.S. interests in the region. Khamenei is not focused on personal risk and views strategic confrontation as part of preserving his legacy," a Middle Eastern source speaking on the condition of anonymity told Fox News Digital.

Behnam Ben Taleblu, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, told Fox News Digital that Khamenei remains the decisive figure in Iran’s system even as the regime faces pressure at home and abroad.

"He wields great influence in Iran but also exercises the greatest veto in Iran’s political hierarchy," Ben Taleblu said.

He added, "The Iranian strategy… is to raise the cost of war in the thinking of the adversary," he said, describing a system that signals willingness to talk while simultaneously preparing for confrontation.

He warned that "regimes that are afraid and lethal and weak can still be dangerous," and said Tehran may believe threatening U.S. assets could deter a broader war even if such escalation risks triggering a stronger American response.

TOP IRANIAN GENERAL THREATENS TO 'CUT OFF' TRUMP'S HAND OVER POTENTIAL MILITARY STRIKES

"Very difficult to say what Khamenei’s mindset is, but I think that he, along with other senior officials, think that the current conflict is not an isolated phenomenon but rather the continuation of the June 2025 conflict and the recent protests, which he called ‘an American coup,’" Azodi told Fox News Digital.

"I think that he thinks that the U.S. is definitely after a regime change and that needs to be resisted at all costs," he added.

Inside Iran, frustration with Khamenei has become increasingly visible, according to a journalist reporting from within the country.

TRUMP SAYS IRANIAN SUPREME LEADER KHAMENEI SHOULD BE 'VERY WORRIED' AMID TENSIONS

"What people want more than anything else is for Khamenei to die… I hear it every day, everywhere I go — why doesn’t he die?" the journalist told Fox News Digital.

"You just open the Twitter of Iranians… the tweet is, why don’t you die? And everybody knows who we are talking about. So a nation is waiting for him to die."

The journalist said many Iranians no longer believe political reform is possible and instead see generational change as the only turning point.

An Iranian journalist in exile, Mehdi Ghadimi, told Fox News Digital that, "The Islamic government considers itself obligated to enforce Islamic law across the entire world. They harbor hatred toward Iranians and Jews, whom they regard as enemies of Islam," he explained, "In such a structure, the leader is seen as more than a political ruler; he is perceived as God’s representative, while leaders of enemy states are viewed as representatives of Satan, which is why he never meets with them. If dialogue or compromise were to take place, his sacred image would collapse in the eyes of his supporters."

He continued, "For this reason, groups labeled as ‘moderate,’ ‘reformist’ or ‘pro-Western’ are created so that the West can negotiate with them," Ghadimi added. "No one within the structure of the Islamic Republic thinks about anything other than defeating the Western world and establishing Islamic dominance globally. The diplomats presented to Western politicians as moderates are tasked with using diplomacy to buy time for Khamenei."

The negotiations come amid heightened regional tensions, U.S. military deployments and unresolved disputes over Iran’s nuclear program and missile capabilities.

Regional analysts say that for the U.S., the central challenge remains unchanged. Diplomats can negotiate, but the final decision rests with one man — a leader shaped by decades of confrontation with the United States, focused on regime survival and determined to preserve his legacy even as Iran enters a new round of talks.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Labour government is facing intense criticism over its failure to swiftly outlaw Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The development comes as a London-based Islamic center has been accused of selling merchandise supporting terrorism.

Potkin Azarmehr, a British-Iranian expert on Iran who has written extensively on Iran’s influence operations in the United Kingdom, told Fox News Digital the "Islamic Centre of England is a regime outpost.

"The head of the center is directly appointed by Iran’s supreme leader. The letter of the appointment is publicly read during the inauguration ceremony. There is not a shred of doubt that the center is used to peddle the influence of Iran’s political Islam. It is also used to recruit disgruntled British individuals who are sent to Iran for training."

The Daily Telegraph reported in late January that U.K. authorities were investigating the Islamic Centre of England for allegedly selling Hezbollah phone cases and pro-Iranian regime key rings. Britain has sanctioned the Iran-backed Lebanese terrorist movement, Hezbollah.

TRUMP’S IRAN THREATS FACE ‘OBAMA RED LINE’ TEST AS WHITE HOUSE PIVOTS TO DIPLOMACY

The pro-Hezbollah and pro–Islamic Republic goods were reportedly sold at a bazaar Dec. 14, 2025, according to the paper. One key ring displayed the words, "With the kindness of God, Seyyed Ali [Khamenei] is our leader." The Islamic Republic of Iran’s supreme leader, Khamenei, would order the murder of thousands of Iranian demonstrators just weeks later.

The bazaar also allegedly had stickers of late IRGC global terrorist Qassem Soleimani, who was responsible for the murders of over 600 military personnel, according to the Trump administration. President Trump ordered a drone strike in January 2020 that killed Soleimani in Iraq.

Emma Schubart, a research fellow at Britain's Henry Jackson Society, told Fox News Digital, "The Islamic Centre of England is not an isolated religious institution; it is part of a wider ecosystem of Iranian state-linked influence operating openly in the U.K., and at the center of that ecosystem sits the IRGC.

"The U.K. Government is dragging its feet over designating the IRGC. By delaying action, ministers are allowing hostile Iranian networks to continue operating under the cover of civil society and religious life. This is a dangerous blind spot in Britain’s national security."

The Islamic Centre of England is a registered charity. When asked about reports of the Islamic Center’s role in selling pro-terrorist merchandise, a spokesperson for the U.K.’s Charity Commission told Fox News Digital, "As part of our ongoing statutory inquiry into (the) Islamic Centre of England, we have raised concerns with the trustees about material sold by third parties at a recent event hosted at the charity’s premises. We take very seriously any alleged links between a charity and extremism or terrorism. Such links are abhorrent and corrosive to the trust on which the charitable sector depends."

Azarmehr, however, countered, "The U.K. Charity Commission, the regulatory body, has been ‘investigating’ the center for five years with no decisions and no updates other than appointing an interim director, but the center carries on business as usual.

"The only tangible result is that every time you make a complaint to the charity about the center, they reply by saying that because they are investigating the center, they cannot comment.

IRAN REGIME OPENED FIRE WITH LIVE AMMUNITION ON PROTESTERS, DOCTOR SAYS: ‘SHOOT-TO-KILL’

"The first head of the center, Ayatollah Mohsen Araki, is now a member of Iran’s powerful Assembly of Experts and a key figure in propagating Iran’s soft power abroad. Araki’s family have U.K. citizenship. The previous U.K. government, in which Alicia Kearns was part of its administration, even paid the center in excess of £100,000 in COVID-19 furlough."

Kearns, who is the shadow minister for home affairs for the opposition Conservative party, is now demanding that the Islamic Center be shuttered. 

"These latest revelations of terrorist tat being sold by the Islamic Centre of England are yet more evidence of why the center must be closed and those responsible for propagating terrorist propaganda face the law," she told the Telegraph.

"The figures being idealized are responsible for the cold-blooded murder of tens of thousands of young Iranian protesters, adding to the many regional and international crimes of the Islamic Republic of Iran."

WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM BOOTS IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER FROM DAVOS SUMMIT AMID DEADLY CRACKDOWN ON PROTESTERS

A spokesperson for the Islamic Centre of England told Fox News Digital, "The trustees take all concerns about the center very seriously. We are currently reviewing matters pertaining to the Dec. 14 event and, in light of this, are unable to comment further at this time."

The EU announced last week that it has classified the IRGC a terrorist entity. The U.S., Canada and Australia have previously designated the IRGC a foreign terrorist organization. The IRGC played a key role in the massacre of Iranian demonstrators last month.

The proliferation of pro-Iran activism unfolded last weekend in London. Nigel Farage, leader of the Reform Party in the United Kingdom, posted on X, "When people in Britain are chanting support for the thuggish regime in Iran, we are in serious trouble as a nation."

Video footage embedded in Farage’s post and other clips on social media shows a mix of pro-Palestinian and pro-Iran regime messaging at the protests.

Multiple Fox News Digital inquiries to the British prime minister’s office went unanswered.

Israel, im Westen gerne als "einzige Demokratie der Region" bezeichnet, wird seit Jahren von einer Staatskrise heimgesucht. Diverse Netanjahu-Regierungen versuchen den Rest an Gewaltenteilung zu beseitigen, indem Parlamentsentscheidungen die des höchsten israelischen Gerichts überstimmen können. Diese Krise gerät gerade wieder in eine Hochphase. Nicht dass die höchsten Gerichte des Landes wirklich etwas gegen Apartheid unternehmen [...]

Der Beitrag Faschismusdiskussion in Israel erschien zuerst unter tkp.at.