Iran: Ayatollah Praises Paramilitary Deadly Crackdown On Protesters

Iran’s Supreme Leader has praised the country’s Basij paramilitary force for its role in the deadly crackdown on anti-regime protesters. Eko Hot Blog reports that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei described the popular protest movement as “rioters” and “thugs” backed by foreign forces and praised “innocent” Basij fighters for protecting the nation. EDITOR’S PICKS Nigerians Can Now … Read more

Iran Protests: Heavy Police Presence In London Following Threats

In a tree-lined business park in Chiswick, West London, there is a heavy presence of armed police. Black, multi-role armoured vehicles called Jankels are positioned at intervals alongside Met Police armed response vehicles, fully crewed-up with armed officers inside. Eko Hot Blog reports that they are guarding every approach to the plate-glass building that houses … Read more

US: Iranian Officials Sanctioned For Crackdowns On Protest

The United States on Wednesday imposed sanctions on three officials in Iran’s Kurdish region, where dozens of protesters have reportedly been killed in the past week as the Iranian government continues its violent crackdown. Eko Hot Blog reports that the latest tranche of sanctions comes a day after the United Nation’s human rights office sounded … Read more

Iranian Actresses Arrested For Supporting Protests

Two prominent Iranian actresses have been arrested for publicly supporting mass anti-government protests, the country’s state-run media reports. Eko Hot Blog reports that Hengameh Ghaziani and Katayoun Riahi are accused of collusion and acting against Iran’s authorities. EDITOR’S PICKS COVID-19: China Announces New Death, New Cases US: Holiday Parade Turns Sour As Truck Kills Girl … Read more

Iran: Security Forces Kill 3 Civilians As Protest Surges

Iranian security forces have shot dead at least three people in the western province of Kurdistan in the latest deadly protests sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini, a rights group said. Eko Hot Blog reports that the country’s clerical leadership under Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is facing its biggest challenge since the Islamic Revolution of … Read more

Iran Finally Admits Supplying Drones To Russia

Iran has admitted supplying drones to Russia. Eko Hot Blog reports that the Iranian government has acknowledged for the first time that it had sent a limited number of drones to Russia. EDITOR’S PICKS Ukraine Suffers Water, Power Outages After Russia Resumes Strikes On Key Infrastructure ‘Most Dangerous Zone’ — Putin Urges Residents To Evacuate … Read more

Ukraine’s Military Claims Iran Plans to Send Sophisticated Arash-2 Attack Drones To Russia

Ukrainian military intelligence on Tuesday said Iran is planning to send more than 200 combat drones to Russian forces, including Iran’s new combat drone, the Arash-2. Eko Hot Blog reports that the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine, part of the defense ministry, said “a batch of more than 200 combat drones Shahed-136, Mohajer-6 and Arash-2 is … Read more

War: Russia, Iran Defiant Amid UN Pressure Over Drones In Ukraine

Russia and Iran are defiant amid UN pressure over drones in Ukraine. EKO HOT BLOG reports that Russia has warned the United Nations against investigating its use of drones in Ukraine, amid accusations the weapons came from Iran and were used in violation of UN arms restrictions on the Middle Eastern country. The United States, … Read more

Journalist Amanpour Recounts How Iranian President Cancelled Interview Over Refusal To Wear Headscarf

Eko Hot Blog reports that CNN’s chief international anchor Christiane Amanpour, has recounted how the Iranian president, Ebrahim Raisi, cancelled an interview with her over her refusal to wear a headscarf. In a Twitter thread on Thursday, Amanpour revealed the interview had been behind schedule without Raisi showing up when an aide of his came … Read more

[Ukraine] Iran Plans To Supply Russia With Drones – US Alleges

Russia

Sullivan added that intelligence received by the US supported the view that Russia’s assault on eastern Ukraine was “coming at a cost to the sustainment of its own weapons” The US and other allies have supplied billions of dollars’ worth of weapons to Ukraine since the invasion in February EDITOR’S PICK Osun 2022: Four Years … Read more

US Demands Release Of Seized Tankers, Crew In Iran

Tankers

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards seized the Greek tankers in the Gulf Friday, days after Athens confirmed it would deliver to Washington Iranian oil… It had said it seized the tankers due to violation EDITOR’S PICK After Emerging PDP Presidential Flagbearer, Atiku Meets With Wike, Others PDP Seeks Running Mate For Atiku, Considers Wike, Okowa, Udom –Reports … Read more

Gunmen Assasinate Colonel In Iran Revolutionary Guard

Colonel Sayad Khodai

Colonel Khodai was a senior member of the elite Quds Force, a shadowy external arm of the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) that carries out operations abroad Images from the scene show a bloodied man slumped over in a car with his seatbelt still on EDITOR’S PICK Ukraine War: West Must ‘Prepare For War’, Says Ex-Nato Chief … Read more

US Leaks Document On China’s Weaponry That Aims To Paralyse & Control Enemies

China

…there are concerns that China will use any of such weapons to maintain control over its own citizens – including ethnic minority Uighur Muslims.  EKO HOT BLOG reports that the United States government has sanctioned China’s Academy of Military Medical Sciences and 11 affiliated research institutes for using ‘biotechnology’ that ‘controls the brain’s to support … Read more

COVID-19 Kills Iran’s Ambassador to Yemen

Iran's ambassador

COVID-19 kills Iran’s ambassador to Yemen EKO HOT BLOG reports that Hassan Irloo, Iran’s top diplomat to Yemen, died on Tuesday after contracting coronavirus, Iranian state TV reported. The death of Ambassador Irloo came after he was recalled from war-torn Yemen for what Iran described as medical treatment. State-run media in Iran said he had … Read more

Iranian Police Crackdown as Protests Over Dry River Turn Violent

Iranian Police Crackdown as Protests Over Dry River Turn Violent EKO HOT BLOG reports that protests in Iran turned violent as police clashed with tens of thousands of people who had gathered to demand the restoration of a river that had been diverted to factories by the government. Farmers protested this week along the Zayandeh … Read more

[JUST IN] Man Arrested For Murder At Age 17 Executed

Murder

It said Abdolali had first been sentenced to death in December 2015 after “a grossly unfair trial” by a court that “relied on torture-tainted ‘confessions’”… EKO HOT BLOG reports that Iran, on Wednesday, executed a man who was arrested for murder at the age of 17, the judiciary said, despite appeals to spare his life … Read more

Biden Says US Won’t Unilaterally Lift Sanctions On Iran

Abortion

Biden has promised to return to the agreement — but only on the condition that Iran first renew its original commitments The standoff became clearer on Sunday, with Biden digging in his heels and the supreme Iranian leader Ali Khamenei also showing no flexibility United States President Joe Biden has made clear he will not … Read more