Iran sentences Iranian-American journalist to 10 years in prison

Jordan-based Al-Ghad TV reported that Israeli fighter jets carried out 17 airstrikes on Friday night and early Saturday, focusing on areas near Damascus.

These strikes hit ballistic Scud missile warehouses, rocket launchers, and the Nasiriyah military airport in the Qalamoun region, according to the report.

According to the Al-Ghad TV report, the Israeli strikes on the outskirts of Damascus targeted strategic military assets linked to Iran's regional influence. These included weapons tunnels, which reportedly housed advanced missile systems.

Israel has not commented on the strikes, adhering to its usual policy of ambiguity regarding military operations in Syria. However, Israeli officials have previously emphasized that such actions aim to prevent the transfer of advanced weapons to Hezbollah and other Iran-backed forces.

Meanwhile, top diplomats from the United States, Turkey, the European Union, and several Arab nations convened on Saturday to discuss Syria's future. Iran and Russia were notably absent from the talks hosted in Aqaba. Participants included US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen, and foreign ministers from countries such as Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Qatar.

The discussions centered on guiding Syria toward a political transition following the recent ousting of Bashar al-Assad. Arab diplomats issued a statement advocating for a peaceful and inclusive transition, new constitutional frameworks, and elections while reaffirming their commitment to combating terrorism.

Turkey, which has supported Syrian opposition forces for years, is expected to play a significant role in shaping Syria’s future government. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan announced on Friday that Turkey’s embassy in Damascus would reopen, signaling a shift in Turkey’s approach as it seeks to consolidate influence in Syria.

While the United States shares some interests with Turkey, conflicting priorities remain, particularly regarding the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). The SDF, a Kurdish-led coalition that has been instrumental in fighting ISIS, is viewed by Ankara as an extension of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). Turkish-backed rebels have clashed with the SDF in northern Syria, complicating the geopolitical landscape.

The exclusion of Iran from the talks reflects its diminished influence in post-Assad era as regional and global powers align to shape Syria's political transition. Iran’s billions of dollars spent in Syria, including the construction of military infrastructure and weapons depots, face increasing threats from Israeli airstrikes and the shifting diplomatic focus of key players like Turkey and Saudi Arabia.

As the international community moves forward with plans for Syria's political transition, Iran's marginalization in the process underscores a growing consensus among its rivals to curb Tehran's regional ambitions. 

Ahmadi was arrested in Mazandaran, northern Iran, three days after she published on YouTube her unveiled performance in a caravanserai, her lawyer Milad Panahipour told Emtedad news website.

"We have no information about the charges against Parastoo Ahmadi, the arresting authority, or her place of detention," Panahipour said.

Two members of her band, Ehsan Beiraghdar and Soheil Faghih-Nassiri, were also arrested on Saturday, according to the lawyer. All three were released by Sunday morning.

On December 12, the Judiciary of the Islamic Republic issued a statement saying that the concert was held "without legal authorization and adherence to Sharia principles" and that "appropriate action" will be taken against the singer and production team.

The Caravanserai Concert, held on Wednesday night, quickly became one of the most discussed topics on Iranian social media.

Despite YouTube being restricted in Iran, the performance has attracted over 1.5 million views over the past three days, with clips widely shared online.

Ahmadi, in her introduction, described the concert as hypothetical, saying, “I am Parastoo; a girl who wants to sing for the people she loves... this is a right I could not forsake.”

Ahmadi was born in 1997 in Nowshahr in northern Iran. She is a graduate in directing from Sooreh University and spent years playing the piano and doing song covers which she shared on her Instagram page.

Iranian law prohibits women from singing solo or appearing in public without a hijab. Ahmadi’s performance, in which she bared her shoulders, challenged these long-standing restrictions.

Her earlier acts of defiance, including a rendition of Az Khoon-e Javanan-e Vatan (“From the Blood of the Youth of the Nation”) during 2022 nationwide anti-veil protests, had already brought her into conflict with authorities. Following that performance, she was summoned by security officials and her home was searched.

Artistic defiance has become a hallmark of Iran’s protest movements, with musicians such as Shervin Hajipour, Mehdi Yarrahi, Saman Yasin, and Toomaj Salehi facing arrest for their roles in mobilizing dissent. Ahmadi’s concert continues this tradition, positioning her as both an artist and an activist in a country where such roles carry significant risks.

The judiciary’s swift action shows the government’s determination to curb what it sees as cultural transgressions, even as social media amplifies these acts of resistance to global audiences.

Compared to the same date last year, when the dollar was valued at 505,000 rials, the current rate represents a staggering 48% rise.

The rial began trading below 740,000 to the dollar on Saturday morning but surged above 750,000 rials by noon.

The euro reached almost 800,000 rials, while the British pound was trading at 950,000 rials. Almost all other major currencies and currencies of neighboring countries also rose against the rial, including the afghani.

One notable shock to the currency market came on November 6, when the dollar initially jumped past 700,000 rials following the news of Donald Trump’s victory in the US presidential elections. But the currency had begun its decline in September after serious blows by Israel against Iran's main regional proxy, Hezbollah and an Israeli air strike that destroyed most of Iran's air defenses.

However, authorities temporarily stabilized the rate below the 700,000 thresholds, most likely by selling foreign currencies to support the rial.

The downward trend resumed later that month after the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) Board of Governors issued a resolution critical of Tehran for its nuclear program which has breached international regulations, producing 60% enriched uranium as Iran edges ever closer to nuclear weapons capability.

The fall of Bashar al-Assad in Syria last week came as a new shock to the rial, which fell to new lows several times in recent days.

The rial has faced significant volatility throughout the year, influenced by volatility in the region and direct conflict between Iran and Israel.

Iran’s reliance on oil and gas exports for foreign currency earnings has made the country particularly vulnerable to international sanctions. Under Joe Biden’s presidency, sanctions enforcement eased somewhat, offering Tehran a lifeline. But the return of Donald Trump to the White House, combined with Europe’s increasingly tough stance to crack down on Iran's nuclear program, foreshadows greater economic strain for the Islamic Republic.

Inflation in Iran already exceeds 40%, and the rial’s devaluation will exacerbate price hikes, further eroding the purchasing power of ordinary Iranians.

Tens of millions have faced declining living standards over the past five years, with wages lagging behind inflation and around one third of the population now living below the poverty line.

The average worker who was earning almost $200 per month earlier this year is now getting the equivalent of $150 or less, while official data suggests that $500 is the bare minimum required to meet basic needs.

As the dollar’s rise continues, the impact on daily life for Iranians grows more severe. Essential goods and services, already out of reach for many, are likely to see further price increases, deepening economic hardship and fueling public discontent.

IHR noted that the charge of collaborating with Israel against 26-year-old Shayesteh, who was arrested last year, was based on confessions obtained under torture and used to expedite his death sentence. The human rights group emphasized the lack of evidence in the case, pointing out that "an empty handgun magazine" and "a pepper spray" were presented as proof of "possession of illegal weapons" to support the charge of "collaboration with the enemy."

"The Islamic Republic is experiencing its greatest crises in its history and, to prevent public protests and cover up its regional failures, resorts to intimidation through the execution of defenseless prisoners," Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, Director of IHR, tweeted on Friday.

In recent months, Iranian authorities have escalated their use of the death penalty, with human rights groups reporting that over 42 political prisoners currently face the risk of execution.

According to a November 21 report by HRANA, at least 133 executions were documented in the past month alone, averaging more than four per day. This follows data from the Iran Human Rights Organization, which recorded at least 166 executions in October.

HRANA’s reports reveal an annual average of 811 executions between October 2023 and October 2024, encompassing both political detainees and ordinary prisoners.

This surge in executions coincides with rising tensions between Iran and Israel, with some suggesting that the government is leveraging geopolitical crises to distract from its domestic repression.

Mohammad Eslami attributed the decision to Iran’s growing uranium enrichment activities, describing the enhanced inspections as a natural consequence of the program's expansion.

“As the scale of nuclear activities grows, the level of inspections must also rise,” Eslami said, without elaborating on the specifics of the increased monitoring.

The development follows reports based on a confidential IAEA document, indicating that Iran had agreed to more frequent and rigorous inspections at the Fordow nuclear site.

Last week, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported that Iran had significantly accelerated its uranium enrichment at levels of up to 60% purity—nearing the 90% threshold required for weapons-grade material—at the Fordow facility. Western powers have labeled this development a highly serious escalation in their ongoing standoff with Iran over its nuclear program.

Iran’s IRGC-affiliated Tasnim News Agency clarified that the increased monitoring pertains to the number of inspections rather than a larger deployment of inspectors.

In addition, Eslami acknowledged efforts to address two unresolved older cases related to undeclared nuclear materials.

"‌We will engage with the IAEA regarding the two remaining locations to close the cases."

The IAEA Board of Governors, however, remains troubled by the past discovery of undeclared nuclear materials at several sites and Iran’s failure to fully account for them.

Last month, the IAEA Board of Governors adopted a resolution urging Iran to enhance its cooperation with the agency. The resolution, proposed by the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and the United States, expressed profound concern over Iran's insufficient cooperation and the unresolved safeguards issues, emphasizing the necessity for Iran to fulfill its legal obligations under the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi recently estimated that Iran possesses enough uranium enriched to 60% to potentially produce several nuclear bombs if the material were further enriched to 90%. This alarming threshold has intensified concerns among Western powers.

Eslami, however, pushed back against international criticism, accusing “certain entities, especially Israel, of fearmongering about Iran’s nuclear activities.”

Iran has long maintained that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, though officials have increasingly alluded to the potential pursuit of nuclear weapons in recent statements.

The heightened scrutiny of Iran’s nuclear program comes amid reports of attacks on its nuclear facilities, which Tehran has often attributed to Israel. Simultaneously, debates about preemptive military action against Iran have gained traction in the United States. A Wall Street Journal report on Friday said that members of President-elect Donald Trump’s team are considering military options to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, including airstrikes.

In an interview with Time magazine, Trump, recently named Person of the Year, left open the possibility of military action, further stoking tensions. These discussions add to a growing sense of urgency as Iran’s enrichment activities continue and the IAEA demands greater transparency.