Iranian Regime tv Channel One hacked while it was airing Khamenie speech

Iranian Regime national tv Channel One hacked about an hour ago. During a broadcast of Khamenie speech, a red crosshair appeared over his face and chanting of Women. Life. Freedom. There was writing to the side saying "Rise up. Join us". Also 4 photos at the bottom of the screen of young people killed and additional writing: "The blood of our youth is dropping from your paws".

Also, there was a huge banner in the middle of Tehran highway today that read: We are no longer afraid of you. We will fight.

Also, attempted attack on IRI ambassador in Denmark. Her bodyguard was stabbed. Diplomatic Security intervened before the attacker could stab the ambassador.

21DEC2024 Iran will remove four extra zeros from its banknotes, the official currency “Iranian rial” will be replaced by “Iranian toman”, the president of the republic Masoud Pezeshkian submitted a bill on financial reform to the country's parliament for consideration, the Iranian state agency Mehr reports.

According to the agency, this bill was proposed by the cabinet of ministers and approved back in the summer of 2019, but today Pezeshkian urgently presented it to the parliament of the Islamic republic.

https://1prime.ru/20241221/iran-853767897.html

They tried this before: Iranian President Hassan Rohani has announced that his administration will reintroduce the toman as the country's official currency, replacing the rial, upon approval by parliament, Iran's official IRNA news agency reported on December 7, 2016.

For most Iranians, the currency change won't make much of a difference, as most Iranians already calculate prices using the toman, which is equal to 10 rials. The toman was used as the country's official currency until the 1930s, when it was replaced by the rial.

https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-announces-plan-make-toman-official-currency-ditching-real/28162810.html

There is no advantage in changing the currency unless there are changes in other policies at the same time.

Iran Update, December 22, 2024

Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei discussed Syrians revolting against unspecified oppressors during a speech on December 22.[28] Khamenei said that “Syrian youth . . . must stand up to the planners and executors of insecurity [in Syria] with strong will and overcome them.” It is unclear exactly whom Khamenei was referencing when he said “planners and executors.” Such comments reflect the second time that Khamenei has discussed young Syrians organizing and arming themselves since the fall of Assad. Khamenei said on December 11 that “undoubtedly the occupied area[s] of Syria will be liberated by the zealous Syrian youth.”[29] Khamenei in the same breath compared Syria today to Iraq in the 2003-2011 period and said that Syrian youth would free Syria in the same way that Iranian-backed Iraqi militias “freed” Iraq from the United States. CTP-ISW previously assessed that this comparison suggests that Iran may pursue efforts to support similar militias in Syria to combat opposition forces and US-Israeli “interference” while undermining any new government in Syria, although CTP-ISW has not observed any material developments to indicate that Iran is currently pursuing these efforts.[30]

https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/iran-update-december-22-2024

Posted by a former aid to Ahmadinejad:

Abu Muhammad al-Jolani has not only revised his appearance; his statements today in a meeting with Walid Jumblatt show that he has also distanced himself from Salafism.
◼️ Jolani: What do the events of 1400 years ago have to do with us that the people of Syria should fight over?! What kind of logic is this?

https://x.com/DavariAbdolreza/status/1870921706002592191
video
Note that Jolani/Sharaa is wearing a tie:

Druze leader Walid Jumblatt arrived at the People's Palace in Damascus, for the first time in more than 13 years, at the head of a delegation that included the Sheikh Aql of the Druze Unitarian community, Sheikh Sami Abi Al-Mona, the head of the Progressive Socialist Party, MP Taymour Jumblatt, and the participation of the “Democratic Gathering” bloc and a number of Druze sheikhs.

The commander-in-chief of the new administration in Syria, Ahmad al-Sharaa, pledged on Sunday that his country would no longer exercise “negative” influence in Lebanon and would respect the sovereignty of this neighboring country. Jumblatt accuses Damascus of assassinating his father Kamal in 1977 during the civil war, during the reign of the late President Hafez al-Assad. The assassinations of several other anti-Syrian Lebanese officials were attributed to the former Syrian regime.

Ahmed Al-Sharaa pledged that “there will be a new history in Lebanon that we build together without cases of violence and assassinations… and I hope that the previous Syrian memory in Lebanon will be erased.”

https://www.alquds.co.uk/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B2%D8%B9%D9%8A%D9%85-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AF%D8%B1%D8%B2%D9%8A-%D9%88%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%AF-%D8%AC%D9%86%D8%A8%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%B7-%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%89-%D8%B1%D8%A3%D8%B3-%D9%88%D9%81%D8%AF-%D9%81/

We should listen to Walid.

Iran Update, December 23, 2024

Iran is facing a severe energy crisis marked by electricity and natural gas shortages. Iranian officials have increasingly warned of an energy crisis in recent days and shut down or significantly reduced the operating hours for government buildings, public facilities, and schools.[41] The Iranian regime has cut the fuel supply to several power plants to compensate for shortages.[42] Reduced power plant operation has significantly limited domestic manufacturing. Chief of the Coordination Council of Industries Mehdi Bostanchi estimated that taking power plants offline in recent days could reduce domestic manufacturing by up to 50 percent and lead to billions of dollars in losses. Bostanchi said that the situation in Iran was “unlike anything industries have ever experienced.” The situation is likely to worsen throughout the winter as temperatures drop and demand for energy increases.

A variety of factors have likely caused the severe energy crisis in Iran. IRGC Deputy Commander Brigadier General Ali Fadavi lamented on December 23 that Iran ranks “second in gas reserves, but we cannot solve the energy problem.”[43] The Iranian regime heavily subsidizes gas prices, which contributes to overconsumption. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has previously suggested that raising gas prices is necessary to combat overconsumption. The Pezeshkian administration is likely reticent to raise gas prices, however, given that doing so could cause widespread civil unrest. Some Iranian officials have attributed the energy crisis to Israel's attack on two gas pipelines in Iran in February 2024.[44] Former Iranian Oil Minister Javad Owji said that the pipelines were repaired within three days, however, making it seem unlikely that the airstrikes caused the current crisis.[45]

The energy crisis could generate internal unrest in Iran regardless of whether the Pezeshkian administration cuts fuel subsidies. Iranian Judiciary Chief Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejei recently ordered Iranian security forces to prepare for potential unrest.[46] Ejei made this statement while discussing the energy crisis, which suggests the regime may be concerned that the crisis will trigger unrest. Protests have previously erupted due to gas shortages.[47] The energy crisis comes at a time when Iran is facing other crises and dire economic conditions, which could compound and drive anti-regime sentiment. The Iranian rial recently reached historically low levels, valuing at 784,000 rials to one US dollar on December 23.

The Times reported on December 22 that Iran may turn Rafic Hariri International Airport in Beirut into a “new logistics hub, just as [Iran] did in Syria,” citing an unspecified regional source aware of discussions in Tehran.[92] The source said that Iran may seek to establish a new “hub” in Beirut for military shipments since its routes to Lebanon via Syria have been severed by the fall of Assad. Iran has historically moved materiel to Lebanon to build Lebanese Hezbollah and its military forces. Israeli media reported on December 22 that HTS leader Ahmad al Shara recently decided to prevent Iranian civilian and military flights from transiting Syrian airspace, which will significantly limit Iranian freedom of movement in the Middle East.[93] Loss of access to Syrian airspace will severely limit Iran's ability to rearm Hezbollah and require Iran to establish other access routes, although it is unclear how viable the alternative routes could be.

https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/iran-update-december-23-2024

Iran Update, December 24, 2024

The friction between the Salafi-jihadi ideologues and Shara’s relatively moderate governance could force Shara to compel Salafi-jihadists to adhere to his vision or take a more Salafi approach to preserve Shara’s coalition. Both al Qaeda-linked ideologues and ISIS have denounced HTS’s protection of religious minorities and engagement with the West. A “prominent” al Qaeda supporter publicly “advised” HTS to avoid the mistakes of the Taliban by adhering to “Islamic principles” and avoid “pleasing the West.” He added that Shara must adhere to Islamic principles because the West and “Jews and Christians” would not be pleased with moderate measures until Shara converted to Judaism or Christianity.[15] ISIS similarly argued that HTS’s protection of religious minorities and engagement with “infidel” states is unacceptable. Other ISIS supporters are criticizing Shara’s Western dress — including suits and ties — and implying these make him unIslamic.[16] These arguments may attract some Salafi-jihadists who are resistant to Shara’s approach.[17] Shara has previously suppressed similar Salafi-jihadist opposition by force of arms.[18] He will likely attempt to do so again if he believes he has the bandwidth to do so.

ISIS may be attempting to resupply its forces with weapons captured from regime, Russian, and Iranian stocks in the central Syrian desert. US Central Command (CENTCOM) conducted an airstrike targeting ISIS operatives moving a “truckload of weapons” in Deir ez Zor Province, Syria, on December 23.[19] CENTCOM confirmed that it killed two ISIS fighters and wounded one fighter in an area of Deir Ez Zor formerly controlled by the Assad regime and Russia. ISIS fighters−who have long fought under threat of airstrikes — would presumably avoid transporting large amounts of weapons from existing ISIS stocks, given the risk that US airstrikes would destroy much-needed weapons stockpiles. The decision to transport these weapons in a “truckload” suggests that ISIS had captured a new stock of weapons and attempted to transport them to a safe location when CENTCOM struck the vehicle. There are many positions throughout the desert in Syria formerly occupied by Russian, Iranian, or Assad regime forces that are currently unoccupied and could contain weapons that ISIS needs to reconstitute itself. ISIS seeks to exploit the hasty withdrawal of Russian and Syrian regime forces by capturing these stocks.

https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/iran-update-december-24-2024

Iran Update, December 26, 2024

Iran is also making remarks that risk stoking sectarian tension. Senior Iranian officials, including the supreme leader, have repeatedly suggested that the Syrian youth will “rise up” in Syria.[13] The Iranian supreme leader compared these “Syrian youth” to the Iraqi militia groups that systematically hunted down and killed Sunni civilians in Baghdad as part of a campaign of sectarian cleansing in Iraq.[14] Core HTS fighters from Jabhat al Nusra and al Qaeda in Iraq, like Shara, are intimately familiar with the Iraqi context and would presumably read “Syrian youth” as a much more sectarian call than it immediately appears. Sectarian Iranian remarks would provide an opening for Sunni sectarian elements in Syria to portray all Alawites and Shia as pro-Iranian proxies to justify a violent crackdown.

Syrian Foreign Affairs Minister Asaad Hassan al Shaibani responded to these Iranian statements. He warned Iran against “spreading chaos in Syria” and stated that Syria will hold Iran “accountable for the repercussions of [its] latest remarks,” likely referring to ongoing rhetoric from senior Iranian officials suggesting that Syrian youth will “rise up” in Syria.[15]

https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/iran-update-december-26-2024

Iran Update, December 27, 2024

It appears increasingly unlikely, however, that the HTS-led government’s leadership views negotiating with the SDF as a priority as it formalizes relations with Turkey. HTS, while not a Turkish proxy or beholden to Turkey, has been quick to deepen its cooperation with Turkey since the fall of the Assad regime. HTS’s intensifying alignment with Turkish interests continues to pose an existential threat to the SDF as Turkey continues to signal a possible Turkish incursion into Syria or a Turkish-backed operation in northern Syria to “eliminate” the SDF. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced on December 27 that Turkey shall ensure security “beyond its southern borders” and “eliminate terrorist threats” starting in 2025.[25] Abdi warned of a potential “catastrophe” facing Kobani from the Turkish military buildup on the border.[26] Syrian media reported on December 27 that Turkish military reinforcements arrived in the town of Suluk, which is located north of Raqqa in SNA-controlled territory.[27]

The SNA continued to engage the SDF west of Tishreen Dam in the Manbij countryside.[28] Local sources reported that the SNA sent reinforcements to the frontlines near the Tishreen Dam.[29] The SDF claimed on December 27 that it engaged SNA forces near Abu Qalqal in the Manbij countryside.[30]

https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/iran-update-december-27-2024

Iran Update, December 28, 2024

Iraqi Defense Minister Thabet al Abasi inspected Iraqi army units and border police at Rabia border crossing, along the Syria-Iraq border, on December 28.[39] Abbasi met with combat units, including the 71st Infantry Brigade (15th Iraqi Army Division). Abasi visited Rabia two days after Iranian-backed Badr Organization Secretary-General Hadi al Ameri inspected combat units at Rabia border crossing.[40] Abasi’s visit also follows Iraqi Prime Minister Shia al Sudani’s implicit threat that Iraq would intervene in Syria if the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) resurges and threatens Iraq.

The Iranian defense minister emphasized the Iranian armed forces’ preparedness for “hard war” and accused the United States and Israel of exacerbating regional instability, particularly in Syria.[41] Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Aziz Nasir Zadeh announced the commencement of armed forces exercises on December 28, stressing Iran’s readiness and determination to confront any external threats.[42] Nasir Zadeh stated that Iran has “no issues on the frontlines of hard war” and will persist in enhancing its power at all costs. The Iranian regime asserts that it faces three types of threats: soft, semi-hard, and hard threats. Hard threats, which Nasir Zadeh is referring to, involve conventional warfare.[43] Nasir Zadeh is a military aviator and former commander of the Iranian Artesh Air Force and Deputy Chief of the Armed Forces General Staff.[44]

The Iranian Armed Forces General Staff (AFGS) separately stated on December 28 accusing the United States and Israel of orchestrating the ongoing crisis in Syria, framing the situation as part of a broader geopolitical confrontation.[45] The AFGS emphasized Iran’s readiness, bolstered by public support, to decisively counter any aggression while reiterating its commitment to defending sovereignty and asserting regional power.[46]

https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/iran-update-december-28-2024

Iran Update, December 29, 2024

ootage circulating on social media showed protests at the Grand Bazaar in Tehran on December 29 in response to the worsening state of the Iranian economy.[64] Iran continues to face a severe energy crisis that has significantly limited Iran’s manufacturing capacity and shut down large parts of Iranian society.[65] CTP-ISW previously assessed that this crisis and the declining value of the Iranian rial could present a serious threat to regime stability by fueling anti-regime sentiment and generating internal unrest in Iran.[66] Iranian Judiciary Chief Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejei recently ordered Iranian security forces to prepare for potential unrest.[67]

https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/iran-update-december-29-2024

Iran Update, December 30, 2024

Iran appears increasingly as though it seeks to foment sectarian conflict in Syria, which it could then exploit to establish proxy and partner militias there. Outlets affiliated with the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) and Armed Forces General Staff published reports on December 30 to this end. One outlet reported on HTS-affiliated elements committing violence against Syrian Alawites.[1] Another outlet reported that armed “resistance” has formed against the HTS-led interim government in response to its offenses against the Syrian people.[2] CTP-ISW has independently observed anti-HTS elements appearing in predominantly Alawite areas in recent days. That the Iranian outlet framed these elements as “resistance” is noteworthy given that the term has an overwhelmingly positive connotation in Iranian regime discourse.[3] Other Iranian outlets that have no obvious affiliation with the Iranian security establishment have published reports emphasizing sectarian tensions in recent days as well. For instance, one outlet reported on purported HTS efforts to achieve the “de-Shia-ization of Syria.”[4] A Middle Eastern source separately told a Western analyst that regional countries have shared intelligence with HTS in recent days that the IRGC is planning to “foster, direct, and support an insurgency” in Syria, presumably by exploiting the sectarian tension that Iran is currently trying to stoke.[5] Another source told the Western analyst that HTS-led forces detained two former Syrian regime operatives with IRGC identification cards and at least three Lebanese nationals.[6] CTP-ISW cannot verify these reports, but it is consistent with senior Iranian officials, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, suggesting in recent days that Syrian youth should arm and mobilize against the interim government.[7]

Iranian Foreign Affairs Minister Abbas Araghchi highlighted the need for closer consultations with China to address Iran's nuclear program and sanctions relief during his visit to Beijing on December 27.[76] Iranian Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister for Legal and International Affairs Kazem Gharibabadi previously met with Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu in Beijing on December 5 to discuss similar matters.[77] Araghchi’s visit comes as Iranian oil tankers watchers observed a significant decline in Iranian oil exports to China as result of US Treasury sanctions on vessels since October 2024.[78]

https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/iran-update-december-30-2024

Member of Guardian Council says Iran may face upheaval like Syria

A member of Iran's Guardian Council has cautioned that if popular demands for certain freedoms, which he described as aligned with plans by adversaries, are overlooked, the country risks facing a scenario similar to Syria. “Negligence by officials and certain groups in society could bring us to a situation like we saw in Syria,” said Mehdi Shabzandehdar, drawing parallels to the ouster of Bashar al-Assad in Syria.

He said that “certain freedoms” align with enemy plans to undermine the Islamic Republic. “The freedoms that a small group pursues, which have significant conflicts of interest and great harms, must be carefully scrutinized as they align with the enemies’ plans,” he said. He warned that if such actions weaken public attachment to Islam, the Islamic Revolution, and its values, “it will be a day of celebration for our enemies.” His remarks come amid growing defiance of mandatory hijab laws by Iranian women and broader demands for social freedoms across the country.
https://www.iranintl.com/en/202412304932

A MASSIVE shift of opinion is happening within the regime in Iran:

Mehdi Nasiri, former mouthpiece for Khamenei’s state propaganda outlet Kayhan, says that support for Iran's Monarchy and Iran's King in exile sits at 50-70% of the Iranian population. Yes, you're reading this right. The regime itself admitting that a majority of Iranians want to restore the Pahlavi dynasty. The real percentage of support is higher, but a regime journalist even admitting to this at all is a massive development. Absolutely unheard of even a few years ago.

I believe these regime supporters can tell that the ship is sinking, and are positioning themselves to switch sides once Khamenei’s rotten republic collapses. But they need to understand that after 45 years, they have no place in the future of Iran.
https://x.com/niohberg/status/1870961167956660700
2 min video in Persian

Machine translated:

2 min video https://x.com/HeyGenLabs/status/1871109248630886880

Iran Update, December 31, 2024

There are growing indications that Iran is trying to stoke and exploit sectarian violence in Syria. Doing so would weaken the HTS-led interim government and help reestablish the Axis of Resistance in Syria. The main outlet of the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) called on December 31 for a counter-revolution in Syria, framing it as a response to the “occupation” of Syria by “takfiri terrorists.”[4] This term refers to apostates and is commonly used by Iran to refer to the so-called “Islamic State” and other armed Sunni organizations. The IRGC report added that the liberation of Syria is “imminent.” This rhetoric from the IRGC marks the first time that CTP-ISW has observed Iran appearing to call for a revolt against the HTS-led interim government. Rhetoric from Iranian leaders and state media has until this point ambiguously called for the formation of armed resistance in Syria but would often mention resistance to Israeli ground operations in southwestern Syria in the same breath. That the main outlet of the IRGC made these remarks is especially noteworthy given that regional sources have claimed that the IRGC is planning to organize, direct, and support new proxy and partner militia networks in Syria. It is also noteworthy that the IRGC report comes around the same time that the Syrian Popular Resistance announced its formation and opposition to the HTS-led interim government. Iranian state media has previously reported on the formation of armed resistance against HTS in positive terms.[5] Iranian Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Akbar Ahmadian separately stated on December 31 that “a new resistance has been born [in Syria] that will manifest itself in the coming years” during a meeting with the Omani foreign affairs minister.[6]

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian met with Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on December 31 to discuss efforts to address inflation, the devaluation of the Iranian currency, and energy shortages.[57] Pezeshkian stated that discussions included using subsidies to help consumers, fostering economic cooperation with neighboring countries, and energy conservation efforts.[58]

The United States sanctioned IRGC subsidiary Cognitive Design Production Center (CDPC), which specializes in influence operations, for trying to interfere in the 2024 US presidential election.[59] CDPC has specifically tried inciting political tensions among US voters since 2023.

https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/iran-update-december-31-2024

Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Tuesday that 20 to 30 million liters of fuel are smuggled out of the country daily, calling it a catastrophe amid the country’s energy crisis. “This level of smuggling when [fuel] production and distribution are in our own hands is absolutely unacceptable,” he said. “With this amount of fuel smuggling, will the public accept that we cut off gas and electricity to the industrial [sector] to manage energy consumption?” Pezeshkian added.

https://www.iranintl.com/en/202412319636

Fuel oil smuggling network rakes in $1 billion for Iran and its proxies
Powerful militia Asaib Ahl al-Haq central to scheme, sources say
Sanctioned Iran-backed AAH leader Khazali supported Sudani as PM
Fuel oil smuggling provides dollars for Iran, sources say
https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/fuel-oil-smuggling-network-rakes-1-billion-iran-its-proxies-2024-12-03/

Iran Update, January 2, 2025

Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s senior advisor, Ali Larijani, justified Iran’s actions in Syria, reaffirmed support of the Axis of Resistance, and linked future Iran-Syria relations to the conduct of new Syrian leaders. Larijani highlighted Soleimani’s fundamental role in the Axis of Resistance.[37] Larijani dismissed claims that the resistance has been weakened and emphasized the resilience of movements such as Hezbollah, which he claimed had rebuilt itself after significant setbacks.[38] Larijani’s speech takes a more defensive tone by framing recent setbacks as temporary and reaffirming Iran’s commitment to its regional objectives. It is notable, however, that Larijani linked future Iran-Syria relations to the conduct of the new Syrian leaders. Other Iranian officials and ex-officials, such as former IRGC Commander Mohsen Rezaei, have advocated for Iran to support resistance movements in Syria against HTS.[39]

https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/iran-update-january-2-2025

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan presented President Biden with options for a potential U.S. attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities if the Iranians move towards a nuclear weapon before Jan. 20, in a meeting several weeks ago that remained secret until now, three sources with knowledge of the issue tell Axios.

Sullivan said last month that the Biden administration had briefed President-elect Trump’s team on the intelligence picture regarding Iran’s nuclear program. “They may choose a different course, a different strategy, but I want to make sure we are starting from a common base of what we are facing with respect to the threat posed by Iran’s nuclear program,” he said.
https://www.axios.com/2025/01/02/iran-nuclear-weapon-biden-white-house

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