Iran Arrests Afghan Dissidents Claiming They Are ISIS

Ali Beitollahi, Head of the Seismology and Vulnerability Section at the Center for Research of Roads and Urban Development, said that Iran's situation is exacerbated by the extensive nature of subsidence areas across many provinces, with the number of affected regions surpassing other countries with similarly high rates. In Kerman province alone, subsidence rates reach 40 centimeters annually.

Furthermore, the report indicates that in areas south of Alborz province and near Tehran, the subsidence rate exceeds 30 centimeters per year, posing a threat to infrastructure and urban development.

Even in the northern provinces of Iran, land subsidence has become critical, according to Beitollahi. He noted that Golestan province faces subsidence rates exceeding 22 percent, primarily due to “unauthorized groundwater withdrawals,” especially rampant in regions where cotton and corn cultivation prevail.

Beitollahi attributed the increase in subsidence rates partly to “extensive well drilling practices, which have led to a decline in groundwater levels across the country.”

Last year, reports surfaced suggesting that the Iranian government had intentionally concealed information about the worsening subsidence crisis.

Last month, experts in Iran warned the current land subsidence situation in Iran is “critical", claiming it puts the lives of more than 39 million people at risk.

Dam construction, climate change, inefficient water consumption by agriculture and industries, and the use of underground aquifers as sources for illegal agricultural water extraction wells have all contributed to the problem which now puts the lives of millions of Iranians at risk.

Ali Beitollahi, heading the disaster task force on the issue at the Road, Housing and Urban Development Research Center of Iran, said the approximate area of subsidence zones in the country is now 18.5 million hectares, almost 11% of Iran's total area, and says if action is not taken, it endangers the lives of nearly 49% of Iran’s population. He said 380 and 9,200 villages are at risk of land subsidence.

According to Tasnim news agency, affiliated with the Revolutionary Guards, Safavi said, “The shadow of fear and terror looms over the occupied lands, and the Zionists see the specter of death in their dreams every night.”

He made the remarks as debate continues in Tehran about how to retaliate Israel’s April 1 air strike that killed seven IRGC officers in the Iranian embassy in Damascus.

The leadership of the Islamic Republic, and particularly Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei face a challenging political dilemma -- launch a forceful retaliatory attack and risk a wider war, possibly involving the United States, or exercise restraint and look for less dramatic alternatives. However, Tehran’s proxies around the region, its domestic supporters, and even ordinary Iranians opposed to the government might see any hesitation as a sign of weakness.

Safavi pointed out that 28 Israeli embassies and consulates have been temporarily closed because of threats on behalf of Iran and its proxies. The closures “happened out of fear, and it means that confronting this brutal regime is a legal and legitimate right.”

While the IRGC and its media outlets clamor for war and a swift response, Tehran's commentators advocate for a measured approach, warning that the strike might be a trap to drag Iran into a direct conflict.

Israeli attacks have killed 18 senior IRGC officers since December, a trend that has become difficult to explain away by the Islamic Republic.

Many regional countries would like to ,see Iran directly involved in a war with Israel because it will inflict great damage on the country, two Iranian commentators said Sunday. “The interests of all actors in the region today lie in dragging Iran into war," said Former chairman of Iranian parliament’s national security and foreign policy committee, Heshmatollah Falahatpisheh.

IRGC-affiliated Tasnim claims that the Israeli government is creating staged scenes near Tel Aviv's Ayalon Highway, a major thoroughfare. These fabricated scenarios aim to portray a failed strike on Israel's military and security facilities, shifting the narrative to a civilian catastrophe. The intent is likely to demonize Iran by claiming their missiles or drones targeted residential areas, causing casualties. “This is being done in order to claim that Iranian missiles or drones have targeted residential areas in the city and caused casualties," Tasnim said.

Earlier in the day, Israel's defense minister said the country was ready to handle any scenario that may develop with its foe Iran as it stayed on alert for the possible retaliatory attack. Yoav Gallant's office made the statement after he held an "operational situation assessment" with senior military officers. "Upon completing the assessment, Minister Gallant emphasized that the defense establishment has completed preparations for responses in the event of any scenario that may develop vis-à-vis Iran," his office said.

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant's office made the statement after he held an "operational situation assessment" with senior military officers.

"Upon completing the assessment, Minister Gallant emphasized that the defense establishment has completed preparations for responses in the event of any scenario that may develop vis-à-vis Iran," his office said.

An Israeli precision strike on the Iranian embassy compound on April 1, killed two top IRGC Quds Force generals and seven other officers, rattling the Iranian government that has vowed to punish Israel.

Meanwhile, Israel launched air strikes on eastern Lebanon early on Sunday, hitting what it said were Hezbollah infrastructure sites after the armed group downed an Israeli drone over the country as both sides continue to trade fire amid escalating regional tensions.

The Israeli army said in a statement that fighter jets struck a military complex and three other infrastructure sites belonging to Hezbollah in the eastern city of Baalbek.

It said the latest attack was in response to Iran-backed Hezbollah's downing of an unmanned aerial vehicle in Lebanese airspace, which the group identified as the Israeli-made Hermes 900 drone.

Hezbollah has been trading fire with Israel across Lebanon's southern border since October 8, a day after the Palestinian group Hamas launched an attack on Israel that sparked Israel's war in Gaza and led to escalating regional tensions.

(Reporting by Reuters)

Arriving in Oman on Sunday, his visit comes just days after the deadly strike which resulted in the deaths of seven Revolutionary Guards, including senior members.

"Leading a delegation of political and parliamentary representatives, discussions will encompass bilateral and regional matters, including Gaza," stated the Iranian foreign ministry, referring to the Gaza war sparked by Iran-backed Hamas's attack on Israel on October 7.

A US official has warned of increased vigilance and readiness for potential Iranian retaliation targeting Israeli or American assets in the region as fears grow for US personnel, and in Israel, veiled announcements of countering any threats at home and abroad have been vocal from both the military and political leadership.

Airstrikes took place in eastern Lebanon early Sunday, reportedly targeting infrastructure sites associated with Hezbollah which since October 7, when Iran-backed Hamas invaded Israel, has fired over 3,100 projectiles into Israeli territory. Sunday's action followed the downing of an Israeli drone by the militant group over Lebanese territory in what is the worst conflict between Israel and Hezbollah since the second Lebanon war.

Alongside the Gaza war, the Israeli army has confirmed that 30 commanders from Hezbollah have been eliminated since the war began as well as 330 terrorists from the largest of Iran's militia groups. Over 1,400 targets have been struck from the air in Lebanon alone and 3,300 or more ground targets struck.

Iran's political and military leadership have called for harsh responses to the humiliating attack last week, believed to have struck a key IRGC-Quds Force center, with Hezbollah leader Hassan Nazrullah this weekend warning retaliation is "inevitable".

Her brother, Asghar Sepehri, announced on X that Fatemeh participated in a virtual court session from Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad on Saturday, during which the judge accused her of supporting Israel following her condemnation of the attacks which killed at least 1,200 mostly civilians, led to the mass rape and torture of civilians, and saw the kidnap of over 250 hostages to Gaza, dozens of whom have since been killed in captivity. 

Imprisoned since September 21, 2022 amid the Women, Life, Freedom protests, her family already fears for her health as she deteriorates in dire prison conditions amid heart disease. 

Sepehri faces severe charges, including "collaboration with hostile countries" resulting in a 10-year sentence, "conspiracy and collusion" leading to five years of imprisonment, "insulting the leadership" resulting in two years of imprisonment, and "propaganda against the system" leading to one year of imprisonment.

The Hamas invasion of Israel has since led to military attacks from Iran's proxies regionally. Over 3,100 projectiles have been fired to Israel from Hezbollah in Lebanon, over 35 from Syria, and on Israel's south coast, Yemen's Houthis have waged a maritime blockade, with missiles being fired not only into southern Israel but targeting global shipping, sparking a global crisis.

Iran's proxies in the Middle East have waged over 200 attacks on US infrastructure as punishment for supporting Israel's right to defend itself and a 20+ nation coalition led by the US has been formed to counter the Red Sea blockade.

The Gaza war has seen a significant shift in sentiment among Iranians regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Expressions of neutrality towards the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and even "Israelophilia" have been observed across Iranian society. The traditional government narrative supporting Hamas and opposing Israel has faced growing dissent, with slogans like "Neither Gaza, nor Lebanon, I will sacrifice my life for Iran" becoming popular among protesters, referring to the Iran-backed proxies currently waging war on the Jewish state.

At a cost of billions of dollars, Iran has long funded its proxies around the region with the goal of eliminating Israel, at the expense of the Iranian population who are witnessing the worst economic and social conditions since the founding of the Islamic Republic.

The regime's attempts to organize large-scale demonstrations in support of Hamas have largely failed, with only small gatherings occurring, primarily among attendees of Friday prayers in major cities, and incentivized by the likes of free food and drinks, easily luring a population in the midst of an economic disaster.