Rasoul Falahati, the Iranian regime's Friday prayer leader of Gilan Province, referred to a meeting of 31 Friday prayer leaders with regime Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei during this week's Friday prayer sermon in Rasht. He stated, “A few days ago this week, we, the representatives of the Supreme Leader, held a gathering in Tehran. Then on Monday, these 31 provincial representatives met with Khamenei, where he said, ‘Encourage the people and distance yourselves from anything that causes despair.'” (Regime television, January 11, 2025).
Shamsi Saadati is a journalist who writes for the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) and its affiliated website, mojahedin.org. She focuses on reporting and analyzing political developments in Iran, including human rights abuses, government corruption, and the resistance movement. Her articles aim to shed light on the realities of life under the Iranian regime and advocate for change and freedom in the country.