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Category: News
January 2, 2026
News
World

Iranian Regime Teeters as Trump Warns U.S. is ‘Locked and Loaded.’

PULSE POINTS

âť“WHAT HAPPENED: Protests erupted in Iran, with two demonstrators confirmed dead after security forces opened fire in Lordegan.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Demonstrators, Iranian security forces, and international human rights organizations.

đź“ŤWHEN & WHERE: Protests began on Sunday in Tehran and spread to provinces such as Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari, including Lordegan.

đź’¬KEY QUOTE: “The Islamic Republic is the enemy of us all.” – Iranian wrestler Ebrahim Eshaghi

🎯IMPACT: The unrest highlights growing economic discontent and calls for international attention to human rights abuses.

IN FULL

Iran is experiencing the most significant outbreak of political unrest in nearly three years, with protests driven by economic hardship spreading nationwide. State media confirmed two demonstrators were killed in the western city of Lordegan. The deaths followed reports that security forces opened fire on crowds in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province, roughly 400 miles south of Tehran.

On Truth Social, U.S. President Donald J. Trump declared, “We are locked and loaded and ready to go,” emphasizing that the U.S. would intervene if more protesters were harmed. The protests, now in their sixth day, are the largest since 2022 and have already resulted in at least seven deaths as the Islamic regime seeks to maintain control.

Iranian officials, including Ali Larijani, have accused the U.S. and Israel of encouraging the unrest. Larijani warned on X, “Trump should know that intervention by the U.S. in the domestic problem corresponds to chaos in the entire region and the destruction of the U.S. interests.” Alj Shamkhani, an adviser to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, echoed this sentiment, stating, “Any interventionist hand that gets too close to the security of Iran will be cut.”

Shopkeepers, bazaar merchants, and university students have joined demonstrations, chanting slogans against the ruling system and calling for economic reforms.

Ebrahim Eshaghi, an Iranian wrestler living in Germany, appealed for international attention, saying: “Today, the people of my city came out into the streets to demand their rights. So far, two young people have been killed, and many more have been injured. We ask all the people of the world to be our voice. The Islamic Republic is the enemy of us all.”

Analysts say Iran’s worsening economic situation underlies the protests, with inflation, currency devaluation, and unemployment pushing large segments of the population below the poverty line.

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Editor’s Notes

Behind-the-scenes political intrigue exclusively for Pulse+ subscribers.

RAHEEM J. KASSAM Editor-in-Chief
Under the Biden government, the Iranian Republic was enriched and emboldened (just like under Obama)
for exclusive members-only insights
Under the Biden government, the Iranian Republic was enriched and emboldened (just like under Obama) show more
for exclusive members-only insights
January 2, 2026
News

‘F*ck Trump’ Arson Attack Destroys D.C. Home of Military Servicemen & Infant.

PULSE POINTS

âť“WHAT HAPPENED: Two active-duty U.S. Space Force officers returned home to find their residence vandalized, robbed, and intentionally set on fire.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Jason and Kaylee Taylor, both active-duty U.S. Space Force officers, along with their infant daughter, Rae.

đź“ŤWHEN & WHERE: The incident occurred on Sunday, December 28, at their residence in Washington, D.C.

💬KEY QUOTE: “While they were out of town, their home was broken into, robbed, vandalized, and intentionally set on fire.” – GoFundMe page

🎯IMPACT: The family lost nearly all possessions, including clothing, furniture, and keepsakes, and their cat, Marlee, perished in the fire.

IN FULL

Jason and Kaylee Taylor, two members of the United States Space Force, were the victims of an allegedly politically motivated attack while they were away from their residence over the weekend before the New Year’s holiday.

The two active-duty Space Force officers returned to their Washington, D.C. home to find it had been broken into, vandalized, and intentionally set on fire, according to their account of the incident posted on a GoFundMe page raising money for the couple and their child.

The Taylors returned to find their residence destroyed by fire, including their pet cat being murdered in the process. Their vehicle was also vandalized with spray-painted messages reading “F*ck Trump” and “F*ck the Space Force.” The incident occurred on Sunday, December 28, near the Congressional Cemetery in D.C.’s Southeast.

Image from GoFundMe

“While they were out of town, their home was broken into, robbed, vandalized, and intentionally set on fire,” the GoFundMe page states. The family lost clothing, furniture, baby items, keepsakes, and other essentials. Tragically, their family cat, Marlee, died in the fire. “Kaylee and Jason… and their beautiful baby girl, Rae, lost pretty much everything they owned,” the fundraiser adds.

The Taylors were not physically harmed. “We are incredibly grateful that Kaylee, Jason, and Rae were not home at the time and are physically safe,” the page says. However, they now face the challenge of rebuilding their lives from scratch. Donations are being sought to cover immediate needs and recovery costs, including “temporary housing and living expenses” and “replacing basic necessities.”

The GoFundMe campaign has raised nearly $86,000 as of the time of publication, and the incident remains under investigation.

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Editor’s Notes

Behind-the-scenes political intrigue exclusively for Pulse+ subscribers.

RAHEEM J. KASSAM Editor-in-Chief
I donated to the GoFundMe and, given the family’s proximity to Capitol Hill, offered to buy them a meal (or more, frankly, if they want) at Butterworth’s
for exclusive members-only insights
I donated to the GoFundMe and, given the family’s proximity to Capitol Hill, offered to buy them a meal (or more, frankly, if they want) at Butterworth’s show more
for exclusive members-only insights
December 30, 2025
Education
Immigration

DOJ Sues to Block In-State Tuition Rates for Illegal Immigrants.

PULSE POINTS

âť“WHAT HAPPENED: The Trump administration has filed a lawsuit against Virginia over a law allowing some illegal immigrants to pay in-state tuition rates.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The Justice Department, U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi, and Virginia state officials.

đź“ŤWHEN & WHERE: The lawsuit was filed in Richmond, Virginia, by the Trump administration.

đź’¬KEY QUOTE: “This is a simple matter of federal law: in Virginia and nationwide, schools cannot provide benefits to illegal aliens that they do not provide to U.S. citizens.” – U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi.

🎯IMPACT: The lawsuit challenges Virginia’s policy and seeks to halt in-state tuition rates and other benefits for illegal immigrants.

IN FULL

The Trump administration has filed a lawsuit against Virginia, challenging a state law that allows certain migrants living in the country illegally to qualify for in-state tuition and other education benefits at public colleges and universities. The Department of Justice (DOJ) filed the 13-page complaint in federal court in Richmond, arguing that Virginia’s policy violates federal law by granting postsecondary education benefits to illegal immigrants that are not equally available to U.S. citizens. Federal law prohibits states from providing such benefits unless the same terms are offered to all American citizens, regardless of where they live.

According to the lawsuit, Virginia permits students to receive in-state tuition if they establish residency in the state for at least one year, even if they lack lawful immigration status. The administration contends that this policy discriminates against U.S. citizens who cannot afford reduced tuition rates or qualify for the same financial assistance.

“This is not only wrong but illegal. The challenged act’s discriminatory treatment in favor of illegal aliens over citizens is squarely prohibited and preempted by federal law,” the complaint states. “There are no exceptions. Virginia violates it nonetheless.”

The Justice Department also argues that the law encourages illegal immigration by offering taxpayer-funded benefits tied to state residency. The lawsuit asks the court to block Virginia from providing in-state tuition, financial aid, or other state education benefits to illegals.

U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi said the issue is straightforward under federal law. “This is a simple matter of federal law: in Virginia and nationwide, schools cannot provide benefits to illegal aliens that they do not provide to U.S. citizens,” Bondi said. “This Department of Justice will not tolerate American students being treated like second-class citizens in their own country.”

Virginia is one of several states facing legal action over tuition policies for illegal immigrants. The Trump administration has filed similar lawsuits against Texas, Kentucky, Illinois, Oklahoma, Minnesota, and California. In Texas, state officials moved earlier this year to end a long-standing policy that allowed illegal immigrants to pay in-state tuition following federal pressure.

The legal challenges follow executive orders President Donald J. Trump signed after returning to office, directing federal agencies to ensure that illegal immigrants do not receive taxpayer-funded benefits or preferential treatment over U.S. citizens. The administration has said it will continue challenging state laws it believes conflict with federal immigration statutes.

Image by Steve Fernie.

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December 30, 2025
Education
News

Harvard Prof Reveals How White Men Are Passed Over in Admissions.

PULSE POINTS

âť“WHAT HAPPENED: A Harvard professor announced his departure after 40 years, citing the institution’s focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in admissions and its draconian COVID policies.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Historian James Hankins, Harvard University, and the Hamilton School of Classical and Civic Education at the University of Florida.

đź“ŤWHEN & WHERE: Hankins announced his departure in a December 2025 essay, following a retirement contract signed in 2021.

đź’¬KEY QUOTE: “When you don’t teach the young what civilization is, it turns out, people become uncivilized.” – James Hankins

🎯IMPACT: Hankins criticized Harvard’s shift away from Western history, alleging it contributes to moral and intellectual disorientation among younger generations.

IN FULL

James Hankins, a historian who spent 40 years teaching at Harvard University, has explained his decision to leave this institution, pointing to the university’s emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies in admissions, its handling of COVID-19 measures, and a move away from prioritizing instruction in Western history.

Hankins disclosed that his decision to depart solidified in 2021, following the implementation of draconian pandemic rules, including mandatory masking and online-only classes. He also voiced concerns over alterations to admissions criteria that emerged after the death of George Floyd. “In past years this candidate would have risen immediately to the top of the applicant pool. In 2021, however, I was told informally by a member of the admissions committee that ‘that’ (meaning admitting a white male) was ‘not happening this year,'” Hankins recalled of one decision.

The scholar described instances where outstanding white male applicants with strong qualifications were turned down for graduate studies. He warned that similar practices occurred elsewhere, noting, “Graduate admissions committees around the country had been following the same unspoken protocol as ours. The one exception I found to the general exclusion of white males had begun life as a female.”

Hankins further condemned Harvard’s handling of anti-Semitic protests amid the Gaza conflict, describing it as “shocking indifference.”

Hankins plans to move to the Hamilton School of Classical and Civic Education at the University of Florida, which he commended for recruiting experts in Western disciplines. Considering the wider effects of Harvard’s reduced focus on Western history, he observed, “When late liberal pedagogy replaced Western civilization courses with global history, serious harm was done to the socialization of young Americans. When you don’t teach the young what civilization is, it turns out, people become uncivilized.”

Image by Adam Fagen.

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December 30, 2025
Crime
News

Trans School Shooter Motivated by Hatred of White People and Religion: FBI.

PULSE POINTS

âť“WHAT HAPPENED: Newly released writings reveal the transgender mass shooter who killed six at a Christian school in Nashville, Tennessee, harbored hatred for white people and religion.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The 28-year-old shooter, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Nashville police, and the victims of The Covenant School attack.

đź“ŤWHEN & WHERE: March 27, 2023, at The Covenant School in Nashville, Tennessee. Writings were released in December 2025 following a court order.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Predominantly white school (white pple I hate)… Christian school (hate religion).” – The shooter’s notes.

🎯IMPACT: The writings provide insight into the attacker’s motivations, including racial and religious animus, and raise questions about the use of federal aid for weapon purchases.

IN FULL

Newly released Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) documents provide additional insight into the motives and preparations of the 28-year-old transgender who carried out the March 27, 2023, shooting at The Covenant School in Nashville, Tennessee, killing six people before being shot dead by police. The materials were disclosed on December 22 following a judge’s order and include approximately 230 pages of journals, notes, and other writings.

In the documents, Audrey Hale, a.k.a. Aiden Hale, expressed explicit hostility toward white people and Christianity. She described The Covenant School as a “predominantly white school (white pple I hate)” and a “Christian school (hate religion).” The writings indicate she considered attacking another middle school but decided against it because it had a higher percentage of black students. In her notes, she wrote “Black people I love” and said she did not want “black people in dispair [sic] + suffering.”

Investigators say the writings show the attack was planned over an extended period. The shooter mapped out targets, tracked dates, and referenced previous mass shooters along with their death tolls.

Financial records and handwritten lists suggest she used federal student aid to help fund the shooting. Her notes list income sources such as “FAFSA grant checks” and money connected to her enrollment at Nossi College of Art and Design in Nashville, followed by entries for firearm and ammunition purchases. Her parents previously told investigators they believed Pell Grant funds were used to buy at least one of the weapons.

On the day of the shooting, the attacker entered The Covenant School, a private Christian elementary school she had previously attended, and killed three children and three adults before being confronted and killed by responding officers.

The Nashville Police Department’s final report, released in April 2024, concluded that the primary motive was a desire for notoriety and argued there was insufficient evidence to classify the attack as driven by ideology, despite the language in the writings. Police also downplayed the role of gender identity, race, and religion in their conclusions.

However, previously leaked journal entries published in 2023 revealed intense personal distress related to gender identity, including anger at being born female and references to an “imaginary penis.”

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December 30, 2025
Corruption
Crime

Ex-Agent Accuses Prosecutors of Burying Minnesota Daycare Fraud Investigation.

PULSE POINTS

âť“WHAT HAPPENED: A retired Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agent revealed that a fraud investigation into Minnesota daycare centers, which began in 2015, mysteriously ceased without explanation.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Former HSI agent Jeremy Christenson, Somalis in Minnesota, and a task force of law enforcement and state officials.

đź“ŤWHEN & WHERE: The investigation occurred in 2015 in Minnesota, with ongoing fraud allegations resurfacing in 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “All of a sudden it just evaporated, just went away into thin air. No idea whatever happened with the case.” – Jeremy Christenson

🎯IMPACT: Federal investigators have intensified investigations into alleged large-scale fraud schemes, with potential immigration consequences for those involved, following an investigation by citizen journalist Nick Shirley.

IN FULL

A retired agent from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Jeremy Christenson, has shared information about a 2015 probe into fraud at daycare centers in Minnesota. He recounted how a team consisting of 20 federal agents and officials from the state Department of Human Services examined claims that Somali migrants were operating sham daycare facilities involving fabricated invoices, nonexistent enrollees, and vacant buildings.

“Never, not one of the daycares I served warrants on, not one person was ever present. Just empty buildings, stacks of invoices, and student records of people that our surveillance showed never went there,” Christenson explained to Minnesota’s Alpha News. After several months of effort, Christenson stated that the Obama-era probe suddenly vanished without explanation. “All of a sudden it just evaporated, just went away into thin air. No idea whatever happened with the case,” he added.

This older case has gained renewed attention in light of a recent fraud controversy in Minnesota, involving accusations that groups of Somalis misused millions in state funds allocated for childcare programs. Citizen journalist Nick Shirley posted a video online depicting multiple daycare centers that appeared inactive despite receiving significant government payments. One facility, the “Quality Learing [sic] Center,” allegedly obtained $4 million in public funds while remaining closed, even though it claimed to be operational.

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Kash Patel announced that more staff and resources have been assigned to Minnesota to examine these claims. “The FBI believes this is just the tip of a very large iceberg. We will continue to follow the money and protect children, and this investigation very much remains ongoing,” Patel stated on X. He mentioned that certain individuals involved are being forwarded to immigration authorities for possible denaturalization and deportation actions.

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December 30, 2025
News
Politics

Ilhan Omar’s Net Worth Under Scrutiny Amid MN Fraud Scandal.

PULSE POINTS

âť“WHAT HAPPENED: Representative Ilhan Omar (D-MN) is facing scrutiny over a significant increase in her reported net worth, with allegations of potential fraud raised by the National Legal and Policy Center (NLPC).

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Ilhan Omar, her husband Tim Mynett, the National Legal and Policy Center, and over 60 people convicted of fraud in Minnesota.

đź“ŤWHEN & WHERE: Scrutiny intensified following Omar’s latest financial disclosures, with attention on businesses tied to her husband and Somali fraud schemes in Minnesota.

đź’¬KEY QUOTE: “There’s a lot of strange things going on. She was basically broke when she came into office and now she’s worth perhaps up to $30 million… she needs to come clean on these assets.” – Paul Kamenar, NLPC counsel.

🎯IMPACT: Questions persist about Omar’s financial dealings, though no wrongdoing has been proven or formal investigations announced.

IN FULL

Somali Representative Ilhan Omar (D-MN) is facing renewed scrutiny after recent House financial disclosures showed her household net worth rising sharply, with estimates ranging from $6 million to as much as $30 million. The increase has drawn attention from watchdog groups and conservative critics, who are questioning how the wealth accumulated so quickly.

According to the filings, much of the reported value is tied to businesses associated with Omar’s husband, political consultant Tim Mynett. One asset, a California winery known as eStCru LLC, was listed with a value between $1 million and $5 million. Another holding, the venture capital firm Rose Lake Capital, was disclosed at a value between $5 million and $25 million. These figures stand in contrast to Omar’s earlier disclosures, which showed relatively modest finances, burdened by student loan and credit card debt, and a net worth below $250,000 in both 2022 and 2023.

The National Legal and Policy Center (NLPC) has called for greater transparency. Its counsel, Paul Kamenar, said, “There’s a lot of strange things going on. She was basically broke when she came into office and now she’s worth perhaps up to $30 million… she needs to come clean on these assets.”

Omar has rejected claims that she is wealthy. In an interview earlier this year, she said, “Since getting elected, there has been a coordinated right-wing disinformation campaign claiming all sorts of wild things, including the ridiculous claim I am worth millions of dollars which is categorically false.”

Additional attention has focused on Rose Lake Capital after reports that the names of several officers and advisers, including figures with past ties to Democrat administrations, were removed from the firm’s website. No evidence has emerged directly linking Omar to financial wrongdoing, but critics argue the changes have intensified questions about disclosure and accountability.

Separately, Omar’s legislative record has been revisited in light of Minnesota’s Feeding Our Future scandal, in which mostly Somali fraudsters stole roughly $250 million from a federally funded child nutrition program during the COVID-19 pandemic. Omar supported legislation aimed at rapidly expanding meal access during the crisis. More than 60 people have since been convicted in connection with the fraud, including Omar’s former “enforcer” Guhaad Hashi Said.

Minnesota, which hosts the largest Somali community in the U.S., is currently in the midst of a wider fraud scandal centered on said Somali community, with daycare centers being a point of particular focus.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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December 30, 2025
News

Humiliating Truth Emerges in Trump-Kennedy Center ‘Cancellations’ Saga…

PULSE POINTS

âť“WHAT HAPPENED: Several performers canceled their shows at the Trump-Kennedy Center following its renaming, citing political reasons. But facts point to humiliatingly low public interest in leftist artists.

👤WHO’S INVOLVED: Performers including The Cookers, Kristy Lee, Chuck Redd, and Doug Varone and Dancers.

đź“ŤWHEN & WHERE: December 2025 at the Trump-Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.

đź’¬KEY QUOTE: “The artists who are now canceling shows were booked by the previous far-left leadership where ideology was prioritized over talent and finances.” – Richard Grenell

🎯IMPACT: Cancellations have had minimal impact as the performers involved had low ticket sales and niche followings.

IN FULL

Several small-time performers booked by the previous, left-wing Kennedy Center management this week canceled their appearances at the Trump-Kennedy Center, citing political motivations following the venue’s renaming. The center, formerly known as the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts, was renamed after a unanimous vote by the board of trustees, prompting a handful of ostensibly ideologically-motivated “cancellations.”

However, performers such as The Cookers, Kristy Lee, Chuck Redd, and Doug Varone and Dancers appear to have withdrawn from scheduled shows due to almost no public interest in their work.

The Daily Mail reported Tuesday that The Cookers, who were set to play in the Terrace Theater, had only sold 60 tickets out of 500 seats available. Chuck Redd, set to play the Millennium Stage at the Trump-Kennedy Center, shifted just 63 free tickets, of a potential 200.

Richard Grenell, the center’s president, attributed the cancellations to political motives, stating, “The artists who are now canceling shows were booked by the previous far-left leadership, where ideology was prioritized over talent and finances. Their last-minute cancellations prove that they were always unwilling to perform for everyone—even those they disagree with politically. They only want to perform for people who believe like them.”

Previous Kennedy Center management had often used the venue to line the pockets of their ideological bedfellows, including through performances with almost no demand, as well as residencies for artists who otherwise commanded no demand from the general public, including the likes of Ben Folds (of the Ben Folds Five) and Jason Moran, both of whom were subsidized by previous Kennedy Center management.

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December 30, 2025
Economy
News

Gas Prices Hitting New Low for New Year’s Eve.

PULSE POINTS

âť“WHAT HAPPENED: Gas prices fell sharply throughout December, reaching a national average of $2.75 per gallon by December 29, the lowest level since 2021, according to GasBuddy.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: GasBuddy, U.S. crude oil producers, OPEC+ members, and the Energy Information Administration (EIA).

đź“ŤWHEN & WHERE: December 2025, across the United States, with regional variations in gasoline and diesel prices.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Oil prices have remained relatively low even amid the U.S. blockade on Venezuela’s oil exports,” said Patrick De Haan, GasBuddy’s head of petroleum analysis.

🎯IMPACT: U.S. gasoline prices have declined in most states, with some stations dropping below $2 per gallon.

IN FULL

Gas prices have continued to fall across the United States this month. By December 29, the nationwide average reached $2.75 per gallon, per GasBuddy data—the lowest point seen since 2021. Diesel fuel costs also decreased, reaching a national average of $3.52 per gallon, which was more than $0.05 lower than the week before.

This drop stems from higher U.S. oil output and greater production from OPEC+ countries, even with sanctions affecting exporters such as Russia and Venezuela. According to the Energy Information Administration (EIA), American crude oil output hit close to 17 million barrels per day around mid-December, representing a 12 percent rise since October.

Patrick De Haan, GasBuddy’s head of petroleum analysis, pointed out that gas prices declined in almost all states, and certain stations in about a dozen states sold fuel for under $2 per gallon. “Oil prices have remained relatively low even amid the U.S. blockade on Venezuela’s oil exports,” De Haan said. He noted that the downward trend might persist into January or February before reaching its lowest point.

Although drivers are currently experiencing lower costs, crude oil prices edged up slightly on December 29. U.S. crude increased by 2.1 percent to nearly $58 per barrel, while Brent crude rose 1.88 percent to $61.78 per barrel. This movement might foreshadow upcoming rises in pump prices.

The GasBuddy analysis drew from more than 12 million individual price submissions across 150,000 stations nationwide and revealed notable regional differences. Republican-run Oklahoma had the nation’s cheapest average for gasoline at $2.17 per gallon, whereas Democrat-run Hawaii and California topped the list with $4.36 and $4.20 per gallon, respectively. Diesel averages displayed comparable regional patterns.

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December 30, 2025
News
World

Trump Hits Iran, Venezuela With New Sanctions.

PULSE POINTS

âť“WHAT HAPPENED: The U.S. imposed new sanctions on ten individuals and firms from Iran and Venezuela, targeting Iran’s drone trade and ballistic missile program.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The U.S. Treasury Department, Iranian and Venezuelan entities, President Donald J. Trump, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

đź“ŤWHEN & WHERE: Sanctions announced this week, with discussions held at Mar-a-Lago in Florida on December 29.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Treasury is holding Iran and Venezuela accountable for their aggressive and reckless proliferation of deadly weapons around the world.” – Treasury Undersecretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence John K. Hurley

🎯IMPACT: The sanctions aim to further isolate Iran’s military-industrial complex and curb weapons proliferation in the region.

IN FULL

The U.S. Treasury Department has announced a new package of sanctions targeting ten individuals and entities based in Iran and Venezuela, escalating Washington’s efforts to curb Iran’s drone trade, ballistic missile development, and nuclear ambitions while pressuring Caracas over its military ties to Tehran.

According to Treasury officials, the measures include penalties against a Venezuelan company and its chairman accused of purchasing Iranian drones, three Iranian nationals allegedly involved in acquiring chemicals used in ballistic missile production, and several Iran-based firms linked to the Rayan Fan Group, a holding company already under U.S. sanctions.

Treasury Undersecretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence John K. Hurley said the actions are intended to disrupt the global spread of Iranian weapons and limit access to financial networks. “Treasury is holding Iran and Venezuela accountable for their aggressive and reckless proliferation of deadly weapons around the world,” Hurley said. He added that the department is focused on cutting off support for Iran’s military-industrial complex and blocking its access to the U.S. financial system.

State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott also said, “Iran’s ongoing provision of conventional weapons to Caracas is a threat to U.S. interests in our region.”

The move comes amid a broader hardline approach by the Trump administration toward both countries. In recent weeks, President Donald J. Trump ordered a full blockade on Venezuelan oil tankers already under U.S. sanctions, a step aimed at further isolating the Nicolas Maduro government and restricting a key source of revenue. Trump has also confirmed that U.S. forces struck infrastructure on Venezuelan territory linked to drug trafficking operations.

Pressure is also increasing on Iran. Trump has repeatedly warned that the United States would respond forcefully if Tehran attempts to rebuild or expand its nuclear facilities. During a recent meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Florida, Trump reiterated U.S. support for countering Iran’s nuclear ambitions and signaled openness to further strikes if Iran continues down that path.

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