This story was originally published by the WND News Center.

The activation last month of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal's "trigger mechanism," reimposing international sanctions on Iran – a clear indicator of the theocratic regime's growing isolation – has yielded an unexpected consequence: President Donald Trump's Mideast peace plan has reportedly been met with acceptance by all Arab and Islamic countries as well as by European nations, even by Hamas, who once was militarily and logistically supported by Tehran in its anti-Israel campaigns across the region.

Yet on Oct. 1, Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, through an editorial in a state-run newspaper, dismissed the plan as "a scheme to rescue Netanyahu from the Gaza quagmire."

The reality is clear, however: The Islamic Republic of Iran currently stands alone in rejecting a plan that seeks to end war, destruction and human suffering in Gaza – and by extension, across the region.

Tehran's opposition to peace is nothing new. The founder of the Islamic Republic, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, once referred to the ceasefire with Iraq after an extraordinarily bloody eight-year war as a "chalice of poison." Today, for his successor, Khamenei, any form of peace in the Middle East is a similar poison – one his regime cannot digest without resorting to war, repression or the pursuit of nuclear weapons.

As an old Persian proverb goes, "The snake is the source of all evil – war, bloodshed, poverty and suffering." And based on this logic, the Iranian resistance has long insisted that the head of the snake lies in Tehran.

While the regime fuels conflicts abroad, it has also plunged its own people into extreme poverty and repression at home.

Trigger mechanism and a collapsing economy

Following the reactivation of sanctions on Sept. 27 after months of failed political maneuvering, even regime-aligned media couldn't mask the consequences. In a piece titled "Apocalyptic Joy Over the Return of Sanctions," the government-affiliated Setareh Sobh newspaper wrote:

"Extremists are celebrating the activation of the trigger mechanism – despite the catastrophic consequences it will have on the economy and people's lives."

Previously, Heshmatollah Falahatpisheh, former head of the Iranian parliament's National Security Commission, had expressed similar dismay:

"The extremists' celebration of renewed sanctions is unbelievable. Their lives are worlds apart from the people's suffering. Their lavish lifestyles are built on the pain of children who go to bed hungry."

Although Falahatpisheh avoided naming these "extremists," the veil was partially lifted by Abdolnasser Hemmati, the former minister of economy recently ousted by President Masoud Pezeshkian. Speaking during his impeachment session on Feb. 28, 2025, Hemmati revealed:

"This country faces over $30 billion in smuggling annually. People ask what the Minister of Economy is doing. But when 20 million liters of diesel are smuggled abroad every day, what can the Minister really do? Our nation is caught in the grip of smugglers, sanction profiteers and rent-seekers. Nearly 80% of the population is being crushed by the weight of their corruption."

While Hemmati did not explicitly name those behind this massive smuggling network, only institutions linked to Khamenei's inner circle or the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) have the power and infrastructure to operate on this scale. Indeed the IRGC, which controls many of Iran's key ports and borders, is uniquely positioned to carry out the daily smuggling of tens of millions of liters of fuel.

The real conflict: People vs. the regime

Over the past 34 years, Iran's resistance movement – particularly the People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) – has disclosed over 130 revelations about Tehran's nuclear weapons program, significantly hindering its path to a bomb. Without their efforts, a nuclear-armed Iranian theocracy would now be a reality.

Unfortunately, Western appeasement policies have enabled the regime to inch ever closer to nuclear capability, bringing the region to the brink, most recently during the 12-day war, and plunging it into a precarious state of "no war, no peace."

Iran's rulers still refuse to accept zero uranium enrichment, a key non-proliferation demand.

But the real question is not about centrifuges. It's about who truly holds power in Iran.

Since the nationwide uprising of 2017-2018, the Iranian people have made their stance unmistakably clear: They reject the brutal theocratic regime. This historic demand has been expressed through an ever-growing organized resistance movement. Today, in every province across Iran, the real confrontation is not external; it is between the Iranian people and their rulers.

On one side is the IRGC, the regime's military-industrial backbone. On the other, thousands of resistance units, affiliated with the PMOI/MEK, are carrying out daily acts of defiance, organizing protests and challenging the regime's stranglehold on their society.

For years, Western governments have ignored or dismissed this reality. Yet these resistance units are the only viable force capable of driving meaningful, lasting change in Iran.

Last month, Khamenei himself admitted his fear, referring to these activists as "MEK sleeper cells," and warning of their role in planning another uprising. His fear of a domestic rebellion is what led him to ignite the current war in Gaza – hoping to distract the public and galvanize loyal forces through external conflict.

The only viable path forward: Regime change by the people

There is only one sustainable solution for both Iran's future and regional stability: regime change led by the Iranian people and their organized resistance.

This is not just a call for democracy in Iran. It is a strategic imperative for global peace and security.

The time has come for the international community to acknowledge the Iranian people's uprising, recognize their right to resist, and support their struggle for a free, democratic Iran.

This story was originally published by the WND News Center.

It now has been confirmed that the extent and depth of the weaponization of the federal government under Joe Biden included onetime Special Counsel Jack Smith monitoring the communications of, and spying on, Republican senators.

A document, reviewed by Fox News Digital, revealed that Smith and his FBI activists working to undermine, even prosecute and jail, President Donald Trump "were allegedly tracking" telephone activity of GOP Sens. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, Josh Hawley of Missouri, Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming, Bill Hagerty of Tennessee, Dan Sullivan of Alaska, Tommy Tuberville of Alabama and GOP Rep. Mike Kelly of Pennsylvania.

Dan Bongino, the deputy FBI director, brief multiple senators, including Graham, Hawley, Johnson, Blackburn and more, Monday.

The document is titled "CAST Assistance" and is dated Sept. 27, 2023, in reference to the FBI's cellular analysis survey team.

One of Smith's lawfare cases against Trump involved Democrat claims that the January 6, 2021, protest turned riot in Washington actually was an insurrection, an deliberate attempt to overthrow to U.S. government.

In reality it was a protest that got out of hand, possible aggravated by instigators embedded in the crowd.

This case collapsed despite Smith's efforts to make public all of the detrimental allegations he could claim against Trump.

Fox reported, "The document states the names of the lawmakers and that an FBI special agent on Smith's team 'conducted preliminary toll analysis' on the toll records associated with the lawmakers. An FBI official told Fox News Digital that Smith and his team tracking the senators were able to see which phone numbers they called, the location the phone call originated and the location where it was received."

Smith issued subpoenas to major telephone providers to collect the information.

Smith was appointed special counsel to conduct the Democrats' lawfare agenda against Trump.

"It is a disgrace that I have to stand on Capitol Hill and reveal this — that the FBI was once weaponized to track the private communications of U.S. lawmakers for political purposes," Bongino said. "That era is over."

FBI officials confirmed the records were uncovered because of oversight request by Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa.

FBI Director Kash Patel said, "Under our watch, the FBI will never again be turned against the American people."

The report pointed out that the lawfare case assembled by Smith collapsed, but not before costing American taxpayers more than $50 million.

This story was originally published by the WND News Center.

A Catholic priest who wrote an article pointing out how Islamists regularly attack and persecute Christians around the world has been found guilty in a Spanish court of a so-called "hate crime."

Father Custodio Ballester, a parish priest in Barcelona, had written an article in 2016 describing "The Impossible Dialogue with Islam" that explained how Islam actually does not allow dialogue.

"For Islam, either you believe, or you are an infidel who must be subdued one way or another," he explained.

Now, a report at Lifesitenews confirms he was found guilty of "Islamophobic" statements.

The report noted the court decision "has Catholics as well as free speech advocates concerned."

His accusers used a Spanish law to claim his comments about Islam actually were a "hate crime."

"Ballester wrote his essay in response to a pastoral letter by his superior, the archbishop of Barcelona, Cardinal Juan José Omella, titled 'The Necessary Dialogue with Islam.' In his rebuttal, Ballester wrote: 'This new reactivation of Christian-Muslim dialogue, paralyzed by the alleged 'imprudences' on the part of the late Pope Benedict XVI, is very far from becoming a reality. Islam does not allow dialogue. For Islam, either you believe, or you are an infidel who must be subdued one way or another," the report confirmed.

Ballester explained to Catholic News Agency authorities demanded to use him as an example "so that others censor themselves.":

The offense, in Spain, carries a penalty up to four years in prison.

Ballester said, in the report, he'll appeal to the European Court of Human Rights if he is ordered to jail.

"People are very angry about the excessive sentences being sought for 'hate crimes,' which are comparable to those sought for sexual assault or leaving someone paralyzed in a fight," Ballester told CNA.

The report explained, "According to Islamic Sharia law, Christians and Jews who refuse to convert to Islam are not recognized as full citizens but considered semi-slaves called 'dhimmi' who have to pay a special tax called 'jizyah.' The OpenDoors 'Word Watch List' shows that the majority of the top 50 countries in which Christians are most persecuted are Islamic states."

This story was originally published by the WND News Center.

Already, the FBI has dumped the agenda, influence and ideology of the Southern Poverty Law Center, that leftist organization that made a reputation for fighting the KKK back in the day, but now has turned into nothing more than a "partisan smear machine."

And now there's a petition urging the Department of Justice to treat the leftist activists who routinely describe ordinary Christian organizations across the nation as "hate" organizations the same way.

It was FBI Director Kash Patel who just days ago said the bureau has severed all ties to the SPLC.

"The Southern Poverty Law Center long ago abandoned civil rights work and turned into a partisan smear machine," Patel told The Daily Signal in a statement Friday. "Their so-called hate map has been used to defame mainstream Americans and even inspired violence."

The SPLC's hate map even has triggered a terrorist attack on a Christian group.

Now, a report in the Washington Stand confirms a petition organized by the Family Research Council is urging the DOJ to take the same path.

The FRC organized a petition backed by more than 30,000 signers that is urging a "complete purge" of SPLC influence from the federal government.

The petition was handed to the DOJ on Friday.

It indicted the SPLC as a "partisan smear machine" that unfairly and inaccurately has "vilified faith-driven groups like FRC, fostering national discord and, tragically, violence."

"We need the entire Department of Justice and the rest of the federal government to sever ties with them too," the FRC explained.

The use of the SPLC hate agenda as a trigger for violence dates to 2012, when, according to the report, "Floyd Corkins II scoured the online resource for targets, zeroing in on FRC's Washington, D.C., headquarters. Armed with a 9mm handgun and a cache of 15 Chick-fil-A sandwiches, Corkins entered the building intent on carnage."

The report said, "FRC building manager Leo Johnson heroically subdued the attacker, sustaining a gunshot wound in the process and preventing further tragedy. Corkins later confessed he planned to stuff the sandwiches into the faces of those he killed as a symbolic protest against the chain's support for traditional marriage values. And yet, the SPLC's designations persist."

The SPLC now even has claimed the ADF and Focus on the Family are part of America's "hate."

"The SPLC also listed Turning Point USA on their 'hate and extremism' report — the organization founded by the recently assassinated Christian and conservative commentator Charlie Kirk," the report said.

The report noted the SPLC has a "long history" of influence operations on FBI training materials and such.

Despite its name, the SPLC has an endowment of more than $700 million, compensates its leaders handsomely, and possesses more than $30 million in offshore accounts, according to IRS filings.

This story was originally published by the WND News Center.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday is scheduled to hear the demands from leftists in the state of Colorado to censor the speech of Christian counselors.

Officials in the leftist state who multiple times have demanded the authority to censor Christians in the state have claimed that the counselors' speech is "behavior," which they say they can regulate.

But their agenda is clear in the details of their fight: They insist that no counselor can  encourage a patient to consider NOT being LGBT. But promotions of the LGBT lifestyle choices are fully encouraged.

Those same officials in Colorado repeatedly have tried to censor other Christians' speech, including that of Masterpiece Cakeshop baker Jack Phillips, who refused to violate his Christian faith by promoting deviant wedding arrangements.

The Supreme Court, in that case, scolded the state for its "hostility" to Christians. Then state officials doubled down, trying the same stunt with a web designer. And they lost again in court.

The case at issue involves licensed counselor Kaley Chiles, who is represented by the ADF.

"Chiles wants to help young people distressed about their gender achieve their chosen goal to grow comfortable with their bodies and avoid harmful drugs and procedures," the legal team said.

"But Colorado law forbids her from doing so."

Already, the U.S. government and 21 states, in addition to counseling groups, detransitioners, mental-health researchers, free speech advocates and others, are supporting Chiles' arguments.

"The government has no business censoring private conversations between clients and counselors,:" said lawyer Jim Campbell. "There is a growing consensus around the world that adolescents experiencing gender dysphoria need love and an opportunity to talk through their struggles and feelings. Colorado's law harms these young people by depriving them of caring and compassionate conversations with a counselor who helps them pursue the goals they desire."

The legal team charged, "Chiles argues that Colorado's law violates her freedom of speech by prohibiting licensed counselors like her from engaging in counseling conversations with clients under age 18 who want to change some expression, behavior, identity, or feeling associated with their 'sexual orientation or gender identity.'"

The lawyers pointed out that the Democrat-led state, commanded at this time by Democrat homosexual Gov. Jared Polis, schemed to set up in the law a prohibition on counseling conversations "in one direction."

"For example, it allows counseling conversations that push young people toward a gender identity different than their sex but prohibits conversations that help them grow comfortable with their sex when they desire to do that. The law also threatens severe penalties, including suspension and even revocation of the counselor's license. This one-sided censorship comes amidst a growing national mental-health crisis and prevents many Colorado children from obtaining the counseling that they desire—and that is likely to help them."

The ADF said, "Many of Chiles' clients come to her because they share her Christian worldview and faith-based values. These clients believe their lives will be more fulfilling if they are aligned with the teachings of their faith. Yet Colorado law censors Chiles from speaking words her clients want to hear because the government does not like the view she expresses."

Detractors have called such counseling "conversion therapy" but the misnomer isn't accurate since the counseling actually involves helping patients come to grips with their own reality.

Judges in Colorado, who have moved so far into the leftist agenda the all-Democrat state Supreme Court actually tried to prevent President Donald Trump from being on the ballot in 2024, before being rebuked by the Supreme Court, have advocated for the state's censorship position.

There already is a split among federal appeals courts on the dispute, a key factor that the Supreme Court considers in accepting cases.

The 3rd and 11th circuit courts have found such bans suppress protected speech.

The state censorship plan is based on viewpoint restrictions, which the Supreme Court has opposed in previous cases.

This story was originally published by the WND News Center.

Homeschooling and homeschoolers have been under attack across America in a number of ways over recent years.

Despite those barrages, the industry is growing hugely.

But there have been special exams demanded, invasive interviews, physical exams, odd requirements for homeschool teachers and much more at times. In one case state officials rejected a college diploma submitted by a homeschool teacher because it was written in Latin.

Now one Maine town is going to an extreme – an attempt to bar those connected with homeschooling from serving on a local public board, the school board.

According to the Institute for Justice, "Town officials in Dexter, Maine are considering a proposal that bars homeschool co-op leaders and private-school employees from serving on the local school board."

While supporters for the barrier claim it would prevent conflicts of interest, the IJ reported it actually is "retaliatory."

The IJ noted that last summer, Dexter voters recalled school board member Alisha Ames, leader of the town's only homeschool co-op, Power Source Ministries.

"The recall came after a campaign by the Facebook group 'Stop the Power Trip,' which accused her of putting the co-op ahead of public schools," the IJ noted. "Even if the recall of Ames was warranted, the proposed ordinance goes much further. Instead of addressing one individual, it would bar homeschool co-op leaders and private-school employees from serving on the school board, shutting out many other residents from their right to serve their community."

The backlash already has begun. State Rep. Heidi Sampson, of the Maine Education Initiative, warned town officials in a letter they are refusing to abide by First Amendment precedents, and that "exposes the town to significant liability."

This story was originally published by the WND News Center.

With 30 days left until the Nov. 4 Election Day in the high-profile race for New York City mayor, one candidate, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, says there's a "civil war" among Democrats sparked by socialists pushing a "national movement" to take over the party.

Appearing on "Sunday Morning Futures" with Maria Bartiromo on the Fox News Channel, Cuomo said Democratic Socialist candidate Zohran Mamdani, is "basically a banner-carrier for socialists."

"They are anti-business, they are anti-police and that doesn't work in New York," Cuomo said.

This story was originally published by the WND News Center.

U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem is revealing bounties of up to $10,000 have been put on the heads of federal agents, encouraging Americans to murder officers enforcing U.S. immigration laws.

"Gangs, cartel members, and known terrorist organizations have placed bounties on the heads of several of our law enforcement officers," Noem posted Sunday on X.

"These violent riots are not about free speech. This is the rule of law vs. anarchy. We will win."

U.S. cities including Portland, Oregon, and Chicago have been the scene of increasing attacks against ICE officers in recent days, and during an appearance on "Fox & Friends" Sunday morning, Noem detailed the bounties that urge Americans to kidnap or kill the federal officers.

"Our intelligence indicates that these people are organized," Noem said.

"They're getting more and more people on their team as far as attacking officers and they're making plans to ambush them and to kill them."

"We have specific officers and agents that have bounties that have been put out on their heads. It's been $2,000 to kidnap them, $10,000 to kill them. They've released their pictures. They've sent them between their networks and it's an extremely dangerous situation and unprecedented."

Noem said "protective detail" has been placed around the targeted officers, and DHS has "changed some of our operations to keep our officers safe."

"But make no mistake," she added. "This isn't just about protesting free speech or that they don't like that people out here are upholding the law of our country.

This story was originally published by the WND News Center.

Federal agents Saturday were rammed and boxed in by 10 cars in Broadview, Illinois, near Chicago, where crowds have been gathered for days protesting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) actions. So reports DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin.

"Pritzker's Chicago Police Department is leaving the shooting scene and refuses to assist us in securing the area. There is a growing crowd and we are deploying special operations to control the scene," McLauglin wrote in an X post.

Reportedly, the agents were unable to move their vehicles and had to exit, Fox News reported. One of the drivers accused of ramming into the law enforcement vehicle was armed with a semi-automatic weapon, according to McLaughlin. She said officers "were forced to deploy their weapons and fire defensive shots at an armed U.S. citizen."

The post indicated that the armed woman "drove herself to the hospital to get care for wounds."

McLauglin noted the woman, who was a U.S. citizen, was named in a CBP intelligence bulletin. She reportedly doxxed agents and posted online, "Hey to all my gang let's f–- those motherf––– up, don't let them take anyone."

According to DHS, no law enforcement officers were seriously injured during the incident.

According to Fox, the agents were reportedly performing a routine patrol in Broadview when the alleged assault occurred.

DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said on Friday that she and her team were blocked from accessing the Village of Broadview Municipal Building to use the restrooms. The secretary and her team were apparently stopping for a "quick bathroom break."

This story was originally published by the WND News Center.

School district officials in Holdingford, Minnesota, have been caught running a "pay to pray" scheme, and the American Center for Law and Justice is calling them out on it.

"Pay to pray" is when schools charge Christian students a fee for using their facilities for a student-led Bible club, while giving free access to all other groups.

"This case matters because if schools can silence Emma's Bible study by unequally charging fees based on viewpoint, then anyone can be forced to PAY for their FREE speech. This unconstitutional framework prohibits students and citizens from fully living out their religious convictions," the legal team from the American Center for Law and Justice explained. "Our schools must remain open forums for all students – not hostile environments where only secular voices are welcome."

The ACLJ reported the district's actions violate the First Amendment rights of its client, Emma, a 9th-grader.

She is charged fees by the school for holding a Christian Bible study club even though other groups, the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and 4-H, get free use of the buildings.

"It's essentially a policy of 'Pay to Pray.'"

The legal team's response was to send a demand letter to the school "requiring officials to immediately stop their unlawful discrimination. Emma's club must be treated the same as other student groups and allowed to use school facilities without unconstitutional fees or restrictions. If the district refuses, the ACLJ is prepared to go to court. We will not allow unconstitutional hostility toward religion in our schools to stand," the ACLJ said.

The fight started earlier this year when Emma asked for permission to start a student Bible study club.

The school responded, with "hostility and unconstitutional restrictions. The principal delayed her ability to meet, blocked her from hosting a See You at the Pole prayer gathering, a constitutional violation, and told her she would have to pay a fee per meeting to use the school library, yet another violation," the ACLJ said.

They insisted fees were proper because Emma's group was a "church," rather than a student-run club.

"Congress passed the Equal Access Act specifically to stop this type of religious discrimination in public schools. The Supreme Court confirmed its constitutionality in Westside Board of Education v. Mergens, a case argued by ACLJ Chief Counsel Jay Sekulow. There, the Court held that schools cannot exclude or burden religious clubs simply because of their faith-based message," the ACLJ pointed out.

The Supreme Court said at the time, "If a State refused to let religious groups use facilities open to others, then it would demonstrate not neutrality but hostility toward religion."