The US has sanctioned four Iranian intelligence operatives reportedly behind a failed plot to kidnap a US journalist and human rights activist, the Treasury Department announced on Friday.
The sanctions come after US prosecutors in July charged the four Iranian citizens with plotting to kidnap Iranian-American journalist Masih Alinejad, who was critical of Tehran.
Alinejad, who lives in New York, spoke with The National in July following the news of the indictment by the US Department of Justice.
“When the FBI came to my house, I couldn’t believe it at first. I was laughing initially, but when they showed me photos that Iran’s intelligence gathered of me, of my husband, my son and our own house, I realised that this is not funny — it is serious,” Alinejad said in a phone interview with The National, hours after the plot was made public.
Her day-to-day life changed as the FBI carried out its investigation.
“I went to three safe houses,” she said, describing law enforcement efforts to protect her.
It was the first known plot attributed to Iran that has involved kidnapping a US citizen on American soil.
Iran has described allegations of Tehran's involvement in the plot as “baseless".
On Friday after news of the US sanctions broke, Alinejad called them “a small welcome step".
In a statement on the sanctions, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the US “remains aware of ongoing Iranian interest in targeting other American citizens, including current and former US officials".
He gave no further details.
“The Iranian government's kidnapping plot is another example of its continued attempt to silence critical voices, wherever they may be,” said Andrea Gacki, head of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control.
“Targeting dissidents abroad demonstrates that the government's repression extends far beyond Iran's borders.”
The sanctions block all property of the four Iranians in the US or in US control, and prohibits any transactions between them and US citizens. Other non-Americans who conduct certain transactions with the four could also be subjected to US sanctions, the department added.
Those sanctioned include senior Iran-based intelligence official Alireza Shahvaroghi Farahani as well as Iranian intelligence operatives Mahmoud Khazein, Kiya Sadeghi and Omid Noori, the Treasury Department said.
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
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Biography
Her family: She has four sons, aged 29, 27, 25 and 24 and is a grandmother-of-nine
Favourite book: Flashes of Thought by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid
Favourite drink: Water
Her hobbies: Reading and volunteer work
Favourite music: Classical music
Her motto: I don't wait, I initiate
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A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
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The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
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Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
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How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
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UPI facts
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Pharaoh's curse
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Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
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Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
The burning issue
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Key findings
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- People who ate breakfast experienced a relative decrease in their BMI compared with “breakfast-skippers”.
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The specs
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