IranWatch Daily: August 25, 2025

Brief Notes

IRGC General Says Hezbollah ‘Will Never be Disarmed’: Brig. Gen. Iraj Masjedi, the deputy coordination commander of the IRGC Quds Force, today said, “Hezbollah will never be disarmed… Neither the people of Lebanon nor the Hezbollah resistance force will accept this American-Zionist plan, and this goal will never be realized.” Damage Control After Viral Nuke Controversy: The Islamic Republic is doing damage control after President Donald Trump posted a clip of a 2022 interview with Ali Motahhari, then a member of the Majles (parliament), in which Motahhari said the Islamic Republic had aimed to develop a nuclear weapon. The video was first posted in its current context on August 5 by a Persian language account on X dedicated to tracking key comments by Islamic Republic officials. Mario Nawfal, a social media influencer with 2.3 million followers on X, then posted the clip, after which it was posted on Truth Social by President Trump. Motahhari has argued that he made the comments in a personal capacity, not an official capacity. The Islamic Republic Foreign Ministry has criticized the post as an “effort to justify America's unlawful attack on Iran's peaceful nuclear facilities.” Supreme Leader Supports President Pezeshkian: Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei yesterday delivered a speech in which he voiced support for “hardworking” President Masoud Pezeshkian. The same message was echoed by the General Staff of the Armed Forces today. These messages marked the beginning of “Government Week” and come after a recent wave of criticism directed at Pezeshkian from rival factions. President Pezeshkian also spoke to commemorate the beginning of Government Week today, calling on political factions to “control their selfish desires,” and to avoid disputes and disagreements in order to maintain “unity” in the face of adversaries. Read more: IRGC moves to keep factions on message as Khamenei fades from view

Moscow Says It Will Fight Snapback Efforts

The Russian Foreign Ministry says it will work to prevent the E3 from triggering the snapback mechanism for reimposing UN sanctions on the Islamic Republic. It is important to note that Russia is unable to veto the reimposition of snapback sanctions due to the design of the mechanism. Moscow called the potential move a “serious destabilizing factor” and a sign that European powers are not seeking a diplomatic solution to the nuclear issue. It added that the E3 has “no legal or procedural opportunities to launch a snapback” and the move “has nothing to do with nuclear non-proliferation… and will have a destructive impact on the regime of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).” President Pezeshkian, in a phone call today, thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin for backing Tehran's right to enrich uranium. Pezeshkian claimed, “Iran has never pursued nuclear weapons, is not doing so now, and never will.” The readout released by Pezeshkian’s official website quoted Putin as describing Tehran’s right to enrichment as “key and definitive.” Read more: How Does the E3 Initiate Snapback Sanctions?

First IRGC Missile Exercise Since 12-Day War

Domestic media in Iran today released details of an IRGC missile drill conducted on August 21, which followed the Artesh Navy’s “Sustainable Power 2025” large-scale missile exercise in the northern Indian Ocean and the Sea of Oman. The exercise reported included a simulation of an Israeli attack hypothetically taking out the regime’s first line of missile bases, demonstrating the IRGC’s “next offensive rings applying pressure to Israel’s home front, and forcing it into retreat.” The report alleged, “the exercise demonstrated that the IRGC missile force has completely rebuilt its capabilities and changed tactics in line with new developments.” During the drill, the IRGC reportedly tested a new missile named “Akher al-Zaman” (apocalypse), which is “20 meters long and capable of carrying a four-tonne warhead that has the destructive power of a nuclear bomb and is capable of razing an area of ​​80 km to the ground.”

On the Radar

• The Chief Justice of the Islamic Republic today warned the Reform Front party of legal action over their calls for direct negotiations with the United States. The threat came a day after Supreme Leader Khamenei ruled out such negotiations and warned such factions against sowing discord in the country.
• Water and power cuts have continued across Iran, with people reporting extended blackouts. Farmers protested in Dezful and Semnan over water shortages.
• Petrochemical workers held protests in multiple cities in southwest Iran, demanding fair pay.

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