IranWatch Daily: July 18, 2025

Brief Notes

Foreign Minister Warns of Israeli ‘Warmongering Policies’: Islamic Republic Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi yesterday warned of Israel’s “warmongering policies” during a call with his Egyptian counterpart, Badr Abdelatty. Araghchi, citing recent Israeli strikes on Syria and Lebanon, urged coordinated regional action to confront Israel’s “expansionist agenda,” which he said “endangers” regional stability. This statement came amid Islamic Republic-linked media’s characterization of strikes in Syria as an Israeli effort to foment balkanization or regime change. Domestic media also falsely claimed that al-Sharaa “escaped,” or fled, from Damascus following Israeli strikes near the Presidential Palace. Security Forces Kill Four in Markazi Province: Security forces killed at least four civilians near a military facility in Khomeyn, Markazi Province. The killings occurred when forces opened fire on two vehicles they “deemed suspicious” as they passed the military facility. Khomeyn’s public prosecutor, Ebrahim Gamizi, confirmed the incident and said a judicial case is underway, with those involved currently being detained. The shooting comes amid heightened fears among Islamic Republic security and military personnel following the 12-Day War, during which several top military and nuclear figures were killed, intensifying concerns of “enemy infiltration.” Intelligence Minister Acknowledges ‘Infiltration’: Intelligence Minister Esmail Khatib acknowledged that the Islamic Republic is the victim of ongoing “foreign infiltration,” and further said that Tehran is also carrying out infiltration operations abroad, including in Israel. He emphasized that updates on high-level cases are announced by the judiciary, not through “fake news,” and said any findings on higher-level security vulnerabilities would be disclosed at an appropriate time.

E3 Proposes Extension to Snapback Deadline

The EU has reportedly proposed a one-off extension to the October 18 deadline to trigger UN snapback sanctions on the Islamic Republic if Tehran limits its enriched uranium stockpile, resumes cooperation with the IAEA, and continues nuclear talks with the U.S. and the E3.  EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas made the offer during a call with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and his British, French, and German counterparts.  Araghchi, in an X post today, said: “Any new round of talks is only possible when the other side is ready for a fair, balanced, and mutually beneficial nuclear deal. If EU/E3 want to have a role, they should act responsibly, and put aside the worn-out policies of threat and pressure, including the ‘snap-back’ for which they lack absolutely no moral and legal ground.” An unnamed Islamic Republic senior official told state-run Press TV that the regime will not resume nuclear negotiations with the U.S. without “serious and practical guarantees,” accusing Washington of using talks to prepare for conflict rather than peace. “For now, we think the purpose of the negotiations is to disarm Iran to make up for Israel’s weakness in the next war,” the official said.

MP Accuses Baku of Facilitating Israel Strikes, ‘Assassination’ of President Raisi

A member of the Islamic Republic Majles (Parliament), Kamran Ghazanfari, alleged that Israeli drone strikes during the 12-Day War were launched from Azerbaijani territory and airspace, accusing Baku of direct involvement in Israel’s Operation Rising Lion as well as the “assassination” of former President Ebrahim Raisi, who died in a helicopter crash in May 2024. Despite official reports attributing Raisi’s death to a helicopter malfunction and poor weather, Ghazanfari claimed a Mossad base in Baku was behind the 12-Day War’s strikes and accused Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev of aiding in Raisi’s “assassination.”  Ghazanfari criticized President Pezeshkian for pursuing closer ties with Aliyev despite alleged evidence of Azerbaijan’s coordination with Israel and efforts to undermine the Islamic Republic. This comes after Baku last week denied assisting Israel in the 12-Day War. 

China, Russia Snub Tehran’s Call for Support

Foreign Minister Araghchi’s proposal to the SCO foreign ministers’ meeting this week, aiming to establish a group-wide mechanism to address supposed military aggression, has received no clear endorsement.  While Araghchi thanked China for its “valuable support,” the Islamic Republic expressed disappointment at the passive stance of its powerful SCO partners, China and Russia, during the recent attacks.  China publicly condemned the strikes but avoided deeper involvement, underscoring its preference for its economic interests and the limits of its role in regional security

Controversial Cleric Urges ‘Unity’ Among Iranians

Supreme Leader-appointed Friday Prayer Imam of Tehran, Kazem Seddiqi, warned that “any voice sowing discord is the voice of the enemy.”  In his sermon ahead of Friday prayers, he echoed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s recent messaging and praised Khamenei as the “supporter of the oppressed” who rallied the nation during the 12-Day War. His remarks come amid a recent corruption scandal involving his family, with television hosts and journalists urging him to refrain from delivering Friday Prayer sermons.  

On the Radar

• Belgium’s parliament passed a resolution today calling for the EU to designate the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) a terrorist organization. Belgian-Iranian MP Darya Safai had introduced the resolution.
• Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei rejected U.S. accusations linking three regime officials to the 2007 disappearance of former FBI agent Robert Levinson, calling the claims “unfounded” and “politically motivated.” The FBI D.C. Field Office recently published calls for information on the three individuals, including Tehran’s current ambassador to Pakistan. Separately, on the 31st anniversary of the 1994 AMIA bombing in Argentina, Baghaei again denied the Islamic Republic’s involvement, accusing Israel of manipulating the investigation and calling the charges “baseless.” 
• The Islamic Republic has intensified its deportation of Afghan nationals, with a Taliban official reporting over 600,000 Afghans expelled in the past month. In response, Afghan social media users have launched a campaign to boycott Iranian products. Additionally, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Afghanistan visited the Dowqarun-Islam Qala border crossing and called for “immediate” international aid for the deportees.