Brief Notes

New Clashes With Militants in Iran’s Southeast: The IRGC announced today that it killed at least 13 militants and arrested several others during three separate operations in the Sistan-Baluchestan Province cities of Iranshahr, Khash, and Saravan. An IRGC commander, Hassan Mortazavi, said that the operations were a response to Jaish al-Adl’s August 22 attack that killed five law enforcement personnel. He added, “All enemies and terrorists should know that any act of terrorism will be met with a painful response.” Official Accuses Russia of Sharing Intel With Israel: Expediency Council member Mohammad Sadr alleged during an interview, “There are doubts and suspicions about how Israel, both in the recent war and in previous conflicts, had precise information about our air defense centers. Based on my analysis, I can tell you that the Russians provided the relevant intelligence to Israel.” He also dismissed the Tehran–Moscow strategic pact as “nonsense.” Today, judiciary-linked Mizan News Agency reported that the Prosecutor-General of Tehran has opened a case against a member of the Expediency Council over “false and unsubstantiated” remarks. While the report did not name him, several local outlets have identified the figure as Mohammad Sadr. FM Says Tehran ‘Prepared for Any Circumstance’: In an interview with London-based Asharq al-Awsat regarding the chance of a renewed confrontation with Israel, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said, “Anything is possible and we are prepared for any circumstance.” He added that in the 12-Day War, “the Zionist entity and the United States did not achieve any of their objectives, while the Islamic Republic resisted heroically and simultaneously responded to the aggression.” He also claimed that the Islamic Republic and Saudi Arabia are in “an unprecedented phase of cooperation.”

IAEA Re-Enters Iran for Expected Inspection

The IAEA today confirmed that its nuclear inspectors are back in Iran for the first time following the 12-Day War. The inspection team is in Iran to supervise the changing of fuel rods at the Bushehr power plant, a visit that was unlikely to be blocked by Tehran, regardless of recent talks with the E3, which failed to deliver any meaningful results. Yesterday, IAEA chief Rafael Grossi told Fox News that his team was assessing which damaged facilities to inspect first. Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi assured parliament that any cooperation would remain within the bounds of the law, stressing “no new agreement has been finalized; some views have been exchanged between the two sides, and the agency’s views have also been presented in writing several times.” The Supreme Leader-controlled daily Kayhan today said, “The Foreign Ministry and the Atomic Energy Organization must abide by the parliament’s law,” referring to the law suspending IAEA cooperation. In an interview with state broadcaster IRIB, Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Kazem Gharibabad outlined the Islamic Republic's potential reaction to any snapback move by the E3, saying, “If they send a letter to [the UN Security Council], Iran will take special measures, issuing a warning and notification to the UN Security Council. Moreover, such a step would seriously impact our cooperation with the IAEA, which could potentially be suspended.”

On the Radar

In Najafabad, Isfahan Province, residents gathered outside the state-owned electricity company’s local office to protest ongoing power outages. Students at Shiraz University also demonstrated against repeated power and water outages in dormitories, chanting slogans about their basic rights to reliable utilities.
Razi Petrochemical workers in Mahshahr, Khuzestan Province, extended their labor strike into its 19th day. Municipal employees of Tehran’s electricity sector protested their exclusion from public employee benefits. Oil and gas workers across multiple provinces held protests demanding fair wages and pension reforms.
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi spoke with his Venezuelan counterpart, Yván Gil, condemning U.S. “hostile unilateralism” and reaffirming Tehran’s solidarity with Caracas. The call came amid heightened U.S.–Venezuela tensions, including new anti-drug naval deployments and a reward for Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro’s arrest. Gil vowed Venezuela would defend its sovereignty against U.S. pressure.
The IRGC announced the launch of its first official social media accounts yesterday. Accounts have been launched on Telegram, X, and state-run platforms such as Eitaa, Soroush Plus, Rubika, and Bale. The statement stressed that all other channels using the Guards’ name are unofficial and do not represent the IRGC’s positions.
Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev welcomed President Masoud Pezeshkian’s support for the Zangezur corridor, dismissing remarks by an advisor to the Supreme Leader, Ali Akbar Velayati, saying that the Islamic Republic will prevent Azerbaijan’s cooperation with Washington. Aliyev stressed that interstate relations rest with elected governments, not advisors, and said the Zangezur corridor would link Russia and Iran as part of the North-South transport corridor, creating a “win-win” for regional cooperation.

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