NUFDI Releases Video Messages to Mark Bloody November

Six years ago, the Islamic Republic, facing a quickly growing nationwide uprising, feared it was closer to collapse than it had ever been before. To silence the Iranian people’s calls for the end of the Islamic Republic, the regime shut down the internet for two weeks and, under the cover of darkness, massacred 1,500 protesters. This 2019 uprising is now known as “Bloody November.” Today, NUFDI published a series of video messages from the mothers of those young Iranians killed during Bloody November. Watch these messages here.

Brief Notes

Supreme Leader Calls Rumors of Indirect Negotiations ‘Pure Lies’: During an address marking the anniversary of the Basij Organization, Supreme Leader Khamenei claimed the Islamic Republic defeated the U.S. and Israel during the 12-Day War, saying Washington deployed advanced weapons but “went back empty-handed,” and praised national unity and the Basij for their role. He also dismissed reports of indirect messages to the U.S. as “pure lies,” insisting Tehran has not sought contact and accusing Washington of backing “the criminal Zionist gang” and stoking global conflicts. FM Says ‘No Possibility’ of Talks With Washington: Islamic Republic Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused Washington of “bullying” and insisted this alone has halted nuclear diplomacy, saying there is “no possibility” of negotiations with the United States, while saying Tehran is also not in talks with the E3 following years of stalled engagement. U.S.-designated Terror Organization Jaish al-Adl Announces ‘Merger’ of Baloch Militant Groups: Jaish al-Adl’s official channels resurfaced after weeks of silence to claim the terror group has merged with several other unnamed Baluch militant groups, planning to unveil a new structure “in the coming days.” The statement framed the move as an effort to increase operational impact, though it was unclear whether groups in Pakistan are included. Recent attacks reported in Iran’s Sistan-Baluchestan Province have gone unclaimed, and no other Baluch groups have publicly acknowledged the alleged merger. The announcement follows a months-long crackdown on these groups by the regime, which has reported several arrests, weapons seizures (including a seizure of 40 “American” pistols announced today), and killings of suspected militants. Larijani Says Baluch Groups Trying to ‘Undermine’ Tehran–Islamabad Relations: The Islamic Republic’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Secretary Ali Larijani said some countries are attempting to undermine Tehran–Islamabad relations by supporting “terrorist groups” along their shared border. Larijani also discussed border security, boosting economic ties, and a proposed railway from Islamabad to Tehran. His two-day visit included meetings with Pakistan’s president, prime minister, and foreign minister. Tehran-backed Iraqi Militias Collaborate With Houthis on Arms Development and Target Acquisition: A senior official of the Tehran-backed U.S.-designated Harakat Al-Nujaba said that Iraqi militias are coordinating with the Tehran-backed Houthis in Yemen to enhance drones, missiles, AI systems, and the acquisition of “unfamiliar targets.” He framed the effort as preparation for a potential future conflict, claiming lessons from the war in Gaza had expanded the factions’ reach. He also said groups are fortifying leadership structures and communications while seeking to benefit from recent Houthi advances in targeting operations and GPS technology.

Australia Designates IRGC as Terrorist Organization

On November 27, Australia formally designated the IRGC as a state sponsor of terrorism, citing intelligence that it orchestrated attacks on Jewish community sites in Sydney and Melbourne in 2024. Canberra described the attacks as attempts to “sow division.” The country has expelled the Islamic Republic’s ambassador, prompting Tehran to reciprocally downgrade Australia’s diplomatic presence in Iran. Tehran reacted strongly, with the Foreign Ministry condemning the listing as “baseless and malicious,” and the General Staff of the Armed Forces claiming the designation serves “the evil objectives of the hegemonic system led by terrorism-nurturing America.” The statement accused Australia of acting under foreign pressure and said the measures would only “strengthen the determination of the heroic Iranian nation” and increase support for the IRGC.

IRGC Seizes Eswatini-Flagged Vessel, Eswatini Denies Ownership

Yesterday, the IRGC Navy seized an Eswatini-flagged vessel in the Persian Gulf for allegedly carrying 350,000 liters of “smuggled diesel fuel.” Heydar Honarian Mojarrad, the commander of the IRGC Second Naval Zone, said the vessel was subsequently brought to shore, where the fuel was offloaded to the Bushehr Oil Products Refining and Distribution Company. Mojarrad said the 13 crew members were from India and another country, which he did not name. The seizure follows a similar mid-November case involving the Marshall Islands-flagged tanker Talara. The Principal Secretary of Eswatini’s Ministry of Transport, Thulani Mkhaliphi, responded by saying the country has no operational ship registry and has not authorized third parties to register vessels on its behalf. He called the misuse of Eswatini’s name “deeply irresponsible and criminal” and said that the nation “strongly condemns this conduct.” Thulani pledged to work with the International Maritime Organization to prevent further abuses.

Tehran Hosts Turkish and Saudi Diplomats

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan visited Tehran and met senior Islamic Republic officials, including President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Araghchi and Fidan held a joint press conference addressing bilateral trade, regional conflicts, and the Islamic Republic’s nuclear file, with Fidan calling for the removal of “unfair” sanctions. Separately, Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister Saud bin Mohammad Al-Sati met Araghchi to discuss regional and international issues. Tehran condemned Israeli “military aggression” against Lebanon and Syria and called for deeper cooperation among regional and Islamic states to curb Israel’s “warmongering.”

On the Radar

Former Islamic Republic President Hassan Rouhani said flaws in the Islamic Republic’s military and security apparatus have let Israel move “in an open and defenseless space up to our borders,” arguing the regime “lacks strong deterrence.” He pushed for renewed diplomacy with the West, diverging from Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s recent “victory” rhetoric. Hardline outlets condemned his remarks as divisive, and some MPs called for his prosecution, while Pezeshkian administration-aligned and “reformist” media published his speech in full.
Tehran condemned the U.S. after President Donald Trump announced the closure of Venezuelan airspace, calling it a “flagrant violation” of international law and an “unprecedented threat” to global aviation. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei warned that the measure could have “dangerous consequences” for peace and security. In light of its alliance with Caracas, Tehran has repeatedly criticized Washington’s heightened activity near Venezuela.
The IRGC Ground Force is hosting a large-scale military exercise, “Sahand-2025,” in East Azerbaijan Province from December 1–December 5, with participation from Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) members.
Sources within the regime’s armed forces denied online claims that the Islamic Republic fired missiles toward Iraqi Kurdistan, after rumors circulated that the IRGC targeted Kurdish groups in Iraq, with some posts citing alleged violations of Iraqi airspace by 60 Iranian jets and joint IRGC-Air Force exercises. Some suggest the reports may have stemmed from earlier Israeli fighter jet activity over Iraq on November 26, which both Tehran and Baghdad have denied.
The Islamic Republic’s deputy head of air defense, Reza Khajeh, claimed that Islamic Republic forces destroyed 196 Israeli drones during the 12-Day War. He named Hermes 900 and Heron drones among those downed and said the regime tracked cruise missiles throughout the conflict. Khajeh framed the fighting as resistance against “the entirety of NATO and the West.” He dismissed claims of ongoing threats to Iranian airspace following the war, indirectly responding to recent reports of Israeli air activity near Iran’s western border.
Islamic Republic authorities seized a “significant quantity of military arms” near Baneh in Iran’s Kurdistan Province. Officials said the smugglers abandoned their cargo following a clash with security forces. No details were provided on the type or amount of weapons, though authorities claimed the haul indicated a “plot to destabilize the country.”