Brief Notes

Quds Force Chief in Baghdad (Unconfirmed): Commander of the Quds Force Brig. Gen. Esmail Qaani visited Iraq on Monday and Tuesday of this week, The New Arab reported, citing “informed sources.” On Monday, Qaani allegedly discussed recent drone attacks in Iraqi Kurdistan with the heads of several Islamic Republic-sponsored Shia militias, to which “most” militias denied involvement. On Tuesday, Qaani reportedly met with Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid, warning the Iraqi President that the recent Israeli operations in Syria will likely spread to Iraq over the next two months, and Israel may bomb areas, headquarters, and military bases in Iraq. Qaani further claimed that Israel has likely already infiltrated many of Iraq’s institutions. Intelligence Minister Calls for ‘Aggressive Internal Strategy’ Against Israel: IRGC-affiliated news outlet Tasnim reported that Intelligence Minister Esmail Khatib has called for what he described as an "aggressive internal strategy" targeting Israel. Khatib linked the Islamic Republic’s missile strikes to increased Israeli security activity, asserting that Israel is now forced to address alleged infiltrations within its institutions. He also praised the regime’s "security stability" during the 12-Day War. He added, "Despite all the conspiracies enemies designed to overthrow the Islamic Republic, we witnessed internal security in the country during those 12 days." Tehran Denies Shipping Weapons to Houthis: In a response to yesterday’s interception of an arms shipment bound for the Houthis, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said: “The U.S. claim regarding the seizure of a military shipment bound for Yemen is nothing but a deceitful attempt to divert public attention from the main issue in the region, namely, the Zionist regime’s aggression and crimes against the people of the region and the destructive, destabilizing interventions of the United States.” Islamic Republic Lifts Post-War Air Restrictions: The Islamic Republic has lifted most air travel restrictions implemented during and after the 12-Day War, with 24-hour operations resuming throughout the country, according to the Civil Aviation Organization. Airport hours of operation remain limited in multiple locations, including Tehran. Isfahan’s Shahid Beheshti Airport reopened after 34 days of repairs following Israeli strikes during the June conflict. Training and recreational flights remain suspended.

Islamic Republic Rejects EU Sanctions

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei rejected the “accusations” made by the EU Council of Ministers in the announcement of the bloc’s new sanctions on government entities and regime-affiliated individuals for serious human rights violations and transnational repression. Baghaei further condemned the sanctions as “illegal” and “unjustified.” Baghaei dismissed the EU’s claims of the Islamic Republic’s support for terrorism in Europe as “baseless” and accused European governments of deflecting attention from their support for “terrorism” in Gaza. Baghaei later quoted former EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell’s claims that the bloc has failed to hold Israel accountable for alleged war crimes in Gaza.

Tehran Blasts Israeli Strikes as ‘Plot to Divide Syria’

Yesterday, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi condemned the latest Israeli airstrikes on Syria. Calling the attacks “all too predictable,” he said, “The rabid Israeli regime knows no bounds and only understands one language. The world, including the region, must unite to end its unhinged aggression.” Meanwhile, Islamic Republic media outlets widely portrayed Israel’s strikes in Syria as a deliberate effort to destabilize the country under the “false pretext” of protecting the Druze minority. State-affiliated outlets accused Israel of exploiting sectarian divisions and seeking to partition Syria, with Supreme Leader-controlled Kayhan calling it part of a “U.S.-Israeli regime change project,” and that “Jolani’s expiration date is over.” Regime outlets reported mass protests in Syria while reformist and conservative daily papers both framed the strikes as escalating regional conflict.

On the Radar

The deputy commander of the IRGC, Brig. Gen. Ali Fadavi, today, said, “If our military had been weakened, the enemies wouldn’t have asked for a ceasefire…They failed to achieve any of their goals. This proves the victory of the Islamic Revolution.” Fadavi warned that if Israel violates the ceasefire, the Islamic Republic will respond “with greater force and decisiveness.”
Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh called on BRICS members to take stronger stances against U.S. and Israeli “domineering policies.” In a call with South African Defense Minister Matsie Angelina Motshekga, Nasirzadeh claimed Israel sought a U.S.-brokered ceasefire to the 12-Day War due to the strength of Tehran’s attacks.
Georgian security services arrested one Georgian and one Turkish national in Batumi for attempting to transact $3 million worth of uranium. Authorities said, “The citizen of Georgia illegally purchased and stored the radioactive substance... [and] tried to sell the mentioned nuclear material to the Turkish citizen.” The case adds to concerns over the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program, with 400kg of highly-enriched (60%) uranium still missing and IAEA access blocked. In recent weeks, Georgia has been identified in investigations as a channel used by some regime-affiliated individuals to bypass sanctions.
According to Presidential Inspection Office Chief Mostafa Molavi, President Masoud Pezeshkian had to complete part of his trip to Tabriz, northwest Iran, by taxi after all three presidential vehicles broke down near Takestan due to contaminated fuel.
Following the surge in arrests of citizens in Iranian provinces with high Kurdish populations, security forces raided a residence in Saqqez, Kurdistan Province, and arrested one individual without informing them of charges. In a separate incident, another person was arrested under similar circumstances in Ilam Province. Both were transferred to undisclosed locations.

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