Brief Notes

State Department Says Iranians Deserve Better: The official Persian-language X account of the U.S. State Department today posted: “Days without water in the scorching heat of July. There is no access to water for drinking, bathing, washing, or cooling homes. The people of Iran continue to suffer the real consequences of greed, corruption, and mismanagement of water resources by the regime. They deserve better than this!” Intel Ministry Alleges ‘American-Zionist Plot’ to Install Reza Pahlavi: The Islamic Republic Ministry of Intelligence said it possesses comprehensive intelligence on what it described as a "grand American-Zionist plot" to install a "puppet government" headed by Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, the son of the former Shah. The ministry claimed that a monarchist plan, allegedly backed by Mossad, sought to deploy armed teams into Tehran on June 22 to carry out "terrorist" attacks, but was thwarted. Quds Force Chief Visits Iraq After Police-Militia Clash: Esmail Qaani, commander of the IRGC’s expeditionary Quds Force, reportedly made a surprise 10-hour visit to Iraq on July 27. During his stay in Baghdad, Qaani met with prominent leaders of the Coordination Framework, Iraq’s governing bloc of Tehran-backed Shia parties, as well as senior commanders from the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), an umbrella group of Tehran-backed Shia militia groups. He did not meet Prime Minister Mohammed Shiaa al-Sudani, who today said that Iraq had assisted in thwarting 29 attacks on Israel from the Islamic Republic during the 12-Day War. The visit came shortly after a deadly clash between Kataib Hezbollah (a PMF member) and Iraqi police in Baghdad, which resulted in two deaths and multiple arrests. The incident has prompted emergency consultations among Coordination Framework leaders.

Khamenei Signals Continuation of Nuclear Program

During a memorial service held today for soldiers killed in the 12-Day War, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei delivered a speech, claiming that the Islamic Republic’s main pillars are “religion and science.” He said, “The Iranian nation, by God’s grace, will neither abandon strengthening its religious faith, nor expanding its diverse fields of knowledge, and much to the enemy’s dismay, will succeed in elevating Iran to the peak of progress and the pinnacle of honor.” Khamenei added, “All their talk about nuclear issues, [uranium] enrichment, human rights, and such things are nothing but excuses. What upsets them is the fact that the Islamic Republic can produce new ideas in the various fields of science and knowledge, be it in the humanities, technical sciences, or religious sciences.” While Khamenei did not explicitly reference the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program, his remarks were widely interpreted as a reaffirmation of the regime’s current trajectory, including ongoing uranium enrichment. Notably, Khamenei used the word “Iran” only seven times, a significant drop compared to his July 16 speech, where he used the term 28 times to project “nationalism” and “national unity”. His delivery was notably slower than usual, and his voice sounded unusually raspy. Amid reports about the Supreme Leader's diminishing health, Khamenei delivered his 9:01-minute speech standing. The move is being touted as a sign of his health and power by pro-establishment commentators.

Intel Ministry Projects Power Amid Mounting Criticism

In a detailed statement released yesterday, the Ministry of Intelligence outlined a series of operations it claims to have conducted during the 12-Day War, emphasizing its role in national security and countering foreign threats. The move comes amid mounting criticism over Israel’s demonstrably upper hand in the intelligence field. In the statement, the ministry accused Israel and the U.S. of plotting to establish a “puppet government” led by Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi. The statement also claims that the ministry thwarted an alleged armed operation, orchestrated by monarchists with Mossad guidance, aiming to incite unrest in Tehran on June 22, coinciding with Israeli strikes on Evin Prison. The ministry said that they arrested 122 individuals in 23 provinces linked to the alleged plot. The ministry also detailed the identification and arrest of 20 alleged spies and operatives linked to Mossad, as well as the discovery of a base near Iran’s southeastern border housing 300 suspected foreign militants. The ministry claimed major cyber defense efforts and actions to prevent domestic unrest, including actions against the Baha’i community. The ministry said it preempted plans by 150 “Takfiri” militants, the term used by the Islamic Republic to refer to the Islamic State terror group. According to the statement, the alleged militants were based in Syria and intended to carry out attacks in Iran.

Cartoonist Charged for ‘Insulting’ President

Tehran Prosecutor’s Office has filed charges against a cartoonist, Hadi Heidari, for publishing what it described as an “offensive cartoon” depicting President Masoud Pezeshkian. The now-deleted post on the cartoonist's social media account depicted President Masoud Pezeshkian riding a donkey (branded with the word “unity”) backwards. It appears to be a jab at Pezeshkian’s election slogan calling for “national unity” and him being seen as clueless about the major decision-making process.

On the Radar

The Islamic Republic’s Ambassador to the UN, Amir Saeed Iravani yesterday called on the UN Security Council and Secretary-General to condemn the July 26 attack on a judiciary complex in Zahedan, Sistan-Baluchestan Province, as a “terrorist atrocity in the strongest possible terms and take a firm, principled position against all forms and manifestations of terrorism, regardless of the identity, motives, or affiliations of the perpetrators.”
Iravani also voiced Tehran’s support for Syria’s territorial integrity and warned the UN Security Council against what he called Israel’s “destabilizing agenda” in the region. Iravani emphasized Tehran’s “unwavering commitment to the sovereignty, national unity, and territorial integrity of the Syrian Arab Republic.”
A recent assessment by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported a decline in the number of Afghan migrants returning to Afghanistan from Iran.
Malagasy Transport Minister Valery Ramonjavelo was dismissed today after five Boeing 777 aircraft were located in Iran, specifically in the fleet of U.S.-sanctioned Mahan Air, despite the planes’ provisional registration in Madagascar. Malagasy aviation authorities allege document falsification and international breaches with two arrests made. Two additional key suspects, including an Indian national, are being sought.

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