Brief Notes

Minsk–Tehran Military Cooperation Continues: An Islamic Republic Air Force delegation led by Air Force commander Hamid Vahedi is on a working visit to Belarus to discuss “further ways of deepening cooperation in the field of air forces and air defense,” according to the Belarusian Ministry of Defense. To this end, Vahedi met with the commander of the Belarusian Air Force and Air Defense Forces, Andrey Lukyanovich, yesterday. The delegation is also expected to visit the Belarusian Military Academy and Air Force units to “get acquainted with the latest weapons in the field of electronic warfare.” Tehran Denies Reported Arms Deals with Beijing, Moscow: The General Staff of the Armed Forces dismissed recent reports about potential military exchanges with China and Russia as “inaccurate,” warning that “any commentary regarding military and defense cooperation with other countries, including the purchase or sale of equipment and weaponry, lacks legitimacy and credibility.” The statement urged the media to avoid publishing such reports without official coordination with relevant state bodies. The statement appears to be in response to lawmaker Amir Hossein Sabeti, who yesterday claimed that during the 12-Day War, Tehran received “a number of air systems from China” and that “there hasn’t been a weapon we’ve asked for from China or Russia that they haven’t given us,” adding that “neither China nor Russia has set any red lines for us regarding weapons.” Two French Hostages ‘Conditionally’ Released: French President Emmanuel Macron announced on X today that Cecile Kohler, 41, and Jacques Paris, 72, two French nationals held in the infamous Evin Prison since May 2022 on espionage charges, have been released and are now on their way to the Embassy of France in Tehran. Macron continued: “I welcome this first step. Dialogue continues to facilitate their return to France as quickly as possible.” Later, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei clarified, saying, “The two French Citizens have been released on bail and will remain under supervision until the next stage of judicial proceedings.” Their release comes after France’s recent conditional release of Iranian national Mahdieh Esfandiari and a September meeting between President Macron and Islamic Republic President Masoud Pezeshkian on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. The move is widely seen as another win for the Islamic Republic’s notorious strategy of hostage diplomacy.

Regime Rallies Mark 1979 U.S. Embassy Takeover

State-organized rallies were held throughout Iran today to mark the 46th anniversary of the 1979 takeover of the U.S. embassy in Tehran, a foundational event in the naissance of the Islamic Republic. These rallies are held every year, with the regime referring to the anniversary as the “National Day of Combating the Global Arrogance.” Official messaging from officials echoed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s speech, delivered yesterday, which focused on the “fundamental incompatibility” between Tehran and Washington. Majles (Parliament) Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf addressed the main rally in Tehran, saying the 1979 takeover exemplified the new regime’s “non-acceptance of hegemony and fight against arrogance.” Ghalibaf continued, saying that the West has “changed its faces and methods” since 1979, warning that “pumping despair and self-loathing” into Iranian society via media is the new “deadly weapon” of the Islamic Republic’s adversaries. MPs chanted “Death to America” and “Death to Israel” during a parliamentary session today. Deputy Speaker Ali Nikzad said the Islamic Republic would never bow to foreign pressure, calling the conflict with the U.S. “rooted in principles.” President Pezeshkian met with officials from Kerman Province, saying the Islamic Republic is better prepared to repel attacks than it was during the 12-Day War, telling local officials that “Our defense capability today is not comparable to what it was before the 12-day imposed war. If the enemy makes a mistake, it will receive a swift, crushing, and painful response.” Habibollah Sayyari, the deputy commander of the Artesh (the regular armed forces as opposed to the IRGC) for coordination, said to a rally in Zanjan Province, “Unity and solidarity are the codewords for the Iranian nation to succeed in the fight against [the West].”

On the Radar

Pezeshkian admin spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani claimed that the Islamic Republic will not pursue nuclear weapons, citing “cultural, religious, and ethical principles.” She added that the Islamic Republic’s cooperation with the IAEA occurs “within the framework of regulations and under the supervision of the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC),” noting that cooperation with the agency is limited to cases that are SNSC-approved.
A small bomb exploded outside a municipal building in Robat Karim, Tehran Province, causing a loud blast, but no injuries or major damage, according to local officials. Robat Karim County Governor Reza Aghaalikhani said the device was “probably a sound bomb,” designed to create noise rather than destruction, and that security and emergency teams were immediately deployed. Similar low-impact explosions have previously occurred as acts of protest, including a recent case in which the Supreme Court upheld the death sentence of Manouchehr Fallah, accused of detonating a “sound bomb” outside a courthouse in Gilan Province.