Brief Notes

Tehran to Mobilize 80,000 ‘Clothing and Chastity’ Enforcers: Tehran’s provincial branch of the Department for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice plans to mobilize an 80,000-strong “volunteer” force to deal with the “clothing and chastity situation” in the capital. The department secretary, Rouhollah Momennasab, during his announcement of the initiative, said, “This country’s greatest asset is its faithful and revolutionary people.” He continued, “By activating 80,000 trained personnel, we can bring about major transformation in the province even before relying on large state budgets.” Momennasab also announced a new “chastity and hijab situation room” to coordinate government agencies in monitoring citizens’ clothing and behavior. Islamic Republic Denies Support for UK Terrorist Attacks: Yesterday, MI5 Director Sir Ken McCallum said, “MI5 has tracked more than 20 potentially lethal Iran-backed plots in just the one year since I last stood at this podium…Behind the scenes, MI5 and our police partners continue to catch those who are reckless enough to become Iranian pawns.” Today, the Islamic Republic’s embassy in London dismissed these comments as “baseless and irresponsible.” In a statement, the embassy urged Britain to “abandon unfounded allegations and adopt a responsible, constructive approach instead.” McCallum had said British intelligence was intensifying efforts to counter what he described as “mounting lethal plots” by the Islamic Republic, adding that “Iran’s autocratic regime is frantically trying to silence its opponents around the world, including in the UK.”

Kremlin Continues Masquerading as Peacemaker

Ali Larijani, secretary of the Supreme National Security Council and senior adviser to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow yesterday to deliver a message from Khamenei. The content of the message has not been disclosed. This comes after Putin’s comments last week, claiming Jerusalem requested he convey to Tehran their desire to avoid conflict. Larijani’s unannounced visit, his second with Putin this year, coincided with that of Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, prompting speculation that Moscow may be mediating regional talks. The delivery of this message also coincided with a “very productive” telephone conversation between Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump regarding Russia’s war with Ukraine. The Russian Foreign Ministry further announced today that with the expiration of UNSCR 2231 on October 18, Moscow is no longer bound by any related restrictions. In a statement sharply criticizing the UK, France, and Germany for pursuing a “confrontational course,” the ministry declared, “At this point, the operation of all the provisions of Resolution 2231 must be ended, including the restrictions and procedures provided by it.” It added that future Moscow–Tehran cooperation will proceed according to Russian law and international commitments, particularly under their new Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty signed in January of 2025 and enacted on October 2, 2025. Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi today also announced that Tehran, Moscow, and Beijing will jointly submit a letter to UN Secretary General António Guterres and the UN Security Council, asserting the expiration of UNSCR 2231. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi echoed this on X, saying, “The unlawful measures pursued by a handful of isolated governments have been rejected by a vast majority of nations.” Meanwhile, amid mounting domestic criticism of former President Hassan Rouhani’s administration (2013–2021), former Rouhani officials have started to blame the Kremlin for the collapse of relations between the West and Tehran. At a speech to alumni in Tabriz, former Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif rejected the idea that Russia was a loyal ally of the Islamic Republic, saying, “The Russians made Qasem Soleimani’s trip to Moscow public and also exposed Iran’s drone transfers to Russia in the Ukraine war.” He criticized Moscow for acting against the Islamic Republic’s interests despite claiming partnership, adding that while he still believes in maintaining strategic ties with Russia and China, “they never act for our sake.”

On the Radar

Tehran Friday Prayer Imam Mohammad Hassan Aboutorabifard praised slain Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar as a “hero of resistance” during his sermon today. Nationally broadcast live by Radio Tehran, his remarks echoed the Islamic Republic’s official narrative, claiming that the ongoing ceasefire represented a “defeat imposed on Israel,” which was now forced to negotiate with Hamas leaders it “failed to kill.” Aboutorabifard asserted that Israel’s war in Gaza had not met its objectives, saying it “flattened Gaza but could not even rescue one hostage,” and described Israel as facing a “big catastrophe” of internal division and public distrust in Prime Minister Netanyahu.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei condemned Israel for what he called “repeated violations” of the November 2024 ceasefire with Hezbollah in Lebanon. In a statement issued today, Baghaei said Israeli actions were a “clear violation of Lebanon’s territorial integrity and national sovereignty,” claiming Israel had breached the ceasefire about 5,000 times. Baghaei also condemned France and the United States, the ceasefire’s guarantors, accusing them of “inaction and continuous appeasement” that enabled Israel’s actions.
Austria’s Foreign Ministry confirmed to Iran International that it has temporarily relocated its embassy operations from Tehran to Baku following the 12-Day War. The ministry stated that it plans to restore full diplomatic activity in Tehran and gradually resume consular services once conditions permit.
New Zealand will reimpose United Nations sanctions on the Islamic Republic, effective October 18, Foreign Minister Winston Peters announced Friday. “This reimposition of U.N.-mandated sanctions reflects the international community’s deep concerns about Iran’s non-compliance with its nuclear obligations and unjustifiable levels of uranium enrichment activity,” Peters said. He also announced a mandatory registration system for New Zealanders doing business with the Islamic Republic, set to begin on February 1, 2026.
Since 2009, around 13,000 regime-affiliated Iranian companies have been registered in the Caucasus nation of Georgia, with several hundred new registrations each year despite international sanctions.