Brief Notes

Moscow Agrees to Build Nuclear Infrastructure in Iran: Today, the head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), Mohammad Eslami, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Russian state-owned Rosatom nuclear corporation to build small modular reactor power plants inside Iran. IRGC Ups Combat Readiness: In a televised interview, IRGC spokesperson Mohammad Naini said, “The armed forces, with all their strength, are preparing and reinforcing themselves against any potential threat.” He added, “The armed forces have pursued two main missions: first, to enhance defensive strength so that the enemy is prevented from initiating a war, and second, to attain a deterrent capability that, if war occurs, will ensure the enemy’s defeat.” Naini further claimed, “The Leader of the Revolution (Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei) directly assumed command during the [12-Day War]. He maintained direct contact with the commanders, personally reviewed, supervised, and approved operational plans, and had long placed special focus and attention on military preparedness.” The claim of Khamenei’s individual involvement in the command of the regime’s military activity during the 12-Day War has been echoed by several officials in recent days.

President Pezeshkian Delivers UNGA Address

President Masoud Pezeshkian opened his speech to the UN General Assembly today with a condemnation of U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran during the 12-Day War, characterizing them as a “major betrayal of diplomacy.” Pezeshkian then focused on highlighting Israel’s “destabilizing” role in the region, saying, “After nearly two years of genocide, collective starvation, continued apartheid in the occupied territories, and aggression against neighbors, the ridiculous and delusional plan of Greater Israel is still shamelessly proposed by the highest levels....” He continued, “No one in the world is safe from the aggressive intentions of [Israel],” as he held up a report titled "Killed by Israel" containing the names of Iranians killed during the 12-Day War. Pezeshkian went on to characterize the E3’s move to trigger the UNSCR 2231 snapback mechanism as an “illegal action which lacks international legitimacy.” He concluded, “Once again, I declare at this assembly that Iran has never sought to build nuclear weapons and never will. We are not pursuing nuclear weapons, and this is a matter of belief and based on the Leader’s fatwa. Therefore, we have never sought weapons of mass destruction and never will. At a time when Israel is the one disturbing peace in the region, should Iran be the one sanctioned?”

Majles Speaker: Hamas Carried Out 10/7 Attacks Alone

In a documentary titled “The Story of the 12-Day War,” Majles (Parliament) Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said, “Hamas planned and executed October 7 independently, without informing Iran or even Hezbollah.” He added, “Hamas, based on Islamic and Quranic culture, is a liberation movement.” On the Islamic Republic’s role in the region, he claimed, “We do not interfere in Hezbollah and Hamas decision-making…but we support their decisions in defense of their land and Islamic ideals…Hezbollah is more alive and cohesive than ever. If it were defeated, why are [the Lebanese government] still seeking negotiations and disarmament?” Speaking about the surprise Israeli strikes that took place at the beginning of the 12-Day War, Ghalibaf said, “We expected an enemy attack, but our surprise was in the method, not the fact.” He credited the Supreme Leader’s command of the military for the regime’s “success” during the war: “The Supreme Leader personally was in the command room… immediately replaced martyred commanders and issued the necessary orders.” He added, “If the enemy attacks again, [our response] will be stronger and more precise.” Ghalibaf also said that the Islamic Republic’s lack of presence in Syria, caused by Assad’s ouster, allowed Israel to carry out its strikes: “If we had been in Syria, the latest Israeli attack on Iran would not have happened.”

On the Radar

The Islamic Republic is preparing for a new wave of deportations aimed at Afghan migrants. The Governor of Tehran, Mohammad Sadeq Motamedian, in a televised phone call with state-run IRIB yesterday, said, “The second phase of the expulsion of Afghan migrants will begin in the current week so that we get rid of the problem of illegal nationals.”
Yesterday, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, Araghchi met IAEA chief Rafael Grossi for the second time in two days. This came after talks with the E3 and the EU’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, where Araghchi urged “reciprocal and responsible” steps from European powers in return for the regime’s September 9 framework deal with the IAEA.
The Deputy Commander for Coordination of the Artesh, Habibollah Sayyari, said that Israel has “no power to fight without the support of NATO and the U.S.” He added, “If [Israel] had not censored the reality of our attacks…the people of the world would have understood what had happened.” Referring to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s video message to the Iranian people, Sayyari said, “One of the enemy’s methods to weaken the armed forces and create distance between the people is by sowing division, but experience has shown that our nation will remain proud in the face of all these tricks.”
Law enforcement in Razavi Khorasan Province seized 935 kilograms (~2,060 pounds) of hashish and arrested three people related to a “smuggling ring.” The provincial law enforcement commander specified that investigations regarding this case and the arrest of other members connected with the smuggling ring in question are still ongoing.
Yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister of Azerbaijan Sahin Mustafayev visited Iran’s East Azerbaijan Province, meeting the Islamic Republic’s Minister of Roads and Urban Development and the Governor-General of Iranian East Azerbaijan Province to highlight the need to boost trade. The Azerbaijani pro-government Haqqin.az reported that, during Mustafayev’s trip to Iran, the possible export of Russian gas to Iran through Azerbaijan was discussed. The outlet noted, however, that tensions in Moscow–Baku relations make it unclear whether Azerbaijan would agree to what it called a “strategically important project for Russia,” adding that Baku has issued no official comment.