Brief Notes

Tehran Behind Hezbollah’s Saudi Appeal: Hezbollah deputy leader Naim Qassem only made last week’s appeal to Saudi Arabia, calling on the Kingdom to turn a “new page” in its relationship with Hezbollah, following “signals” from Tehran, two Islamic Republic officials told Reuters. In the speech last week, Qassem urged Riyadh to put aside past disputes with Hezbollah and unite against Israel, likely in an attempt to lessen international support for the Lebanese government’s efforts to disarm the group. Saudi Arabia has consistently backed disarmament and has shown no sign of shifting since Qassem’s appeal. Saudi officials did not respond to requests for comments either. The issue of Hezbollah’s weapons is becoming more urgent as Washington presses Beirut to adopt a disarmament plan and as Israel continues its air strikes.

Snapback Remains Inevitable

Today, two days before the September 28 implementation of snapback sanctions, a resolution proposed by Russia and China to block their reinstatement was put to a vote. The resolution failed, and therefore will not prevent the activation of the implementation of sanctions. Prior to today’s vote, Islamic Republic President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stepped up their outreach. Araghchi cautioned his counterparts from Brazil, South Korea, and Slovenia, as well as officials from Venezuela, Uganda, and China, of “unpredictable consequences” if snapback measures were implemented. Pezeshkian added, “The Islamic Republic of Iran is fully prepared to face any scenario or circumstance.” Back in Tehran, members of the Majles (Parliament) will soon begin to debate potential changes, aimed at allowing the development of nuclear weapons as a deterrent, to the regime’s supposed nuclear doctrine. Deputy Speaker of the Majles, Ali Nikzad, said, “The parliament will seriously review the matter on Sunday.”

Moscow Agrees to $25bn Nuclear Project With Tehran

The state-owned Hormuz Persian Gulf Petrochemical Company of Iran and Russia’s state-owned Rosatom today signed a $25 billion executive agreement on a “mega project” that aims to construct four advanced third-generation nuclear power units in Hormozgan Province. Each unit is designed to generate 1,255 megawatts of electricity, or roughly enough to power a city of one million people. The agreement was signed during Moscow’s World Atomic Week. The head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), Mohammad Eslami, attended the event representing the Islamic Republic. Regarding the agreement, he said, “Together with Mr. Likhachev, the CEO of Rosatom, we informed President Putin about the progress of the new agreement between the two countries, which was met with [Putin’s] satisfaction.”

On the Radar

Tehran Friday Prayer Imam Mohammad Hassan Aboutorabifard today claimed that the 12-Day War enhanced the Islamic Republic’s standing on the international stage. He said, “Military power, superiority in knowledge, technology, missile arsenal, drones, and the Bavar air defense system in this technological battle made Washington and Tel Aviv surrender to the will of the great Iranian nation.”
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had a quadrilateral meeting with China, Pakistan, and Russia on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. In the meeting, he called for a coordinated regional approach to Afghanistan and said, “The Islamic Republic of Iran firmly upholds the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of countries and supports the inherent right of the Afghan people to determine their political, economic, and social future in accordance with the UN Charter and recognized norms of international law.” Araghchi added, “Afghanistan’s frozen assets abroad must be released unconditionally to help restore the country’s economic stability.”