Call by radical cleric for war sparks sharp debate in Iran

The drone, fired from Lebanon by Hezbollah, struck Netanyahu’s seaside residence, though the prime minister and his wife were not present. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that a building was hit in Caesarea, an affluent town known for its luxury villas and ancient Roman ruins. Netanyahu’s office released a brief statement acknowledging the attack, followed by the prime minister’s vow of response.

"The attempt by Iran’s proxy Hezbollah to assassinate me and my wife today was a grave mistake," the Israeli premier wrote on X. "This will not deter me or the State of Israel from continuing our just war against our enemies in order to secure our future."

“Anyone who tries to harm Israel’s citizens will pay a heavy price. We will continue to eliminate the terrorists and those who dispatch them,” added Netanyahu.

Israel’s Foreign Minister Israel Katz echoed the prime minister's stance, stating that the attack "exposed Iran’s true face and the evil axis it leads." Katz added that Israel’s enemies "will pay a heavy price for any attempt to harm our citizens, soldiers, and leaders."

Houshang Hassan-Yari, a military expert, in an interview with Iran International, emphasized the gravity of the situation, noting that the IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps) has reached a point where it can launch such an attack. "The level of tension is rising," Hassan-Yari said, suggesting that this operation marks a shift in the IRGC's willingness to act directly. He indicated that the attack could lead to a broader conflict in the region.

It is not clear why Israel's sophisticated air defense system was not able to identify and shoot down a drone that flies relatively slowly.

“While this attack opens the path for a strike against Khamenei, the US can no longer prevent such actions to avoid escalation. Furthermore, no regional country would criticize such a strike. The involvement of the IRGC in Hezbollah’s activities has drawn attention to the possibility of a direct strike on Iranian officials,” added Hassan-Yari.

Mohsen Sazegara, a journalist and political analyst, also told Iran International that Saturday’s attack was carried out by the IRGC, which has assumed control of Hezbollah's operations following the assassination of its leader, Hassan Nasrallah. Sazegara suggested that the IRGC now has a direct intent to assassinate Netanyahu.

'Red lines crossed, Iran's regime closer to end'

Miki Zohar, Israeli Culture Minister, also said in a tweet in Farsi: "The Iranian attempt to assassinate the Israeli Prime Minister, even for a terrorist monster like Iran, whose hands are stained with the blood of thousands, is considered crossing a red line. The price Iran will pay will be deeply engraved in the history books. The end of Iran’s oppressive regime is closer than ever."

A spokesman for Iran’s mission at the United Nations in New York told the Wall Street Journal that the “action in question has been carried out by Hezbollah in Lebanon."

However, Middle East expert Menashe Amir believes that Iran may be trying to avoid further escalation. "Netanyahu’s remarks legitimize the targeting of Iranian officials," Amir told Iran International, adding that it remains unclear whether the focus would be on Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, his son Mojtaba, or other key figures. Amir also noted that the attack on Netanyahu's villa could accelerate Israel's retaliatory plans, potentially leading to action before the upcoming US elections.

Amichai Stein, a correspondent for Israel’s public broadcasting corporation, reported that Israeli sources close to the prime minister have indicated a response is forthcoming, holding Iran responsible for orchestrating the attack through Hezbollah. Stein tweeted, "There will be a response to the drone attack against the Prime Minister's residence, and Iran, as the one behind Hezbollah, is also responsible."

This incident adds another layer of complexity to an already volatile regional situation, with Iran’s backing of Hezbollah now more clearly in the spotlight. As Israel prepares its response to Iran's October 1 missile barrage, the potential for further escalation remains high.

Musk, who has become a prominent supporter of Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign, has taken a more active role in US politics, particularly in matters involving the Middle East.

During the event, Musk delivered a speech that emphasized the threat he believes Iran poses to both Israel and the United States.

"You obviously can't have people who want to slaughter everyone in Israel. You’ve got to stop that. Those people either need to be killed or incarcerated, or they will simply try to kill more Israelis,” Musk said, addressing the crowd.

Musk linked the threat to the broader geopolitical rivalry between Iran and the West. “And they want to kill Americans too. Israel is referred to as the ‘little Satan’ and America, we are the ‘big Satan’, that's what the Ayatollah calls us,'" he added, reflecting concerns frequently expressed by US policymakers about Iran's rhetoric and regional ambitions.

The event comes as tensions remain high in the Middle East, particularly between Iran and Israel. Iran's ballistic missile attack on Israel on October 1 and Israel’s pledge to retaliate have drawn international concern.

Following Hamas's October 7 attack on Israel, Elon Musk urged Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei to reconsider his anti-Israel stance. Musk posted on his social media platform, X, where Khamenei also has an account.

He stated, “Khamenei’s official position is clear that the eradication of Israel is the actual goal, not just supporting Palestinians,” adding, “That will never happen.”

Musk has not limited his involvement to speeches. His venture, Starlink, has played a role in providing internet access in countries experiencing conflict or state suppression. Musk first activated Starlink in Iran in late 2022 during widespread protests sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini, a young woman who died in custody after being arrested by the country’s morality police. The satellite internet service, according to Musk, was a tool to help Iranians bypass their government’s internet shutdowns and access global communication platforms during the protests.

However, the operation of Starlink in Iran remains fraught with challenges. While devices are smuggled into the country, it is potentially illegal given the government's policy of internet censorship, and those using it face risks. Musk compared the situation in Iran to Starlink’s deployment in Ukraine following Russia’s invasion, though the scale of operations remains much smaller in Iran.

Once seen as a tech innovator with libertarian-leaning ideals, Musk has now emerged as one of Trump’s most influential backers. His America PAC, largely funded by his own wealth, has poured millions into voter turnout efforts in swing states like Pennsylvania, Georgia, and Wisconsin. His financial contributions, coupled with personal appearances at rallies, are part of a broader strategy to mobilize conservative voters ahead of the November 2024 election.

As the 2024 US presidential election approaches, Musk’s words resonate not just in the political arena but also in international geopolitics, especially concerning the future of US-Iran relations and the security of Israel.

The legislation, initially passed by Parliament in September last year, had been under review by the Guardian Council for months as Iran's leadership considered the public ramifications, particularly in light of growing defiance by women against the mandatory hijab, which has led to frequent violent confrontations with police.

Tahan Nazif, the Guardian Council’s spokesperson, said Saturday in a press conference that several members of Parliament had already informally communicated the bill's approval, The spokesperson did not clarify why the Council refrained from making a formal public statement.

The approval of the bill had been previously hinted at by key figures in Parliament. In September, Ahmad Rastineh, the spokesperson for the Parliament's Cultural Commission, and Mousa Ghazanfarabadi, a member of the Legal and Judicial Commission, both indicated that the bill, after extensive back-and-forth between Parliament and the Council, had finally been cleared by the Guardian Council.

Meanwhile, public concern over the bill persists, especially in light of broader national anxieties, including the possibility of conflict with Israel and economic instability. The Iranian outlet Rouydad24 criticized the timing of the legislation, arguing that, in the midst of pressing issues such as social cohesion and the widening gap between the government and the public, passing a law that would further alienate half of the population is highly questionable.

The bill, originally introduced by President Ebrahim Raisi's government in July 2023, imposes significant penalties for non-compliance with mandatory hijab regulations. First-time offenders would face a fine of 30 million rials (approximately $50), automatically deducted from their bank accounts. Repeat violations could lead to fines as high as 240 million rials ($400), a considerable burden in a country where monthly salaries average between $200 and $250.

Since the Woman, Life, Freedom movement in Iran, triggered by the death of Mahsa Amini while in police custody because of hijab in September 2022, hardliners have sought to reclaim control over women's dress codes. Despite widespread defiance of compulsory hijab laws, government efforts to reinforce these rules have intensified, leading to the shutdown of businesses and the impoundment of vehicles associated with hijab violations.

The Guardian Council’s approval of the bill places additional pressure on President Masoud Pezeshkian, who had campaigned against compulsory hijab enforcement and condemned the proposed legislation as the "Darkness Plan." He had pledged to end the morality police’s use of violence and stop hijab patrols. Nevertheless, law enforcement officials have continued to enforce the hijab mandate.

The President is legally required to sign and communicate the law for implementation within five days of receiving official notification from Parliament. It remains unclear whether Pezeshkian’s office has already received the legislation.

The initial case that caught the public’s attention involved a mother in Qods City, Tehran Province, who could not pay the registration fee for her daughter’s enrollment.

“I had no choice,” she told Etemad, a local newspaper. “My daughter had already dropped out of school for two years because I couldn’t pay. So, I cleaned for her sake.”

This is while Article 30 of the Iranian Constitution guarantees free education for all citizens up to secondary school.

In response to the public outcry, the Qods City Department of Education announced Wednesday that the school’s principal had resigned. It said the case had been handed over to the disciplinary committee for further investigation.

The incident sparked widespread outrage, drawing media attention to the economic hardships many families face and the increasing pressure on schools to cover operational costs without sufficient government support. The follow-up investigations by Tehran-based media have shown that this issue extends beyond a single case, as similar incidents have happened in other schools nationwide.

The widespread nature of these practices contrasts sharply with the government's official stance. In September, the Ministry of Education spokesperson Ali Farhadi asserted, “We do not have any mandatory payments. Regular public schools should not receive any money from families. If someone has a complaint, it will be addressed within three days.”

One father in Khorasan Razavi Province, eastern Iran, told Etemad, “They [school officials] told us that if we didn’t have the registration fee, we had to clean, and if we reported it, they would expel our daughter.”

In another school in Tehran, parents from low-income families were contacted and given an ultimatum: pay the registration fee or provide labor services such as cleaning or maintenance work. Complaints from parents were largely ignored, and there have been no significant consequences for school officials involved, with one parent telling Etemad that the district’s education office only followed up with a phone call.

Shargh, a Tehran-based outlet, reported that teachers have disclosed a growing trend where parents, unable to afford public school fees, are asked to provide labor instead. These arrangements are typically negotiated between the school principal and the parents, allowing families to offer services based on their skills. For instance, a parent might say, "I can't pay the registration fee, but I’m a carpenter and can repair tables and chairs," or, "I’m a locksmith and can fix the classroom locks."

High inflation, estimated to be above 40%, and low salaries (around $200 per month) seem to be at the root of these violations. There are reports that teachers and administrators attribute these practices to insufficient government support. Due to financial constraints, schools are reportedly compelled to seek contributions from families to cover even basic operational costs like utilities.

According to the Iranian Statistical Center, 930,000 children and adolescents could not continue their education during the 2023-2024 school year, an increase from the 911,000 reported the previous year. Many experts attribute this rise to deepening poverty across the country, a trend also highlighted by the Association for the Support of Out-of-School Children, which has warned of a growing crisis in school enrollment.

In September, just days after schools reopened for the new academic year, the Ministry of Education reported that 790,000 students had not yet enrolled and an additional 890,000 students had not ordered textbooks. Despite repeated promises from government officials that educational access would be ensured for all, the situation continues to deteriorate for many low-income families, raising serious concerns about the future of education in the country.

According to the latest report from the Iranian Statistical Center, published in September, official data indicates that 30% of the population has slipped below the poverty line.

"Anybody with knowledge or understanding of 'how and when Israel was going to attack Iran' and/or providing the means and backing for such folly, should logically be held accountable for any possible causality," Iranian FM Abbas Araghchi tweeted on Saturday.

Earlier on Friday, Biden said he has insight into "how and when Israel is going to respond to the missile attacks by Iran," though he refrained from providing further details.

Biden also noted that there was an emerging opportunity to address the ongoing tensions between Israel and Iran in a manner that could temporarily halt their conflict in the Middle East. "There's an opportunity, in my view, and my colleagues agree, that we can probably deal with Israel and Iran in a way that ends the conflict for a while. That ends the conflict, in other words, that stops the back and forth," he added.

Tensions between Israel and Iran have escalated sharply since October 1, when Iran launched 181 ballistic missiles at Israel in retaliation for the assassination of Hezbollah's leader, Hassan Nasrallah, in Beirut by Israeli forces.

While Israel's advanced air defenses intercepted the majority of the missiles, several hit both military and civilian targets, causing damage. In response, the Israeli government has vowed to retaliate and has intensified military operations in Lebanon and Gaza, focusing on the leadership of Hezbollah and Hamas, Iran-backed militant groups.

Last week, the United States authorized the deployment of a Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery and personnel to Israel, reaffirming its strong commitment to Israel's defense and the protection of US citizens in Israel from further missile threats. The THAAD system, which complements Israel's existing Patriot missile defenses, can intercept threats at ranges of up to 124 miles.

On Friday, Israel requested an additional THAAD system amid reports of a possible preemptive strike on Iran. The Pentagon confirmed that key components of the first THAAD battery, along with US personnel, had arrived in Israel earlier in the week.