Iran International
Hardline media in Tehran are criticizing outlets that publish articles and interviews advocating for Iran to avoid retaliating against Israel’s attack in order to end the cycle of retribution and prevent an all-out regional war.
“Some publications with a pro-Western history use ambiguous statements in an attempt to undermine [the importance of] the Zionist regime’s aggression and they call for restraint, that is, inaction and passivity,” the hardline Kayhan newspaper wrote Monday.
Kayhan, whose chief editor Hossein Shariatmadari is an appointee of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, is one of the top media arms of ultra-hardliners.
Kayhan singled out the reformist Sazandegi as a key offender in calling for "inaction," criticizing it for an article suggesting that Iran could refrain from a military response to Israel’s attack to avoid entangling the country in a cycle of retribution.
The same Sazandegi article had, nevertheless, suggested that the country should at the same time keep its military in a state of preparedness, help the establishment of a ceasefire in Lebanon and Gaza, and withdrawal of Israeli forces from these areas.
Another newspaper accused by Kayhan of fostering “inaction and passivity” was the reformist Shargh Daily for quoting former diplomat Hossein Mousavian as saying that based on what he called the “limited scope of Israel’s attack” and for the sake of security and stability in the region, the Islamic Republic should accept a ceasefire with Israel.
Mousavian had also said Tel Aviv, too, should stop its attacks on Lebanon and accept a ceasefire in Gaza, that Israel and Hamas should exchange prisoners, and that all sides involved in the conflict should work toward the two-state solution.
The IRGC-linked Javan newspaper and the ultra-hardline Vatan-e Emrouz echoed similar criticisms, accusing reformist outlets of failing to support calls for an immediate, forceful counterattack on Israel. While these reformist papers strongly condemned the Israeli attack on Iranian territory, they stopped short of endorsing aggressive retaliation and even advised caution against rash decisions.
These publications emphasized Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s Sunday remarks, cautioning against exaggerating or downplaying Israel’s attacks. In his speech, Khamenei delegated the decision on “how best to convey Iran's strength and resolve to the Zionist regime” to the “relevant authorities.”
In the same speech, Khamenei used a Quranic term (morjefun) to warn against “intentionally erroneous analyses” on social media and those who spread rumors that “harm the society’s psychological security” and called on authorities to take action against such moves. This was aimed both critics of the Islamic Republic, who argue that its military is useless, and possibly those calling for retaliation.
Referring to Khamenei’s remarks, Vatan-e Emrouz argued on Monday that authorities must set new rules for media activity “in accordance with the current circumstances". Such calls seem to have sparked serious concerns among other media who already have to be wary of the many “red lines” set for them.
“Some conservative media label any analysis they disagree with as evidence of acquiescence or normalization of the Zionist regime’s actions, and they call on the judiciary to take action against those responsible,” argued Rouydad24 in an article titled “Gray-Zone War and the Sensitive Circumstances of the Media” on Monday.
“One should hope that the media will not be the first victims of the gray zone war [between Iran and Israel] in the current circumstances with radicals labeling any realistic views as proof of rumor-mongering and frightening people. One should also hope that judicial and supervisory bodies do not come under the influence of radicals' propaganda and act according to laws and regulations,” Rouydad24 wrote.
Foad Izadi, a hardline commentator often featured on Iranian state TV as an expert on the United States, stated in an interview with the conservative Nameh News website: “Attacks will not stop unless the United States realizes that strikes on Iran could be costly.”
Izadi added, “It is up to us to decide how we want to confront [Israel and the United States].” He continued, “The Americans, as Iran’s staunch adversaries, operate without ethical limitations. But if they sense that Israel’s attacks on Iran will come at a high cost to the US, these strikes will cease.”
Speaking a day after Israel’s strikes on military targets across Iran—from the capital Tehran to Shiraz in the south, Ahvaz, Mahshahr, and Ilam in the southwest, and Shahroud in the northeast, among other locations—Izadi remarked, “Whatever was done, Israel and the United States did it together, though the United States has declined to take responsibility for the attacks.”
He argued that if the United States did not want an escalation, it could refrain from sending weapons and equipment to Israel. He said, "no one should believe Washington's claims about trying to stop the war in the region."
Meanwhile, Hossein Shariatmadari, editor of the hardline *Kayhan* daily, closely linked to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s office, wrote a pointed commentary after the Israeli strikes, warning, "We saw how you rained [missiles] on us. Now prepare for our flood."
Shariatmadari underscored what he called “undeniable evidence” proving that it is, in fact, the United States standing as Iran’s true adversary. He issued a stark warning to "Israel and its American, European, and regional supporters," promising that Iran’s response would be “far heavier and more severe than they can imagine."
In his commentary, Shariatmadari labeled Israel as “a mere front for the United States” and described it as "the U.S. garrison in the region." Further implicating Washington, he speculated, "Do you really think the fighter jets that launched missile attacks on Iran Saturday morning weren’t American-made? Or that their pilots weren’t American?"
Shariatmadari concluded by asserting that in any response to Israel, Iran would treat U.S. interests, assets, and military personnel as legitimate targets.
In a separate development, Majles Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf vowed that "Iran will certainly respond to the Zionist regime’s aggression." Meanwhile, Khamenei’s senior political adviser, Ali Akbar Velayati, dismissed Israel’s attack as “much ado about nothing,” asserting that Iran has never initiated a war, is a recognized international power, and that Israel is too insignificant to challenge it.
However, Iranian journalist Amir Soltanzadeh countered Velayati's claims, noting that it was Iran who first initiated hostilities with Israel and that Iran’s isolation prevents it from claiming true international power status.
However, long-time establishment insider Mohammad Javad Larijani acknowledged, "This is not a small matter. Our country has been invaded. Although it was a cowardly attack, it remains an act of aggression against Iran."
Although military commanders seem to have been restricted from commenting on the incident, the IRGC-affiliated daily Javan downplayed the strikes’ significance, claiming that Iran’s anti-aircraft defenses largely thwarted the attack. Like most other Iranian media, Javan characterized the strike as “weak and limited,” adding that “Iran reserves the right to respond”—a measure that would likely be welcomed by those on both sides seeking to test Israel’s new THAAD air defense system.
In one of the rare comments from Iranian military experts, Amir Mousavi claimed that Iran had foreknowledge of the attack by hacking Israeli military documents, disputing reports that other countries had informed Iran. This contrasts with international media reports and statements from the Dutch Foreign Ministry and Russian officials, who reportedly notified Iran about the attack approximately four hours before it occurred.
The government-owned Iranian Students News Agency (ISNA) labeled the attack as "The big folly of a small regime," warning that Israel and its allies would face repercussions for this "limited" strike.
The security council meeting, called upon by Iran, was held after Israel’s weekend retaliatory strikes on Iranian soil, which targeted several missile and drone factories as well as Iran’s air defense systems, according to American and Israeli officials.
“Should it [Iran] choose to undertake further aggressive acts towards Israel or US personnel in the region, there will be severe consequences,” said ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield.
She said the Iranian envoy called the security council meeting to gaslight and act like the victim.
The US Ambassador told the Security Council meeting on the Middle East situation that the US will not allow the future of the region to be dictated by Iran and its proxies.
“Stop pouring gasoline on the fire of the regional conflict,” the American envoy said, addressing the Islamic Republic.
The US stood by Israel and said the nation was acting in self-defense, whereas the British representative asked Iran not to respond and said both sides need to show restraint.
Amir Saeed Iravani, Iran’s UN envoy, accused the US of being complicit in Israel’s airstrikes and said it would bear the consequences. The US envoy, however, denied any involvement in Israel’s strike against Iran.
"The US government is complicit in Israeli aggression and will bear its consequences,” Iravani said.
He added that Israel breached international law and took aim at the US, noting that Washington had double standards when it came to Israel.
Israel’s UN envoy, Danny Danon, said he was giving Iran a last warning.
"Israel has shown restraint, but from now on you will only see strength. Any further aggression will be met with powerful and swift action."
Ambassador Danon demanded from the Security Council accountability and action.
"We demand immediate and paralyzing sanctions against Iran's military and economic infrastructure, designate the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as the terrorist organization it is and take all necessary measures to prevent Iran from becoming a nuclear state."
Danon referred to Iran’s government as the puppet master behind attacks against Israel and promised that any response by Iran would be met with strength.
Russia's failure to provide promised S-400 anti-aircraft systems or Su-35 fighters left Iran vulnerable, Ali-Akbar Saadati of the Kar va Kargar daily said, even after Tehran had provided Moscow hundreds of drones for its invasion of Ukraine.
"Whenever they faced difficulties in Ukraine, suffered misfortune, or got stuck in the quagmire of the Ukraine war, they came running to us, asking for drones, missiles, everything," Saadati said. "On the night Israel attacked us, our military’s defense system stood alone, completely alone."
"What is the position of the Pezeshkian admin's foreign ministry regarding this blatant dishonorable behavior by Vladimir Putin, the invading president of Russia?" demanded Saadati, who was dressed in Western attire rare in official Iranian circles.
The line of questioning sparked visible shock from foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei, who asked the reporter to show decorum.
“I ask friends to raise questions here and leave the task of issuing political statements to the foreign ministry,” Baghaei replied. “Secondly, I must mention that here is a gathering of educated people, so please follow the usual code of conduct,” he added.
Baghaei said Iran is self-reliant in defense, adding, “One of the proud achievements of the Islamic Republic of Iran is its reliance on its own strength, a result of the sacrifices of thousands."
"For the past 45 years, we have been under the most severe economic and arms sanctions, and everything we have accomplished has depended on our own steadfast air defense and armed forces,” he added.
In April, the former head of Iran’s parliamentary National Security Committee, Heshmatollah Falahatpisheh, criticized Russian inaction. After an Iranian attack on Israel, Falahatpisheh said that Western powers quickly mobilized to intercept Iran’s more than 350 projectiles, but no support arrived from Russia despite Iran’s provision of drones for Russia’s war in Ukraine.
“The developments showed that Iran is alone in the region … other powers did not come to Iran’s aid even in wartime conditions. Russia was not willing to provide Iran with the necessary equipment,” he added.
The words were consistent with Falahatpisheh’s previous criticisms of Russian policies. In January, he accused Moscow of seeking a “partner in crime” for its actions in Ukraine, highlighting that Iran’s provision of drones has not been reciprocated.
Since October 2022, Iran has supplied drones to Russia for use in Ukraine to target infrastructure and civilian areas. After initial denials, Iran eventually acknowledged sending a limited number before the conflict escalated.
Iranian requests for advanced Russian defense systems, such as the S-400, were met with no public response from Moscow.
Despite Russia’s inconsistent support, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has maintained a firm pro-Moscow stance, emphasizing close ties with both Russia and China while warning against any reconciliation with the West.
Sharmahd was abducted by Iranian agents during a visit to the United Arab Emirates in 2020 and forcibly taken to Iran. In February 2023, the Iranian judiciary sentenced him to death on charges of endangering national security.
Sharmahd was convicted of heading a pro-monarchist group named Tondar accused of a deadly bombing incident that occurred in 2008 at a religious center in Shiraz, killing 14 and injuring 215 more. The accusation, repeatedly denied by the political prisoner, was never substantiated by documented evidence.
The US green card holder's execution comes two days after the Israeli airstrikes on Iranian military sites. Iranian officials have accused the US of allowing Israel to use Iraq's airspace to carry out the attack, calling for Washington's accountability as "Israel's accomplice".
Reactions
Germany's foreign minister Annalena Baerbock issued a statement calling the execution a murder.
"I condemn in the strongest terms the murder of Jamshid Sharmahd by the Iranian regime... We made it unequivocally clear to Tehran that the execution of a German citizen would have severe consequences," she posted on X.
Abram Paley, US deputy special envoy for Iran called the execution abhorrent and condemned the country's rising rate of executions.
"Sharmahd should never have been imprisoned in the first place," Paley wrote on X. "His kidnapping and rendition, as well as sham trial and reports of torture, were reprehensible. We...stand with the international community in holding the regime accountable for its horrific abuses."
Iran conducted the most executions of any country in the world after China last year, Amnesty said in a report in May, adding that nearly 75% of all executions worldwide in 2023 outside China were in Iran.
The recent wave of executions brings the total number of hangings in Iran this year to more than 567, including 20 women, according to rights groups.
Earlier this month, HRNA reported that at least 811 people had been executed in Iran between 10 October 2023 and 8 October 2024, coinciding with the annual World Day Against the Death Penalty.
Call for international response
Kambiz Ghafouri, a Finland-based political analyst, believes the international community must take serious action against Tehran to prevent such cases from happening again.
"The Islamic Republic acts like an abusive, alcoholic, and addicted father who, whenever goes out and gets beaten up by someone stronger, returns home to beat up his stepchildren so they don’t become too bold. The Islamic Republic has acted exactly in this way," Ghafouri told Iran International.
"Experience has shown that dealing with a violent, criminal, alcoholic man requires a superior force from outside the family. The international community must severely punish the Islamic Republic; otherwise, we will face more instances like this," he added.
