Reporters Without Borders (RSF) on Wednesday announced that Iran International along with BBC Persian and other media in exile covering Iran had been shortlisted for their annual Press Freedom Award for courage.
The global media advocate listed 25 individual journalists, teams of journalists, photographers and media outlets for prizes in five categories - courage, impact, independence, photography and African investigations.
"Since September 2022, exiled Iranian journalists have faced unprecedented pressure and attacks from the Iranian government. Iran International and BBC Persian have been labelled as enemies and publicly threatened by the Iranian regime," RSF said.
"Their journalists have received death threats and, in March, an Iran International journalist, Pouria Zeraati, was stabbed outside his home in London," it added. "These journalists are not only subjected to alarming levels of online abuse — including graphic rape and death threats, hacking and smear campaigns — but their families in Iran are frequently targeted and punished by the authorities."
RSF's awards ceremony will be held on December 3 in Washington DC.
Minutes after Donald Trump declared victory, hardline Iranian lawmaker Ahmad Naderi summed up the establishment’s stance: “We have a blood feud against Trump!”—a reference to his 2020 order to kill Quds Force Commander Qasem Soleimani.
Hard feelings toward trump among Iranian officials existed even before Soleimani was killed.
In 2019, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei told former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who had delivered a message from the US president: “I do not see Trump as worthy of any message exchange, and I have no reply for him, now or in the future.”
Iranian officials, from moderates like former President Hassan Rouhani to hardliners like Supreme Leader Khamenei, have consistently blamed Trump for Iran's crippling economic woes since 2018, when he withdrew the United States from the 2015 nuclear deal and imposed severe sanctions. Trump demanded that Tehran should make concessions on its nuclear ambitions, regional proxy wars, and support for militant groups across the Middle East and beyond.
However, on Wednesday, Tehran-based economic journalist Maryam Shokrani remarked, “The hardships faced by Iran’s poor and middle class are the result of our own domestic policies. Don’t waste time blaming the presidents of other countries for Iran’s current situation.”
Iran International TV's Iran analyst Morteza Kazemian observed that "Trump took pride in the elimination of Soleimani. Now Khamenei faces the return of a US president he deeply detests and once said was “dumped in the trash bin of history.” Trump’s comeback adds new challenges for Khamenei, especially in light of Israel’s recent and relentless strikes on Iran’s allies, Hamas and Hezbollah, and a direct airstrike on Iranian targets on October 26.
Kazemian noted, “Now, the back-and-forth exchanges between Iran and Israel have a new player: Trump. This shift, combined with the dynamics between Trump and Russia's President Vladimir Putin, means Khamenei can no longer depend on the Russian leader. Russia had already distanced itself from Khamenei, but that gap is likely to widen with Trump’s return to the forefront.”
Meanwhile, prominent Iran analyst Hossein Bastani wrote on X, “In the next 10 weeks, the Islamic Republic faces tough strategic decisions on its nuclear program. Tehran must decide whether to push the program as close as possible to the point of no return. Rival factions in Iran may advocate for either maximum nuclear advancement or extreme caution to avoid further tensions with the United States.”
Bastani opined that "it is not even clear whether Khamenei is in a position to approve any one of the two approaches. However, it is difficult to imagine that the decision makers around Khamenei would not discuss these options."
Some Iranian media outlets engaged in bold speculations on Wednesday. Matin Ghaffarian, lead columnist for the Rouydad24 website, wrote in a Wednesday commentary, “Domestic conflicts might drive Trump toward war. Nothing keeps a leader mired in crises in power quite like a conflict. Netanyahu knows this well, and now he’s Trump’s closest ally.”
Although Ghaffarian is talking about Trump, obviously, others, including Khamenei might also find themselves in that situation soon.
Meanwhile, many observers, including former Iranian diplomat Fereidoun Majlesi, noted that Iran’s hardliners have welcomed Trump’s victory. The reason, however, lies within Iran’s domestic politics: hardliners hope Trump’s return will weaken President Masoud Pezeshkian’s relatively moderate administration, paving the way for them to gain even more influence in Iran’s already fragile government.
The female university student who shed her clothing on Saturday in an apparent protest over Islamic dress code enforcement was not expelled and is now undergoing treatment, an Iranian minister said on Wednesday without providing details.
"Investigations revealed that she is experiencing family and psychological challenges and is currently receiving treatment with her family’s support," science minister Hossein Simaei Sarraf said.
Sarraf provided no additional details about the woman’s medical diagnosis, the reasons for her treatment or where it is taking place.
Footage widely circulated on Saturday showing the woman in her underwear at Tehran's Azad University, with officers eventually forcibly detaining her. A university official later said that the student was sent to a police station due to "severe psychological distress."
The incident ignited an online backlash, with many viewing it as a familiar tactic by authorities to delegitimize female protesters by portraying them as mentally unstable.
Meanwhile, government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani denied reports of any harsh confrontation, saying during a Wednesday press briefing: "The situation was handled very well. There was no harsh confrontation, and she was transferred via social emergency services," she told reporters.
Amnesty Iran has called for the immediate and unconditional release of the student, urging authorities to safeguard her from mistreatment while in custody.
“Authorities must protect her from torture and other ill-treatment and ensure access to (her) family and (a) lawyer,” wrote Amnesty Iran on X.
Rights groups since the crackdowns on the Women, Life, Freedom protests which saw women defying hijab mandates have highlighted allegations of abuse in prison.
"Allegations of beatings and sexual violence against her during arrest require independent and impartial investigation. Those responsible must be held accountable,” the group added.
Israel’s right-wing coalition has welcomed Donald Trump’s victory amid recent threats of more attacks from Iran and a significant government overhaul in Israel alongside the US elections.
Former foreign minister Israel Katz was made defense minister on Tuesday night after Israel’s premier fired Yoav Gallant after a long-running feud between the two.
Katz, known for his outspoken, right-wing views, wrote on X: “Congratulations to President-Elect Donald Trump on his historic victory. Together, we'll strengthen the US-Israel alliance, bring back the hostages, and stand firm to defeat the axis of evil led by Iran.”
Israelis had been waiting anxiously for the results to come in, feeling Trump was the only ally to have in the face of confrontation with Iran and war of attrition with its proxies Hamas and Hezbollah.
Israeli Ruth Cohen, a Netanyahu supporter, told Iran International: “This is such a relief. Waking up to this news that we have Trump makes me feel a lot safer.”
Jean Arnold, an American Christian who splits her time between Israel and the US, was also relieved at the news. “I think Israel is safer now under Trump,” she told Iran International.
“He’s not my first choice domestically but there is no other option in the current climate who can protect Israel the way I think Trump can.”
Trump was tough with Iran during his first term and many expect him to use the same pressure tactics against Tehran that he used from May 2018 to the end of his term. In addition to pulling out of the JCPOA nuclear agreement during his time in office, in 2020, Trump ordered the assassination of Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani.
Taking out the man responsible for the deaths of multiple US personnel in addition to orchestrating terror attacks globally, made Trump and his administration targets for retaliatory killings by the Iranian security forces.
On being assigned the role of defense minister, Katz also used it as a chance to highlight the country’s major threat, Iran, which in addition to launching direct attacks on the Jewish state this year, is supporting militias fighting Israel from Yemen, Lebanon, Iraq and Syria, amid the war in Gaza.
“We will work together to march the security system to victory against our enemies and to achieve the goals of the war: the return of all the abductees as the most important value mission, the destruction of Hamas in Gaza, the defeat of Hezbollah in Lebanon, the containment of Iranian aggression and the return of the residents of the north and south to their homes in safety,” the long-time Netanyahu ally wrote on X after the news sent shockwaves through Israel.
Riots broke out on the streets of Israel after Gallant’s dismissal was made public. Long seen as a peacemaker, his departure bodes for a more radical approach to Israel’s military policy, led predominantly by Netanyahu.
Former parliament member Ksenia Svetlova scolded Katz after the announcement calling him a puppet for the PM. “Netanyahu has full confidence in the fact … that you won't dare to open your mouth and object even if he pours hot tea down your pants,” she wrote on X.
Israel is still waiting for a promised retaliation from Iran for an aerial bombardment last month which disabled large swathes of Iran's air defenses and according to the Israeli military, left Iran vulnerable to further aerial penetration.
The US watchdog group, the Center to Advance Security in America (CASA), has filed a lawsuit against the Biden administration accusing it of obstructing efforts to uncover details about the suspension of former US Iran envoy Robert Malley.
Reported by the Washington Free Beacon, it points to growing tensions over transparency in the handling of Malley’s case amid an ongoing FBI investigation into his alleged mishandling of classified information.
Malley, suspended in 2023, is under FBI investigation for mishandling classified information. CASA claims the State Department has ignored Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests for related documents.
“The State Department has blocked CASA's investigation for nearly seven months, ignoring a series of Freedom of Information Act requests aimed at unearthing details about the circumstances surrounding Malley's suspension and subsequent efforts to hide his misdeeds from Congress,” The Washington Free Beacon reported on Tuesday.
CASA’s lawsuit seeks to obtain internal communications detailing Malley’s suspension, his security clearance revocation, and potential breaches. The group also requested documents from the National Archives related to Malley’s previous government roles, which it says could reveal longstanding interactions with Iranian officials.
Malley was placed on unpaid leave, and his security clearance was suspended in April 2023. Iran International first reported the incident in June, but the State Department has since obstructed all efforts to obtain further information on Malley’s case.
In May, two influential congressmen suggested that Malley’s security clearance was revoked due to his transfer of classified documents to his personal email and cell phone, which were then stolen by a hostile cyber actor.
In September, a Wall Street Journal report stated that “Malley had clicked on a phishing link, compromising a personal email account.” Citing sources familiar with the matter, the report also revealed that investigators found evidence suggesting “Malley had potentially moved classified material, including meeting notes, to a personal account.”
CASA’s director, James Fitzpatrick, said the public "has a right to know" about potential security risks tied to Malley’s alleged actions.
At the end of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's November 2 speech to a handpicked audience, a young man described by media as "a student" urged him to equip Iran with nuclear weapons. Khamenei replied, "Iran will be armed with whatever we need to confront the enemies."
State-controlled media interpreted Khamenei’s response as a positive answer to the young man's question. However, within hours, the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman, who had previously stated, “The nature of the Islamic Republic is peaceful, but we will be armed with anything needed to defend Iran,” backtracked, clarifying, “We rule out weapons of mass destruction, but we will be armed with whatever is necessary.”
Iran’s military and regional influence has recently weakened, as Israel has significantly degraded Hamas and Hezbollah’s capabilities and launched an offensive strike on Iran on October 26 with dozens of warplanes. In response, Islamic ruling establishment's officials and commentators in Tehran have hinted at possible shifts in military doctrine, including the potential pursuit of nuclear weapons.
On November 1, Iran’s former foreign minister and currently an advisor to Khamenei, Kamal Kharrazi said in an interview that "If the Islamic Republic of Iran faces an existential threat, we would have no choice but to adjust our military doctrine.”
Subsequently, political observers from various insider factions came up with their own justifications and denials about the Islamic Republic's plans to make nuclear bombs.
Hardline commentator Abbas Salimi-Namin stated, “We are not bluffing about making nuclear weapons, but we do not believe in it!” He continued, “We have conventional weapons to defend ourselves with dignity. At the same time, we are on course to end the Zionist regime at the lowest possible cost.”
Salimi-Namin clarified that Kamal Kharrazi was not suggesting a shift in Iran’s nuclear doctrine. Instead, he indicated that Iran does not intend to address the issue of Israel through military force. “Although we have the [nuclear] capability, we adhere to our previously declared position of not using nuclear weapons,” he stated.
This reflects a retreat by both an official close to Khamenei and a hardline commentator from earlier bold statements about potentially going nuclear.
Salimi-Namin also reiterated that Iran’s solution for the Palestinian issue remains a referendum. “We believe in this approach and do not need nuclear weapons,” he emphasized.
He added that Iran has only acted in response to aggression and argued that it is in the West’s interest to control Israel, as global condemnation of Israel also implicates the United States.
Centrist politician Ezzatollah Yousefian-Molla emphasized in an interview with Nameh News that “nuclear weapons are meant to boost a country’s deterrence power; they are not necessarily intended for use.”
However, he added, “If we find our weapons inadequate compared to those of our enemy, the fatwa [religious decree by Khamenei] prohibiting nuclear bomb development might be reconsidered.”
Discussing potential shifts in Iran’s nuclear doctrine, Yousefian-Molla explained that religious decrees are often adaptable. He cited the 19th-century fatwa banning tobacco, which was later revised by Muslim scholars when the political context changed. He reiterated that religious rulings can be modified to protect the regime, while noting, “We will never strike first; we respond only if attacked.”
Meanwhile, hardline lawmaker Ahmad Bakhshayesh Ardestani remarked, “A shift in our nuclear doctrine will enhance our deterrence power,” clarifying that the goal is not to produce nuclear weapons but to strengthen Iran’s defense capabilities.
“We have already paid the price,” he stated referring to years of economic sanction, “and now we need to take the final step. The Supreme Leader has said our response to Israel will be proportionate to their attack. But what will we do if Israel uses nuclear weapons?”