Netherlands releases Iranian national accused of violating US sanctions

The prominent newspaper Jomhuri Eslami on Saturday called for reconsidering Ali Khamenei ban, without directly naming him. In an editorial titled “Reconsideration is beneficial bravery,” the newspaper said, “Moves by several Arab countries to encourage the Islamic Republic of Iran to negotiate with the US, and the changes in the tone of statements from US officials, including Trump himself, indicate that the ground is ready for a new perspective from Iranian officials.”

Since Trump reinstated his “maximum pressure” policy earlier this month and indirectly warned Tehran of a possible Israeli attack if it refused to negotiate, Iranian officials have insisted that the US president adopt a different tone if he seeks negotiations with the Islamic Republic.

However, Khamenei’s ban on talks with the US has raised concerns among officials and citizens as Iran’s economic situation continues to worsen. The national currency has lost over 50% of its value in the past six months, leading many to warn that without diplomatic efforts to lift US sanctions, there is little hope of reversing the decline.

Jomhuri Eslami daily, known for advocating a more conciliatory approach to negotiations, argued that Tehran had previously resolved major conflicts through diplomacy. It cited the negotiations with Saddam Hussein that ended the bloody Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s as a clear example.

Heshmatollah Falahatpisheh, former chairman of Iran’s parliamentary national security committee, expressed skepticism about the possibility of rapprochement between Tehran and Washington. Speaking to a local news website, he argued that the rift has become deeply ideological during Trump’s presidency, making it difficult to bridge differences. He also noted that regional countries attempting to mediate are primarily motivated by the need to prevent a regional conflict that could threaten their own security.

Gholamreza Kashi, a professor of political science in Tehran, openly advocated for a major review of Iran’s foreign policy, arguing that past policies have imposed a heavy burden on the country and the people.

“We have placed a heavy burden on ourselves, the people, and the country. The governing system must make a brave decision, and this is the only condition for reviving the true spirit of the revolution,” Kashi said.

He argued that ideological systems increasingly entrench themselves in their dogma, losing flexibility in governance. “These regimes view reality as a seven-headed dragon that constantly threatens their position. Ideological systems try to conceal the gap between situational logic and their ideals through propaganda, lies, or repression. The gap between what was intended and what actually took shape eventually becomes the greatest threat to the very existence of the system itself.”

His assassination by Israel last year marked an epochal setback to Tehran and its network of armed allies in the Middle East.

Ghalibaf secured attendance after personal follow-ups and an official invitation from Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, IRGC-affiliated Fars News reported Saturday.

The outlet also said Lebanese authorities did not extend an official invitation to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian..

Additionally, Fars noted that religious and Islamic jurisprudential considerations, specifically the obligation to expedite burial after a temporary interment, prevented the funeral from being held in Iran.

Lebanese authorities recently blocked Iranian flights from landing in Beirut, citing security risks and warnings from the US that Israel might target incoming Iranian planes. According to AFP, Israel had informed Lebanon via Washington that it would consider an Iranian flight landing in Beirut as a military escalation, alleging that Hezbollah uses civilian flights to transfer weapons and funds from Iran.

The flight restrictions have prevented a larger Iranian delegation and citizens from attending the funeral, according to Iranian media.

Nasrallah’s burial, five months after his assassination by Israel, will take place at Beirut’s Camille Chamoun Sports City Stadium and also honor Hashem Safi al-Din, who briefly led Hezbollah before being assassinated by Israel.

Once Iran’s most powerful regional proxy armed militia, Hezbollah was founded with the support of the Revolutionary Guards in 1982 but suffered heavy losses in last year’s war, with Israel significantly weakening its military and political power. While Tehran remains its key backer, the group’s diminished strength has raised questions about its ability to project power as it once did.

Earlier this month, US envoy Morgan Ortagus declared that Hezbollah’s “reign of terror” was over, crediting US pressure on Iran for the group’s decline. After meeting Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, she warned that Hezbollah’s involvement in the new government crosses a US “red line.”

As the group prepares for its leader’s funeral, it faces mounting challenges both militarily and politically.

Iranian domestic media specifically mentioned Tuesday as the expected date of the visit, with a focus on discussions about Syria. No further details have yet emerged regarding the nature of the visit, as stopping Iran's nuclear program is a top priority for President Donald Trump.

While the Trump administration has engaged in talks with Moscow to end the war in Ukraine, it has taken a hardline approach toward Iran, demanding a reversal of Tehran's nuclear, military, and regional policies.

Meanwhile, the US has suggested that Washington and Moscow might share a strategic interest in preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. Speaking to independent journalist Catherine Herridge, Senator Marco Rubio said Thursday, “There are things we could cooperate on geopolitically,” adding, “I’m not sure the Russians are fans of the Iranian regime having nuclear weapons.”

His remarks come as US and Russian officials held their first discussions in Saudi Arabia on ending a three-year conflict this week.

While Iran has close ties and military cooperation with Moscow under Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s “Look East” policy, some Iranian media have warned that Russia may not be a reliable partner and could shift its stance depending on its geopolitical priorities.

Ali Khamenei’s remarks on Wednesday, reported on Saturday, were made during a meeting with the ministry’s leadership to commemorate the 40th anniversary of its establishment.

“The Ministry of Intelligence must always cooperate fully with the government so that the current administration can carry out the heavy task of running the country well,” he said, adding that effective intelligence work is central to such cooperation.

The minister of intelligence and several other key ministers are directly selected by Khamenei . The structure reinforces the Supreme Leader’s overarching control over intelligence, military and security operations.

Esmail Khatib, the current intelligence minister delivered a report on countering security threats during the meeting, which highlights the direct line of accountability.

Khatib has been sanctioned by the US Treasury Department for his alleged role in cyber operations and human rights abuse. In 2022, Washington designated both him and the ministry of intelligence for involvement in cyber activities against the US and its allies.

He had also played a key role in suppressing Iran’s 2009 Green Movement protests and demonstrations since 2019.

In recent years, the intelligence arm of the Revolutionary Guard has also assumed a prominent role in suppressing dissent, often arresting more protesters and prominent figures and maintaining its own detention centers.

Khamenei’s comments come amid growing domestic discontent over misgovernance and inflation, as well as external pressure, particularly from US President Donald Trump’s reinstatement of his “maximum pressure” policy.

Speaking to Didban Iran (Iran Monitor) on Thursday, Osman Salari, the deputy chairman of the parliament's legal committee, defended his proposed system, arguing that it “is not against religious democracy.” In Iran’s political structure, this form of pseudo-democracy restricts voter choice by allowing only candidates approved and shortlisted by the hardliner-dominated Guardian Council to appear on the ballot. In addition, political parties are severely restricted, and media is either government owned or monitored and controlled.

Salari added that although the Supreme Leader is the true head of the government, there is nothing wrong with him appointing a President to lead the executive branch.

Several Iranian media outlets and politicians have previously suggested replacing the public election of the President with a parliamentary system in which the President is chosen by members of parliament.

Public trust in the president's office and the tightly controlled election system has declined over the past 15 years, as it has become increasingly clear that the president has limited authority over major state issues.

According to the government-owned Iranian Students News Agency (ISNA), the parliamentary system was most recently discussed in January 2022 when the agency analyzed the pros and cons of the two systems, drawing on the views of prominent Iranian political scientist Hossein Bashirieh.

ISNA outlined the advantages and disadvantages in a report, stating, "In the presidential system, both the parliament and the President are elected by the people for fixed terms. The parliament cannot remove the President from office, although it can impeach him. Conversely, the President does not have the authority to dissolve the parliament."

ISNA contrasted this with the parliamentary system, noting, "In the parliamentary system, the parliament can dismiss the head of the government (usually a prime minister) by withdrawing its vote of confidence. The Prime Minister also has the power to dissolve the parliament and call for new elections." The report also highlighted that the separation of the three branches of government is more clearly defined in the parliamentary system.

The push by Iranian politicians and media to change the political system stems from the ongoing conflict between the Supreme Leader and the President since the establishment of the Islamic Republic in 1979. Since Khamenei became Supreme Leader the situation has gradually worsened as he has systematically monopolized power.

As Salari observed in his interview with Didban Iran, "all of Iran's former Presidents since 1989 have been accused of deviation," and Khamenei distanced himself from each of them before the end of their terms. Salari added that although these Presidents initially received Khamenei's endorsement, they often pursued political, economic, and social policies that diverged from his views. This divergence complicated decision-making, particularly on key economic and foreign policy issues.

Salari argued that “directly appointing presidents by Khamenei is still democratic because Khamenei was indirectly elected by the people.” However, this claim is controversial given the circumstances of his election by the Assembly of Experts, which was heavily influenced by its former deputy chairman, Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani. Videos available online show Rafsanjani using his considerable influence to suppress opposition to Khamenei’s election.

In 2011, Khamenei expressed support for the idea of the president being elected by parliament, but he did not pursue it further despite the concept being revisited several times since then.

However, Salari's proposal is fundamentally different, as it places the choice of a president in the hands of one individual. It is unlikely that this idea will progress beyond mere suggestion, as Khamenei has consistently avoided taking direct responsibility for decisions that could significantly impact the structure of the government. He appears to prefer having a president elected by others, allowing him to distance himself and criticize the president if things go wrong.