Iran confirms death of IRGC Quds Force general in Israeli strikes
Iran has confirmed the death of IRGC Quds Force general Abolfazl Nikooei, known as Haj Younes, during the 12-day conflict with Israel.
IRGC affiliated Tasnim news agency shared a photo of Nikooei alongside slain Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani who was killed in a US drone strike in January 2020.
On June 16, Israel's military said its air force struck a building near Tehran used by Iran’s intelligence services, killing four senior officials, including Nikooei.
Iran’s parliament has passed a law imposing the death penalty for cooperation with Israel, the US, or hostile groups, while also criminalizing unauthorized use of tools like Starlink to bypass internet restrictions.
The legislation classifies any collaboration with Israel and the United States as “corruption on earth”, which is punishable by death.
“Any intelligence, espionage, or operational activity for Israel, the US, or other hostile regimes and groups or their agents against the country’s security or national interests is considered corruption on earth and punishable by death,” the law says.
It further criminalizes “any security, military, economic, financial, technological action or any direct or indirect assistance knowingly done to approve, strengthen, consolidate, or legitimize Israel,” also punishable by death.
The third article specifies that manufacturing, transferring, or importing drones with military or sabotage uses against critical infrastructure qualifies for the death penalty. It also includes cyberattacks, disruption of communication networks, and sabotage of public or private facilities.
The law penalizes receiving funds from intelligence agents knowingly, regardless of active involvement.
Political, cultural, media, or propaganda activities causing public fear, division, or damage to national security carry 10 to 15 years imprisonment.
Sharing content with "hostile foreign networks" that weakens morale or creates division results in two to five years in prison.
Illegal wartime protests carry five to ten years imprisonment.
The use or import of unauthorized internet communication tools like Starlink is punishable by six months to two years in prison, according to the law.
Importing more than ten Starlink devices “with intent to oppose the Islamic Republic” results in five to ten years’ imprisonment.
The law applies retroactively to offenses committed before its enactment, violating Iran’s constitution and penal code provisions prohibiting retroactive laws, according to experts.
Iran’s exiled Prince Reza Pahlavi announced the launch of a secure communication channel for Iranian military, law enforcement, security, and government personnel who wish to connect with him and his team.
“For your own security, only scan the QR code during the TV broadcast on this network and then complete the registration form and information,” Pahlavi advised.
The prince warned against scanning any other codes circulated on social media, saying that only the code shown during the official broadcast is valid.
“Since the advertisement began airing, hundreds have already joined this national cooperation effort,” he added.
Pahlavi pledged to keep participants regularly informed about developments and called on trusted members of Iran’s armed and security forces to unite with the nation.
Speaking directly to security personnel who are still loyal to the Islamic Republic, he said, “Now is the time to join the nation. If you do so, I guarantee your service to Iran will not only be remembered but honored.”
A senior Shiite cleric in Iran has declared US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as “mohareb” (enemies of God) over what he described as their threats against Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Moharebeh is an Islamic-Arabic term that in the lexicon of the Islamic Republic and its punishment is death.
Naser Makarem Shirazi called on all Muslims to make Trump and Netanyahu regret their words and actions.
“If anyone suffers hardship or loss in this path, they will receive the reward of a warrior in the way of God,” he said.
Israel’s state prosecutors have indicted a man accused of spying for Iran, according to reports by Israeli media.
Dennis Lyakhov, 30, a resident of Rishon Lezion, is charged with contact with a foreign agent and providing intelligence to the enemy, the reports said.
Prosecutors allege he communicated with an Iranian agent via the Telegram app from late February to mid-March, carrying out various tasks for payment.
These tasks included filming himself burning a paper with the words “F..K BIBI” while in Latvia, documenting street scenes in Petah Tikva, and inquiring about car prices in Netanya, though he failed to complete some assignments.
Prosecutors have requested that Lyakhov remain in custody until the end of legal proceedings.
European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas reaffirmed full support for the agency and its head amid threats against Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) by Iranian officials.
Kallas stressed the importance of the IAEA’s impartial monitoring of Iran’s nuclear program, writing on her X account, “Full support to the IAEA and DG Grossi in his task to continue to monitor impartially Iran’s nuclear program. This will be key for a diplomatic settlement of the issue.”
