Iran’s military readiness has increased since 12-day war, defense ministry says

The return of international sanctions on Iran should not be underestimated, and all national resources must be directed toward countering them, a political adviser to the president said on Saturday. “Long-term sanctions harm development and limit Iran’s international presence, even affecting ties with Eastern powers,” Mehdi Sanaei wrote on X.

Foreign currency and gold prices in Iran rose sharply on Saturday after France, Germany, and Britain triggered the UN snapback mechanism, Iranian media reported.

The US dollar climbed by about 20,000 rials from the previous day to reach 1.04 million rials on the open market. The euro and British pound also saw gains of nearly 2 percent, selling for around 1.214 million and 1.401 million rials, respectively.

Local outlets said the market is reacting to fears that renewed UN sanctions could restrict trade, freeze assets, and add pressure on inflation and imports.

Iran will not surrender to Western pressure and will instead become “a model of resistance for other nations,” Abbas Kaabi said on Saturday, according to Rasa News.

“The West seeks Iran’s surrender, but the Iranian nation, relying on faith, the leadership of the Supreme Leader, and vast internal capabilities, will not surrender,” Kaabi, a member of the Assembly of Experts, said. “Instead, we will become an example of resistance for other nations.”

He said Iran should counter sanctions by building economic self-sufficiency, deepening ties with countries opposed to US unilateralism, and taking a more active role in regional diplomacy and multilateral organizations.

“These individuals, who had received their specialized training online from agents of Mossad, had sent the coordinates of vital and sensitive centers, as well as information related to prominent military figures, to Mossad intelligence officers during the 12-day war,” read the announcement.

Israel launched the 12-day air campaign against Iran in June, with brief support from the United States, targeting nuclear sites and killing senior military officials and nuclear scientists. The strikes crippled much of Iran’s air defense network and damaged a significant portion of its ballistic missile arsenal, Israel said.

The people were arrested in northeastern Razavi Khorasan province before carrying out their plans, according to the statement. Authorities said they seized equipment for producing explosives, bombs and booby traps.

The announcement follows a broader crackdown in the wake of the June war. State media reported that police detained as many as 21,000 people during the 12-day conflict with Israel, though no details were given about the charges. Security forces also expanded their street presence during the brief war, which ended in a US-brokered ceasefire after Iran launched missile barrages on Israeli cities and military sites.

Earlier this month, Iran hanged nuclear scientist Rouzbeh Vadi, accusing him of providing intelligence to Israel about another scientist later killed in Israeli strikes. In total, at least eight people have been executed in recent months on espionage-related charges.

Human rights groups argue Tehran often uses espionage allegations and swift trials to stifle dissent and tighten control, particularly during periods of conflict.

According to Amnesty, Iran was responsible for 64 percent of all recorded executions worldwide in 2024 and has carried out 612 hangings in the first half of 2025 alone.

Tehran’s main stock index fell by more than 35,000 points on Saturday, closing at around 2.395 million, as the market reacted to the formal launch of the UN snapback process by France, Germany and Britain.

Mehr News Agency, a semi-official outlet, said the announcement has added a “wave of psychological anxiety” to a market already under “chronic selling pressure.” While analysts quoted by the agency believe the snapback may not have major operational effects under current sanctions, they said it casts a “dark cloud over the trading floor.”

“What we are seeing now is more of an overreaction than a reflection of real economic impact,” Mehr quoted one analyst as saying. Some added that a short-term rebound is possible if the market finds support levels and the effects of the mechanism are clarified, but noted that “sustainable recovery still depends on fresh capital inflows,” which remain absent.

The drop follows months of market volatility. In early July, after the 12-day war with Israel, the market saw historic outflows. On July 2, investors pulled nearly $145 million in a single day, and the index fell by 57,000 points. The selloff was intensified by cyberattacks on major banks and ongoing concerns about economic mismanagement and financial instability.