Jailed Iranian poet's death sentence upheld by Supreme Court

Esmael Khatib, Iran’s intelligence minister, announced that Iranian operatives had penetrated Israeli intelligence circles and stolen significant data, without citing any evidence.

“Westerners and regime officials admit Iran’s influence within the Zionist regime. The arrest of their citizens and members has been publicized, and acknowledging Iran’s penetration and power is a great blessing … documents stolen from this regime and valuable intelligence obtained are additional blessings,” Khatib was cited as saying by Tasnim News.

Following Israel’s 12-day strike in June, Iran cracked down on networks it claimed were linked to Israel, arresting about 700 alleged Mossad collaborators and executing 6 people for espionage. Israel also charged several of its citizens with spying for Iran.

Khatib praised Iran’s domestic response during the conflict, saying it showcased national unity.

“Many may have made mistakes in their political lives, but their presence, solidarity, and empathy with the people during this 12-day war is another impactful factor that should be encouraged by officials,” he said.

Khamenei, Iran's ultimate decision-maker, delivered a rare televised speech on Tuesday in which he ruled out talks with the United States and emphasized a hard line against what he described as Israeli and American threats.

Concessions to Washington, he said, would mean "Iran’s hands should be so tied that if it were attacked, it could not even respond to the US bases.” Lebanese armed group Hezbollah, Khamenei added, is a "treasure" and should not be counted out.

Support for proxy groups

Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf emphasized Tehran’s commitment to supporting allied groups such as Hamas, Islamic Jihad and Hezbollah, saying they defend Iran’s security interests.

“Our support for these groups defends Iran’s national security and interests. After Operation True Promise 3, the enemy knows that if we don’t stand against the Zionist regime in the Golan, it will advance to Julula in Iraqi Kurdistan, 30 kilometers from Iran’s border,” Ghalibaf was quoted as saying by Revolutionary Guards-linked Tasnim.

“Operation True Promise 3” was Iran’s retaliatory campaign against Israel during the 12-day war, involving multiple waves of ballistic missiles and drone strikes on Israeli targets.

Israeli attacks in the surprise campaign killed nuclear scientists along with hundreds civilians and military personnel. Iranian counterattacks killed 31 Israeli civilians and an off-duty soldier.

Ghalibaf also pointed to challenges in Syria and Iraq, saying Iran remains focused on those fronts.

“Defending the Islamic world, regional security, and human rights requires us to defend ourselves in the Golan, which is why we support resistance groups,” he said.

Addressing Hamas’s October 7 attack on Israel, Ghalibaf stressed that the operation was planned solely by Hamas.

“There was no mistake in Hamas’s October 7 strategy. The legitimacy and righteousness of the resistance remain intact. The decision was entirely Hamas’s, and neither the Islamic Republic of Iran nor Hezbollah in Lebanon were aware of the operation’s details,” he said.

Israel is currently continuing its military campaign in Gaza and has demanded the release of all hostages as a condition for halting the offensive.

Satellite images reviewed by AP show construction at missile sites in Parchin and Shahroud, where buildings housing mixers appear under repair.

“If they’re able to reacquire some key things like planetary mixers, then that infrastructure is still there and ready to get rolling again,” said Sam Lair of the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies.

Solid-fuel missiles are central to Iran’s deterrence strategy after Israeli strikes decimated much of its air defense.

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Iran operates solid-fuel missile production facilities at Khojir and Parchin, both near Tehran, as well as at Shahroud, about 350 kilometers (215 miles) northeast of the capital. All three sites were struck by Israel in October 2024, during earlier hostilities between the two countries.

Experts say the June strikes appeared designed to destroy buildings housing mixers, the machines essential for evenly combining missile fuel.

Iran had been producing more than 200 solid-fuel missiles a month before the war, according to AP.

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Iran fired more than 570 ballistic missiles during the conflict, depleting an estimated third of its arsenal, according to the Jewish Institute for National Security of America.

Western officials believe Tehran could try to source mixers and propellant chemicals from China, which has previously supplied materials for Iran’s missile program. Beijing said it supports Iran’s sovereignty but voiced “deep concern” over rising regional tensions.

Iran’s Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh said last month the country was now focused on producing “military equipment with higher precision and greater operational capabilities.”

Border Police sappers neutralized the device, and troops swept the area, the army said.

A week earlier, security forces raided a site near Ramallah, seizing dozens of rockets and arresting three suspects after an attempted launch.

Defense officials said, “foreign elements, led by Iran,” were working to promote rocket fire from the West Bank, which could place cities in central and northern Israel within range.

Iran has not commented on the allegations.

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Lindsay and Craig Foreman, from East Sussex, were arrested during a motorcycle world tour and accused of spying -- allegations they deny. Their son, Joe Bennett, said the pair were enduring “survival conditions” and urged the UK government to act.

The BBC reported that the couple’s family said they were “in the dark” about the upcoming court appearance, with their son confirming they had only been told the pair were due in court on Saturday.

“The systematic harassment and violations must stop. They need real, tangible support for their court appearances and to ensure proper medical attention, regular family contact and the urgent securing of their release,” Bennett said in a statement.

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  British couple detained in Iran taken to court without notice, family says

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  Iranian authorities tortured British couple in prison, source says

Rights groups and a source familiar with the case have alleged the couple were held in solitary confinement, beaten and threatened with execution by Iranian intelligence agents seeking forced confessions.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said it was “deeply concerned” and continued to raise the case with Iranian authorities.

Britain has repeatedly rejected Tehran’s charges and pressed for the couple’s release. Western governments and rights organizations say Iran has a history of detaining foreign nationals as leverage in disputes, an accusation Tehran denies.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said the curbs, which include restrictions on daily activities such as grocery shopping, were aimed at “disrupting Iran's diplomatic performance” during the UN General Assembly.

He described them as “a blatant violation” of US obligations under the 1947 UN Headquarters Agreement.

“The systematic harassment of Iranian diplomats has obstructed delegates from attending several multilateral events outside the so-called ‘permitted parameters’ this week alone,” Baghaei wrote on social media, calling the measures “a new low” in US hostility toward Iranians.

The US State Department said Monday that the restrictions were intended to prevent Iran’s delegation from “lavish shopping” in New York while ordinary Iranians face economic hardship, and to limit Tehran’s ability to “promote its terrorist agenda.”

It confined delegates to the area between UN headquarters and their hotel, with transit allowances for official meetings.

Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency reported separately that most of Pezeshkian’s media staff were denied visas, leaving only two aides -- his press chief and deputy -- to cover what it called a large number of events during the trip.

It noted that under the new rules, even the purchase of fountain pens is classified as a “luxury” requiring special permits.

The dispute comes as Pezeshkian prepare to address the 80th UNGA amid heightened tensions over Iran’s nuclear program, the looming reimposition of UN “snapback” sanctions later this month, and the fallout from a 12-day war with Israel in June.