Thursday, April 23, 2026
Home Blog Page 175

Iranian defense minister to Russian counterpart: Tehran will punish aggressor with full force

Nasirzadeh’s remarks came during a phone call initiated by Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu, who declared Moscow’s solidarity with Tehran amid the Zionist regime’s aggression against Iran. Shoigu extended condolences over the martyrdom of senior Iranian military commanders and civilians, saying the attack on Iranian territory under the pretext of nuclear concerns was merely a cover.

“Their actual goal is to weaken the Islamic Republic and spread unrest throughout the region”, Shoigu said.

He added that Russia continues to monitor all developments and supports Iran.

Nasirzadeh thanked Russia for its clear stance on the issue stressing that this is not just a war as the US and certain other countries are actively supporting the Zionist regime.

He noted that Iran’s decision is clear and “we will punish the aggressor with all our power, and we reject any form of imposed peace”.

The Iranian defense chief further asserted that the root-cause of regional instability is the US.

He added that Iran and Russia can work together to strengthen peace and stability across the region and the world.

Iran’s top security body  issues statement on missile strike on US base

Iran Missile

According to the statement, the number of missiles used in the retaliatory strike matched the number of bombs dropped by American forces during their attack on Iranian nuclear infrastructure.

The targeted US military base was carefully selected to ensure it was well away from Qatari urban areas and civilian populations, and the operation was carried out in a manner designed to avoid endangering the people and territory of Qatar, it added.

“This action posed no threat to our brotherly and friendly nation of Qatar or its honorable citizens”, the statement underlined.

It also reaffirmed that Iran remains committed to preserving its strong and historic relations with Qatar.

The Supreme National Security Council also reiterated Iran’s right to self-defense under international law and underscored that any future violations of its sovereignty will be met with decisive and proportionate responses.

Iran’s armed forces announce missile strike on US Al-Udeid base in Qatar

The IRGC dubbed the operation “Besharat Fath” (Glad Tidings of Victory). Al-Udeid, home to the US Air Force’s Central Command and considered Washington’s largest strategic military installation in West Asia, was described by Iranian commanders as a “strategic vulnerability” rather than an asset.

“The clear message to the White House and its allies is “the Islamic Republic of Iran, relying on God Almighty and the steadfast will of its people, will never leave any violation of its sovereignty, territorial integrity, or national security unanswered,” the statement declared.

The statement said the US is the architect behind the Zionist aggression, stressing that US military positions in the region have now become Achilles’ heels of US strategy, vulnerable to further retaliation.

It also warned that any further miscalculation by the US will result in accelerated collapse of US military presence in the region and humiliation for its forces, and will bring the Muslim world closer to the shared aspiration of eliminating the Zionist regime.

“The era of ‘hit and run’ is over”, the statement added.

IMF chief sees threats to economies from US attacks on Iran

International Monetary Fund (IMF)

The weekend strikes amplified what Kristalina Georgieva called an already “highly uncertain environment.”

The IMF is watching for further upward impact on oil and natural gas prices and for any disruption to global energy supplies from the conflict in the oil-rich Middle East, she told Bloomberg TV.

But beyond those two main risks, “there could be secondary and tertiary impact,” Georgieva said.

“Let’s say there is more turbulence that goes into hitting growth prospects of large economies, and then you have a trigger impact in a downward revision of prospects for global growth.”

“When you look at the probabilities, still there is a higher probability that (the) US in this year may avoid recession. But please, let’s not rock the boat any further,” Georgieva added.

Those large economies include the US where the IMF sees a nearly 40% chance risk of recession this year, based on its latest forecasts, released in April. This estimate is gloomier than the fund’s previous projection, published in October, before dramatic tariff increases announced by the Trump administration.

“The more there is uncertainty, the more there is volatility, the worse it is for business. When there is uncertainty, what happens? Investors don’t invest, consumers don’t consume and that holds growth prospects down,” she continued.

Over 10,000 spy drones discovered in Tehran; Zionist espionage cells dismantled

According to the report, a major drone deployment network was identified and dismantled earlier on Monday in the northwestern mountains of Tehran.

A spokesperson for Iran’s Law Enforcement Command (FARAJA) confirmed that a large cache of drone control and navigation equipment was seized during the operation. Investigations suggest that many recent assassinations targeting Iranian scientists and academics were carried out using these miniature drones.

Authorities also reported that a significant number of foreign mercenaries and infiltrators have been arrested in recent days through intelligence operations and public tip-offs.

Some of those arrested are said to have been involved in acts of psychological warfare, including tire burnings, igniting dry vegetation, and the use of sound bombs in an attempt to incite panic.

Head of Mossad-affiliated cyber network in Iran executed

Mahdavi-Shayesteh was convicted of espionage in favor of the Zionist regime. After undergoing a full criminal trial process and having his sentence upheld by Iran’s Supreme Court, he was executed on Monday morning.

According to case documents, he was the ringleader of a Mossad-linked cyber team and knowingly collaborated with the Zionist regime’s intelligence and terrorist service.

This anti-Iranian cyber network was operating within the virtual sphere—utilizing social media platforms and foreign messaging apps—under the supervision of Mossad officers.

Mahdavi-Shayesteh managed this network, relayed commands from Mossad officers, and oversaw both online and on-the-ground operations. The network’s primary mission was to create propaganda and branded content using social media and messaging platforms targeting personnel within Iran’s armed forces.

After his initial contact with his Mossad handler, he traveled to a neighboring country for training and coordination, where he posed as a representative of a migration services company. There, he met multiple times with two Mossad officers. Due to his expertise in digital media and social platforms, he was recruited as a key operative to manage parts of Mossad’s psychological and media operations in Iran.

During his collaboration with Mossad, Mahdavi-Shayesteh also carried out several field missions, including filming sensitive locations, delivering threatening packages to targeted individuals, harassing surveillance subjects, and sending related footage and images back to Mossad officers.

Tehran reserves ‘complete and lawful right’ to respond to US attack: Iran’s envoy

In a fiery speech, Amir Saeid Iravani said today marks yet another “shameful chapter in the political history of the United States,” referring to the early Sunday attacks on three peaceful Iranian nuclear facilities in Isfahan, Natanz and Fordow.

He said US President Donald Trump “personally carried out the most disgraceful part of this wicked scenario,” referring to Trump ordering the aggression and brazenly announcing it on his social media platforms, taking all and sundry by surprise.

Describing the Islamic Republic of Iran as an “independent and peace-seeking nation,” the envoy said the country had repeatedly warned the “warmongering US regime” against any aggressive actions prior to Sunday’s acts of aggression.

“Now, based on international law, Iran retains its complete and lawful right to respond to this blatant act of aggression,” Iravani declared, condemning the “premeditated and unprovoked” assault by Washington and linking it to the Israeli aggression against the people of Iran that started last Friday and has claimed more than 400 innocent lives so far.

“This attack (by the US) follows extensive military aggression by the Israeli regime,” the diplomat noted, branding the US justification as “false, absurd, and legally void.”

He slammed the US Security Council and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for their “selective behavior and double standards” on the Israeli and American attacks on Iran’s nuclear sites, calling it a “moral, political, and legal disgrace.”

The Iranian envoy also referenced the 2020 assassination of top anti-terror commander General Qassem Soleimani, calling it a “cowardly and gruesome act of terrorism carried out on the direct orders of the US president,” showing long-standing US hostility and impunity.

Iravani accused Israel of fabricating a deceptive narrative for over two decades, despite being a nuclear-armed regime operating outside international legal frameworks.

“Iran’s actions are fully consistent with Article 51 of the UN Charter, which recognizes the inherent right to self-defense,” he stated.

He urged the Security Council to act immediately under Chapter VII of the UN Charter to address the injustice and flagrant violations stemming from the U.S. and Israeli actions.

In his remarks, Russia’s representative to the United Nations also delivered a sharp condemnation of both American and Israeli aggression against Iran, calling it a blatant insult to international norms and a direct affront to the global community.

“We strongly condemn the US’s irresponsible and provocative actions against Iran,” Vasily Nebenzya asserted. “The attacks carried out by the United States and Israel constitute a complete humiliation of the international community.”

The diplomat criticized certain UN Security Council members for their silence and inaction, accusing them of lacking the courage to denounce Washington’s aggression.

“Some members of this Council do not have the courage to condemn these attacks. The United States has shown time and again that it does not value diplomacy,” he remarked.

He further pointed out the glaring double standards regarding nuclear non-proliferation.

“Israel has yet to join the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), while Iran remains the most heavily inspected country in the world under the oversight of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA),” the Russian representative said.

In his speech, the Chinese envoy to the United States also condemned the US military attacks against Iran’s nuclear facilities as a grave breach of international law, warning that such actions undermine global peace and stability.

“The actions of the United States constitute a dangerous violation of the United Nations Charter, international law, and Iran’s sovereignty,” Fu Cong stated.

He warned that the strikes have inflicted serious damage on the international nuclear non-proliferation regime.

“The US attacks have dealt a major blow to the global framework for preventing the spread of nuclear weapons,” he emphasized.

Iran warns of dangerous consequences of US strike on nuclear sites, blames IAEA chief

Iranian Foreign Ministry

In a statement following the US attacks on Iranian nuclear sites and facilities of Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran strongly condemned “the savage military aggression” as a blatant and unprecedented violation of the most fundamental principles of the United Nations Charter and the rules of international law.

It said, the U.S. military aggression against the territorial integrity and national sovereignty of a United Nations member state—committed in criminal collusion with the genocidal Zionist regime—once again demonstrates the depths of depravity and moral corruption that govern U.S. policies, and the intensity of the hostility and hatred harbored by the U.S. ruling establishment toward the peace-loving and independence-seeking people of the Islamic Iran.

The statement added that the Islamic Republic of Iran reserves its right to resist with full force against U.S. military aggression and the crimes committed by this rogue regime, and to defend Iran’s security and national interests.

It said the assault also violates UN Security Council Resolution 2231 and delivers a severe blow to the nuclear non-proliferation regime, all committed by a permanent member of the UN Security Council.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry also called on the UN Security Council to convene an emergency session to strongly condemn the U.S. act of aggression against Iran and to hold the United States accountable for its flagrant violations of international norms and principles.

It pointed out that the responsibility of the IAEA and its Director General—who, through clear bias in favor of warmongering parties, laid the groundwork and justification for this recent disaster—is now more evident than ever.

Iran Judiciary: Mossad spy executed following full legal process

Iran Prison

According to Iran’s Judiciary Media Center, Majid Mossayebi was arrested and prosecuted on charges of moharebeh (waging war against God) and corruption on earth through espionage and intelligence cooperation in favor of the Zionist regime. After the full legal process and confirmation of the sentence by Iran’s Supreme Court, he was executed on Sunday morning.

Based on the case documents, Mossayebi attempted to provide Mossad with classified information, details about sensitive locations inside Iran, and identities of specific individuals. In return, he received cryptocurrency as payment.

The report states that he had established contact with a Mossad handler named “David” in one of the Persian Gulf countries and had been submitting weekly reports through a secure communication channel.

After being identified and arrested, and following trial sessions held in the presence of both the defendant and his lawyer, the Revolutionary Court in Isfahan sentenced Mossayebi to death on charges of moharebeh and corruption on earth for collaborating with hostile foreign governments and espionage.

US strikes Fordow, Isfahan, Natanz nuclear sites in Iran

US Attack Iran

Trump’s decision on Saturday to join Israel’s military campaign against Iran represents a major escalation of the conflict.

“We have completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan,” Trump posted on Truth Social, adding that the military planes were now on their way home.

“NOW IS THE TIME FOR PEACE!” he added.

Later, in a televised Oval Office address that lasted just more than three minutes, Trump said that Iran’s future held “either peace or tragedy”, and that there were many other targets that could be hit by the US military.

“Iran’s key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated,” Trump added.

The strikes came as Israel and Iran have been engaged in more than a week of aerial combat, with deaths and injuries in both countries.