Spotlight on Iran

Highlights^[1]

• The chief of staff of the Iranian armed forces, the commander of the Revolutionary Guards, and the commander of the regular army stressed that the Iranian forces are prepared to resume the war with Israel if it attacks Iran again.
• Amid reports of a worsening humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, the Iranian leadership and the heads of Shiite militias called for the Muslim world to mobilize against Israel and support the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
• Iran has reportedly transferred weapons to Hezbollah via Iraq and Syria and begun using small vehicles instead of large trucks for smuggling.
• Iran strongly condemned the IDF’s attacks in Syria, especially in Damascus. Senior Iranian officials warned that the developments in Syria provide further evidence of Israel’s threat to stability in the entire region. A senior member of a pro-Iranian militia in Iraq said that events in Syria show that there is no justification for the demand to disarm the militias.
• The IDF attacked the port of Hodeidah after the Houthis attempted to restore infrastructure that had been damaged in previous attacks. The Houthis claimed responsibility for launching four ballistic missiles and nine drones in four attacks on Israel. The IDF Spokesperson said that three ballistic missiles and a drone launched from Yemen were intercepted, and another missile fell on its way to Israel. There were no hits in Israeli territory.
• The US Central Command said that anti-Houthi forces in southern Yemen seized a vessel carrying 750 tons of Iranian weapons for the Houthis, including cruise missiles and anti-aircraft and anti-ship missiles. The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman denied the report, claiming that it was an attempt to distract attention from the “crimes of the Zionist regime.”
• The Islamic Resistance Front in Syria called on its operatives to raise their alert level and prepare for an Israeli operation in the south of the country.

Iran in the wake of the campaign with Israel

• In a meeting with senior members of the judiciary, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei praised the Iranian people’s steadfastness and resistance to the United States “and its dog, the Zionist regime,” during the 12-day war against Israel. He noted that although Iran sees the “Zionist regime” as a “cancerous tumor” and the United States as a criminal state, it did not initiate the war, but every time the “enemy” attacked, its response was painful and decisive. According to him, Iran’s response was so strong that Israel was forced to turn to the United States because it was unable to defend itself and confront the Islamic Republic (Supreme Leader’s website, July 17, 2025).

• IRGC commander Mohammad Pakpour met with Iranian Army commander Amir Hatami and discussed the war with Israel. Pakpour noted that the IRGC is prepared to attack the “enemy” again and is ready to resume the war from where it left off. He praised the Iranian people and armed forces for their handling of the “most difficult and complex war in Iran’s history” and stressed that the Iranian armed forces are fully prepared to attack again. Hatami noted that the “Zionist regime” is a threat to peace and security in the region and the world and is the enemy of Muslims, and if given the opportunity, it will attack all the countries in the region. Hatami added that the Iranian armed forces would not hesitate to deal with any aggression (Tasnim, July 17, 2025).

• The Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, Abdolrahim Mousavi, said during a visit to the Air Defense Headquarters that if the “enemy” dares to attack Iran again, it will suffer heavier blows and a greater defeat than in the past. He emphasized that defense systems must be updated and reorganized, new tactics tailored to enemy threats must be adopted, and greater focus should be placed on operational flexibility, making use of local scientific and technological capabilities (Fars, July 18, 2025).
• Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian referred to Israel’s threats to renew the fighting against Iran, saying that his country is prepared for any military action by Israel and that its forces are prepared to attack again deep in the “occupied territories” [i.e., Israel] (Al-Jazeera, July 22, 2025).

Iran and the militias amid developments in the Palestinian arena

Iran

• Senior Iranian leaders accused Israel of committing “genocide” against the backdrop of the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip and called on the countries of the world, especially the Muslim countries, to end their silence and mobilize for the residents of the Gaza Strip. The following are prominent statements:
  • Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei called for the Muslim world to rally against Israel. In a post, Khamenei wrote that today is not the day to remain silent about what is happening in the Gaza Strip and that Islamic governments bear responsibility. He noted that they must understand that eternal disgrace will remain a stain on their forehead if they provide support to the “Zionist regime” in any way or under any pretext, or if they withhold aid from Palestine (Supreme Leader’s X account, July 21, 2025).
  • Majles Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf called on Muslim countries to wake up and come to the aid of the residents of the Gaza Strip. In a post, he wrote that the “greatest genocide in modern history” is currently taking place and that the “criminal Zionist regime” is determined to “exterminate” all residents of the Gaza Strip through starvation. He called on the leaders of the Muslim countries to wake up and come to the aid of the residents of the Gaza Strip, break the “siege,” and end the silence and indifference (Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf’s X account, July 21, 2025).
  • Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian sharply criticized the international community’s disregard for the dire humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip. In a speech at a ceremony commemorating cultural and media figures killed in the war with Israel, he noted that the “Zionist regime” is committing “crimes” in the Gaza Strip and that it is difficult to call those who commit such shameful crimes “human beings.” He attacked politicians in Europe who speak about human rights and democracy while at the same time justifying the closure of water and food sources to the residents of the Gaza Strip (snn.ir, July 22, 2025).

• • The Iranian Foreign Ministry expressed deep concern over the deterioration of the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip. In a statement, the ministry said that “the continued inhumane blockade of Gaza, the brutal bombing of residential centers for refugees, and the turning of humanitarian aid distribution centers into traps for the mass killing of hungry and thirsty civilians are a testament to the intensity of the cruelty and indifference of the Israeli apartheid regime and its supporters.” The ministry called on the international community to fulfill its moral and legal responsibility and act urgently and effectively to stop the “crimes of the Zionist regime” and end the suffering of the Palestinian people. It also called on the countries of the region and the Islamic world to exert all their power to pressure the supporters of the “Zionist regime,” especially the United States, to stop their “crimes,” to quickly provide urgent humanitarian aid to the residents of “Palestine,” and to bring the “Zionist war criminals” to justice (Tasnim, July 22, 2025).

The Houthis

• Abd al-Malik al-Houthi, the leader of the Houthi movement, noted in his weekly speech that “many members of the Islamic nation are behaving as if they are deaf, mute, and blind to what is happening in the Gaza Strip.” He claimed that Arab money coming to the United States under the guise of investments is one of the most important sources of funding for American bombs and weapons, and that it is “a very dangerous participation in the spilling of Palestinian blood” (Houthi movement Telegram channel, July 17, 2025). In another speech marking the anniversary of the death of Shiite Imam Zaid, al-Houthi said that “the tragedy and injustice caused to the Palestinian people in Gaza is a danger to the entire nation.” He claimed that “the famine in Gaza has reached a new peak, with children dying of starvation on a daily basis,” and accused Israel of planning to use humanitarian aid to “kill and destroy” (Saba News Agency, July 20, 2025).
• Muhammad al-Bukhaiti, a member of the Houthis’ political bureau, said that among the Western countries, only the American leadership has the option of ending the war in the Gaza Strip. He accused the West, led by the United States, of not only supporting the “crimes of genocide” with weapons, but also using humanitarian aid as a weapon (Al-Araby network, July 21, 2025).
• In a conversation with the Hamas organ, Hezam al-Asad, a member of the Houthis’ political bureau, referred to the silence of the Arab and Islamic nation in the face of “the situation in the Gaza Strip.” He stressed that they would continue to stand by the Palestinians and would not abandon them, “no matter the cost.” He added that “as long as the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip are hungry, the entire world will not enjoy food or drink” (Al-Risalah, July 19, 2025).

Iran’s involvement in Lebanon

• Iran has reportedly managed to transfer weapons to Hezbollah via Iraq and Syria. Sources reported that Iran has recently begun using small vehicles to smuggle weapons to the Lebanese Hezbollah through Syrian territory, having previously relied on large trucks. According to the report, Hezbollah succeeded in smuggling Kornet anti-tank missiles and other advanced weapons into Lebanese territory (The Wall Street Journal, July 17, 2025).
• The Iranian ambassador to Beirut, Mojtaba Amani, met with the spiritual leader of the Druze community in Lebanon, Sami Abi al-Muna. The two discussed the events in the Al-Suwayda province in Syria, Iran’s position on the matter, and its war with Israel (Al-Nashra, July 22, 2025).

Iran and the militias amid developments in Syria

Iran

• Iran condemned the Israeli attacks in Al-Suwayda and Damascus amid the clashes between the Druze and Bedouin tribes and forces belonging to the Syrian regime and stressed that Tehran supports the territorial integrity and cohesion of Syria. The following are prominent statements:
• Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei strongly condemned Israel’s extensive military attacks in Syria, especially in Damascus. He noted that it is now clear to everyone that the “Zionist regime” poses the greatest danger to peace and stability in the region. He added that what is happening in Syria today is the result of silence and inaction in the face of Israel’s “genocide, belligerence, and aspiration for takeover” and that this affects not only the Syrian people but the entire region. Baghaei stressed the need to preserve Syria’s national sovereignty, integrity, and territorial cohesion and expressed solidarity with the Syrian people in the face of “Israeli aggression.” He called on all the countries of the region to fulfill their responsibility to maintain peace and stability and demanded immediate and effective action by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the UN to stop Israel’s “war adventurism and dangerous expansion” in the region (Iranian Foreign Ministry website, July 17, 2025).
• At the beginning of the Majles session, Majles Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf declared that Iran stands by the Syrian people in the face of the attacks by the “Zionist regime” on Damascus. He noted that Iran supports Syria’s unity and territorial integrity. He added that the Islamic nation has now understood that Damascus will not be the last capital of an Islamic state to be attacked by Israel. He called on the Islamic countries to unite in order to rein in “America’s watchdog” before the fire spreads to them as well. He warned against Israel’s intention to destabilize the region, divide the Muslim countries, and expand its territory, and stressed that the regimes collaborating with “this criminal regime” must understand that they do not have much time left to maintain their territorial integrity (snn.ir, July 20, 2025).
• In an interview with Iranian TV, former chairman of the Iranian Broadcasting Authority and hardline politician Ezzatollah Zarghami commented on the developments in Syria, saying that the situation proves that the price of “resistance” is much lower than the price of compromise. He noted that Syria has no nuclear or missile program, and that the regime of President Ahmad al-Shara does not seek influence in the region, yet Israel is attacking in Syria. He said that the Syrian president did not dare to say a word against the Israeli attacks and even declared that Syria has common interests with Israel. Nevertheless, Israel expanded its attacks to the president’s office in the heart of Damascus, and it is dividing Syria, destroying it, and causing death and bloodshed. He stressed that if the Syrians had chosen the path of “resistance,” it would have come at a price, but they would have been much prouder (Fars, July 19, 2025).

The Houthis

• Abd al-Malik al-Houthi, the leader of the Houthi movement, said in his weekly speech that “Israeli aggression” against Syria continues, even though the authorities in Damascus have declared their intention to move toward normalization. According to him, the “Israeli enemy” benefits from the wrong policy of the “armed groups” controlling Syria toward minorities in the country, adding that the groups controlling the country should deal with the internal situation differently so as not to provide an excuse for the “Israeli enemy.” He also called on the minorities and ethnic groups in Syria to beware of “Israeli exploitation” because “the enemy is greedy” (Houthi movement Telegram channel, July 17, 2025).
• The Houthis’ political bureau condemned the “Zionist aggression” in Syria, noting that the developments in the country are part of Israel’s plan to strengthen its hegemony by dismantling Arab and Islamic countries. In addition, the political bureau called for a “serious” stance by the Syrian authorities against “Zionist bullying” and emphasized the need to “put an end to Zionist violations and confront the Israeli enemy” (Houthi movement Telegram channel, July 16, 2025).

The militias in Iraq

• Qais al-Khazali, the leader of Asa’ib Ahl al-Haqq, made it clear that recent events in Syria show that there is no justification for calls for the disarming of the militias in Iraq. He said that all those who hand over their weapons should prepare for “their mustaches to be shaved,” in light of the documentation of mustache shaving of Druze men during the clashes in Al-Suwayda. He added that what is happening in Syria is a troubling signal to anyone with even “an ounce of sense.” However, he stressed that it is the Iraqi state that makes the decisions and holds the weapons (Asharq Al-Awsat, July 21, 2025).

The Houthis in Yemen

The direct confrontation between the Houthis and Israel

• On July 21, 2025, IDF drones attacked Houthi military targets in the port of Hodeidah. According to the IDF Spokesperson, engineering vehicles, fuel tanks, vessels, and other infrastructure were attacked. It was also noted that the attack was carried out after continued activity in the port, which is used for the transfer of weapons from Iran, and attempts to restore infrastructure used by the Houthis after previous IDF attacks were identified (IDF Spokesperson, July 21, 2025). A “Houthi security source” reported that a pier rebuilt after being damaged in previous attacks was destroyed in the attack (Agence France-Presse, July 21, 2025).
• Over the past week, the Houthis’ military spokesman, Yahya Saria, claimed responsibility for four attacks against Israel – three of them by ballistic missiles and two by nine drones. Two of the attacks were carried out after the Israeli attack on the port of Hodeidah. According to Saria, all the attacks achieved their objectives (Yahya Saria’s Telegram channel, July 16-23, 2025). The IDF Spokesperson reported three incidents of intercepting missiles launched from Yemen and the interception of a drone launched from Yemen. There were no casualties and no damage was reported. It was also reported that another missile launched from Yemen fell on its way to Israel (IDF Spokesperson and Israeli media, July 16-23, 2025).
• Mohammad al-Bukhaiti, a member of the Houthis’ political bureau, said that the Israeli attacks would never affect the Yemeni people’s desire to continue “the operation to help our brothers in the Gaza Strip,” but would rather spur them to continue the “fateful campaign.” He warned that “we will respond to escalation with escalation,” adding that the attacks will not affect the Houthis’ missile system in defense and attack, and that they continue to develop it (Al-Araby network, July 21, 2025).
• Hezam al-Asad, a member of the Houthis’ political bureau, told the Hamas organ that they are participating “in the war of attrition against the Zionist enemy alongside the Palestinian resistance, no matter how long it takes.” According to him, the Houthis have “additional surprises and powerful attacks that will be carried out in the coming days” (Al-Risalah, July 19, 2025).

Foiling Iranian arms shipment to the Houthis

• The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said that the Yemeni National Resistance Forces (NRF), which operate in southern Yemen and are supported by the West, seized a vessel carrying more than 750 tons of weapons and other equipment, including hundreds of cruise missiles, anti-aircraft missiles, anti-ship missiles, advanced warheads, hundreds of drone engines, air defense components, radar systems and communication equipment. It was also discovered that the instruction manuals accompanying the equipment were in Persian, and many of the systems seized were manufactured by a company affiliated with the Iranian Ministry of Defense, which is subject to American sanctions. The CENTCOM commander, General Michael Kurilla, noted that the seizure of this massive Iranian shipment shows that Iran remains the actor whose activities contribute the most to destabilizing the region. He stressed that restricting the free flow of Iranian support to the Houthis is critical to regional security, stability, and freedom of navigation” (CENTCOM X account, July 16, 2025). Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Baghaei denied reports of the seizure of an Iranian arms shipment intended for the Houthis. He noted that while the “Zionist regime” is intensifying its “genocide in Gaza and the West Bank” and repeatedly violating the sovereignty of Syria and Lebanon with American support, the US claim regarding the seizure of a shipment of weapons destined for Yemen is nothing more than an attempt to divert public opinion from the main issue in the region, which is the “aggression and crimes of the Zionist regime” against the peoples of the region and from the destructive and destabilizing interventions of the United States (Iranian Foreign Ministry website, July 18, 2025).

   
Weapons and military equipment seized by NRF forces
(CENTCOM X account, July 16, 2025)

US sanctions on aid for financing the Houthis

• The US Treasury Department imposed sanctions on two Yemeni citizens and five companies they own in Yemen and the United Arab Emirates for involvement in money laundering and importing refined petroleum products into Houthi-controlled areas, in violation of US sanctions. It was noted that those designated, including Muhammad al-Sunaydar, who is considered one of Yemen’s most prominent petroleum importers, had achieved personal profits of millions of dollars, while helping the Houthis’ ability to threaten shipping routes vital for international trade (US Treasury Department and State Department, July 22, 2025).

Houthi arms dealers’ activity on social media

• A report by the American organization Tech Transparency Project (TTP), which focuses on monitoring technology companies, revealed that arms dealers linked to the Houthis use business accounts on WhatsApp and X (formerly Twitter) for the public trade in weapons, including standard US-made weapons. According to the report, the traders have been operating on these platforms openly and for a long time, in violation of the regulations of both platforms and the US sanctions imposed on the Houthis. Some of the monitored accounts are operated from Houthi Yemen and express loyalty to the Houthi regime, and various types of weapons can be found in them, including rifles, grenade launchers, and other weapons (TTP website, July 15, 2025).

The pro-Iranian militias in Iraq

• The Coordination Committee of pro-Iranian militias in Iraq referred to the drone attacks that took place in recent weeks in the oil fields in the Kurdish region and denied any involvement in the incidents. According to them, these are score-settling between oil companies and the Kurdish autonomy authorities, not a conflict occurring outside the borders of the autonomy. The statement said that militias in Iraq “have always distanced themselves from any action harming the interests of the people and security forces, as preserving the national interest is their goal.” It was also noted that the committee advised the Kurdish autonomy authorities to refrain from exporting their internal crises (Telegram channel of the Iraqi militias’ Coordination Committee, July 20, 2025).

The militias in Syria

• The Islamic Resistance Front in Syria – Possessors of Might” (Uli al-Baas, or UAB) issued a statement on behalf of the “head of the Resistance Security Apparatus in southern Syria,” in which he called on the “resistance” operatives to raise alert levels in the face of “Zionist invasion threats.” The statement claimed that there is information indicating an imminent rapid Israeli military operation aimed at paralyzing communication lines and dismantling the “resistance” support array in Hauran, Jabal al-Arab, al-Quneitra and the western rural area of Damascus. Therefore, a state of high alert was declared across the entire southern front, and all “resistance” operatives and field commanders were required to activate secret deployment plans, evacuate sites under aerial surveillance, avoid using open communication devices, and monitor suspicious movements. The operatives were warned that laxity would be considered betrayal of trust and would constitute “indirect contribution to the enemy’s benefit” (Telegram channel of the Islamic Resistance Front in Syria, July 21, 2025).

^[1] The weekly study includes the activities of Iran, the Shiite militias in Iraq, and the Houthis in Yemen.

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