Spotlight on Iran

Highlights^[1]

• The representative of the Iranian Supreme Leader in the IRGC declared that the Iranian people would not rest until the complete destruction of the “Zionist regime.” The Iranian chief of staff reiterated his warning that in the event of another Israeli attack, Iran would respond even more harshly and decisively than in the past.
• Iran’s ambassador to Beirut met with a delegation of the Arab Socialist Ba’ath Party and emphasized Iran’s support for the campaign against Israel. The Iranian Foreign Ministry condemned Israel’s attacks in the Bekaa Valley and the silence of the UN Security Council.
• The Iranian media reported extensively on the contacts between Israel and Syria, and the violent clashes between Druze, Bedouins, and Syrian security forces in the south of the country. The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman condemned the IDF’s activity in the region. The Iranian reactions to the developments in Syria can be seen as another expression of Iran’s efforts since the collapse of the Assad regime to highlight the instability in the country and the failures of the new regime to deal with the challenges it faces, both in the domestic arena and vis-à-vis Israel.
• The Houthis’ military spokesman claimed responsibility for three attacks against Israel using a ballistic missile and drones. The IDF Spokesperson confirmed the interception of a ballistic missile and a drone launched from Yemen.
• The Houthis claimed responsibility for sinking a cargo ship in the Red Sea, claiming that it violated the “sailing ban” to Israel, and confirmed that some of the crew members were being held by them. The Houthis threatened to continue their attacks against vessels trying to reach Israel until the “blockade” over the Gaza Strip is lifted.

Iran in the wake of the campaign with Israel

• Abdollah Haji-Sadeghi, the Supreme Leader’s representative in the IRGC, said that the “enemies” must know that the Iranian people will not rest until the complete destruction of the “Zionist regime” and the withdrawal of imperialism, and that the “resistance” will continue until the goals of the revolution are achieved. At an event commemorating the fallen of the Basij organization, Haji-Sadeghi said that the defeat of the “enemy” in the 12-day war was one of the great victories of the Islamic Revolution. He noted that Iran’s victory in the 12-day war caused that, for the first time, the “Zionist regime” was presented as genuinely vulnerable, and that the United States, which entered the war, was quick to act to achieve a ceasefire after encountering a decisive response from Iran. He added that the “enemy” believed that by attacking military commanders and scientists, it would succeed in weakening the morale of the people, who would turn against the regime, but the determination of the citizens could not be broken (Didehban, July 10, 2025).

• The Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, Seyyed Abdolrahim Mousavi, said during a visit to the IRGC Aerospace Force that if the “enemy” makes another mistake, Iran’s fighters are fully prepared and ready to respond even more harshly and decisively than in the past. During the visit, Mousavi praised the contribution of the commander of the IRGC Aerospace Force, Amir Ali Hajizadeh, who was eliminated by Israel at the opening of the campaign, and emphasized his contribution to strengthening Iran’s military deterrence against its enemies. He added that the demonstration of the IRGC Aerospace Force’s power during the campaign was greater than any action taken so far and even more important than major operations during the Iran-Iraq War. Seyyed Majid Mousavi, commander of the IRGC Aerospace Force, stated that Iran’s hand is on the trigger and that it is fully prepared for any possible mistake or act of adventurism by the “enemy” (Mehr, July 14, 2025).

Iran’s involvement in Lebanon

• Iran’s ambassador to Beirut, Mojtaba Amani, met with a delegation of the Arab Socialist Ba’ath Party, headed by the party’s secretary-general, Ali Hijazi. The ambassador noted that “during the Zionist regime’s aggression against Iran, we witnessed global support for Iran, both at the popular and governmental levels,” and that Lebanon’s support was exceptional. He stressed that Iran supports the “camp of justice” at all costs and will not abandon its path. Amani expressed hope that “a global front will emerge against the injustice we see in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, and the aggression of the Zionist regime against Lebanon and Iran,” and that this injustice will not continue and that the victory God promised to the oppressed in the world will be realized. Hijazi congratulated Iran on its “victory in the face of the aggression of the Zionist regime” and expressed condolences over the deaths of the senior commanders killed in the war with Israel. He noted that the movement stands by the Islamic Republic, which supports the struggle against “the aggression of the Zionist regime” (IRNA, July 13, 2025).

• Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei strongly condemned the Israeli attacks in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley on July 15, 2025, in which 12 people were reportedly killed, and the inaction and silence of the UN Security Council. He pointed to the US support for the “Zionist regime” through “one-sided programs and proposals that serve Israel’s interests and are aimed at weakening Lebanon’s national security, cohesion, and economic welfare (Iranian Foreign Ministry X account, July 16, 2025).

Iran amid developments in Syria

• This week, the Iranian media reported extensively on the contacts between Israel and Syria and on the meeting of senior officials from the two countries in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, to discuss the IDF’s “buffer zone” in southern Syria. The Iranian media also covered the clashes between Druze and Bedouin tribesmen in the al-Suwayda province in southern Syria and the IDF’s activity in the area. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei strongly condemned the clashes in al-Suwayda and the IDF’s activity in the area. He noted that the Security Council’s continued indifference to the “aggressive actions of the Zionist regime” against the countries of the region is not only dangerous but also encourages it to continue its policy unhindered. Baghaei added that Israel’s ongoing military attacks against Syrian sovereignty, along with the continued “occupation” of large areas of Syria, are a grave example of this. He called on the countries of the region and the entire Islamic world to mobilize to stop the “crimes of the Zionist regime,” including the “genocide in the Gaza Strip” and the “ongoing aggression” in Syria and Lebanon (IRNA, July 15, 2025).
• Meanwhile, reformist Iranian journalist Mashallah Shamsolvaezin addressed the serious implications of the collapse of the Assad regime in Syria for Iran, saying that it should have been understood that when Iran lost Syria, it was forced to fight Israel inside Tehran. He added that Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s remarks about the enemy’s sphere of influence turned out to be correct [i.e., Khamenei’s reference to the need to maintain “strategic depth” in Syria and protect Iran’s national security as far away from its borders as possible] (Fars, July 14, 2025).

Iran’s involvement in Iraq

• Iraqi Interior Minister Abd al-Amir al-Shammari visited Tehran to participate in a conference of the interior ministers of Iran, Iraq, and Pakistan. He met with his Iranian counterpart, Eskandar Momeni, and discussed with him preparations for the Arbaeen ceremonies, the pilgrimage to the Shiite holy sites. During his visit, al-Shammari also met with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian (Tasnim, July 14, 2025).

The Houthis in Yemen

The direct confrontation between the Houthis and Israel

• In the past week, Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saria claimed responsibility for three attacks against Israel – one by a ballistic missile and two by three drones. He claimed that all the attacks had achieved their objectives (Yahya Saria’s Telegram channel, July 9-16, 2025). The IDF Spokesperson reported the interception of a ballistic missile and a drone launched from Yemen. There were no casualties (IDF Spokesperson, July 9-16, 2025).
• In his weekly speech, Abd al-Malik al-Houthi, the leader of the Houthi movement, referred to the Israeli fighting in the various arenas. Regarding the Gaza Strip, he said that “the actions of the jihad fighters thwart the enemy’s tactics even when it tries to renew them.” Regarding the attacks in Lebanon, al-Houthi said that “the weapons of resistance protect Lebanon from the occupation and from direct Israeli control.” Regarding the IDF’s activity in Syria, he said that “the Israeli enemy has advanced in its incursion into the Damascus periphery despite the declared normalization process” (Telegram channel of the Houthi movement, July 10, 2025).

Houthi activity against ships

• On July 9, 2025, Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saria claimed responsibility for the attack on the Eternity C in the Red Sea, off Hodeida, two days earlier. He noted that the attack was carried out using an unmanned surface vehicle (USV), cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles, and that after the ship sank, Houthi forces rescued several crew members, provided them with medical treatment, and transferred them to a “safe place.” According to him, the attack was carried out after the company that owns the ship resumed operating in the port of Eilat, in clear violation of the “prohibition” on operating in the port, and after the ship did not respond to the calls and warnings of the Houthi forces. In addition, the Houthi forces published documentation of the attack and the sinking of the ship (Yahya Saria’s Telegram channel, July 9, 2025).

   
The damage caused to the Eternity C as a result of the Houthi attack and the moments of its sinking, from a video released by the Houthis (X account of the Houthis’ Combat Information Arm, July 9, 2025)

• On July 14, 2025, the search for survivors from the Eternity C was completed. According to the report, four crew members were killed and 11 others were missing, some of whom are believed to be held by the Houthis. In addition, the European Union Task Force operating in the Red Sea (EUNAVFOR ASPIDES) reported that ten people had been rescued alive (AP, July 14, 2025).
• The US Embassy in Yemen said many of the ship’s crew members had been abducted by the Houthis and that Houthi forces had hampered rescue efforts. The embassy called for their immediate, safe, and unconditional release, stressing that the Houthis continue to prove to the world why Washington was right when it designated them as a terrorist movement (US Embassy in Yemen X account, July 9, 2025). At the same time, a “senior American official” clarified that the US administration’s understanding with the Houthis regarding freedom of navigation for American ships is still valid despite the recent attacks, which he said were directed at ships “connected to Israel” and not at American ships (Al-Jazeera, July 10, 2025).
• Senior Houthi officials justified the attacks that led to the sinking of two ships within three days and threatened to continue to act against vessels that they claimed were “violating the prohibition on entering Palestinian ports” until the “blockade” of the Gaza Strip was lifted. The following are prominent statements:
  • Abd al-Malik al-Houthi, the leader of the Houthi movement, said in his weekly speech that the sinking of the two ships, Magic Seas and Eternity C, underscores “the firm position of the no-sailing ban on the Israeli enemy as long as the aggression and blockade of Gaza continue.” He emphasized that the decision on the ban on sailing was never stopped or canceled, and that what has changed is that several companies have violated the decision. Al-Houthi added that no company transporting goods for the “Israeli enemy” would be allowed to pass through the area and warned that what happened in the Red Sea was a clear message to shipping companies working for the “Israeli enemy” that they would be dealt with firmly (Houthi movement’s Telegram channel, July 10, 2025).
  • Mohammed al-Bukhaiti, a member of the Houthis’ political bureau, said that the sinking of the ships was a strong message to shipping companies that the Houthis are serious about the “sailing ban” to Israel. He added that they oppose the world’s policy of double standards, when it rejects the “ban” on Israel and remains silent about the “siege” on the Gaza Strip, stressing that they demand “freedom of navigation all over the world, including Gaza.” According to him, the Houthis will continue their “resistance” until a ceasefire is reached in the Gaza Strip, and any escalation by Israel will be met with escalation (Al-Jazeera, July 9, 2025).
  • Nasreddin Amer, the deputy head of the Houthi Media Office, threatened that they would sink any vessel attempting to violate the “naval blockade that we are imposing on the occupation.” According to him, they are not provoking either side, but rather “defending ourselves and supporting our brothers in Gaza.” Amer added that “it is our moral duty to support Gaza amid the increasing crimes of the occupation and the ongoing hunger.” He said it was too early to talk about the release of the ships’ crew (Al-Jazeera, July 10, 2025).
  • The Houthi Foreign Ministry condemned the remarks of the UN envoy to Yemen, Hans Grundberg, who expressed concern over the escalation in the Red Sea and said that civilian vessels cannot be a target. The Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Grundberg completely ignored the root causes of the escalation in the Red Sea, which are represented by “the genocide crimes committed by the Zionist entity in the Gaza Strip.” It also said that Grundberg “was supposed to express concern about the ongoing Zionist aggression against Yemen and demand that it stop.” The Foreign Ministry also warned that the envoy’s “ongoing negative attitude” toward the issue of the Yemeni people could push the Yemeni government to escalate beyond the cessation of official communication with the envoy and his office (Saba News Agency, July 11, 2025).

The pro-Iranian militias in Iraq

• On July 14, 2025, it was reported that a drone “fell” near the Erbil airport in the Kurdish region of northern Iraq. The General Directorate of Counter-Terrorism in the Kurdish region announced that a suicide drone was intercepted near the airport and that there were no casualties or damage. In addition, it was reported that two drones hit the Khurmala oil field near Erbil, causing damage to the water infrastructure in the field (Saberin News; the Kurdish network Rudaw; Reuters, July 14, 2025). The next day, an explosion was reported at the Sarsang oil field in the Jamanke subdistrict, and damage was caused. As a precautionary measure, oil production was halted. “Sources in the Kurdish region” reported that only preliminary investigations indicate that the drone came from areas controlled by Iranian-affiliated militias (Shafaq News, July 15, 2025; Reuters, July 15-16, 2025). On July 16, 2025, it was reported that production at two fields operated by the Norwegian company DNO in the Kurdish region had been halted due to a drone attack, but there were no casualties. In addition, a field operated by an American company in the Duhok area in northern Iraq was attacked (Reuters, July 16, 2025).
• The US Embassy in Baghdad condemned the attacks and stressed that the Iraqi government must exercise its authority to prevent armed elements from carrying out such attacks on sites in its territory, and that these attacks are unacceptable, violate Iraqi sovereignty, and undermine efforts to attract foreign investment. The embassy called on the Iraqi government to investigate the attacks and hold those responsible accountable (US Embassy in Iraq X account, July 15, 2025).

The militias in Syria

• The Islamic Resistance Front in Syria – Possessors of Might (Uli al-Baas, or UAB) issued a statement in response to “secret and public understandings and declared and undeclared coordination between the Syrian government and the Zionist enemy under direct American auspices and regional and Arab concessions that are not hidden from anyone.” The statement said that the organization “absolutely” rejects any form of normalization or communication with the “Zionist entity,” and that any organization that enters into such a process does not represent Syria. It also claimed that the reported contacts are a continuation of the “project to eliminate Syria and annex it to the Zionist hegemony” with American support. In conclusion, the organization claimed that it was renewing its commitment “to the path of resistance, to rejecting the occupation, and to confronting any project of normalization or betrayal” (Telegram channel of the Islamic Resistance Front in Syria – Possessors of Might, July 9, 2025).
• In a statement issued in response to the clashes between the Druze and the Syrian regime forces in al-Suwayda, the front accused “foreign hands” of being behind the events, first and foremost, “the Zionist project that is working to tear apart the unity of the land and the people.” The statement further emphasized that “the real enemy of the Syrian people is the Zionist project and its allies, not the [Druze] residents of the mountain, the tribes, or any other national component” (Telegram channel of the Islamic Resistance Front in Syria – Possessors of Might, July 15, 2025).

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

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