Spotlight on Iran

Highlights^[1]

• Iranian officials continued to portray the ceasefire between Iran and Israel as a victory for the Islamic Republic. Iran’s Supreme Leader Khamenei and other senior officials warned that any violation of the ceasefire by Israel would result in a harsher response from the Iranian armed forces. They emphasized that the United States was forced to join the campaign against Iran directly to save Israel from defeat.
• Iran has not yet commented on the abstention of its proxies in the region, including Hezbollah and the Iraqi Shiite militias, from opening additional fronts against Israel during the 12-day war. Apparently, Iran expected assistance from its allies in the region and likely even urged them to join the fighting, but at this stage, senior Iranian officials have not publicly expressed disappointment with the conduct of the components of the “pro-Iranian axis” in the region in the war with Israel and the United States.
• The Iranian ambassador to Lebanon expressed his appreciation to the participants in the demonstration of solidarity held by Hezbollah supporters in front of the embassy in Beirut and stressed the close ties between the peoples of Iran and Lebanon.
• A hardline Iranian newspaper strongly attacked Syrian President Ahmed al-Shara over reports of secret talks between Israel and Syria. The criticism reflects growing discontent in Tehran over the possibility of expanding cooperation between Syria and Israel, including vis-à-vis Iran.
• The Houthis claimed responsibility for several attacks against Israel using ballistic missiles and drones. The IDF Spokesperson reported two incidents of intercepting a ballistic missile and the interception of one drone. In addition, a ballistic missile launched from Yemen crashed en route to Israel.
• Yemen’s Western-backed government warned that Iran might transfer part of its missile and drone production to Houthi-controlled areas after Israel struck production facilities. It was also revealed that the Houthis had established a factory to produce Captagon to finance the activities of the “axis of resistance” after the fall of the Assad regime in Syria.
• The IDF detained four suspects in Iranian-directed terrorist activity in southern Syria. The Islamic Resistance Front in Syria released a threatening video in Hebrew, in which it warned that it would soon act against Israel and claimed that it has rockets and missiles with ranges of several hundred kilometers.

Iran in the wake of the campaign with Israel

• Senior Iranian officials continued to present the ceasefire between Iran and Israel as a victory for the Islamic Republic, claiming they succeeded in imposing it on Israel:
  • Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said in a recorded message to the Iranian people that Iran had defeated the “fake Zionist regime,” which had almost completely collapsed under the attacks of the Islamic Republic. He noted that the Iranian armed forces had “destroyed” many military and civilian areas in Israel with their missiles and advanced weapons. This proves to the “Zionist regime” that any aggression against Iran will cost it heavily. Khamenei added that Iran also defeated the United States, which intervened directly in the war after realizing that if it did not do so, the “Zionist regime” would be completely destroyed. It tried to save it, but achieved nothing and did not succeed in causing real damage to the Iranian nuclear facilities. He referred to President Trump’s demand that Iran surrender and said that the very use of the word “surrender” in relation to Iran is ridiculous in the eyes of anyone who knows the Iranian people (Iranian Supreme Leader’s website, June 26, 2025).

• • In a statement issued by Abdolrahim Mousavi, the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, it was said that the armed forces used their full capabilities and gave a painful and extensive response to the “Zionist aggressor enemy”, succeeded in stopping the “enemy’s” war machine while relying on local capabilities and domestically produced weapons and causing heavy damage. As a result, US leaders were forced to turn to regional countries and essentially surrendered to the will of the Islamic Republic. In the announcement, the Iranian chief of staff warned Israel and its supporters that Iran is monitoring their movements and if they make another “strategic mistake,” the attackers will be thrown into the “black hole of history” (Tasnim, June 26, 2025).
  • The IRGC said in a statement that Iran had managed to preserve the power components of its nuclear program and its missile and defense infrastructures, had led to the collapse of the myth about the enemy’s multi-layered air defense and its invincibility, and had given hope to the oppressed peoples of the world for the continuation of the “resistance.” It was also written that the entry of the failed American army into the battlefield to save the soldiers of the “Zionist army” did not succeed in changing the balance of power and that the “Zionist army” was the initiator of the war, but its end was dictated by the brave people in the armed forces, especially the Revolutionary Guards Air Force. The IRGC stressed that it would not rest for a moment in the struggle to remove the United States from the region and eliminate the “Zionist regime,” two strategic goals of the IRGC, because peace and stability in the region depend on their realization (Tasnim, June 26, 2025).
  • IRGC spokesman Ali Mohammad Naeini said that not only did the “Zionist regime” and President Trump fail to achieve their goals in the war, but they also saw the Islamic Republic’s continued missile attacks as a serious threat to the existence of the “Zionist regime.” He noted that the war proved that the residents of the “occupied territories” (i.e., Israel) are defenseless against the power of Iran’s missiles and drones and that there is no doubt that, as far as public opinion is concerned, Iran is the absolute winner of the campaign. He stressed that Iran’s final message to the “Zionist regime” and the US president is that if Iran’s national interests and assets are attacked again, its response will be different, stronger and more dangerous, and may accelerate the elimination of the “Zionist regime” (ISNA, June 28, 2025).

• • The Supreme Leader’s advisor, Mohammad Mokhber, said on the sidelines of the funeral ceremony for Gholam-Ali Rashid, the commander of the Khatam al-Anbiya emergency headquarters, who was eliminated by Israel at the beginning of the war, that Israel, in the crime it committed, caused all humanity to turn attention to the “cancerous tumor” (a reference to Israel). He added that through the determination and firm will of the Iranian people, the leader of the revolution and the armed forces, “this fake regime will soon be uprooted” (Mashreq News, June 30, 2025).

• • The Supreme Leader’s senior aide and advisor, Seyyed Rahim Safavi, referred to the deaths of dozens of Iranian commanders killed at the beginning of the war with Israel and said that “the death circle of the Zionists has accelerated” and that the blood of the oppressed martyrs from the Gaza Strip, Lebanon, “Palestine,” and Syria would be avenged on the “Zionist regime,” whose death is near. According to him, a new Middle East will arise around the Islamic revolution and the “axis of resistance,” the power of the Islamic nation will overcome the power of Western countries, and the United States is on the way to decline. Safavi added that the Americans and “Zionists” need to know that Iran will not leave them alone, the Revolutionary Guards are ready to respond forcefully to any mistake on their part, and if they begin new threats, Iran will respond more harshly than they can imagine. They cannot defeat Iran, and the final victory will belong to the Iranian people (snn.ir, June 30, 2025).

• • Ahmad Vahidi, advisor to the IRGC commander, declared that in the event of a new attack by the enemy, Iran would use many capabilities in response. He noted that Iran’s missile capabilities were in excellent condition to respond and that it had prepared many capabilities that it could use in the event of aggression (Al-Alam, July 1, 2025).

Iran’s involvement in Lebanon

• Iran’s ambassador to Beirut, Mojtaba Amani, expressed his appreciation and gratitude for the demonstration of solidarity by Hezbollah supporters in front of the Iranian embassy on June 25, 2025. The ambassador, who participated in the demonstration, said that he sends the deep gratitude of the Iranians to the Lebanese people, who do not hesitate at every opportunity to renew the sincere feelings of brotherhood that bind them to the Iranian people, express solidarity with the Iranians in their special way, and share with them the joy of victory over the “cruel Zionist aggression” which was directed against Iran. He added that the Islamic Republic reiterates that it has been and will remain on the side of Lebanon and the “opposing” Lebanese people, supporting it and defending its rights against the “common enemy” that poses an ongoing threat to the security and stability of the region (Mojtaba Amani’s X account, June 25, 2025).

Iran in the wake of developments in Syria

• The hardline Iranian daily Vatan Emrooz severely criticized Syria’s president, Ahmed al-Shara (Abu Mohammad al-Julani), amid reports about secret contacts between Syria and Israel. In a commentary article titled “Al-Julani’s Humiliation,” it was stated that the talks between Syria and Israel are taking place in the shadow of “the daily killing of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and the crimes of the Zionist regime and its occupation in Syria,” and it is unclear what price al-Julani’s regime is willing to pay to gain legitimacy. According to the daily, not only has the Syrian regime abandoned its support for the Palestinian issue, but the possibility is on the table that it will give up Syrian sovereignty in the Golan in exchange for official recognition of the Syrian regime and normalization with Israel. Furthermore, it was noted that Syria’s president even expressed willingness to cooperate with Israel against Iran and seeks a strategic partnership with Israel. According to the article, while the “axis of resistance” fights forcefully against Israel in support of Gaza Strip residents, al-Julani’s government, which previously claimed to support Palestinians and fight the US and the “Zionist regime,” is now engaged in negotiations with the “Zionists” in Baku, Dubai and soon also in Damascus, with willingness to give up extensive parts of Syrian land in exchange for its survival (Vatan Emrooz, July 1, 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 two attacks against Israel using ballistic missiles and three attacks using drones, in addition to claiming attacks using “several ballistic missiles” without specifying exactly when they occurred (Yahya Saria’s Telegram channel, June 25-July 2, 2025). The IDF Spokesperson reported two cases of intercepting ballistic missiles launched from Yemen and the interception of a drone apparently launched from Yemen (IDF Spokesperson, June 25-July 2, 2025). It was also reported that a missile launched from Yemen crashed before reaching Israel (Israeli media, June 26, 2025).
• Houthi media published footage of a drill by their Border Police units that conducted a field exercise titled “You Are Not Alone,” which included combat training and demonstration of capabilities for confrontation with the “Zionist enemy and its supporters” in solidarity with the Gaza Strip. The footage shows, among other things, a practice of destroying Israeli armored vehicles and an Israeli settlement. It was noted that the footage demonstrates the fighters’ “high combat capabilities” and that “theoretical learning was successfully translated into battlefield performance” (Houthis’ combat media Telegram channel and Al-Khabar Al-Yamani website, July 1, 2025).

• Nasreddin Amer, deputy chairman of the Houthis’ media authority, stressed that Yemen would not stop “supporting” the Gaza Strip until the “siege” on the Gaza Strip was lifted. He said that any escalation by the “enemy” against Yemen would fail, as it had failed in the previous rounds (Nasreddin Amer’s X account, July 1, 2025).

Houthi involvement in the “axis of resistance”

• Abd al-Malik al-Houthi, the leader of the Houthi movement, congratulated Iran “on the occasion of the great victory over the cruel Israeli enemy, which represents the victory of the entire Islamic nation because Israel has failed to achieve its goals.” In his weekly speech, he said that “Israel has not been able to defend itself against Iranian missiles and has suffered heavy losses.” He stressed that the overthrow or surrender of the Iranian regime are impossible. According to him, the main goal of the “aggression” against Iran was to change the Middle East, which means that it will be directed against other countries as well (Telegram channel of the Houthi movement, June 26, 2025).
• Muammar al-Eryani, the Minister of Information in the Western-backed Yemeni government, warned of the possibility that Iran would transfer part of its missile and drone manufacturing industry to Yemen following the Israeli attacks on Iran’s production facilities. He claimed that international pressure to limit Iran’s nuclear and missile programs could push it to establish a manufacturing industry in Yemen, and that the Houthis were willing to allow such a thing. Al-Eryani added that international complacency would cost the region and the world dearly and would allow Iran to establish a dangerous reality by turning Yemen into a workshop for developing its programs, an advanced missile base for the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, and a launch pad for threats to regional security. According to him, such a situation would perpetuate a reality that does not allow for stability in Yemen or its vital surroundings, and the opening of a permanent front against international shipping and trade in one of the most important sea crossings in the world, which would also pose a direct threat to the global economy, supply chains, and energy prices (Muammar al-Eryani’s X account, June 26, 2025).
• Major General Mutahir al-Shuaibi, commander of the police in Aden, the capital of the Western-backed Yemeni government, revealed that the Houthis had established a factory for the production of Captagon in al-Mahwit Governorate, in northwestern Yemen. According to him, the factory operates under the direct supervision of the Houthi leadership, similar to the factories that operated in Syria under the Assad regime. He noted that the drugs are being smuggled into southern Yemen, to areas controlled by the Western-backed government, as well as to neighboring countries, to finance the military and subversive activities of the Houthi regime. Al-Shuaibi also revealed that several attempts to smuggle the drugs from the Houthi areas had been thwarted and warned that the phenomenon endangers the stability of Yemen and the region. Muammar al-Eryani, the Minister of Information in the Western-backed Yemeni government, confirmed the details, saying that this was a new chapter in the exploitation of drugs as a tool to finance terrorist activities by Iran and the proxy terrorist organizations after the fall of the Assad regime (Al-Ain News website, June 30, 2025).

The Shiite militias in Iraq

• The pro-Iranian Shiite militias in Iraq congratulated Iran on its “victory” in the military campaign against Israel:
  • Kata’ib Hezbollah said in a statement that Iran had responded to the “aggression” against it alone and had waged war against the United States, Western countries, the “Zionist entity,” and the “regional agents.” According to the statement, although Iran has finished with its head held high and the “enemies” have not achieved any of their goals, they are refraining from celebrating the achievement following the death of the group of believers “in the treacherous blows of the enemies.” It also stressed that “Palestine” was one of the militia’s main issues and that “because ideological wars will not end, it requires constant preparation and continuous development to make the next round more destructive for the enemy” (Kata’ib Hezbollah Telegram channel, June 25, 2025).
  • Abu al-Alaa al-Wala’i, the secretary-general of Kata’ib Sayyid al-Shuhada, said that “Allah has shown the nation a favor by allowing it to live in a period of exaltation in which the loyal lions stopped the aggression of Israel and the United States and forced them to re-examine their calculations.” He added that it was a “victory” that had healed all the defeats and disasters that had befallen the “axis of resistance,” especially the assassinations of “resistance” leaders such as Hassan Nasrallah, Ismail Haniyeh, Yahya al-Sinwar, and others. He said they were “getting closer than ever to Jerusalem, and we will not rest until our land is liberated – victory is near” (Kata’ib Sayyid al-Shuhada Telegram channel, July 1, 2025).
• Iraqi Prime Minister Muhammad Shia’ al-Sudani said that the non-participation of the pro-Iranian militias in the country in the military campaign between Israel and Iran was the result of the “Iraq first” principle and political and security efforts to prevent any action that might drag the country into war (BBC, July 1, 2025).

The militias in Syria

• IDF forces detained four terrorist operatives operating under Iranian direction in southern Syria on suspicion of planning attacks against IDF forces located in the buffer zone in the Golan Heights. During the operation, weapons and grenades were also seized. The four suspects, Syrian citizens including three members of the same family, were reportedly operating in two villages in the Quneitra area, about 8 km from the Israeli border (IDF Spokesperson and Israeli media, July 2, 2025).
• “The Islamic Resistance Front in Syria – Possessors of Might” (Uli al-Baas or UAB) published a threatening video in Hebrew against Israel entitled “Ready, the date is near.” The video reads: “Bombing, destruction, destruction of infrastructure, killing and displacing – that’s what you did,” before showing a shot of a missile on a launcher with the caption: “Look at the beautiful thing now, it’s only a small part of what we have. We are ready.” The militia also presented the names of rockets and missiles claimed to be in its possession: “Golan 1” for a range of 600 km; “Golan 2” for a range of 880 km; “October” for a range of 300 km; and “BAS” with a range of 180 km (Telegram channel of the Islamic Resistance Front in Syria – Possessors of Might, June 29, 2025).

     
Photos from the threatening video
(Telegram channel of the Islamic Resistance Front in Syria – Possessors of Might, June 29, 2025)

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

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