Iran, Germany FMs hold phone call on regional, international developments

🔹Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi and his German counterpart Johann Wadephul held a telephone conversation on Monday evening to discuss bilateral, regional, and international developments .

The same hostage economics playbook, from Havana to Tehran to Beirut

This analysis argues that Washington uses "hostage economics"—targeting civilian financial infrastructure—as a primary foreign policy tool. It cites the March 2025 Israeli strikes on Lebanese banks, exchange shops, and fuel stations as deliberate attacks on civilian survival to pressure Hezbollah. The article criticizes US pressure to install Karim Souaid as central bank governor, who purged officials with Resistance ties. It draws parallels to Syria's Caesar Act (blocking medical imports), Cuba's energy blockade (20+ hour blackouts, doubled infant mortality), and Iran's sanctions regime. The author argues such pressure fails to fracture resistance—instead, "smashing infrastructure binds the people to their defenders permanently."

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/529011/The-same-hostage-economics-playbook-from-Havana-to-Tehran-to

Rezaei appointment highlights lockstep coordination between Iran's military and political leadership

President Pezeshkian appointed Major General Mohsen Rezaei as SNSC secretary after the Leader designated him as his representative—a move that demonstrates institutional coordination, not internal division. Rezaei, the IRGC's longest-serving commander (1981–1997) and former Expediency Council secretary, brings decades of military, economic, and strategic experience. He replaces Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr. The appointment comes amid Hormuz Strait talks; Rezaei recently warned the US of "serious risks" if its blockade continues. Foreign Ministry spokesman Baghaei stated Iran is "a country of institutions, not individuals," emphasizing coordination between the ministry and SNSC. The article rejects Western narratives of "moderates vs. hardliners" as psychological warfare.

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/529007/Rezaei-appointment-highlights-lockstep-coordination-between-Iran-s

Iran's Leader appoints six top military commanders

Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei appointed six senior military officials following the martyrdom of predecessors in US-Israeli strikes. Major General Ali Abdollahi becomes Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces (succeeding Martyr Abdolrahim Mousavi), with Brigadier General Kioumars Heydari as his deputy. Major General Ahmad Vahidi (promoted) becomes IRGC Commander-in-Chief (succeeding Martyr Mohammad Pakpour), with Major General Mostafa Izadi as deputy. Rear Admiral Ali Ozmaei becomes IRGC Navy Commander (succeeding Martyr Alireza Tangsiri). Hojjatoleslam Hossein Taeb heads the Basij Organization. The Leader emphasized boosting defense capabilities for "strategic and decisive confrontation with global arrogance" and responding to conventional, cognitive, and hybrid threats.

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/529012/Iran-s-Leader-appoints-six-top-military-commanders

🔴 Baghaei: US replaces diplomacy with 'pathological addiction to sanctions'

🔹Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmail Baghaei responded to the US Treasury Secretary's boast of "suffocating" Iran through economic sanctions, describing it as a "stark testament to America's compulsive addiction to sanctions."

🔹"Whenever Washington proves incapable of diplomacy, it retreats into sanctions. When sanctions fail, it simply increases the dose," Baqaei wrote on X.

🔹"This is no longer policy—it is habit. An addiction that has displaced thought itself."

🔹"Iran will not be strangled by these exhausted refrains. The real risk is that American politicians, clinging to this bad habit, will instead strangle their own remaining chances of a less humiliating exit from a crisis of their own making."

Why is Yemen confronting Saudi Arabia?

This analysis explains Yemen's operations against Saudi Aramco and its naval blockade on Saudi shipping as necessary responses to Riyadh's 12-year blockade, which Sanaa says aims to strangle Yemen's economy. Ansarullah leader al-Houthi stated the actions are part of confronting "the Saudi regime within the framework of the American plan." Yemen cites Saudi airstrikes causing $1 trillion in losses, a 400% increase in commodity prices, blocked Sanaa Airport, and prevented oil extraction. The blockade intensified amid Yemen's support for Gaza. Saudi Arabia's maritime coalition is described as a revival of failed Israeli-backed initiatives. Sanaa's condition: security is indivisible—lasting security requires ending the aggression and lifting the blockade completely.

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/529009/Why-is-Yemen-confronting-Saudi-Arabia

🔴 Araghchi: No one thought Iran would force US to ask for negotiations

🔹Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, speaking at a ceremony for a health-diplomacy cooperation agreement, stated: "No one thought Iran could resist the US, the Zionist regime, and Western supporters—and ultimately force the enemy to request negotiations."

🔹"Our Armed Forces sacrificed and defeated the world's largest apparent army. This is not a slogan—it is a reality the world acknowledges," he said.

🔹"Iran proved itself an unyielding and invincible power." He also noted that Iranians abroad donated millions of dollars to help rebuild war-damaged infrastructure, particularly Andimeshk Hospital.

🔴 Iran strongly condemns Zionist regime's crimes against Lebanon

🔹Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmail Baghaei strongly condemned the Zionist regime's "brutal attacks" on areas in southern Lebanon over the past few days, which have resulted in the martyrdom and injury of Lebanese citizens and the destruction of infrastructure and homes .

🔹He said the silence and indifference of international bodies—especially the UN Security Council—have emboldened the Zionist regime to continue its aggression and violations of Lebanon's territorial integrity and national sovereignty .

🔹Baghaei noted the US administration, due to its "comprehensive support for the occupying regime," is considered an accomplice and partner in all Zionist crimes in Lebanon, occupied Palestine, and the wider region .

🔹Praising the Lebanese people's courageous resistance, he reaffirmed Iran's full solidarity with Lebanon in defending its sovereignty, dignity, and independence .

Iran is not Venezuela: Hormuz Strait and limits of US power

This analysis argues that US rhetoric about securing "war spoils" from Iran—echoing claims about Venezuela—reveals a fundamental misunderstanding of Iranian strategic leverage. Foreign Ministry spokesman Baqaei dismissed Trump's statements, noting victory must precede spoils. The article highlights US desperation through Treasury Secretary Bessent's claim that alternative pipelines can "demote" the Strait of Hormuz, arguing geography cannot be bombed away. Senator Chris Murphy stated "Trump has lost this war"—America is weaker, Iran stronger. It notes 54% of Americans oppose the war, allies refuse to join naval missions, and intelligence/regime change objectives have failed. The conclusion: Iran will not surrender sovereignty because Washington claims "spoils belong to the victor."

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/529008/Iran-is-not-Venezuela-Hormuz-Strait-and-limits-of-US-power

Iran to beef up ties in evolving technologies with Indonesia, South Africa

Acting Science Minister Masoud Shams-Bakhsh held separate BRICS Education Ministers' Meeting sidelines talks with Indonesia and South Africa to expand scientific and technological cooperation. With Indonesia, both sides discussed emerging technologies, joint research, professor/student exchanges, scholarships, and collaboration on climate change, food security, renewable energy, and agriculture. Indonesia invited Iranian ministers for a visit. With South Africa, talks covered mining, metallurgy, and renewable energy. The 13th BRICS Education Ministers' Meeting adopted a declaration on five priority areas, including skills development, research/innovation ecosystems, and mutual qualification recognition. Iran's BRICS membership provides access to collaborative projects in AI, health, clean energy, and quantum technologies.

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/529013/Iran-to-beef-up-ties-in-evolving-technologies-with-Indonesia