Iran Asserts Progress in Nuclear Talks Amid Mounting Pressure

The attack by the Iran-backed group saw around 1,200 mostly civilians murdered and over 250 taken hostage.

Gaby Portnoy said on Tuesday that the cyber attacks by Iran targeted a wide array of nations, including the United States, Canada, Saudi Arabia, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, India, the United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, and Austria.

Speaking at the annual Cyber Week conference at Tel Aviv University, Portnoy revealed that Iran also targets its allies.

“We have identified that Iran is attacking its allies and other countries for information extortion and damaging digital services. The information stolen from government systems is then used for Iranian cyber-terrorism,” he stated, Iran violating international law and endangering civilians in the process.

Portnoy named several Iranian-linked hacking groups, such as Homeland Justice, based in Albania, and Imperial Kitten, operated by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

The meeting, originally scheduled for last Thursday, was reportedly canceled in response to a video by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accusing the Biden administration of withholding military aid amid the Israel-Hamas war.

Senior Israeli and US officials, as reported by Axios, say that although a date for the new meeting has not been set, it is expected to occur in mid-July, before Netanyahu’s scheduled address to the US Congress on July 24.

A senior Israeli delegation headed by national security advisor Tzachi Hanegbi and Minister Ron Dermer will travel to Washington for the talks, according to the same report. Talks are likely to focus on concerns in Israel, over advancements in Iran's nuclear program, with fears that they could be tied to potential weaponization efforts.

The US-Israel strategic consultative group (SCG), the forum for the two countries to discuss the state of the Iranian nuclear program, has not convened since March 2023.

US and Israeli officials say that the Iranian nuclear program has significantly escalated since then, according to Axios. This month, G7 leaders urged Tehran to cease and reverse its nuclear escalations and stop its enrichment of uranium that they said have no credible justifications, according to a draft communique seen by Reuters.

Tehran has consistently asserted that its nuclear program is peaceful.

US-Israel Tensions Amid Fears of All-Out War with Hezbollah

Jerusalem’s latest tensions with Washington come as there are mounting fears of an all-out Israel-Hezbollah war.

In parallel with the ongoing war in Gaza, the heavily armed, Iran-backed Hezbollah group has been exchanging fire with Israel for over eight months.

In recent weeks, intensified shelling on Israel's northern border has led to the evacuation of tens of thousands from both sides of the frontier.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin stated on Tuesday that the US is urgently working towards a diplomatic agreement to allow Israeli and Lebanese civilians to return to their homes on both sides of the border.

Both Israeli and US officials say they are hoping to resolve the conflict with Hezbollah, preferring a diplomatic solution.

This week, Netanyahu announced that the "intense phase" of fighting Hamas in Gaza is nearing its end, allowing Israeli forces to shift their focus to confronting Hezbollah along the northern border with Lebanon.

At the same time, the commander of the Ground Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran has stated that groups known as the Resistance Front will not remain silent in the face of a possible war.

With that, all signs point to Tehran sending the necessary resources to Lebanon through these Iraqi militant groups, using Syria as a land bridge.

The Iraqi Resistance Coordination Committee (IRCC), also known as the Tansiqiya, is a coalition of Iranian-backed Iraqi militias – part of Tehran’s broader strategy to exert influence in the region, countering US and allied presence.

Among these groups are Harakat al-Nujaba (HaN), Kata'ib Hezbollah (KH), and Kata'ib Sayyid al-Shuhada (KSS).

But how do these Iran-backed groups operate, and how has Iran strategically positioned them to challenge Israel's security?

Harakat Al-Nujaba: A Strategic and Integral Arm of IRGC's extraterritorial unit, the Quds Force

Harakat al-Nujaba (HaN) is currently the most prominent group within the Iraqi Resistance Coordination Committee (IRCC).

According to a source close to Hashd al-Shaabi, an umbrella organization composed of various Shia militias in Iraq, the group was formed under the direct supervision of Qasem Soleimani, the former commander of the Quds Force of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

HaN initially began as part of Asaib Ahl al-Haq (AAH) in 2004 but became an independent organization in 2013 due to disagreements between Akram al-Kaabi, the leader of HaN, and Qais al-Khazali, the leader of AAH. Despite their split, both groups maintain good relations and continue to cooperate because of their shared goals.

The group's initial budget of $10 million was provided by Lebanon’s Hezbollah, which also helped organize the group.

Soleimani reportedly preferred HaN to remain focused on military activities, rather than shifting towards political engagement.

Financially supported by the IRGC, HaN pays its fighters significantly more than other groups, with salaries around $1,400 per month – while other Iraqi fighters received a monthly salary of $300 to $400. The extensive financial backing has helped HaN increase its manpower with the group boasting over 10,000 members.

HaN is deeply integrated with the IRGC, essentially operating as an extension of the Quds Force rather than just a proxy group.

Notably, it played a significant role in the Syrian civil war, particularly in the battle of Aleppo.

The group appears to also enjoy a special relationship with Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, facilitated by Mohsen Qomi, the deputy international affairs officer in Khamenei's office, who acts as their primary liaison​

The group’s media operations are supported by the Union of Islamic Radio and Television, boasting an extensive organizational presence in Iran. The Persian section of HaN's website and social media accounts is notably more active and better maintained compared to its Arabic section. HaN operates 12 offices across major Iranian cities, including Tehran, Qom, and Mashhad, with a significant facility being an eight-story building located in Jannatabad, Tehran​.

HaN forces receive their training at specific military facilities in Iran. These include the Pazooki Barracks in Tehran and the Imam Sadiq Brigade 83 base in Qom. These locations are significant training centers where HaN fighters are prepared under the supervision of the IRGC, enhancing their military capabilities and integration with Iranian strategic operations

HaN’s military activities are carried out under the IRGC's supervision, and IRGC special forces oversee the launching of its rockets at their targets. Hamid Fazeli, former head of Iran's Space Organization and head of Unit 340 of the IRGC's Quds Force, directs the oversight operations.

A source close to Hashd al-Shaabi shared with Iran International that the Quds Force has established a weapons manufacturing factory for HaN in Iraq, and a significant portion of these weapons are sent to Lebanon. These are the shipments that Israel frequently tries to interdict as the enter Syria and transports west towards Lebanon.

Akram al-Kaabi, the Secretary-General of HaN, has reportedly lived in Iran for a long time and travels to Iraq using a Misaq card and an Iranian passport. The Misaq card, issued to prominent figures of the Resistance Front, facilitates smooth passage through airports and highways.

According to the same source, the 47-year-old has three wives and nine children who live in two of his homes in Jannatabad and the Olympic Village area of Tehran.

He is known to frequent Iran's political circles and has met with numerous key figures, ranging from former President Ebrahim Raisi to Ahmad Alamolhoda, the Friday prayer leader of Mashhad, and Mohsen Rezaei, the Secretary of the Supreme Economic Coordination Council.

Today, the group comprises four factions. Qasim al-Jabbarin conducts attacks on Erbil Airport, while Saraya Ababil specializes in drone operations. As'hab al-Kahf, established by Hezbollah's Imad Mughniyeh, focuses on IED attacks against American forces. Saraya Awliya al-Dam targets US bases in the Persian Gulf and supports Houthi forces in Yemen.

Seven years ago, HaN announced the formation of the Golan Liberation Corps, claiming readiness to retake the Golan Heights from Israel at Syria's request.

After Hamas' attack on Israel on October 7 last year and the start of the Gaza war, Harakat al-Nujaba attempted to attack Israeli territory. Last November, the group claimed a missile attack on Eilat Port in Israel.

According to a source close to the IRGC, the organization has also established an economic commission for HaN. This commission operates offices in China and the United Arab Emirates and handles the sale of oil on behalf of the IRGC. This arrangement enables the IRGC to carry out certain financial transactions through HaN, effectively bypassing official records and maintaining a level of financial opacity​.

The source also mentioned that HaN returns the proceeds from oil sales to the Quds Force because the IRGC covers all of its expenses, further highlighting the deep integration and dependency of the group on the IRGC.

Kata’ib Hezbollah: From the Badr Corps to Iran’s anti-Israel proxy

The second group declaring readiness for war with Israel is Kata'ib Hezbollah (KH). This powerful Iraqi militant group was founded by Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis in 2003.

Initially, the group focused on combating US forces in Iraq, but it later joined the Syrian civil war, fighting in support of Bashar al-Assad.

The US designated KH as a terrorist group in 2009.

According to the source close to Hashd al-Shaabi, KH traces its roots back to the Badr Corps, a Shiite militia and political party in Iraq whose fighters allied with Iran during the Iran-Iraq War.

Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis established KH by leveraging familial connections within the Badr Corps, eliminating the need for structural support from Hezbollah Lebanon.

This was the first group of militia that Tehran would send to Syria to help Assad suppress street protests.

Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the founder of the group, was killed in Iraq alongside Soleimani in a US airstrike on January 3, 2020. He was succeeded by Ahmed al-Hamidawi.

While the Islamic Republic financially supports KH, the group also engages in extensive economic activities.

According to an Iraqi source, they purchase land in Europe, sell oil, and have acquired shares in several Iranian refineries. Additionally, the group earns approximately $100 million from exporting chemical fertilizers from Iran to Iraq.

Last February, a US drone strike killed one of the group's prominent leaders, Abu Baqir al-Saadi. Following this, the group's leader, Ahmed al-Hamidawi, along with his three brothers, As'ad, Arqad, and Akhlad, fled to Iran, where they now reportedly reside.

It was previously disclosed that Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis lived with his Iranian wife on Golestan 1st Street in Tehran's affluent Pasdaran neighborhood, known for its upscale residences, commercial centers, and proximity to political and military elites.

Since the start of Israel’s war on Hamas on October 7 last year, KH has claimed responsibility for conducting more than 150 attacks against US forces.

Kata'ib Sayyid al-Shuhada: Soleimani’s strategic contractors in Syria

Kata'ib Sayyid al-Shuhada (KSS) is the smallest of the three groups that have declared readiness to send forces to Lebanon.

This group announced its existence in 2013 when three of its members were killed in the suburbs of Damascus.

KSS has primarily been active in Syria, claiming to have sent 500 fighters to Damascus and Eastern Ghouta.

According to the source close to Hashd al-Shaabi, they cooperated with Soleimani in Syria as contractors, reportedly receiving $2 million for maintaining a front and advancing five kilometers.

Recently, KSS has sought to attract more attention by attacking American targets.

The group’s leader, Abu Alaa al-Walai, welcomed Ebrahim Raisi's selection as Iran’s President in 2021, stating that his "victory" would bolster IRGC-supported militant groups.

KSS has about 3,000 fighters and receives funding from the IRGC's Quds Force, though it also receives payments from the Iraqi government as part of the Hashd al-Shaabi.

The group maintains close ties with Lebanon’s Hezbollah, benefiting from financial and intelligence support.

Last year, the US designated KSS as a terrorist organization.

"The greatest threat to the future of the world is Iran," Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said in a press conference with his American counterpart Lloyd Austin in Washington DC.

"And time is running out. Now is the time to materialize the commitment of US admin over the years - the promise to prevent Iran, from possessing nuclear weapons," he said.

His comments came one day after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the Islamic Republic is working on all front to destroy Israel, but the Jewish state will thwart its intentions "at any cost".

Netanyahu said on Monday that Tehran is actively working on multiple fronts to destroy Israel, highlighting the ongoing threat posed by Iranian proxy groups such as Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis.

“At any cost and in any way, we will thwart Iran's intentions to destroy us,” the Israeli prime minister told the Knesset. He described the situation as an "existential war on seven fronts," asserting that Iran is openly attempting to annihilate Israel.

Iran has long been a key supporter of both Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, providing financial aid, weapons, and training to these groups.

On October 7, Iran-backed Hamas fighters launched an attack on Israel, resulting in the deaths of over 1,200 people. In response, the Israeli military has initiated an operation in Gaza aimed at dismantling the Palestinian militant group.

Israel is also on the verge of a full-blown conflict with Hezbollah in Lebanon, another Iranian proxy, which has intensified its attacks on northern Israel in solidarity with Hamas fighters.

Gallant's trip to Washington DC comes shortly after the top US general warned that any Israeli offensive in Lebanon would risk a broader conflict that draws in Iran and its proxies, particularly if Hezbollah's existence is threatened.

The Biden administration's acting special envoy for Iran, Abram Paley, said the cases against Toomaj Salehi and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi "are perfect examples" of how the Islamic Republic "wields its judicial system to silence dissent."

"Their purported crime? Speaking out against the regime's abuses. And now in the case of Toomaj, the regime misleads the world by feigning leniency," he said of the pair who have become faces of the uprising.

The US envoy called on the Islamic Republic to "release Toomaj, Narges, and every political prisoner now."

Thousands of Iranians have been rounded up since the 2022 Woman, Life, Freedom uprising began in the wake of the murder of Mahsa Amini in morality police custody.

Over 550 protesters were killed in the uprising which has posed the greatest challenge to the regime since the founding of the Islamic Republic.

Dissident rapper Salehi was sentenced to death by a revolutionary court in Esfahan in April this year on charges of "spreading corruption on Earth."

However, his lawyer announced on Saturday the overturning of Toomaj's death sentence, saying “the Supreme Court avoided an irreparable judicial error".

Initially sentenced to six years and three months in July 2023, Salehi was granted bail on November 18, 2023. However, less than two weeks later, the 32-year-old dissident rapper was re-arrested on new charges of "publishing falsehoods" after releasing a video detailing his torture experiences in custody, as reported by Raisian.

He is among dozens of celebrities and public personalities to have been targeted by the regime, with punishments including travel bans, bank account freezes, work bans and imprisonment.

Iran is amid a record wave of executions in a bid to quash dissent, last year alone executing 853 according to Amnesty International, numbers supported by the United Nations.

Overturning Salehi's death sentence also coincided with the snap presidential elections in Iran that will take place on Friday as at least two thirds of Iranians will boycott the upcoming polls.