Israel arrests man allegedly paid in crypto to spy for Iran - media

“By strengthening the Axis of Resistance and supporting unity-building movements across the Islamic world, the ministry of foreign affairs has devoted a significant portion of its capacity to providing political and diplomatic backing for the Resistance Front,” he said.

The term "axis of resistance" is used by the Islamic Republic to describe a network of allied groups in the region, including Palestinian militant organizations, Lebanon’s Hezbollah, several factions in Iraq and Syria, and the Houthi movement in Yemen.

Araghchi told the lawmakers that the foreign ministry’s activities over the past 14 months have followed four main strategic tracks. 

According to him, the first, focused on security diplomacy, covers deterrence, defense, and resistance coordination. The second on economic and development diplomacy, including “resistance economy” initiatives. The third centered on building regional influence and the fourth was aimed at shaping ideas and narratives through think-tank, public, and media diplomacy.

He described recent months as a period of intensified confrontation involving the United States and Israel, citing assassinations and airstrikes across the region, including attacks on Hamas and Hezbollah figures, as justification for increased diplomatic engagement.

"Under these circumstances, a significant portion of the Foreign Ministry’s efforts has been devoted to supporting the axis of resistance, effectively functioning as the foreign ministry of the axis."

Western governments have renewed pressure on Tehran to engage in direct talks not only over its nuclear and missile programs, but also its continued backing of armed groups across the Middle East.

They argue that Iran’s support for militias in Lebanon, Iraq, and Yemen fuels instability in the region.

Iran’s diplomatic agenda, Araghchi said, also sought to build a “multipolar order,” defend national sovereignty, and counter Western sanctions through cooperation with blocs such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, BRICS, and the Non-Aligned Movement.

Larijani told a Tehran conference that Western concern over Iran’s nuclear activities was “only a pretext,” adding that calls to restrict Tehran’s regional influence and missile capabilities were aimed at weakening the Islamic Republic. 

"(Iran) will not retreat from its path of independence and dignity, even at the cost of full confrontation,” the secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council said.

A surprise military campaign against Iran in June was capped with US strikes on three key nuclear sites, in attacks US President Donald Trump said "obliterated" the program.

Iran denies seeking nuclear weapons but Israel and Western countries doubt its intentions. Trump seeks to resume talks halted by the June conflict but Tehran rejects US demands it negotiate over its missiles or support for armed regional allies.

Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said last week Tehran had rebuilt its missile power beyond pre-war levels and that it seeks peace through diplomacy, but Iranians must not fear war.

Larijani accused the West of manipulating global systems for domination. Western powers, he said, had long used Iran’s nuclear program and regional influence as excuses to apply pressure.

“It is now entirely clear that the real objective of the United States and the West is to confront the Iranian nation. Just as after the recent war, they are demanding restrictions on Iran’s missile capabilities and regional role – issues that are none of their concern. Would they accept Iran commenting on the range of Europe’s missiles or its nuclear weapons?”

Iran’s foreign policy, he maintained, was never based on hostility toward the West but on safeguarding national interests through balanced trade and cooperation with neighboring countries.

“The basis of Iran’s policy has never been to cut trade with the West," he said, arguing that it was Western “domineering behavior and political interference” that disrupted cooperation and strained relations.

Khamenei’s role in the 12-day war

At the same event – We and the West: In Views and Thoughts of Khamenei – Larijani praised the Supreme Leader for what he described as hands-on management of Iran’s 12-day war with Israel in June. 

The 86-year-old theocrat appeared to be in hiding during the conflict as Israeli attacks killed hundreds of military personnel and civilians. Trump mooted assassinating Iran's veteran head of state, calling him the "so-called Supreme Leader."

Larijani said Khamenei maintained direct contact with field commanders, issued key operational orders, and oversaw both military and civilian responses during the conflict.

Khamenei’s “precise and steadfast” leadership, he added, helped reverse the early course of the war, describing the first three days as among the most intense. 

Khamenei did not appear at any public gathering or event since the start of the 12-day war with Israel. He skipped the funerals of slain military commanders and nuclear scientists and did not even attend the annual mourning ceremonies in his Tehran compound. Khamenei reemerged after a 22-day absence in early July.

According to the Times, US strikes earlier this year failed to eliminate Iran’s enrichment capacity, and uncertainty remains over the location and scale of Tehran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium. 

Analysts cited in the report warned that the lack of diplomacy or inspection access leaves both sides on alert, with Israel signaling readiness to act again if Iran moves closer to a weapon capability.

The Times said Iran has refused inspectors access to new underground enrichment sites such as “Pickaxe Mountain” near Natanz nuclear site and continues to face renewed United Nations sanctions and severe economic pressure. 

Regional powers are urging restraint and fresh negotiations but acknowledge little progress as Tehran and Washington exchange blame over the failure of talks.

The International Atomic Energy Agency told the Financial Times last week that most of Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile appears to have survived the conflict but cannot be verified without access. 

Cyber Toufan, a group believed to be linked to the Iranian state, claimed responsibility for the breach and released 3D renderings and technical blueprints of the Redback vehicles on Telegram.

The hackers said the data was obtained during a broader campaign that targeted 17 Israeli defense contractors after infiltrating supply-chain firm MAYA Technologies last year.

Among the affected companies was Israel’s Elbit Systems, which supplies weapons turrets for the Redback fleet under a separate $920 million contract.

The leaked material includes internal Australian Defense Force discussions about potential purchases of Israel’s Spike NLOS anti-tank missiles.

It remains unclear how much information was stolen or whether the data could be used to compromise the Redback’s systems.

The Redback project, developed with South Korea’s Hanwha Defense, will deliver 129 next-generation combat vehicles to the Australian Army, with construction taking place in Geelong, southwest of Melbourne.

Defense Industry Minister Pat Conroy, who announced the project last week, defended Elbit’s role despite criticism over Israel’s war in Gaza. “We make no apology for getting the best possible equipment for the Australian Defense Force,” he said.

The breach highlights an escalating pattern of cyberattacks on global defense networks.

The Australian Signals Directorate warned in its 2025 Cyber Threat Report that government and military data remain key targets for state-sponsored actors.

“The water reserves of Mashhad’s dams have now dropped to below three percent, and although water consumption has somewhat decreased in the cold season, the current situation shows that consumption management is no longer just a recommendation, but an obligation,” managing director of the Mashhad Water and Wastewater Company, said in an interview with the state-affiliated Mehr News Agency.

“Total precipitation in Mashhad county has so far amounted to only 0.4 millimeters, while last year it was around 27 to 28 millimeters,” Hossein Esmaeilian added.

Esmaeilian said the exceptionally low rainfall highlights the worsening state of water resources across northeastern Iran.

Shifting responsibility onto the public

In recent weeks, as the water crisis has worsened, several Iranian officials have blamed the problem on public overconsumption, urging citizens to "pray for rain" and show greater "moral discipline."

Esmaeilian’s remarks came on the same day Iran’s energy minister, Abbas Aliabadi, announced nightly water cuts across the country and urged residents to install home water storage systems.

However, the cost of purchasing and installing home storage systems is beyond the reach of many Iranians, and earlier Iranian media reports said prices for the equipment have risen since the government urged the public to buy them.

Esmaeilian said the top priority now is for residents to save and manage water use to avoid supply disruptions over the next one to two months while hoping for rainfall later in the year.

He added that current water consumption in Mashhad stands at about 8,000 liters per second, of which only between 1,000 and 1,500 liters per second come from the dams.

He said that if residents could reduce their consumption by around 20 percent, it would be possible to manage the situation without water rationing or supply cuts.

Last week, Hassan Hosseini, deputy governor and special governor of Mashhad, said the government is reviewing a water rationing plan and that, if the drought continues, regional rationing will begin before the end of autumn.

Despite repeated warnings from experts over the years, Iran’s water management system has focused on building dams and drilling deep wells instead of investing in and maintaining infrastructure, often blaming the crisis solely on declining rainfall.