Iran begins pilot sales of imported gasoline at market price

“A new plot is underway, with the enemy seeking to worsen economic conditions in order to fuel dissatisfaction and create internal problems for the system,” Araghchi said, dismissing what he described as attempts to destabilize the country from within.

Araghchi said Iran’s adversaries were aiming to exert economic pressure to provoke unrest, but vowed such efforts would fail, drawing parallels with what he called Iran’s resilience during a recent 12-day war.

“Just as we overcame the 12-day war using domestically built missiles, the resistance of our armed forces and the efforts of our people and government, we must now stand together to defeat this economic crisis and the enemies’ attempts to impose harsh conditions,” he said.

Iran had weathered four decades of sanctions and the presence of global military powers, Tehran’s top diplomat adding that the country had emerged from the latest conflict “with pride,” and would do so again in the face of economic pressure.

Alireza Salimi, a member of parliament’s industries and mines committee, told ILNA that the draft budget submitted by President Masoud Pezeshkian failed to address soaring living costs while expanding opaque budget items.

Salimi said the plan envisaged a 20% increase in public sector wages despite inflation running near 50%, arguing that workers should not bear the cost of inflation he blamed on government policy. He questioned whether the president was fully aware of current prices for essentials such as meat, rice and cooking oil.

He also criticized the addition of new budget lines within the presidency, including a large allocation to the executive deputy’s office for providing “assistance” to individuals and entities, saying its purpose was unclear.

Salimi further questioned funds set aside for provincial travel by the president, calling for justification of what he described as discretionary spending.

Salimi said parliament would pursue the issue during budget debates, signaling resistance to provisions he said lacked transparency or economic rationale.

The vessel was stopped in a “highly coordinated operation,” according to the IRGC-linked Tasnim citing senior navy commander Mohammad Gholamshahi.

“The tanker was carrying 4 million litres of smuggled fuel and was intercepted as it attempted to leave Iran’s territorial waters,” Gholamshahi said, adding that the ship had a crew of 16 non-Iranian nationals and was stopped before leaving Iranian waters.

Iranian officials did not disclose the vessel’s flag, ownership or destination.

The Guards said the crew had been detained and that the case had been referred to judicial authorities for further investigation, with additional inquiries under way to identify networks linked to the smuggling operation.

Iran periodically announces the seizure of vessels accused of fuel smuggling, a trade driven by heavily subsidised domestic fuel prices and compounded by sanctions that restrict formal energy exports.

The latest seizure comes amid heightened regional tensions, with Tehran repeatedly warning that it could restrict or close the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow maritime chokepoint linking the Persian Gulf to global markets, in response to military action.

About a fifth of the world’s oil supply passes through the strait, making any disruption a major concern for global energy markets.

Gholamshahi asserted that the cargo of the seized tanker had been transferred from smaller boats and was intended to be offloaded to larger ships outside the Persian Gulf.

“Any sounds of explosions or gunfire heard during these two days will be related to the drill and will be fully controlled,” Ghorban Valizadeh said, according to Mehr news agency. He urged residents to remain calm.

Valizadeh, commander of the Sayyed al-Shohada Guards unit in Tehran province, said the exercise, known as “Beit al-Moqaddas 16,” will include staged scenarios and will be carried out by ground units.

He said the drill is held every year under the same name by ground forces of the Revolutionary Guards in different parts of the country, framing it as a standard exercise rather than a new development.

The Guards’ ground forces are tasked with homeland defense and the suppression of internal threats.

• 

  False report on downing Israeli F-35 hit credibility, state TV chief says

• 

  Iran holds missile drills in multiple cities as Tehran defends weapons program

• 

  State TV and Guards outlet at odds over Iran missile test reports

Contradictory reports on missile activity

The announcement follows contradictory reports earlier this week after an IRGC-aligned outlet reported missile tests over several Iranian cities, including Tehran, Isfahan and Mashhad. State television later denied that any missile launches had taken place, saying circulating images were not linked to a test.

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday that Israel was aware Iran was conducting military exercises and was making preparations.

Defense analyst Farzin Nadimi told Iran International that the reported drills could be read as a signal, saying the Guards were showing they could carry out coordinated military activity across different parts of Iran.

Iranian officials have repeatedly said the country’s military activities are defensive. Earlier this week, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said Iran’s defense capabilities were not open to discussion.

The directive, circulated to editors and media managers, warned that Western media coverage of Venezuela in recent weeks and months formed part of what it called a US-led campaign of economic and psychological pressure against the government of President Nicolas Maduro.

Without citing specific examples, the council said such reporting aimed to wage “psychological warfare” and urged Iranian media to verify information before publication and avoid highlighting narratives that could, in its words, reinforce US pressure on the Venezuelan state and population.

The Supreme National Security Council, chaired by President Masoud Pezeshkian, did not specify which reports it considered misleading or inaccurate.

Iranian authorities have repeatedly issued editorial guidance to domestic media over coverage of foreign policy issues, national security matters and relations with the United States and its allies.

Several such directives, including earlier instructions on how to report remarks by US President Donald Trump in Israel’s Knesset, have previously been obtained by Iran International.

Iran and Venezuela have maintained close political, economic and security ties for years, dating back to the presidency of Hugo Chavez. The relationship has deepened as both countries face US sanctions and diplomatic isolation.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei recently criticized US pressure on Venezuela and condemned the seizure of a Venezuelan-linked oil tanker in the Caribbean.

President Pezeshkian also reaffirmed Tehran’s support for Caracas in a recent phone call with Maduro, describing Venezuela as a “friend and ally.”

Tehran and Caracas signed a 20-year cooperation agreement in 2022 covering sectors including energy, trade and industry. Both governments have also acknowledged cooperation in defense-related fields, though details remain limited.

Western governments and research institutions have reported that Iran has assisted Venezuela with drone technology and energy infrastructure, allegations that both countries have either denied or declined to comment on.

The United States has closely monitored Iran-Venezuela ties. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in recent comments that Venezuela served as a platform for Iranian influence in Latin America, remarks rejected by both Tehran and Caracas.

Iran’s foreign ministry has said it supports the Venezuelan government, which faces ongoing international disputes over electoral legitimacy. The United States, the European Union and several Latin American countries do not recognize Maduro’s current administration.