Iran defends nuclear program amid Russia collaboration concerns

However, Sikorsky is not the only one disappointed by the Iranian President's performance whose campaign promises inspired some hope of changes in Tehran’s policies.

Since Pezeshkian assumed office in August, Iran has executed more than 90 prisoners. As the anniversary of Mahsa Amini's death in custody approaches—a tragic event that sparked widespread protests in 2022—Pezeshkian's government has intensified its crackdown. Family members of those who were killed, blinded, or injured during the protests are now being arrested.

Others including student activists and journalists such as Hamid Asefi have also been arrested, though Asefi was released on bail later.

In the meantime, economic pressures on the nation have been mounting as the price of bread redoubled in less than one week, while millions of hard pressed poor citizens mainly rely on bread to survive.

According to commentator Abbas Abdi in Tehran, the Iranian Judiciary has been issuing travel bans for several filmmakers following the international success of Iranian underground movies at the Venice Film Festival. Abdi called the practice "harassment of citizens" and called on the government to be accountable for the violation of citizens' rights.

The biggest disappointment in Iran is about Pezeshkian's national accord or national reconciliation doctrine which ended up not to be a reconciliation between the government and nearly 60 percent of the population who refused to vote and 92 percent who are unhappy about their living conditions according to a government survey. It is instead a scheme to share a bit of political power between conservative elements such as vice president Aref in the country's reform camp.

Meanwhile, Iranian media have been accusing the United States and Europe of "psychological warfare" against Iran by stating that Tehran has sent hundreds of ballistic missiles to Russia to be used in the war against Ukraine. In an article on proreform Fararu website foreign relations analyst Ali Bigdeli opined that the accusation is aimed at putting President Pezeshkian in a difficult position when he is going to face reporters in New York soon during the annual UN General Assembly.

Iranians commenting on social media predict that Pezeshkian will face significant embarrassment during his meetings with the press and politicians in New York. This is attributed to several factors, including his perceived naivete in international politics, his untimely and politically incorrect remarks, and his failure to act on promises made over the past two months. These promises include improving internet and social media access and halting the Morality Police's violence against Iranian women.

Just before departing Tehran for a visit to Iraq, Pezeshkian was unaware that his microphones were still on when he asked Khamenei's representative, Mohsen Qomi, after delivering a brief speech: "Did I make a bad blunder?" Upon seeing the cleric smile, Pezeshkian remarked, "They’re sending me on a diplomatic mission about which I know nothing."

If Iran still intends to send Pezeshkian to New York, he may be aware that his chances of improving relations with Europe and the United States have been jeopardized by recent news of arms sales to Moscow. Additionally, it remains uncertain whether Khamenei will authorize him to engage in talks with U.S. officials. Should Khamenei grant permission, it would represent a significant shift, given that he has previously barred at least four other presidents from meeting with Americans. President Hassan Rouhani, who once took a phone call from former President Barack Obama on his way back to JFK airport, faced severe criticism from Khamenei and other hardliners.

Iran badly needs financial resources, and this could justify "heroic flexibility" in the form of exchanging a few words with a US official. Anything beyond that seems to be out of question at least for the time being.

Meanwhile, hardliners in Iran seem to be preparing for a possible change in strategy by promoting the idea of psychological warfare to place Pezeshkian in a difficult position in New York. Pezeshkian has never been comfortable discussing politics, even in Tehran. Although his speeches will be scripted in advance, controlling him during interviews will be challenging, and TV anchors are unlikely to accept superficial questions that do not address serious issues.

Hardline commentators seem to be on the brink of urging the government to cancel the New York visit altogether. Denial of a US visa to a prominent delegate, such as former Foreign Minister Javad Zarif, could provide a pretext for such a move.

On September 14, Iranians across the globe gathered in solidarity, demanding justice for Amini and the countless others who have suffered under the Islamic Republic. The protests stretched from Melbourne and Tokyo to several cities in Europe, with the Iranian diaspora and human rights advocates calling for an end to the tyranny in Tehran and for global powers to take action against the clerical rule.

In Melbourne, Australia, images of Mahsa Amini and other victims were displayed in front of the city’s central library. The organizers of the event, invoking the memories of those slain, urged the Australian government to declare the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) a terrorist organization.

In Sydney, Iranians gathered in a demonstration of defiance, chanting, "Khamenei, you tyrant, we will bury you underground," while lighting candles to honor those killed or imprisoned. Similar protests took place in Brisbane, where demonstrators united in marking the anniversary of Amini's death.

In Copenhagen and Aarhus, Denmark, protesters formed human chains, symbolizing the unity of the Iranian diaspora. They chanted, "We are all together," reaffirming their commitment to the fight for freedom. Across Stockholm, Hamburg, Vienna, and Berlin, the chant "Death to Khamenei" rang through the streets, where demonstrators expressed anger toward the Supreme Leader and his rule. In Frankfurt and Rome, demonstrators also demanded justice, holding signs condemning the atrocities committed by the Islamic Republic.

Similar protests erupted in Tokyo, Brussels, and Groningen, where protesters called for the dismantling of the Islamic Republic. In Malmö and Gothenburg, Sweden, the rallying cry of "Woman, Life, Freedom" resounded in defiance of Iran’s authoritarian policies.

The Los Angeles City Council announced plans to rename an intersection in the city’s Iranian neighborhood to "Woman, Life, Freedom" on Sunday, in honor of the second anniversary of Mahsa Amini's death in the custody of Iran's morality police.

"Mahsa Amini's story did not end with her death. She inspired a historical movement that has impacted Iran and influenced people across the globe who are advocating for gender equality and respect for human rights," US State Department Spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters on Friday, ahead of the second anniversary of Mahsa Amini's death.

While the global Iranian diaspora gathered in protest, human rights activists and experts added their voices to the outcry. Kaveh Shahrooz, a human rights lawyer, spoke at a gathering in Toronto, Canada. Shahrooz emphasized the need for greater institution-building among Iranian activists abroad to ensure that the voices of the Iranian people are amplified on the global stage. "Institution-building is a practice of democracy," Shahrooz said, noting that such efforts can strengthen ties with foreign governments and human rights organizations to hold Iran accountable.

Shirin Shams, a leader of the Women’s Revolution organization, called the "Woman, Life, Freedom" movement a “turning point” in the struggle against the Islamic Republic. In an interview with Iran International, she explained that "the Islamic Republic has not been able to stop the Mahsa movement," which has permeated the fabric of Iranian society. Shams described the movement as a "renaissance against regression and all forms of sexual slavery," adding that the people’s victory over mandatory hijab is only the first step in dismantling the Islamic Republic's policies.

Forough Kanani, a sociologist, echoed the same sentiments, saying that the Mahsa uprising has led to a "revolutionary and intellectual awakening" in Iran. Speaking to Iran International, Kanani highlighted the changes sparked by the 2022 protests. "A society that is aware and has tasted freedom will not go back.”

Despite the government’s efforts to stifle dissent within Iran, acts of defiance persisted. Videos circulated showing graffiti with slogans like "Death to Khamenei" scrawled on walls in Fardis, a city near Tehran.

Even inside the notorious Evin Prison, more than 25 female political prisoners staged a protest, gathering in the women’s ward yard. They burned their scarves in a symbolic rejection of the mandatory hijab and chanted slogans such as "Reformist, conservative, the game is over" and "Freedom, Freedom, Freedom." Their protest extended to a planned hunger strike in solidarity with the broader uprising across Iran.

The family of Mahsa Amini, still bearing the grief of their loss, announced that they would hold a memorial for Mahsa on September 15 at her grave in Saqqez, Kordestan province. Despite pressure and surveillance, Mahsa’s father Amjad Amini has remained steadfast in honoring his daughter’s memory. "If the government doesn’t impose restrictions, we will hold the ceremony," he told local reporters.

As the world watches, experts and activists are calling for more decisive international action. Human rights organizations, political leaders, and governments are being urged to impose further sanctions on Iran’s leadership, recognize the IRGC as a terrorist organization, and ensure that justice is served for the victims of the Islamic Republic’s repression.

Bagheri-Kani, considered a protégé of hardline politician Saeed Jalili, served less than three years in the foreign ministry until the new administration of President Masoud Pezeshkian took over in August.

The SCFR, established in 2006 by order of the Supreme Leader, has all its members directly appointed by Ali Khamenei. On Saturday, Kamal Kharrazi, a senior foreign policy advisor to Khamenei and chair of the SCFR, hosted a ceremony to bid farewell to Abbas Araghchi, the outgoing secretary who left the position to become Iran's foreign minister, and welcome Bagheri-Kani as his successor.

Araghchi was also a nuclear negotiator in President Hassan Rouhani administration until August 2021, when hardliner Ebrahim Raisi assumed office and changed top foreign ministry officials.

Jalili attended Saturday’s ceremony and appeared next to Bagheri-Kani in a group photo, sparking interest due to their close association. Bagheri-Kani is widely recognized as an ally of Jalili, having followed his negotiation strategies while serving as the chief nuclear negotiator under President Raisi. However, those strategies were largely seen as unsuccessful, as they failed to result in any substantial agreements with the West.

Jalili, who lost the 2024 presidential election to Masoud Pezeshkian, has long been a staunch opponent of any compromise with the West on the nuclear issue. He remains an influential figure among Iran’s hardliners, who were critical of the previous administration under Hassan Rouhani, particularly regarding the JCPOA nuclear deal with world powers.

Although the SCFR is generally seen as a ceremonial body where Khamenei appoints former officials to keep them engaged, it still holds some influence. Kharrazi, the council's president, continues to be a key foreign policy advisor to Khamenei. Bagheri-Kani’s appointment raises concerns that Jalili’s allies might use the SCFR to exert more influence over Iran’s foreign policy.

The G7 statement, seen as a rebuke to Tehran's growing military ties to Moscow, highlighted that despite international warnings, Iran has continued to arm Russia, directly contributing to the death and destruction in Ukraine.

The ministers stressed the critical role Iranian-made drones and missiles have played in Russia's indiscriminate attacks on Ukrainian civilians and infrastructure.

According to the G7, "Iran must immediately cease all support to Russia's illegal and unjustifiable war against Ukraine and halt such transfers of ballistic missiles, UAVs, and related technology." The statement emphasized that these actions pose a direct threat not only to Ukraine but to European and international security as well.

The G7 vowed to hold Iran accountable for its deepening role in the war, noting that further punitive measures were already in motion. This comes as part of a broader effort to curb Iran’s escalating involvement in aiding Russia, a partnership that the G7 sees as undermining global stability and international law.

Iran downplays sanctions but stresses dialogue

In recent weeks, European nations have moved quickly to counter Iran’s military assistance to Russia. The European Troika—comprising the UK, France, and Germany—released a joint statement condemning the transfer of Iranian ballistic missiles to Russia. They have since imposed sanctions on Iran’s aerospace industries and are signaling their intent to suspend all air services to the country.

Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, dismissed the latest sanctions imposed by the US, UK, and the European Union on Iran, signaling Tehran's defiance in the face of Western pressure. “Tehran will continue its path with strength,” he said, framing the sanctions as futile attempts to halt Iran’s military cooperation with Russia. However, Araghchi also emphasized that Iran remains open to dialogue, though he stressed that negotiations must be based on "mutual respect, not on threats and pressure." He denounced sanctions as tools of "pressure and confrontation, not cooperation."

The UK has targeted seven individuals and entities linked to Iran’s aerospace sector, while the US has gone a step further by sanctioning Iran Air for facilitating the transfer of these missiles. European nations have followed suit, with several moving to cancel bilateral air service agreements with other Iranian airlines.

West united in condemning missile deliveries

The US Treasury Department confirmed earlier this month that Russia received its first shipment of short-range ballistic missiles from Iran. Satellite images published by European media revealed a Russian cargo ship, "Port Olya 3," transporting the missiles across the Caspian Sea. Maxar Technologies, an intelligence company, captured the ship docked at an Iranian port before it vanished from radar. Ukrainian sources reported that the shipment contained approximately 220 Fateh-360 short-range ballistic missiles, weapons that could be deployed in Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine.

Despite overwhelming evidence, Iran’s state airline, Iran Air, has denied any involvement in the military transfers. In a statement to Dideban Iran, Abolfazl Zohrevand, a member of Iran’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee of Parliament accused Western nations of “fabricating allegations” as part of a broader campaign to undermine Iran’s sovereignty.

“These countries recently sanctioned Iran Air despite the airline having no involvement in military matters,” Zohrevand stated, calling the sanctions a form of "unacceptable interference in Iran’s domestic policies." He argued that the West, particularly the US and Europe, was using Iran as a scapegoat to deflect attention from their own failures in Ukraine.

Tehran looking for easy ways to reduce sanctions

Meanwhile, reports from The Washington Post indicate that President Masoud Pezeshkian's administration is signaling a cautious interest in re-engaging with the West, potentially in pursuit of sanctions relief. However, with Iran embroiled in the Hamas and Hezbollah conflict with Israel and the lack of a new nuclear deal, the prospect of a diplomatic breakthrough seems more remote than ever.

Despite the country’s deepening crises, Pezeshkian has appointed key figures like Abbas Araghchi and former foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, both of whom were instrumental in negotiating the 2015 nuclear deal. However, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s skepticism toward Western engagement casts doubt on the likelihood of any significant diplomatic shift.

As Iran walks a tightrope between its military alignment with Russia and its economic needs, it finds itself increasingly isolated and under mounting international pressure.

This latest demonstration of its advancing missile technology comes as tensions with the West intensify over Tehran’s military support for Russia and its ballistic missile program.

According to Iranian news outlets, the satellite, named Chamran 1, was launched on Saturday aboard the Qaem 100 solid-fuel satellite launcher, operated by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The satellite was reportedly placed into orbit at an altitude of 550 kilometers, marking the IRGC's second "successful" orbital mission with this launcher.

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While Iran insists that the Chamran 1 is purely a "research" satellite, designed to test hardware and software systems and demonstrate in-orbit maneuvering technologies, Western officials and experts remain skeptical.

"Iran’s space program is a cover for the regime’s longer range strike capabilities and a pathway to an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) that could be used to threaten the US homeland and the European continent," Behnam Ben Taleblu, a senior FDD fellow, told Iran International.

The West has long accused Iran of exploiting its space program to test technologies that can be repurposed for military use, specifically long-range ballistic missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads. Despite numerous UN resolutions calling for a halt to these activities, Tehran has pressed ahead, raising alarms across the globe.

Reports from the Iranian media say that Chamran 1 “weighs approximately 60 kilograms and is also tasked with secondary missions, such as testing cold-gas propulsion systems and evaluating navigation and attitude control subsystems.”

The satellite’s launch follows Iran's January 2024 launch of the Soraya satellite, also aboard the Qaem 100. That mission was met with condemnation from European nations, including Britain, France, and Germany, which are all part of the now-fractured nuclear agreement with Iran, known as the JCPOA.

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In a joint statement issued earlier this year, the European Troika expressed concerns over Iran’s continued missile tests, noting that the Qaem 100 launcher relies on the same technology used in Iran’s long-range ballistic missiles.

Such launches allow Iran to test technologies that could be used to further develop its ballistic missile program, the statement said, warning that such activities pose a threat to regional and international security.

“⁠Iran’s space program may be improving due to Russian assistance in exchange for drones and more recently missiles," says Taleblu, the author of “Arsenal: Assessing the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Ballistic Missile Program."

This latest launch comes at a critical time, as Iran’s nuclear and missile capabilities appear to be advancing in tandem. With each satellite launch, Tehran not only bolsters its space ambitions but also refines the technologies necessary for long-range missile systems. These developments, combined with Iran’s growing stockpile of enriched uranium, inch the country closer to crossing the nuclear threshold—a scenario that could destabilize the Middle East and heighten global security risks.

The IRGC’s Aerospace Force has been at the forefront of Iran’s space and missile programs. Taleblu says “⁠Iran’s newer solid-propellant satellite launch vehicles are run entirely by the IRGC Aerospace Force - a terrorist entity with its finger on the trigger of the biggest ballistic missile arsenal in the Middle East.”

In previous statements, its commanders have boasted of placing satellites like Noor 3 into orbits as high as 450 kilometers, further showcasing Iran’s growing proficiency in space and missile technology. Yet, for all its claims of peaceful scientific progress, Iran's pursuit of dual-use technologies continues to stoke fears that its ultimate goal is far more dangerous.