Khamenei says Iran prepared to repel attack

A leading article in the Jomhouri Eslami newspaper, a conservative outlet owned by Supreme Leader Khamenei's office, noted last week that 46 years after its establishment, the Islamic Republic has yet to restore justice in Iranian society. "The people are still suffering from injustice and discrimination," the daily wrote.

The article also criticized the governing system for undermining the independence and freedom it has long promoted. Highlighting "the divide between the people and the ruling clerics," the newspaper stressed that "the people should be the driving force and focal point in the Islamic Republic" and posed a pointed question: "What is the people's role and status in the government?"

Although Iran holds regular elections, political parties and the media face severe restrictions, and only approved candidates are allowed to run.

Jomhouri Eslami also criticized the stark contrast between officials leading lavish lifestyles—driving luxury cars under tight security to pay respects at the mausoleum of the Islamic Republic's founder—and ordinary people who struggle to reach them to voice their concerns.

The daily criticized the disparity between officials and the public, noting that officials earn several times more than ordinary citizens and enjoy government-funded travel and luxury while advocating austerity. The daily warned that such a lifestyle and governance approach could undermine the political system's stability.

Meanwhile, the pro-reform website Fararu warned, "A catastrophe is on its way as half of the population in Iran is getting poorer on a day-to-day basis."

It cautioned that the situation is becoming increasingly dire, particularly for low-income groups, due to rising inflation, soaring exchange rates, price fluctuations, and ongoing economic crises. The website argued that many Iranians are struggling to make ends meet amid the financial turmoil.

"At the same time, all initiatives aimed at improving the situation have failed and remained futile. This has caused a general dissatisfaction among the public and has led to serious questions about the government's ability to tackle the current crisis," the website wrote.

Fararu cited market expert Hamid Haj Esmaili, who attributed the worsening economic situation over the past two decades not only to sanctions but also to government inefficiency in resource distribution, which has exacerbated the crisis.

Haj Esmaili noted that nearly half of Iran's population relies on government support to survive, while the government must take stronger action against corruption. He emphasized that these challenges are all linked, in some way, to the impact of sanctions and urged authorities to engage with other countries to address the crisis.

Meanwhile, the pro-reform daily Setareh Sobh published a commentary last week by former lawmaker Yadollah Eslami, who highlighted "the wide gap between the people and the government." He argued that "the officials' indifference to people's increasing problems has made many people distance themselves from the government."

Eslami also criticized officials "for the arrogance in their rhetoric when they address the nation," describing their tone as "a mixture of insult and violence." He warned that "unfortunately, some Iranian officials believe that insults and violence are a virtue for them; and in this situation, what is being sacrificed is truth, justice, and freedom."

“We are not seeking war… We seek peace and tranquility,” Pezeshkian said Monday, according to semi-official ISNA news agency.

He criticized Western nations for what he called hypocrisy in their human rights advocacy, referencing the civilian death toll in Gaza.

“They massacred more than 18,000 young people and buried 20,000 women under the rubble, yet they claim to champion human rights,” he said.

Elsewhere in his remarks Pezeshkian hailed the role of science in addressing Iran’s challenges, urging reliance on scholars and elites. “There are many paths, but our solution lies in science,” he noted.

He also warned that domestic divisions fuel external hostility, saying, “Unnecessary conflicts encourage the greed of our enemies.”

The president’s remarks come amid international sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program, its support for Russia’s war in Ukraine, and its backing of armed groups across the Middle East.

It also comes after a statement from the G7 at the Munich Security Conference blamed Tehran for being the cause for regional instability.

“The G7 members unequivocally condemned Iran’s destabilizing actions, including its rapid advancement of uranium enrichment without credible civil justification, its facilitation of terrorism organizations and armed groups across the Middle East and Red Sea, its proliferation of ballistic missiles and drones, and its transnational repression and violation of fundamental human rights,” read the statement issued on Saturday.

Pezeshkian previously echoed similar calls for peace during a visit to Tajikistan last month, but has rejected nuclear negotiations with the United States in accordance with a directive by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

“The G7 members unequivocally condemned Iran’s destabilizing actions, including its rapid advancement of uranium enrichment without credible civil justification, its facilitation of terrorism organizations and armed groups across the Middle East and Red Sea, its proliferation of ballistic missiles and drones, and its transnational repression and violation of fundamental human rights,” read the statement issued on Saturday.

The G7 ministers held a meeting on the sideline of the Munich Security Conference.

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmail Baghaei on Monday and during his weekly briefing rejected the statement as politically motivated, arguing that Western powers themselves were responsible for fueling instability.

“The return of stability and security to West Asia requires these countries to stop their interventionist policies in regional affairs,” he said, referring to the United States, Canada, and three European members of the G7.

Iran pushes back on military, nuclear criticism

In response to criticism concerning the military capabilities of Iran, Baghaei said that Iran’s defense facilities follow all prevailing international laws.

“Iran’s military and defense advancements are necessary for national security and contribute to stability in West Asia,” he added.

Over the nuclear issue he dismissed concerns raised over enrichment of uranium as being politically driven.

“Our peaceful nuclear activities are fully in line with the Non-Proliferation Treaty and international safeguards,” he said, adding that Iran would continue its program based on its technical and industrial needs.

Baghaei accused the G7 of ignoring Israel’s nuclear capabilities. “The biggest obstacle to a nuclear-free Middle East is the Zionist regime, which has stockpiled weapons of mass destruction while enjoying full support from the same G7 countries,” he said.

Diplomatic outreach continues despite tensions

Despite Western pressure, Baghaei highlighted Iran’s ongoing diplomatic efforts, pointing to high-level meetings in Oman by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. “These engagements are part of a broader strategy to enhance economic and political cooperation,” he noted.

On restrictions faced by Iranian flights to Beirut, he said discussions are underway with Lebanese officials. “We will not allow external forces to disrupt the strong historical ties between Iran and Lebanon,” he said.

Last week two flights from Tehran were banned from landing in Lebanon's only international airport.

On Friday, the second flight banned from taking off from Iran triggered protests in Lebanon from supporters of the Iran-backed group who blocked the road to the airport. The Lebanese army fired tear gas at protesters.

Responding to Israeli threats, Hezbollah funeral plans

Baghaei also addressed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's recent comments on a possible attack on Iran.

“Such statements are a blatant violation of international law, and those who issue these threats should be held accountable,” he said.

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed his intention on Sunday "to finish the job against Iran" with the support of US President Donald Trump.

Regarding Iran’s involvement in the funeral of the assassinated Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah, killed by Israel last year, Baghaei said Tehran will be participating at a high level.

The protests began Friday evening at Tehran University’s campus after Amir-Mohammad Khaleghi, an undergraduate business management student, was fatally stabbed by two men who stole his laptop just outside the campus.

On Saturday and Sunday, hundreds of students gathered again at Tehran University and Tarbiat Modares University to protest. They submitted a list of demands to authorities, warning of further demonstrations if their concerns—including the removal of “plainclothes forces” from university campuses—were not addressed.

Students accuse authorities of neglecting their safety amid a rise in robberies near campus in recent years. Meanwhile, they criticize officials for prioritizing the surveillance of student activists and suppressing dissent instead of addressing security concerns.

During Friday’s peaceful protest, four students were arrested, and a female student was injured by one of the unidentified agents who stormed the campus. The detained students were later released.

The presidential administration took an unusually conciliatory approach, a departure from the Iranian government’s typical response. Rather than escalating force against the students, officials appeared willing to defuse tensions. This tactic can be related to current public anger at the deteriorating economic situation and the danger of widespread protests.

University official Hossein Hosseini met with the protesters and blamed the violence on vigilantes and plainclothes security agents who entered the campus without authorization.

Higher Education Minister Hossein Simaei Sarraf cut short an official visit to Saudi Arabia and returned to Iran after Friday’s protests. He later apologized to the students and pledged decisive action against unauthorized interference in university affairs.

“Certain individuals and groups are more focused on creating turmoil rather than resolving crises. These irresponsible actions, whose instigators and masterminds remain unknown, have placed a significant burden on the country,” Deputy Higher Education Minister Gholamreza Zarifian told the reformist Etemad Online, referring to the unrest triggered by Friday’s violence against students.

A law passed by Parliament in 2000, during the presidency of reformist Mohammad Khatami, prohibits police and other security forces from entering higher education institutions except under “extraordinary circumstances” and only with the university dean’s request and the Higher Education Minister’s approval.

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This legislation followed the 1999 student protests, which began on July 7 at Tehran University. Students had initially gathered peacefully outside their dormitories to protest the closure of Salam, a reformist newspaper. Some later moved their protest outside the campus before returning to their dormitories without any incidents.

That night, riot police, the Revolutionary Guards’ Basij militia, and vigilante groups raided the student dormitories, attacking sleeping students indiscriminately. They destroyed rooms and personal belongings, and in a tragic incident, one student was thrown to his death from an upper floor. A similarly violent raid occurred at Tabriz University dormitories two days later.

Known as the Kuy-e Daneshgah Disaster, these events sparked days of protests and unrest in Tehran and other major cities. Demonstrators marched toward Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s office in Tehran, chanting slogans against him.

Security forces responded with a brutal crackdown, killing at least three people, injuring over 200, and arresting hundreds more. Many detainees spent years in prison as a result of the protests.

The 1999 university unrest set a precedent for future anti-government protests in 2009, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2022. This history may partly explain the Iranian authorities' apparent reluctance to use force against university students.

"The President has also expressed a willingness to take whatever action is necessary. All options are on the table," Waltz told Fox News on Sunday, leaving the option of diplomatic channels open.

"They [Iran] are an irrational actor that we cannot allow to have their finger on the button," he added.

He explained that Trump is willing "to talk to Iran" only on condition of giving up the "entire [nuclear] program and not play games as we've seen Iran do in the past".

Waltz said that Iran's nuclear program - which the head of the UN's nuclear watchdog last year said is "weeks not months" from a weapon - could not only pose a threat to the region, but globally.

"President Trump is absolutely serious, deadly serious, when he says Iran can never have a nuke, and certainly not on his watch," Waltz said.

"That not only would be existential for Israel, I think it would be existential for the entire world, because it could kick off a nuclear arms race in the Middle East," he added.

'No outreach from Iran'

Trump's state secretary, Marco Rubio, told CBS later on Sunday that the US administration does not "have any outreach from Iran."

"Ideally, yeah, I would love to wake up one day and hear the news that Iran has decided not to pursue a nuclear weapon, not to sponsor terrorism, and re-engage in the world as a normal government. We've had no indication of any of that, not just now, but for 30 years," he said.

Rubio also hinted at a more stringent deal with Iran compared with the 2015 agreement. "Past that efforts that Iran has undertaken diplomatically have been only about how to extend the time frame that- but continue to enrich and rep- and- and in addition to sponsored terrorism, in addition to build these long-range weapons, in addition to sow instability throughout the region."

Rubio had earlier, during a press conference in Jerusalem, said that Iran is the single greatest threat to the Middle East.

Speaking alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday, he said: "Behind every terrorist group, behind every act of violence, behind every destabilizing activity, behind everything that threatens peace and stability for the millions of people that call this region home is Iran."

"There can never be a nuclear Iran. A nuclear Iran, that could then hold itself immune from pressure and from action. That can never happen. The President's been clear about that as well."