Khamenei to address 'Lebanon developments', state media reports
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is set to "issue a formal response to the unfolding situation in Lebanon," according to state media.
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A hardline academic in Tehran, frequently featured on Iranian state TV as a US politics expert, has claimed that the United States is unlikely to respond to Pezeshkian's “pacifist remarks” during his visit to the UN headquarters in New York.
The conservative Nameh News website quoted Tehran University lecturer Foad Izadi, who criticized certain Iranian politicians for repeatedly advocating negotiations with the United States, despite the lack of any signals from US officials indicating interest in dialogue.
Nameh News argued that the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East have dramatically changed the international landscape compared to when former President Hassan Rouhani attended the 2013 UNGA meeting, winning over American hearts and minds with a well-calculated publicity move. The website quoted Tehran University lecturer Foad Izadi, who noted that President Joe Biden referred to the 'Iranian threat' in his UNGA speech, and claimed that US presidents have consistently spoken against the Islamic Republic for the past 45 years.
Izadi went on to criticize those who believed Pezeshkian could revive the 2015 nuclear talks during his visit to New York, arguing that they have demonstrated a lack of true expertise. He pointed out that White House National Security Advisor John Kirby has already made it clear that, despite Pezeshkian’s calls for normalizing Iran’s relations with the West and even Israel, there is no possibility of negotiations with Iran.
The hardline academic noted that the negative reactions from State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller and President Joe Biden following Pezeshkian's pacifist remarks made the situation clear. Izadi further claimed that Vice President Kamala Harris’s stance on Iran is aligned with Biden’s, and referenced former President Trump’s actions, specifically the assassination of IRGC Quds Force Commander Qasem Soleimani. Izadi concluded, “No US official has made even a half-hearted positive comment about Iran."
Hardliners at the Iranian state TV have been using their influence to edit out Pezeshkian's positive comments about ties with the West from his speeches. Asr Iran website noted that news bulletins on the day after the speech did not broadcast key parts of Pezeshkian's UNGA speech.
According to Asr Iran, the state TV only aired the portion of the Iranian president's speech in which he condemned Israel's atrocities and criticized the United States for imposing sanctions on Iran and deploying forces in the region. The report noted that even this segment of the speech was broadcast half an hour into the main news bulletin.
There was also no mention of Pezeshkian's comments in which he said during a meeting with US media representatives: "We have no war to wage against any country."
Meanwhile, Nameh News quoted 'reformist' commentator Esmail Gerami Moqaddam, who remarked that 'hardliners are upset by Pezeshkian's pacifist remarks.' He claimed that Pezeshkian's statements have garnered positive international reactions, demonstrating to the world that Iran is pursuing peace and justice. Nameh News further asserted that these remarks have left Israel increasingly isolated in the international community.
Gerami Moqaddam said: "Hardliners in Iran are angry about Pezeshkian's pacifist stances because they want Iran to be sanctioned and even enter into a war as they benefit from sanctions. They welcome tension while the new government wants to have good ties with both East and West."
The politician said: "Through dialogue we can even make the United States to step back from its positions, but both Israel and Iran's hardliners do not want that." Iranians want the sanctions to be lifted and that is why they voted for Pezeshkian as their president, Gerami Moqaddam said.
IDF Spokesperson confirmed the killing of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah: "I want to say this very clearly—Nasrallah was one of the world's strongest and most influential terrorists, and one of the terrorists with the most capabilities in the world. He was a real threat, with the blood of thousands of people on his hands."
Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani continued to say he was with other senior commanders during the strike, which targeted the senior chain of command while they were operating against Israel. Shoshani also confirmed the death of Ali Karki, the commander of Hezbollah’s southern front, along with other senior leaders, during the attacks.
Commenting on the operation that killed Nasrallah, he said, " The target was an underground complex beneath a residential building, and we had real-time intelligence along with an operational opportunity that allowed us to execute the strike. As I mentioned before, every operation is based on extensive intelligence and careful understanding beforehand.
"We are focusing on eliminating the threats of terror attacks, including guided missiles that could be launched at strategic points."
Addressing the possibility of increased conflict, the IDF spokesman said: "We are ready for a wider escalation."
Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has been relocated to a secure site within the country under enhanced security protocols, according to two regional officials briefed by Tehran who spoke with Reuters.
The officials further indicated that Iran remains in ongoing communication with Hezbollah in Lebanon and other regional proxy groups, as they strategize the next course of action following Israel's announcement of the killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in a strike on southern Beirut on Friday.
Intelli Times reported that Israel infiltrated Beirut's control tower communications, warning it would block the landing of Iranian Qeshm Air flight QFZ9964. The transport plane has since canceled its landing in Beirut and is heading back to Iran.
Iran-backed Hezbollah confirmed its leader Hassan Nasrallah was killed in an airstrike on the group's central headquarters on Friday, while Israel vowed to continue its wave of assassinations.
The Israeli military "eliminated ... Hassan Nasrallah, leader of the Hezbollah terrorist organization," Israeli army spokesperson Avichay Adraee wrote in a statement on X.
It was later confirmed by Hezbollah. In a statement on their Telegram channel, the group said Nasrallah, who had led the group for 32 years, had "joined his great immortal martyred comrades", calling him "a heroic, bold, brave, wise, insightful and faithful leader".
Meanwhile, the IDF warned of more assassinations to come. "We will reach everyone, everywhere,” it stated, as operations continued in full force. Last weekend, a wave of commanders were killed in a major operation just days after 1,500 operatives were impacted by pager and walkie-talkie explosions in the biggest blow to the group's security in its history.
Later, in a briefing with reporters the IDF spokesman confirmed the killing of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah and added: "I want to say this very clearly—Nasrallah was one of the world's strongest and most influential terrorists, and one of the terrorists with the most capabilities in the world. He was a real threat, with the blood of thousands of people on his hands."
"Hassan Nasrallah will no longer be able to terrorize the world," the Israeli military said in a post on X on Saturday.
Government-controlled media in Tehran was simply repeating the news about the IDF announcement, while large banners were installed in the capital proclaiming “Hezbollah is alive.” There have been no explicit Iranian threats about a potential retaliation against Israel, although some hardliners have voiced the need for revenge.
Israel launched a new wave of airstrikes on Beirut's southern suburbs and other areas of Lebanon on Saturday, a day after carrying out the massive attack on the southern suburbs of Beirut known as Dahiyeh.
Israel's military also announced on Saturday it has mobilized three reserve battalions to bolster its Central Command defense amid escalating conflict with Hezbollah in Lebanon meaning thousands more troops ready for a possible ground invasion after the most tense 10 days between the two sides since the second Lebanon war.
Earlier in the week the army had reported about other mobilizations, the equivalent of around 4,000 troops with talk of boots on the ground by Israel's commander-in-chief.
Following the assassination, the Israeli military continued to pound Lebanon. On Saturday, the IDF announced that weapons belonging to Hezbollah’s anti-ship missile unit embedded beneath civilian buildings in Beirut were struck. "These weapons posed a threat to international maritime routes, freedom of navigation and Israel's strategic assets in the region," they said.
It was buried beneath six civilian buildings in the heart of Danish in Beirut, the IDF said, with intelligence showing it was to be used imminently.
"For years, the Hezbollah terrorist organization built and developed a precision-guided anti-ship missiles systems, originating from Iran, that were aimed at threatening international maritime freedom and the strategic assets of Israel and the region. These missiles have ranges of hundreds of kilometers," the statement said.
IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari said on Saturday afternoon, "we have challenging days ahead of us," as the country readied for retaliatory actions from Iran's proxies around the region, including Yemen, Iraq and Syria.
In a press conference, he said that Hezbollah leader Nasrallah had been amid talks planning imminent attacks against Israel when he was hit in a precision strike Friday night.
He reiterated Hezbollah's own plans to repeat its own October 7 in an operation called 'Conquer the Galilee'. The IDF "will not let it happen", he warned.
"Our war is not with the Lebanese people, our war is with Hezbollah," he said, adding that for Hezbollah and Nasrallah's victims, "justice has been served".
"Israel doesn't seek a wider escalation. We seek two things. To bring the hostages home after a year in Hamas captivity, and to make sure our borders are safe and secure for our citizens."
