Israel mocks Khamenei's appearance in his new video

Jun 26, 2025, 16:02 GMT+1

Israel’s Foreign Ministry mocked the altered appearance of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in his latest video, suggesting he looked fearful and sun-deprived.
The Persian-language account posted: “Fear or lack of sunlight? Probably both.” Iran International earlier reported Khamenei had been moved to an underground shelter as war erupted with Israel.

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Khamenei sidestepped in Iran-Israel ceasefire decision

Jun 26, 2025, 15:01 GMT+1

Iran’s decision to enter a ceasefire with Israel was made without the direct involvement of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, Iran International has learned.

According to information shared with Iran International, the process was led by the Supreme National Security Council and President Masoud Pezeshkian, who jointly informed the United States of the decision.

In an exclusive report earlier this month, Iran International reported that Khamenei had transferred key decision-making powers to the Supreme Council of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) shortly after hostilities began.

The move came amid reports that the supreme leader, along with close family members including his son Mojtaba, had been relocated to an underground bunker in Lavizan, northeast Tehran, where he remained for days without making any public appearances.

No communication from Iran to stop cooperation, IAEA says

Jun 26, 2025, 14:58 GMT+1

The UN nuclear watchdog said on Thursday, “As of now, the IAEA has not received an official communication from Iran on any decision to suspend cooperation.”

Iran’s parliament on Wednesday overwhelmingly approved a bill to suspend the country’s cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency, less than a day into the ceasefire with Israel following 12 days of deadly war.

Trump says nothing was taken out of Fordow

Jun 26, 2025, 14:53 GMT+1

US President Donald Trump on Thursday dismissed reports that Iran had moved its stockpile of near weapons-grade uranium from the Fordow nuclear facility ahead of the American airstrikes.

"The cars and small trucks at the site were those of concrete workers trying to cover up the top of the shafts. Nothing was taken out of facility. Would take too long, too dangerous, and very heavy and hard to move!" Trump wrote on Truth Social, appearing to rebut a Financial Times report citing European intelligence sources who believed the material was not at Fordow at the time of the strikes.

Iran’s stockpile of highly-enriched uranium moved out before attack - Financial Times

Jun 26, 2025, 14:48 GMT+1

European intelligence services believe Iran’s stockpile of 408 kilograms of near weapons-grade uranium was not located at the Fordow nuclear facility during last weekend’s US military strikes, the Financial Times reported on Thursday.

The newspaper cited two people briefed on preliminary intelligence assessments.