Disgraced ex-UN envoy resurfaces in Iran, misusing Oberlin credentials

The European Council said the designations target actors “responsible for committing serious human rights violations and abuses on behalf of Iranian state bodies outside of Iran,” including extrajudicial killings and arbitrary executions.

"Today’s listings confirm the EU’s concerns about transnational repression by Iranian state bodies through the use of proxy agents, in particular involving criminals and organized crime networks targeting dissidents and human rights defenders across the world, including on EU territory," it said in a statement.

Among those listed is the Zindashti Network, a criminal group linked to Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS), which the EU accused of carrying out assassinations of Iranian dissidents overseas.

The group's leader, Naji Ebrahim Sharifi-Zindashti, an Iranian narcotics trafficker and organized crime figure, was also sanctioned alongside five of his alleged associates.

The Council said the group was involved in the killings of Iranian dissident Masoud Molavi Vardanjani in Turkey and Saeed Karimian, the owner of Iran-focused satellite broadcaster Gem TV.

The EU also sanctioned Mohammad Ansari, identified as the leader of Unit 840 of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Quds Force, for allegedly ordering the assassination of journalists critical of the Islamic Republic.

Reza Hamidiravari, an intelligence ministry officer said to oversee Zindashti’s state-backed operations, was also named.

Those designated face EU-wide asset freezes and travel bans. EU individuals and entities are also prohibited from making funds or resources available to them.

Last January, the US Treasury’s OFAC and UK government sanctioned Naji Ibrahim Sharifi‑Zindashti, leader of the Zindashti Network, along with 11 associated individuals for orchestrating assassinations, kidnappings, and murder‑for‑hire plots against Iranian dissidents. The sanctions hit Iranian officials involved in threats to kill Iran International TV journalists on British soil.

“The Iranian officials designated are members of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Unit 840, which was exposed in an ITV investigation into plots to assassinate two television presenters of Iran International news on UK soil,” the UK government said in a statement at the time.

The report came as France said it would trigger the UN snapback mechanism against Iran by the end of August if no tangible progress is made on a nuclear deal.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said Tuesday that Iran has violated its commitments under the 2015 agreement and that France, the United Kingdom, and Germany, known as the E3, are justified in reapplying global embargoes on arms, banks, and nuclear equipment. “Without a firm, tangible, and verifiable commitment from Iran, we will do so by the end of August at the latest,” Barrot told reporters in Brussels.

In response, Tasnim warned that Iran could raise uranium enrichment from 60% to 90%, and may use its enriched uranium stockpile for what it called “non-prohibited military purposes.”

The outlet also said that while exiting the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) would be a major step, it remains one of several options Iran is considering.

Snapback seen as 'military aggression' by Iranian officials

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi last week warned that triggering the snapback would be viewed by Iran as equivalent to a military strike. “This move would mark the end of Europe’s role in Iran’s peaceful nuclear file,” he said, calling it a “historic mistake” that could irreversibly damage ties.

Tasnim echoed that view, saying that the US strikes on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, combined with European inaction, have shifted Tehran’s strategy from "political patience to strategic deterrence".

Iran may expand nuclear activity, restrict IAEA oversight

In its report, Tasnim said Iran "should halt dilution of 60% enriched uranium, accelerate advanced centrifuge deployment, expand research into uranium metal production, and scale back cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)."

“These responses are lawful and proportionate,” the outlet said, while warning that Tehran would not accept any further Western pressure without consequences.

"France and its partners are... justified in reapplying global embargoes on arms, banks, and nuclear equipment that were lifted 10 years ago. Without a firm, tangible, and verifiable commitment from Iran, we will do so by the end of August at the latest," Barrot told reporters ahead of a meeting with EU Foreign Ministers in Brussels.

The snapback mechanism is part of UN Security Council Resolution 2231, which endorsed the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA. It allows any participant in the nuclear agreement to reimpose sanctions if Iran is deemed non-compliant. If no resolution to maintain sanctions relief is passed within 30 days, all previous UN measures return automatically.

Barrot said earlier in June that France and its European partners can reinstate a global embargo on weapons, nuclear equipment, and key financial sectors in Iran through a simple letter.

France announces EU sanctions on Iranians tied to killings, demands hostage release

As part of a broader EU action, the European Council has sanctioned nine Iranian individuals and entities accused of carrying out assassinations and transnational repression on European soil. Barrot announced the measures on Tuesday, saying the listed individuals were responsible for “violating the interests of France and Europe.”

“We are freezing the assets and banning the entry into Europe of nine Iranian individuals and entities responsible for assassinations on European territory,” Barrot said. “This is the result of efforts I personally led, and I welcome their outcome.”

Barrot also called for the “immediate and unconditional release” of French nationals held in Iran and demanded Iran resume cooperation with UN nuclear inspectors. He said Tehran’s “destabilizing activities” would not go unanswered.

Iran warns of ‘appropriate response’ if Europe triggers sanctions

Iran will respond proportionately if the European parties re-activate the snapback mechanism, Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said on Monday.

He dismissed the legal basis of the measure and accused the European parties of violating their own JCPOA obligations. “They have no standing to invoke the mechanism,” he said at a weekly briefing. “The so-called snapback has no legal, political, or ethical justification.”

Baghaei reiterated that Iran still considers itself a JCPOA signatory, despite scaling back commitments after the US withdrawal in 2018 and what he called Europe’s failure to uphold its end of the deal.

Iran accuses Germany and IAEA of double standards

Baghaei also criticized Germany for hosting US nuclear weapons and backing Israeli military operations, calling its position a violation of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). He accused Berlin of “supporting violations of international law” while taking a hard line on Iran’s nuclear activity.

He further accused the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) of “instrumental and selective behavior,” alleging that information provided by the agency had been used in recent military strikes against Iran’s nuclear sites. He condemned the IAEA’s silence over those attacks, including the US bombing of the Fordow facility, whose damage he said is still being assessed.

No new nuclear talks planned, Iran says

Baghaei said no date or venue has been set for nuclear talks, though consultations with China and Russia are ongoing. He called recent reports of new intermediaries “speculative” and stressed that Iran makes independent decisions on its nuclear policy.

He also said Iran remains open to diplomacy but will not re-enter talks until there is “confidence in the effectiveness of diplomacy.” He cited a coordinated Israeli-US military strike just before the sixth round of negotiations as a key turning point.

Pouria Pourhossein Hendabad, 29, was arrested on June 22 in Baton Rouge, where he was pursuing a PhD in mechanical engineering at Louisiana State University. He and his wife, Parisa Firouzabadi, were detained after reporting a car accident. According to his lawyers, officers posing as state police lured the couple out of their home and handed them over to a waiting team of ICE agents in tactical gear.

He had a valid student visa through 2030 and faced no known criminal charges. His attorneys called the arrest “an unconstitutional ruse,” and said it was carried out without a warrant or legal justification.

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On Monday, Magistrate Judge Joseph H.L. Perez-Montes ordered his immediate release and barred the government from deporting or transferring him, citing a “grave risk” of irreparable harm.

Part of a growing pattern

Pourhosseinhendabad’s case is the latest in a string of arrests of Iranian students and nationals in the US this year.

In March, Alireza Doroudi, a PhD student at the University of Alabama, was arrested by ICE without formal charges and held for six weeks before choosing to self-deport.

His lawyers said the government admitted it had no evidence he posed a national security threat, but prolonged detention and pressure forced him to leave the country.

More than 130 Iranians arrested after US strikes

In late June, more than 130 Iranian nationals were detained across the country in a sweeping enforcement operation, according to Fox News. Federal officials said some had ties to the IRGC or Hezbollah, but many of those arrested, including students and recent immigrants, faced no public charges.

“The Islamic Republic does not trust the ceasefire,” Aziz Nasirzadeh said in a phone call with Turkey’s defense minister Yasar Guler on Monday, according to the state-run IRNA news. “We have therefore anticipated various scenarios for any new adventurism.”

“We are not seeking to expand war and insecurity in the region, but we are ready to give a firm and regret-inducing response to any act of aggression,” he added.

Nasirzadeh also criticized the timing of the strikes, saying, “The attack on Iran took place during negotiations. We have proven to the world that we are not opposed to dialogue and negotiation.”

On June 13, Israel launched a large-scale surprise air campaign against Iran, striking multiple nuclear and military sites as part of the opening phase of what became a 12‑day conflict.

Hundreds of Iranian civilians were killed in the Israeli airstrikes. Iranian missile attacks also killed 27 Israeli civilians.

Following the Israeli strikes, Iran–US nuclear talks scheduled for June 15 in Muscat were called off.

The United States joined the offensive on June 22 with its own strikes—dubbed Operation Midnight Hammer—involving B‑2 bombers and Tomahawk cruise missiles targeting Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan.

A ceasefire came into effect on June 24, brokered by US President Donald, marking the end of the fighting. While the ceasefire ended the air war, its long-term viability remains in doubt.

Last month, Iran’s reformist daily Shargh described the ceasefire as legally fragile and unpredictable.

“The ceasefire is not based on any international legal standards, regulations, or the rules of official global organizations and institutions,” the newspaper wrote.

“In fact, it is a temporary and ambiguous ceasefire, and there can be no serious certainty about its durability.”

Last week, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in an interview that Israel had rolled back Iran's nuclear program but implied the Jewish state had not yet finished its confrontation with the Islamic Republic.