Reuters gave nearly $4 million in services to Iran state media – Free Beacon

“The second Nahid-2 will be launched by the Simorgh rocket after final adjustments,” Hassan Salarieh, head of the Iranian Space Agency, said. “We have the internal capacity to carry out the launch ourselves.”

The current version of Nahid-2 was launched into orbit last week from Russia’s Vostochny Cosmodrome as part of a multi-payload mission. Iran confirmed it was one of the satellites onboard after Russian media referred only to a “foreign customer.”

Heavier launchers under development

Salarieh said the Simorgh rocket can carry satellites of up to 300 kilograms into lower orbits and that Iran is also developing heavier launch vehicles, including the Sarir and Soroush classes, which are designed for larger payloads.

The Qaem-100 launcher, also developed by Iran, can carry up to 100 kilograms and was used last year in the launch of the Soraya satellite, which drew condemnation from Western governments, who said it "uses technology essential for the development of a long-range ballistic missile system."

Chabahar launch site expansion

Salarieh said the expansion of the Chabahar space base in southeastern Iran will allow access to a broader range of orbits and reduce reliance on foreign launch facilities. “With Chabahar, we will be able to carry out more launches throughout the year, using both domestic and international options,” he said.

The report reveals how Iranian oil is transferred to ships bound for China through covert ship-to-ship transfers in international waters near Malaysia’s Riau archipelago, often with transponders turned off and identifying details concealed.

During a single day in the area, CBS recorded 12 such transfers—an unprecedented number that analysts say signals an expansion of the trade. China is believed to purchase up to 90% of Iran’s crude exports.

The report comes a day after the US Treasury announced sweeping new sanctions on what it described as a “shipping empire” allegedly controlled by Hossein Shamkhani, son of a senior adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader.

The action, the largest of its kind since 2018, targeted more than 50 individuals and entities and identified 50 vessels.

CBS quoted former US Navy officer Charlie Brown, now an adviser to United Against Nuclear Iran, as saying the location near the Riau archipelago is the dark fleet’s “parking central.”

“As long as there’s a supply, there will be a demand for this discounted oil,” Brown said. “And both sides are willing to take the risk.”

Despite multiple rounds of US sanctions, smaller Chinese refineries—known as “teapots”—continue to buy Iranian crude.

Meanwhile, European powers are weighing whether to trigger the snapback of UN sanctions on Iran, which had been lifted under the 2015 nuclear deal.

It remains unclear how such a move would affect China’s energy trade with Iran or broader sanctions enforcement.

“Iran continues to pursue the development of asymmetric weapons capabilities, including unmanned aerial vehicles, to carry out attacks on the United States, our servicemembers and our partners and allies in the region,” said Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence John K. Hurley.

“We will continue to put America first by disrupting Tehran’s ability to further its destabilizing agenda.”

The sanctions target Javad Alizadeh Hoshyar, the CEO of Iran-based Control Afzar Tabriz Co., along with affiliated companies that the Treasury says procured sensitive manufacturing equipment for the Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industrial Company (HESA).

HESA, a state-owned entity under Iran’s Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics (MODAFL), produces military aircraft and Ababil-series drones used by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

Under Hoshyar’s direction, Control Afzar Tabriz Co. allegedly acquired computer numerical control (CNC) machines and routed shipments through foreign intermediaries—including Clifton Trading in Hong Kong, Mecatron and Joemars in Taiwan, and Changzhou Joemars in China—to evade export controls and mask HESA’s involvement, according to the Treasury.

The designations follow another round of sanctions a day earlier against a global shipping and smuggling network allegedly controlled by Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani, the son of Ali Shamkhani, Iran's former national security chief and an adviser to supreme leader Ali Khamenei.

More than 50 individuals and entities were designated on Wednesday, and over 50 vessels identified, in what the US Treasury called its largest Iran-related action since 2018.

“These sanctions are cruel and illegal. They aim to weaken Iran’s economy and hurt the welfare of its people,” foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said on Thursday, according to state media.

Baghaei said the United States was using sanctions as a tool of pressure and accused Washington of ignoring international norms. “America’s addiction to unilateral action has undermined the foundations of international law,” he said.

“The sanctions violate the sovereignty of states and disrupt global trade,” he added.

Baghaei also said the sanctions amounted to a violation of human rights and called for Washington to be held responsible under international law.

The latest designations by the US State and Treasury Departments aim to disrupt revenue flows from oil exports that Washington says fund Iran’s regional military activities and domestic repression.

The Treasury also listed vessels linked to a sprawling network led by Hossein Shamkhani, the son of Ali Shamkhani, Iran's former national security chief and an adviser to supreme leader Ali Khamenei.

The sweeping sanctions freeze any US-based assets and prohibit Americans from doing business with the named entities.

The Shamkhani family has also been accused of using its illicit wealth to obtain foreign passports and luxury properties abroad—privileges far removed from the daily struggles of ordinary Iranians.

"They should explain why they attacked us in the middle of... negotiations, and they have to ensure that they are not going to repeat that," Araghchi said in an interview published on Thursday.

The official added that the US must take responsibility for striking Iran during ongoing diplomatic exchanges and that talks cannot resume without financial redress.

Iran confirms new enrichment plant near Isfahan was hit

A third enrichment facility near Isfahan was struck during last month’s conflict, Araghchi told FT, marking the first time Tehran has publicly acknowledged the site was targeted.

Araghchi said the plant had been prepared for activation in response to a formal censure by the International Atomic Energy Agency’s board of governors, which criticized Iran’s lack of cooperation.

“As far as I know, the preparations were made, but it was not active when it was attacked,” he said.

The site was hit as part of a broader US operation that, two days before a ceasefire, targeted Iran’s main enrichment centers at Fordow and Natanz and struck multiple facilities in Isfahan.

‘Road to negotiation is narrow’

Araghchi said he has been in contact with US envoy Steve Witkoff and that the two sides have exchanged messages before, during and after the war. He described the path to talks as narrow but not closed.

“I need to convince my hierarchy that if we go for negotiation, the other side is coming with real determination for a win-win deal,” he said. But he added that Tehran requires confidence-building measures before proceeding, including financial compensation and security assurances.

Araghchi repeated Iran’s rejection of US demands for “zero enrichment” and said Tehran would not abandon its rights under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. He said Iran still retains the knowledge and technical capability to resume high-level enrichment if needed.

Talks with IAEA expected next month

Though Iran suspended cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency after the war, Araghchi said Tehran expects to hold technical talks with the agency in the coming weeks to discuss a “new modality of cooperation.” He said the talks would not involve inspections.

Western officials say Iran’s nuclear infrastructure was heavily damaged but not eliminated, and that a significant stockpile of highly enriched uranium may remain.

Warning to Europe over snapback

Araghchi also warned the UK, France and Germany that any move to trigger the UN snapback mechanism, which would restore sanctions lifted under the 2015 nuclear deal, would end Iran’s talks with them.

“If they do snapback, that means that this is the end of the road for them,” he said. “With the Europeans, there is no reason right now to negotiate because they cannot lift sanctions, they cannot do anything.”

The US said it remains open to direct talks with Iran but reaffirmed its maximum pressure strategy this week by announcing new sanctions on an Iranian oil shipping network.