State Dept. fires Iranian-American press officer after disputes over Israel – WP

Fada-Hossein Maleki, a member of parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, told Didban Iran that “if the Europeans want to activate the snapback mechanism, we will also continue the war with the Zionist regime.”

Maleki argued that such a step would destabilize global and regional equations. “Triggering this mechanism will entangle many players,” he warned.

He also accused Israel of undermining diplomacy by attacking Iran during ongoing nuclear negotiations, saying: “With that aggression, we practically saw the death of diplomacy.”

"Now, the activation of the snapback mechanism would once again mean abandoning diplomacy, and if the Europeans choose this path, this time we will put forward the tools of war and continue the 12-day conflict.”

He added, “The next war will not be one that ends in 12 days, or even one or two months. Dangerous events will inevitably unfold for all countries in the region.”

Maleki said Iran’s “first step” in response to a European move would be withdrawal from the NPT. “This issue has long been on the agenda of the commission and parliament,” he said.

Britain, France and Germany — the so-called E3 — have warned Iran that unless it returns to nuclear talks by the end of August, they will trigger the mechanism that could reimpose all UN sanctions lifted under the 2015 nuclear deal.

The lawmaker said Iran had now rebuilt its military readiness after the 12-day conflict and was “prepared for offensive operations in case of any new confrontation.”

“Today America and some European countries are seeking to expand unilateralism and impose their views on other nations,” Pezeshkian said, according to Iran’s state news agency IRNA. “This approach has not been and will not be tolerable for you or for us.”

Pezeshkian, who arrived in Belarus on Tuesday night, said Tehran and Minsk enjoyed “broad common ground” not only in bilateral relations but also in regional and international forums, citing the Eurasian Economic Union, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and BRICS as platforms for cooperation.

“Western countries led by America want to force us to move according to their will,” he said. “But Iran and Belarus believe they lack nothing compared with countries that impose sanctions, and that together they can overcome sanctions and difficulties.”

Lukashenko, a close ally of Russia, welcomed Pezeshkian and said: “Belarus is a friendly country and a reliable partner for Iran. You have come to a friend.” He assured his Iranian counterpart that Minsk wanted to expand cooperation and resolve obstacles to existing agreements.

"In conditions of geopolitical turbulence, Minsk and Tehran are undertaking consistent and balanced steps to further develop cooperation, and are working hard to turn each new challenge into a new opportunity," Belarusian state news agency Belta quoted Lukashenko as saying.

"We are ready to discuss any issues, we have no closed topics," Lukashenko said, adding that the two countries could partner across a range of areas including "military-technical cooperation".

Recalling his own visit to Tehran, Lukashenko said: “I have very good memories from this trip, especially the meeting with the Supreme Leader of Iran. I ask you to convey my best wishes to him. I believe that there are no closed paths before us and we can elevate our relations to the highest levels.”

The two leaders witnessed the signing of 12 cooperation documents in areas including politics, international law, tourism, culture, media, health, pharmaceuticals, industry, environment, free zones, special economic zones and investment, as well as a joint statement.

Pezeshkian also laid a wreath at Minsk’s Victory Square memorial before beginning his official meetings. His trip to Belarus followed a state visit to Armenia earlier this week.

Arrested early in August, she has admitted to some of the allegations against her, according to a report by Channel 12, including having had lengthy contact with an Iranian agent and having carried our several missions on behalf of Iran.

Police and the Israeli military must now provide additional material to a military court in a case described as “highly security-sensitive,” Ynet reported, with judges demanding evidence such as technological tests and further intelligence operations to substantiate the charges against the suspect.

A gag order has been imposed on the case.

The suspect, whose investigation is being conducted jointly by the military and the Shin Bet intelligence service, will remain in custody for another eight days as of Monday.

It is the latest in a string of cases involving Israeli citizens accused of working for Iran since the October 7, 2023, attacks by Iran-backed Hamas. However, it is the first such case known to emerge from the occupied West Bank, although seven men from East Jerusalem were arrested last year.

Recent incidents include an Israeli soldier charged with passing information to Iran in exchange for money — including interception videos and photographs of missile landings — and a Bedouin teacher in the Negev accused of filming fighter jet takeoffs.

Last Thursday, officials also revealed that Iranian operatives hacked the Telegram account of former Interior and Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked during the 12-day war. Shaked, who has not held office for more than two years, had previously been warned of Iranian attempts to eavesdrop on her communications.

From April to June, Israel’s business sector contracted 6.2%. Private consumption dropped 4.1%, public spending fell 1%, and investment in fixed assets plunged 12.3%, signaling weakening confidence.

Exports of goods and services, excluding startups and diamonds, declined 3.5%, while imports, excluding defense purchases, rose 3.1%.

The downturn followed the June conflict with Iran, which began after Israel attacked military and nuclear sites on June 13.

Iran responded with missile strikes that forced many Israelis into shelters.

The United States joined on June 22 with airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. A US-brokered ceasefire took effect on June 24, ending the 12-day war.

Bank of Israel Governor Amir Yaron told Bloomberg in late June that the fighting was likely to cost nearly $6 billion or 1% of GDP.

Analyst Andreas Krieg told TRT World that overall losses could reach between $11.5 billion and $17.8 billion, around 2% to 3% of Israel’s economy.

Costly for Tehran

The conflict also took a heavy toll on Iran’s economy.

Krieg estimated Iran’s direct and indirect losses at $24 billion to $35 billion, equal to 6% to 9% of its $380 billion GDP.

The conflict also dealt a heavy blow to Iran’s trade: non-oil exports in June totaled $3.4 billion, according to Iranian customs statistics—a 34% drop from a year earlier.

Iran’s digital economy was also hit.

The communications minister reported a 30% contraction and losses of 150 trillion rials (about $170 million) in one month, attributing the damage to widespread internet restrictions imposed during the fighting.

“In the current situation, the conditions for negotiations with the United States are not ready,” said Mehdi Tabatabaei, deputy for communications and information at the president’s office, in an interview with Iranian media.

“Today this possibility does not exist, but 40 days from now, when the president is in New York, the situation may be different. We live in a state of uncertainty,” he said, referring to President Masoud Pezeshkian’s upcoming visit for the UN General Assembly in late September.

Tabatabaei added that any decision on talks with Washington would not rest solely with the government and would require final approval from the Supreme Leader.

“The considerations of the Supreme National Security Council are always taken into account, but its resolutions only gain effect when approved by the Supreme Leader.”

He added that Iran’s president, who also heads the Supreme National Security Council, remains bound by the authority of Ali Khamenei.

“In the case of the president, there is complete alignment and obedience to the considerations, strategies and views of the Supreme Leader,” he said.

Asked whether there had been differences in the past, Tabatabaei said, “At one point, the president’s view was to negotiate, but the Supreme Leader was not in agreement. The president said that the Supreme Leader’s opinion comes first, even if it is against his own view. Later, when conditions changed, the decision for negotiations also changed, and the government implemented it.”

“If conditions remain as they are now, no, there will be no talks. But it is not possible to rule out changes by then,” he said.

Tabatabaei also rejected suggestions of division within the leadership over Iran’s foreign policy, saying, “The coordination that exists today between the branches of government and the Supreme Leader is extraordinary. This unity of view and trust helped the country overcome the recent aggression by the Zionist regime and the United States.”

According to a recent report by Reuters, Supreme Leader and the country’s power structure have reached a consensus to resume nuclear negotiations with the United States, viewing them as vital to the Islamic Republic’s survival.

Amid deteriorating ties with Europe and the looming threat of another war with Israel, Iran’s president Masoud Pezeshkian is under mounting attack from Tehran’s hardliners, who question both his competence and his political judgment.

Allegations of a “shadow government” meddling in Iran’s foreign policy have also reignited concerns about the country’s diplomatic direction, just as high-stakes nuclear talks with the West hang in the balance.