Iran lawmaker says talks are acceptable if held on Tehran’s terms

Iran’s judiciary chief called for no leniency in confiscating the assets of convicted individuals and said such cases should be handled with accuracy and speed under the law.

Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei said cases involving what he described as foot soldiers and accomplices of the attacking enemy should not be handled under normal procedures.

He said they must be dealt with on an extraordinary basis at every stage, including the prosecutor’s office, trial courts and the Supreme Court.

Mehdi Abtahi, deputy minister of science, research and technology, said access to the international internet for Iran’s academic community would be restored gradually, starting with university professors.

He said the ministry had already taken steps to provide professors with access based on an existing list, and that the measure would gradually be extended to all faculty members.

Abtahi added that the information of all professors had been passed to the communications ministry and that researchers’ access would generally begin through university faculty before expanding to research institutes and other centers.

North Korea fired ballistic missiles into the sea on Sunday in a move some analysts linked directly to the war over Iran, with one former South Korean presidential security adviser saying the launches may have been intended to show that, “unlike Iran,” Pyongyang has self-defense capabilities.

The launch came as the seven-week US-Israeli war against Iran continues, with curbing Tehran’s nuclear program one of its stated aims. Experts and former South Korean officials say the conflict could further reinforce North Korea’s own nuclear ambitions.

“The missile launches may be a way of showing that - unlike Iran - we have self-defense capabilities,” Kim Ki-jung said.

He added that Pyongyang also appeared to be applying pressure and showing force ahead of any possible dialogue with the United States and South Korea.

It was North Korea’s fourth such launch this month and seventh of the year. South Korea’s military said the missiles were fired from near Sinpo on the country’s east coast at around 6:10 a.m. local time and flew about 140 km.

President Donald Trump shared videos on Truth Social showing Iranian-Americans and Iranians chanting thanks and support for US actions against Iran.

In a post right after that, Trump posted another image which said: The best is yet to come.

President Donald Trump said in a post on Truth Social that Israel is a “great ally” of the United States, describing it as “courageous, bold, loyal, and smart” and saying it “fights hard and knows how to win.”

"Whether people like Israel or not, they have proven to be a GREAT Ally of the United States of America. They are Courageous, Bold, Loyal, and Smart and, unlike others that have shown their true colors in a moment of conflict and stress, Israel fights hard, and knows how to WIN!" Trump said.