Iran missile program not open to negotiation, source says - Reuters

Israel’s Mossad, military and Shin Bet said on Monday they had uncovered a covert Iranian network planning attacks on Israeli officials and strategic sites worldwide.

The network was run by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards and had been disrupted through military strikes, arrests and intelligence operations, according to the statement.

They said operatives were recruited and trained to gather intelligence on Israeli and Western targets, including officials, military sites and infrastructure.

Israeli authorities said a cell in Azerbaijan had been thwarted in recent weeks, alleging it planned attacks on an oil pipeline and Jewish and Israeli-linked sites, including the Israeli embassy in Baku.

According to the statement, suspected operatives were detained by Azerbaijani authorities with explosive drones and other weapons.

Israel also named several Iranian figures it said were involved in directing the network, adding that some had been killed during recent operations.

Iran has no plan at present for a next round of talks, foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said on Monday.

“As I am speaking to you now, we have no plan for the next round of negotiations,” Baghaei told a press conference.

His comments come amid uncertainty over whether further discussions between Tehran and Washington will take place.

Iran said the United States has shown a lack of seriousness in pursuing diplomacy, citing what it described as repeated violations of the ceasefire.

Baghaei said Washington’s actions, including what he called breaches of agreements related to Lebanon and efforts to impose a naval blockade on Iran, undermined trust.

“The United States, through contradictory behavior and continuous violations of the ceasefire, has shown it is not serious about pursuing diplomacy,” Baghaei told a press conference.

He described recent US actions, including what he said was an attack on an Iranian commercial vessel, as a “clear act of aggression” under United Nations resolutions.

“This clear contradiction between words and actions increases the Iranian people’s distrust of US intentions,” he said, adding that Iran would decide on the future of talks based on its national interests.

Israeli police said they have arrested two young men on suspicion of spying for Iran, with one allegedly planning to undergo training abroad.

Police said 19-year-old Sagi Haik from Ness Ziona had been in contact with an Iranian agent for several months before his arrest in March.

Haik “agreed to undergo training in one of the Arab countries” and was asked to recruit others to carry out missions, police said.

Authorities said he also shared personal details of family members, who later received threatening messages from the alleged handler.

Police said Haik confessed during questioning to assisting another suspect, 21-year-old Assaf Chetrit from Beit Oved, who was also arrested.

Both suspects are expected to be charged later on Monday in a district court, police said.

Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Monday that war serves no one’s interests and tensions should be reduced through rational and diplomatic means.

“War benefits no one, and while standing firm against threats, every rational and diplomatic path should be used to reduce tensions,” he said.

The Iranian president also said distrust of adversaries and vigilance in interactions remained essential.

Iran faces shortages in areas including energy and fuel that must be managed through careful planning and public cooperation, President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Monday.

Pezeshkian said during a visit to the justice ministry that false information and unrealistic promises would not help resolve the country’s problems and would weaken public trust.

He added that both achievements and challenges should be shared honestly with the public.