Iran must never acquire a nuclear weapon, Germany says

Iran is rapidly bolstering its military and resuming nuclear work after renewed sanctions, former Israeli defense minister Avigdor Liberman said on Friday, urging Israeli citizens to remain alert.

“Those who think the incident with Iran is over are wrong and misleading. The Iranians are already working vigorously. They are strengthening their defenses and military capabilities daily. Work at nuclear sites has resumed. It’s not for nothing that leading countries have reinstated the sanctions mechanism against the Iranian regime. It seems this time the Iranians are trying to surprise us,” Liberman warned on X.

Germany is pressing for a negotiated solution to curb Iran’s nuclear program following the reactivation of United Nations sanctions, Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said on Friday.

“Iran must never come into possession of a nuclear weapon,” Wadephul told Funke Media Group.

Iran cannot build a bomb in the short term after US and Israeli military operations in June, he said, but warned the risk remains.

Tehran’s lack of credibility and transparency made renewed sanctions unavoidable, he said, adding that the measures would strongly hit Iran’s economy.

Wadephul added that Tehran had made a grave mistake, one that was especially a blow to the people of Iran.

"My hope is that it will now change course. That is why our offer to resume negotiations remains on the table.”

The return of United Nations sanctions on Iran could undermine bilateral commerce valued at more than $10 billion in 2024, Iraqi media reported Friday.

Financial restrictions, asset freezes and pressure on cross-border exchanges could slow or block trade flows, according to the Iran-Iraq Chamber of Commerce.

Iraqi economic experts warned that transport companies active in exchanges with Iran may suffer losses, potentially leading to “disruption in food and goods supply.”

Iraq’s parliamentary economy and investment committee said sanctions on Iran may have only partial effects on Iraq’s economy, which it described as independent.

The country must strengthen internal cohesion of the armed forces amid rising tensions and the threat of an Israeli attack, Head of Iran's General Staff research center Hassan Rastgarpanah said on Friday.

“We must constantly monitor the mischief, sedition and deceptions of that regime and, if they make the slightest move, answer them crushingly, purposefully and intelligently.”

Boosting internal resilience and readiness is the appropriate response to the current threat, Rastgarpanah said.

Iran will destroy Tel Aviv and Haifa if attacked and said defiance is the nation’s chosen path, Tehran Friday prayer leader Ahmad Khatami said.

“They tell us not to enrich and not to have long- and medium-range missiles so that if they attack they can plough Iran; these fools do not know that we will plough Tel Aviv and Haifa,” Khatami added.

He told the United States and three European states that "activating the snapback will achieve nothing after 47 years of failure."

The exchange rate in Iran’s informal market is driven up by psychological operations but falls with political calm, central bank governor Mohammadreza Farzin said on Friday.

Farzin warned of inflationary effects from raising the official exchange rate. “Our goal is to control both the official and unofficial currency markets together under current conditions,” Farzin said.

The price of the dollar is ultimately controllable despite multiple factors driving it, Mojtaba Yousefi, a member of the parliament, said in remarks published on Friday.

Yousefi described the reactivation of snapback sanctions as proof of “Western noncompliance with international rules,” adding that the real solution lies in trusting the people and youth.

Khamenei should not insist on rejecting direct talks with the United States and must expect greater anger from oppressed Iranians, political activist Abdollah Naseri wrote on Friday.

“The despotic leader will get nowhere,” Naseri wrote.

“This misguided policy, with the 1,200,000 rial dollar as one of its bitter fruits, means he must expect greater anger from oppressed Iranians.”

“I believe no fundamental reform should be expected from the government except its removal by the people overpowering the Islamic Republic and its main chief,” Naseri wrote.

He said the salvation of Iran lies in nonviolent civil disobedience.

International law must not be turned into a tool for Washington following the return of UN sanctions on Tehran, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi wrote in a letter to his counterparts in Sri Lanka and the Maldives.

“We must defend international law. This issue is not only about Iran but about the dignity of international law,” Araghchi wrote.

The government, parliament and the people will withstand the snapback sanctions through unity, Iran's parliament deputy speaker Ali Nikzad said Friday.

“The snapback lacks legal logic and enemies have always acted by force,” Nikzad added.

“The enemy tried to apply pressure with the snapback, but people, government and parliament will pass this ridge with unity and solidarity.”