Russia is actively mediating to mend diplomatic and economic relations between Iran and Syria, following the December 2024 fall of Bashar al-Assad. The new Syrian government, led by Ahmed al-Sharaa, has expressed caution, while Iran seeks to protect its significant investments in the post-Assad era.
Iran's Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni recently stated that Afghan nationals can legally enter the country with valid visas, emphasizing that legal travel continues. However, he expressed significant concern over the illegal presence of undocumented Afghan migrants, amidst ongoing efforts to manage the large migrant population and enforce new regulations regarding residency and access to services.
Iran's Chief of Staff of Armed Forces, Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi, met with Iraq's National Security Advisor Qassem al-Araji in Tehran on October 22, 2025, urging full implementation of their 2023 security agreement. The pact aims to prevent militant groups from using Iraqi territory to threaten Iran, a key step for regional stability.
Iran's Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Larijani announced on October 20, 2025, the cancellation of a nuclear inspection agreement with the IAEA. This decision follows the reimposition of UN sanctions and Larijani's assertion that IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi's reports will no longer be effective, signaling a tougher stance on nuclear cooperation.
Iran has executed an unnamed individual in Qom Prison, convicted of espionage for Israel's Mossad intelligence agency. The execution, carried out on Saturday, October 18, 2025, followed charges of 'waging war against God' and 'corruption on earth'. Iranian authorities stated the individual confessed to contacting Israeli intelligence since October 2023.
The UN nuclear watchdog, IAEA, reports that the majority of Iran's 60% enriched uranium stockpile, estimated at around 400 kilograms, remained intact within damaged facilities following the June 2025 conflict with Israel and the US. Access for verification remains challenging.
Iran is facing widespread unrest in October 2025, marked by nationwide economic protests from various worker groups and a mass hunger strike by 1,500 death-row prisoners in Qezel Hesar Prison, protesting a surge in executions.
Senior Iranian Army Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari asserted that lasting peace and security for the Islamic Republic are achievable only through robust power, continuous preparedness, and effective deterrence. His remarks were made during an address to military cadets in Tehran.
New Zealand has reimposed UN sanctions on Iran, effective October 18, 2025, citing Tehran's non-compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal and escalating uranium enrichment. The measures include asset freezes, travel bans, and trade restrictions, aligning with actions by Western allies.
A new report by IranWire reveals that over 65 women have been killed in Iran in the past six months, highlighting a severe femicide crisis. Cases include Zahra Ghaemi, a university lecturer, and Raheleh Siavoshi, a national wushu champion, both allegedly murdered by their husbands. The crisis is linked to patriarchal values, legal shortcomings, and a lack of protection for women.
An Iranian court has sentenced French citizens Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris to a combined 63 years in prison for espionage and national security offenses. The verdicts, which can be appealed, come amidst ongoing diplomatic tensions and discussions of a potential prisoner exchange between Tehran and Paris.
A recent investigation by The Grayzone has revealed that Iran's June 13, 2025, missile strike on Tel Aviv directly hit 'Site 81,' a secret underground military command center jointly operated by Israel and the United States, located beneath the Da Vinci apartment complex.
Iran's Foreign Ministry has accused the United States of 'hostile and criminal behavior,' asserting that President Donald Trump's recent call for dialogue is inconsistent with Washington's aggressive actions. The condemnation follows Trump's remarks in the Israeli Knesset, where he expressed a desire for a peace deal with Tehran, despite recent US-Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities and ongoing sanctions.
Iran's Foreign Ministry summoned Oman's acting chargé d'affaires in Tehran to protest media reports linking two deaths in Oman to contaminated bottled water imported from Iran. Tehran asserted the incident was a 'family-related criminal case driven by revenge' and unrelated to the Iranian product, urging Omani authorities to clarify the facts and avoid stigmatizing Iranian goods.
A high-level peace summit co-chaired by Donald Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi is taking place in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, today, October 13, 2025. The summit aims to formalize a Gaza peace deal and discuss post-war arrangements. Despite receiving an invitation, Iran has confirmed it will not attend, citing ongoing US sanctions and perceived threats.
The United Nations officially reimposed sanctions on Iran on September 27, 2025, after France, Germany, and the United Kingdom triggered the 'snapback' mechanism of the JCPOA. This action reinstates an arms embargo, financial restrictions, and prohibitions on nuclear and missile activities, citing Iran's non-compliance.
New reports reveal China is facilitating Iran's sanctions evasion through covert oil-for-infrastructure payment systems and metals-for-cars barter networks. This involves state-backed entities and opaque financial conduits, enabling billions in trade and infrastructure development for Iran despite international sanctions. The US has responded with new sanctions targeting Chinese entities.
Iran summoned EU envoys to protest the bloc's 'interventionist' statements regarding contested islands in the Strait of Hormuz and its nuclear and missile programs. Tehran rejected the EU-GCC joint communiqué, reaffirming its sovereignty over Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb, and Abu Musa, and criticizing renewed UN sanctions.
The 20-year Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty between Iran and Russia, signed by Presidents Vladimir Putin and Masoud Pezeshkian, officially came into effect on October 2, 2025. The agreement covers extensive cooperation in defense, energy, technology, and finance, aiming to strengthen bilateral ties and counter Western influence.
Three female prisoners, Somayeh Rashidi, Jamileh Azizi, and Soudabeh Asadi, died in Iran's Qarchak Women's Prison in September 2025 due to alleged denial and delay of medical care. The deaths highlight severe human rights concerns and systemic medical neglect within the notorious facility, prompting international condemnation.
