The following is a collection of MEMRI TV clips from the MEMRI Iran Studies Project in 2024. Producing such content is very costly, and your help allows us to continue our vital work of supporting counterterrorism efforts in the U.S. and throughout the West. We are very grateful to those of our valued readers who have already donated this year, and ask those who have not yet done so to please consider making a tax-deductible donation now.
On October 27, 2024, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei delivered a speech asserting that only power will provide security for Iran. This statement followed an Israeli airstrike on military targets inside Iran on October 26. Khamenei warned that Israel has made miscalculations regarding Iran, stating that it does not "properly" understand the strength and willpower of the Iranian people, but that Iranians will make it understand.
Iranian official Reza Taghavi said in an October 4, 2024 interview on IRINN TV (Iran) that Hitler was right in his approach towards the Jews. He added that the Zionists must be persecuted, deported, and killed everywhere. Taghavi said that soon the Zionists will create strife in the West, and they will be eradicating America, Europe, and the “arrogant” countries that support them now. Reza Taghavi is a member of an official committee that decides the guidelines for imams delivering Friday sermons in Iran and a former member of the Majles.
Alireza Panahian, head of Iranian Supreme Leader Khamenei's Academic Think Tank said in an August 21, 2024 interview with Channel 2 (Iran) that "the road to Jerusalem goes through Karbala." He said that in order to introduce Islam to Europe, it is necessary to use the Islam of Hossein, Shi'ite Islam, that is full of "kindness and dignity" instead of the Islam of ISIS. Panahian continued to say that in order to liberate Jerusalem, it is required to destroy Zionism, which he referred to as the "lifeline" of Global Arrogance – the United States. He said that Iran should strike Jerusalem, because then some of the Zionists will pack up and leave. Panahian added that if Iranians want to destroy Zionism, the Europeans, Americans, and the people of the world will be liberated from this oppressive capitalist world order.
The economic advisor to Iranian Supreme Leader Khamenei and member of the Expediency Council Ali Aghamohammadi discussed in a December 27, 2023, address aired on IRINN TV (Iran) the killing of IRGC Qods Force General Razi Mousavi in an Israeli airstrike. He said that Hizbullah, the Houthi Ansar Allah, and the Palestinians will avenge his death. Aghamohammadi said that Israel must be annihilated in a preemptive act and that is the only way to save humanity. He shared that he wears a ring made from the windshield of the car used by Qasem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi Al-Muhandis, who were killed by American forces in January 2020. Aghamohammadi said: "We will not rest until we strangle their enemies."
On November 8, 2024, Iran-based Lebanese academic Hadi Dalloul – who was presented as a nuclear physicist and international law expert - appeared on Lebanon On (YouTube) to discuss the recent attacks on Israeli soccer fans in Amsterdam. When asked about the fate of Israelis following the potential "liberation" of Palestine, Dalloul speculated that they could be killed or deported to Europe, which he argued would be unwilling to accept them. He suggested that what happened in the Netherlands provides a glimpse of what the presence of Israelis in Europe might look like. Dalloul framed the situation as a choice between committing genocide or allowing civilians to flee. He added that, if Israelis were allowed to leave, they would establish refugee camps in Europe and later attempt to return to Israel. Dalloul concluded that Europe would likely send them back, labeling them a "nuisance," and suggested that it would be best to resolve the issue once and for all.
On October 24, 2024, Iranian religious scholar Masoud Aali stated in a speech aired on IRINN TV (Iran) that the Jews and the polytheists are the “most obstinate enemies” of the believers. He claimed that they view only Jews as humans, regarding others as slaves. Aali argued that Zionism has exported this Jewish philosophy worldwide and that conquering Israel is key to overcoming the West, and this is the reason for Western support of Israel. He said that Khomeini viewed the destruction of Israel as a religious idea and strategy. This speech was delivered at a memorial for martyrs of the resistance in Semnan.
Mohammadreza Gholamreza, former deputy of IRGC Qods Force commander Qasem Soleimani discussed Iran's retribution for the assassination of Soleimani and PMU deputy leader Abu Mahdi Al-Muhandis by President Trump's first administration in 2020, in an interview that was aired on Channel 1 (Iran), on November 3, 2024. He suggested that Iran should adopt the Israeli policy of hunting down Nazis and killing them even after many years have already passed and implement this to the killers of Soleimani and Al-Muhandis. Gholamreza added that there should also be a group of people that would identify Israeli soldiers from photos they posted on social media and hunt them down. Gholamreza added that they should feel too unsafe to travel abroad.
Iranian Islamic scholar Mohammad-Taghi Akbarnejad said in an interview posted on Azad TV on YouTube (Iran) August 10, 2024, that the Iranian regime is not fulfilling the goals and promises of the Islamic Revolution. He said that Iran has lost without firing a single bullet by losing its people. Akbarnejad said that Iran has taken an entire people hostage for the sake of religion. He added that the regime tells the people that they will remain hostages so long as America exists. Akbarnejad stated that the public in Iran feels that it has been taken hostage by Palestine, and therefore most Iranians were not saddened by the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.
The host of a morning show aired on Iranian TV Channel 1 (Iran) on July 15, 2024, suggested that it is not far-fetched that the July 13 attempted assassination of former U.S. President Donald Trump was staged. He said that it would have been more "exciting" if the bullet had hit the target. However, the host echoed Hizbullah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah's statement’s following the American killing of IRGC Qods Force commander Qassem Soleimani, according to which "Trump’s head is not worthy of comparison to the shoes of Hajj Qassem Soleimani." He added that Trump must be kept alive in order to stand trial and pay for his "crimes, especially for the assassination of our dear martyr, Hajj Qassem Soleimani."
Iranian journalist Mehdi Nasiri, who is the former editor-in-chief of Kayhan daily, was very critical of the Iranian regime on a January 11, 2024 debate on Didar News (Iran), predicting that "it would be a miracle" if the regime lasted more than five years. He said that Iran serves as a cash cow for Russia, China, Iraq, Lebanon, and Syria, investing hundreds of millions of dollars in weapons and building tunnels in Gaza, so there is no money left to treat cancer patients in Iran. Nasiri further stated that Iran's "catastrophe" has been its foreign policy, its anti-Americanism and anti-Western policy led by Supreme Leader Khamenei. Regarding the war in Gaza, Nasiri said that Hamas started it by launching a "barbaric attack against Israeli civilians," which was reckless and unwise, and it gave Israel a pretext to retaliate against it. He said that Iran was the only country where anti-Israel sentiment is not welcomed by the public, and in fact, 10,000 people couldn't even be gathered in Tehran for a rally supporting the Palestinians. Nasiri said that a Hamas victory would only increase the pressure of the regime on the people, which he likened to a monster with its boot on the public's neck.
In a viral video posted on various social media accounts on December 14, 2024, Iranian high school students can be heard chanting "Death to Palestine!" in response to the school administrator trying to lead chants of "Death to Israel!" and "Death to America!" The students can be heard laughing as an administrator attempts to set a makeshift Israeli flag on fire.
In his November 29, 2024 Friday sermon on Baran TV in Rasht, Iran, Rasoul Falahati, Khamenei’s representative in Gilan Province, criticized Iran’s decision to sign the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), calling it a mistake. He emphasized that Iran "has no choice" but to strengthen its deterrence capabilities, urging the country to develop nuclear weapons to instill fear in the hearts of "infidel" world leaders. Falahati also pointed out that Iran already possesses the technology and resources needed to build such weapons.
In a November 25, 2024 appearance on Channel 3 (Iran), Iranian researcher and author Mohammad-Taghi Zahedi described the Holocaust as a "fabrication," claiming it was the "final piece in the puzzle of lies" designed to enable the Jews and Zionists to claim victimhood. He argued that the extermination of six million Jews would have taken 68 years, suggesting that the process of killing people one by one in gas chambers and transferring their remains to crematories would not have been feasible within the timeframe of the war. Zahedi further stated that there were fewer than six million Jews in Europe before World War II, claiming that the migration of Jews to Israel after the war disproved the notion that six million Jews were killed.
In a December 1, 2024 interview on Al-Jazeera Network, former IRGC commander-in-chief Mohsen Rezaee claimed that Israel and the U.S. orchestrated the recent Islamist militants’ insurgence into Aleppo. He suggested that Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu had prior knowledge of the attack in Aleppo. When the interviewer pushed back, questioning Iran’s support for a regime responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Syrians and the displacement of millions, Rezaee defended the Syrian government. He labeled opposition forces, including Turkish-backed groups, as "terrorists" serving Israel and the U.S., accusing them of high treason and undermining the Islamic nation. Rezaee continued to stress that armed struggles within Islamic countries are unacceptable, and that Iran must prevent Israel and the U.S. from reshaping the Middle East.
In a November 29, 2024 address aired on IRINN TV (Iran), General Mohammad-Reza Naghdi, Deputy IRGC commander-in-chief for coordination, threatened Israel with a second "Al-Aqsa Flood," claiming it would completely "finish off" the country. Naghdi argued that the October 7, 2023 Al-Aqsa Flood demonstrated the need for offensive action against Israel, warning that failing to push the attack to Tel Aviv and liberate Jerusalem would lead to Israel killing civilians. Responding to questions about a third "Operation True Promise," following the direct Iranian missile attacks on Israel in April and October, Naghdi emphasized his focus on a second "Al-Aqsa Flood" operation, which he claimed would surpass the October 7 attack. He added that the upcoming conflict would make the past year seem like a "walk in the park" for Israelis. The clip ends with the audience chanting "Death to Israel."
In a November 26, 2024 interview with Mohammad-Mehdi Yazdi of the Tasnim News Agency (Iran), Admiral Shahram Irani, commander of the Iranian navy, outlined plans to establish "ocean commands" to expand Iran’s naval operations. He said that these commands, aimed at securing Iranian vessels in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic Oceans, are a key part of the navy’s strategy. Irani also mentioned that the first stage of this initiative would involve the construction of mobile offshore bases.
In a November 27, 2024 press conference aired on IRINN TV (Iran), Iranian Majles Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf discussed his country’s relations with Russia. He emphasized that the nations share a maritime border and mutual interests, highlighting the opportunities for deepening bilateral ties. However, he noted that the two countries have yet to fully capitalize on their potential for cooperation. Ghalibaf stressed the importance of further strengthening collaboration with Russia across various sectors.
In a November 27, 2024, press conference aired on IRINN TV (Iran), Iranian Majles Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf emphasized the strong strategic ties between Iran and China. He described China as both a friend and an ally, highlighting the depth of their bilateral relations. Ghalibaf stressed that Iran and China share mutual interests, including common friends and enemies. He further outlined that their partnership spans a wide range of areas, including economic, cultural, social, political, security, and defense issues, underscoring the importance of expanding these ties.
In a November 22, 2024 Friday sermon in Pardisan, Qom, Mohammad-Reza Hamedi urged Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, to reconsider his fatwa banning the production and use of nuclear weapons. Hamedi argued that while Iran does not need to use nuclear weapons, it should have them as a deterrent, especially as its enemies possess nuclear weapons and pose threats to the country. The sermon was uploaded to Tabnak.ir (Iran).
On November 18, 2024, Iranian researcher and author Mohammad-Taghi Zahedi stated in an appearance on Channel 3 (Iran) that Purim is a holiday of animosity towards the Iranians and the Aryan race. He added that Jews invented the holiday to fabricate proof of their existence during the Achaemenian Empire period. Zahedi claimed that Haman was the first antisemite, a person who opposed Jewish victimhood and oppressed the Jews. He further claimed that an Israeli general had threatened to slit the necks of Iranians, similar to the events of Purim. Zahedi also referenced The Protocols of the Elders of Zion, alleging that it discusses the killing of non-Jewish women and children and the manipulation of women in non-Jewish societies. He asserted that the Protocols is a manual that Jews follow, alongside the Torah and Talmud, to destroy non-Jewish families by promoting liberal ideologies among women in gentile societies.
In an interview on Channel 1 (Iran) on November 20, 2024, Fereydoon Abbasi, former head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, stated that if European nations continue to fail in honoring their commitments, Iran should consider enriching uranium beyond 90% for small reactors using highly-enriched fuel. He called for conducting high-level neutron calculations and measurements, sending a clear message to the United States that Iran will not back down. While claiming that Iran does not seek weapons of mass destruction, Abbasi emphasized the necessity of nuclear capabilities to advance in the space sector, including launching satellites and space shuttles. He also highlighted the strategic importance of developing small nuclear reactors for use as nuclear propellants for seacraft. Abbasi acknowledged that such actions might lead to new sanctions, but argued that Iran has little to lose, given its current accusations of providing missiles and UAVs to Russia.
#11517 - Iranian TV Show Simulates Strikes On Key Targets In Haifa Port
An Ofogh TV (Iran) program aired on November 15, 2024, featured a simulated missile strike on key targets in Haifa Port. Analyst Mohammad-Taghi Aghayan identified several strategic locations, including the Dolphin-class submarine, the navy headquarters, and the shipyard, among others, providing the exact geographical coordinates for each. Host Hossein Hosseini emphasized that the segment was a simulation and not an indication of an impending attack. The show then displayed an animated missile strike on Haifa. Aghayan further stated that Iran could destroy Tel Aviv in just seven minutes if it chose to.
In a November 18, 2024 appearance on IRINN TV (Iran), former Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister and advisor to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, Mohammad-Javad Larijani, stated that Iran could develop military nuclear capability within 48 hours, potentially reducing that time to 24 hours. He emphasized that Iran’s nuclear capabilities are non-negotiable and not subject to the "snapback" provisions of the JCPOA. Larijani also warned that any serious threats to Iran’s nuclear program would lead the country to reconsider its deterrence policies, signaling that an attack on its nuclear infrastructure would prompt a response the West would regret.
In a November 14, 2024 interview on IRINN TV (Iran), the head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization, Mohammad Eslami addressed the possibility of a resolution against Iran by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Eslami warned that Iran would respond immediately and reciprocally if such a resolution is passed. He stated: "We will teach them not to use these tacky measures and worn-out means against us," and emphasized that there is "no turning back from this path" regarding Iran's nuclear program.
On May 6, 2024, the International Forum for Security and Peace in the Middle East – organized by the Executive Committee of the Arab State of Ahwaz – was held in Brussels, Belgium. At the forum, which was organized to form a coalition of the non-Persian ethnic groups in Iran against Iran's Islamic regime, the Foreign Affairs chief of the Free Balochistan Movement, Jamal Nasir Baloch, said that the Iranian Persians cannot "force their will and their identity" on the Baloch, the Kurds, the Turk-Azerbaijanis, and the Arabs, and he called for the non-Persian ethnic groups to form a "framework for cooperation, a transitional plan to achieve independence, and a NATO pact." The video was uploaded to Humgaam news on YouTube.
In an interview with Sky News Arabia (UAE) on November 11, 2024, Iranian political analyst Emad Abshenas discussed Iran's nuclear capabilities. He stated that intelligence reports show Iran is currently capable of producing not just one or two nuclear bombs, but dozens, and could potentially enrich uranium to weapon-grade levels of 90%, if the political decision is made to do so. Abshenas also emphasized that Iran has no interest in assassinating President Trump, suggesting instead that other entities—such as Ukraine, members of the Democratic Party, and Israel—may have greater motivations.
In a November 10, 2024 appearance on IRINN TV (Iran), IRGC General Mohammad-Jafar Asadi, deputy commander of Khatam-al Anbiya Central Headquarters, criticized Iranian Jews for not speaking out against what he called the "huge" massacre being perpetrated by "evil Jews" over the past year. Asadi urged Iranian Jews to come forward and take action "on the ground." He stated that while the term "Zionists" is commonly used, Zionism stems from Jews, whom he described as the "biggest enemies" of Muslims according to the Quran. He questioned why anti-Zionist Jews do not step up and help eliminate what he called a "cancerous growth," labeling this as a "mark of shame" on humanity.
On September 15, 2024, the residents of the Iranian-controlled Kurdish city of Saqez – which is the hometown of Jina (Mahsa) Amini, a young Kurdish woman who died at the hands of Iranian morality police in 2022 – held demonstrations marking the anniversary of Amini’s death. A general strike was also held in the city. This clip contains footage from the demonstrations, taken from various social media sources.
Kamal Kharrazi, an advisor to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and head of the Strategic Council on Foreign Affairs, suggested in a November 1, 2024, interview with Mayadeen TV (Lebanon) that Iran might expand the range of its ballistic missiles and consider changes to its nuclear doctrine. He stated that when Western European countries do not address Iran’s concerns—especially regarding its sovereignty and territorial integrity—there is no reason for Iran to consider their concerns. Kharrazi remarked that if Iran "faces an existential threat," it would modify its nuclear doctrine, asserting that Iran has the technical capability to develop nuclear weapons, with Khamenei's fatwa being the only barrier to such actions.
In an October 23, 2024 interview on Channel 4 (Iran), Iranian TV host Kourosh Aliani described the "hidden" siege of Gaza as "much more" sinister than the Nazi Final Solution. He argued that while the Final Solution, which involved methods like gas chambers and "whatever," was carried out openly, the siege restricts caloric intake for the people in Gaza, leading to starvation and disease in secret.
Iranian Majles member IRGC General (Ret.) Esmaeil Kowsari said in an October 14, 2024 interview on Channel 3 (Iran) that the founder of Iran’s long-range missile program, Hassan Tehrani Moghaddam, had been in the midst of testing an intercontinental long-range ballistic missile (ICBM) when he "was martyred" in 2011. General Kowsaei served in the past as the head of the Defense and National Security Committee in the Iranian Majles.
Iranian researchers discussed possible Iranian geopolitical courses of action in an October 8, 2024 show posted on Tamamrokh on Aparat. International researcher Ali Samadzadeh said that Iran must not limit its retaliation for attacks against Iranian targets in Lebanon to the Lebanese arena, but to expand into other military operation "gray zones." He suggested expanding operation into Jordan, which is "very fragile," Bahrain, and the Caucasus, specifically the oil production in Azerbaijan which supplies Israel via the Baku–Tbilisi–Ceyhan pipeline. Mehdi Kharati, head of the Policy Resurrection Institute said that if Iran’s nuclear centers are attacked, its nuclear doctrine has to change. The researchers suggested several options to a change of nuclear doctrine besides building a bomb, including nuclear ambiguity and blocking inspectors from entering, without leaving the Treaty of Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).
Jaber Rajabi, former advisor to Iranian President Ahmadinejad, who played a key role in establishing the Iraqi pro-Iran Shiite militias, and who has since defected, discussed the Israeli intelligence infiltration in Iran and sabotage in nuclear facilities in a September 20, 2024 interview with Al-Arabiya Network (Saudi Arabia). He said that there are many doubts about the regime among the second and third generation of the IRGC. Rajabi continued to say that the Israeli intelligence infiltration into Iran is not only about money, but rather people are performing acts of sabotage against the nuclear program due to their own patriotic convictions. He explained that many Iranians oppose the nuclear program because they fear a nuclear arms race in which Iran’s neighbors would be handed nuclear weapons by international powers, and because they fear an Iraq-like invasion from international powers in order to root out its nuclear program.
Former Iranian Majles Member Ali Motahari congratulated the viewers in an October 6, 2024 show on Ofogh TV (Iran) on the upcoming anniversary of the October 7 attack. He said that the loss of life and damage in Gaza and Lebanon are regrettable – but they are worthwhile "if we look at the goal of gradually liberating Palestine." Motahari further said that another way to destroy Israel is to hold an election among Palestinians, including those in the diaspora, on whether to allow the Jews to stay in Palestine or force them to leave. He explained that this would be another way to destroy Israel. Motahari said that there will not be peace unless Israel is destroyed, and if Israel were to be victorious, it would enslave the other countries in the region.
In a video posted on the IRGC Telegram channel on October 10, 2024, the IRGC threatens another attack against Israel, Operation True Promise III, following previous attacks in early October and April. The video singles out potential targets such as the Orot Rabin power plant, Karish gas field, Ben Gurion Airport, desalination plants, and Refael Defense Systems (which it called Refael "Combat" systems). The video concluded with the warning: "This time, a more horrific nightmare awaits you."
Head of the IRGC Ground Force Operations General Morteza Mirian discussed Iranian vengeance against Israel in an October 7, 2024 show on Ofogh TV (Iran) following Iran’s October 1 attack on Israel, named Operation True Promise II. He said Iran can strike any place in Israel and that Israeli defense systems and international support have been shown to be "incapable of doing anything." Mirian added that the enemy must know that Iran will always seek revenge from Israel, and their fingers are even now on the trigger "in order to turn the enemy into dust." He also singled out America as a supporter of Israel in perpetrating evil.
IRINN TV (Iran) aired footage of IRGC Commander-in-Chief Hossein Salami giving the order to launch 200 ballistic missiles against Israel on October 1, 2024. He stated that this attack was “blood vengeance” for the assassinations of Ismail Haniyeh, Hassan Nasrallah and IRGC General Abbas Nilforoushan. Salami delivered the orders to IRGC Aerospace Force Commander General Hajizadeh over the phone. He is then seen conveying the good wishes of Iranian President Pezeshkian.
A September 28, 2024 Iranian TV show discussed possible Iranian responses for the assassination of Hizbullah leader Hassan Nasrallah on Channel 3 TV. Amirhossein Tahmasebi said that Iranians are "itching for blood vengeance for Nasrallah." His co-host said that the only way to prevent "Israel's atrocities" is to attack American targets in the region. A guest on the show, political analyst Hamid Reza Gholamzadeh, said that Israel seeks to bring the United States into the war with Iran, but the United States does not want to engage Iran, nor does it have the capabilities to do so.
In a September 29, 2024 session of the Iranian Majles following the assassination of Hizbullah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah, speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf led members in the chant: “Death to America! Death to Israel!” He said that the United States is “an accomplice” in the crimes of the Zionist regime, and therefore it must accept the consequences. Other members of the Majles criticized the regime for not avenging the assassinations of Qasem Soleimani and Ismail Haniyeh, saying that if there had been vengeance for them, the assassination of Nasrallah would have been avoided. One member suggested that Iran should rethink its nuclear and military doctrine. The session was aired on IRINN TV (Iran).
Iranian diplomat, former ambassador to Jordan Mojtaba Ferdosipour, who has recently become the head of the West Asia and North Africa Research Department of the Iranian foreign ministry, responded in a September 28, 2024 show on Sky News Arabia (UAE) to the assassination of Hizbullah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah. He said that Iran does not want a war with Israel "in the wide sense of the word," and he claimed that Israel seeks to drag Iran into a war with the United States. Ferdosipour added that Israel has been defeated in terms of its economy and its security.
Iran's Press TV anchor, Iranian-American journalist Marzieh Hashemi was shaken when she announced the confirmation of Hizbullah leader Nasrallah's death. Press TV's Beirut reporter, Mariam Saleh, started to cry, and said she did not know how she would handle this. Before she vowed to continue fighting until victory, she said that she would have liked to sacrifice her children if this would bring Nasrallah back.
In a September 26, 2024 show on Al-Jazeera Network (Qatar), Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian was asked if Iran is ready to support a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians. He answered that if "the people there" conclude that this is the best path and the most appropriate solution, then Iran will accept it, and that Iran's problem is with the "tyranny, oppression, and cowardly acts" that target Muslims in the Middle East. He elaborated that if a democratic referendum is held, Iran will respect whatever outcome. Later in the interview, he said that Iran has never sought war with anybody, that it believes in peace and security for the region, that it wants to "sit down with the world" and join it again, and that it will allow inspections of its nuclear project only when the West is convinced that Iran is not seeking nuclear weapons or WMDs. He added: "However, it is inconceivable that we abide by our commitments, time and again, and then they rip their own commitments apart.
In a September 14, 2024 IRINN TV (Iran) news broadcast dedicated to the launch of the Chamran-1 satellite, Iran's Deputy Minister of Defense Admiral Amir Rastegari, who is also CEO of the Iranian Defense Ministry’s Electronic Industries said that the launch was tasked with demonstrating the satellite's orbital transition and trajectory change technology. Commander of the Space Division in the IRGC Aerospace Force General Ali Jafarabadi explained that the satellite was launched using "the latest technology," and he explained the next phases in Iran's satellite project. Admiral Rastegari said that the satellite will not be collecting or transmitting data, it is tasked with orbital trajectory maneuvering.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned in an address that was uploaded to his website, leader.ir, on August 27, 2024 against an artificial intelligence international regulatory body, similar to the IAEA – International Atomic Energy Agency. He said that Iran must master the "different layers" of artificial intelligence technology, and not just be end-users, otherwise, Iranians will be forced to ask permission in order to use it later.
Iranian political analyst Emad Abshenas explained in a September 9, 2024 show on Sky News Arabia (UAE) that the "final goal of Iran and the resistance axis is to destroy Israel." He explained that any Iranian attack against Israel might save Netanyahu from his own entanglements, and it is not in Iran's interest to do so because Netanyahu is destroying "everything the Jews have been trying to build for 2,000 years."
IRGC commander-in-chief General Hossein Salami stated in a September 8, 2024 address, which was aired on IRINN TV (Iran) that Israel is trembling at the "nightmare of Iran’s definite retaliatory action." He said that "they will taste the bitterness of revenge," but the "revenge will be different this time." Salami added: "They will learn not to play with the lion’s tail." General Salami made his remarks at a cultural conference in Iran’s Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province.
IRGC commander-in-chief General Hossein Salami elaborated on Iranian naval clashes with Israel, Britian, and the United States in an address during President Masoud Pezeshkian’s visit to the joint headquarters for Iran’s armed forces. He claimed that in response to Israeli attacks against Iranian ships in the Mediterranean and Red Sea, Iran had targeted 12 Israeli ships in the Northern Indian Ocean and elsewhere. Salami said that Israel surrendered after the fifth ship was hit, and the naval conflict was over. He later detailed naval clashes with Britian and the U.S., including a simulated operation to seize an American oil tanker. The address was aired on September 7, 2024 on IRINN TV (Iran).
#11344 - Women In Iran Being Violently Arrested, Assaulted For Not Wearing The Hijab Properly
This clip is a compilation of footage of women in Iran being violently arrested or assaulted for not properly wearing their hijab while in public. The videos on this clip were shared by various online sources, including Iran Wire and Iranian activists, between May 14 and August 14, 2024.
Beirut-based Iranian Academic Mohammad Gharavi said in an August 7, 2024 show on Al-Manar TV (Hizbullah-Lebanon) that Iran's most important strategic goal is to obtain nuclear deterrence capabilities. He explained that Iran wants to be able to say that they can obtain nuclear capabilities with the "push of a button." Gharavi confirmed that enriching uranium to 60% is tantamount to this, but Iran still needs to reach the stage of having missiles that can carry nuclear bombs and the technology to protect them. He continued to say that Iran cannot reveal all its cards now, but Israel needs to know that it has plans and means of deterrence and that "ultimately, nuclear power is only deterred by nuclear power."
#11319 - Iran Participates In Russian Military Exhibition, Showcases Missiles And Drones
Press TV (Iran) aired a report on the Iranian delegation to Russia's international military technical exhibition on August 13, 2024. Marina Kortunova, Press TV's correspondent in Moscow, said that Russian President Vladimir Putin and Minister of Defense Andrey Belousov addressed the delegations of "friendly nations" such as Iran, India, China, and Belarus. She added that Iran set up a large pavilion for the third consecutive year that includes Iranian drones and missiles. IRGC Brigadier General Ali Shademani discussed his country's cooperation with Russia, and he said that the countries have "common security challenges in the region." He added: "This partnership is very promising." Kortunova said that the exhibition included weapons used in the Ukraine conflict. She ended her report stating that the exhibition had a limited participation because it was held against the backdrop of fierce fighting in the Kursk and Belgorod regions, in which she claimed a "huge number of NATO mercenaries are taking part."
Iranian Majles Member Mohammad-Reza Sabbaghian Bafghi said in a Majles session that the Iranian National Security Council should recommend to the Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei to revoke the fatwa prohibiting the production of nuclear weapons. In an August 11, 2024 session of the Majles, which was aired on IRINN TV (Iran), he said that "under the new circumstances" and in response to the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and the killing of Palestinians in Gaza, Iran should produce nuclear weapons. Bafghi asked how come the "bullies" are permitted to have nuclear weapons while Iran and other Islamic countries are not.
#11330 - IRGC's Quds Force Presents Iranian Cruise Missiles Used By Venezuelan Navy
On August 7, 2024, the Iranian website eitaa.com published a video showing Venezuelan naval forces using an Iranian-made cruise missile to destroy an "enemy vessel" in a naval exercise.
#11306 - Iranian CCTV Footage Shows Morality Policy Brutally Beating 14-Year-Old Girl
On August 6, 2024, the Iran Wire X account published CCTV footage showing a 14-year-old girl in Iran being violently assaulted and beaten by Iran's morality police. The footage was first published by the Iranian Ensaf News website, and the incident apparently took place on June 21, 2024 in Tehran. The website also claimed that the footage was acquired after it was ordered by a Tehran Province judge to be released to the girl's family and to their attorney.
Iranian Majles member Mohammad Qassim Osmani said in a Majles session that Members of Majles would be content with nothing less than the killing of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as blood vengeance for the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran. He added that Iranians will trample on the heads of the Zionist regime. Osmani asserted that every member of the Majles is vying to volunteer for such a suicide mission. Video of Osmani’s speech was uploaded to DIdarNews on Telegram on August 5, 2024.
Alireza Panahian head of Khamenei's Ammar think tank for universities discussed Iran's response to the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran in a July 31, 2024 interview with Channel 3 (Iran). He said that he is sure that this is the last nail in the Zionists' coffin. Panahian added that they have no peace and cannot sleep. He said that Iranian missiles will annihilate them forever. He stated that Israel is coming to an end, the days of Western support for it are over, and the era for Iranian dominance in the region has arrived.
In the July 30, 2024, inauguration of Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian at the Iranian Majles, Iranian Majles Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf stated that Iran's main concern is spreading security and stability in the region. His speech was cut off, when Majles members chanted: "Death to Israel!" Later in his speech, he was cut off by members chanting: "Death to America!" President Pezeshkian discussed Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's speech to the joint session of Congress, and he was cut off by the Majles members who chanted again: "Death to Israel!" Foreign dignitaries attending the inauguration applauded, while the members were chanting "Death to Israel!" Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, who was assassinated in Tehran just hours later, can be seen applauding to the Majles members chants of "Death to Israel!" Other foreign dignitaries who attended the inauguration were Palestinian Islamic Jihad leader Ziyad Nakhalah, Hizbullah deputy secretary-general Naim Qassem, and Houthi-Yemeni spokesman Mohammed Abdul-Salam. The inauguration was aired on Channel 1 (Iran).
Ramin Mazaheri, a correspondent for Press TV (Iran) reported live from the "Arrest Netanyahu" protest in Washington D.C. on July 24, 2024. He said that this protest, against Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's speech to the joint session of Congress, was "really a very big deal," because the U.S. has not had many protests, besides a one-day protest against the Gulf War in 2003 and previously against the Vietnam War. Mazaheri added that many things in America have changed because young people have had their eyes opened by TikTok, Instagram, and Press TV. It Is worth noting, that the Press TV account on X, retweeted a video of the American flag being removed and burned later on in the same rally.
IRGC Aerospace Force Commander General Amir-Ali Hajizadeh said in a July 1 address that he and his soldiers "are craving" for the opportunity to launch Operation True Promise II, similar to its April missile and UAV attack on Israel. He said that Iran's "hands are tied," and it does not have the "right circumstances" to act against Israel directly. General Hajizadeh highlighted Iran's direct attacks on American assets, such as the Global Hawk UAV and Ayn Al-Assad airbase. He stressed that Iran is providing weapons to its "dear friends" in Palestine, Lebanon, and elsewhere and that it will do everything in its power to help them. General Hajizadeh stated that the October 7 Al-Aqsa Flood "will lead to a certain Palestinian victory." General Amir-Ali Hajizadeh addressed a group of Palesitnain families of "martyrs" who traveled from Gaza to Iran. Video of his address was posted on SSN.ir (Iran).
Mostafa Mirlohi, a member of the board of trustees of Tehran University said that Mecca and the Kaaba are controlled by the "enemies of Islam" and that they should be in the hands of the Shiites. His address, which preceded the Tehran University Friday sermon was aired on IRINN TV (Iran) on Friday 14, 2024. Mirlohi continued to complain about the lack of upkeep of the Kaaba and other holy monuments in Mecca. He said that the Zionists control the security of the monuments and that the fate of the Islamic nation is held by "oppressors and thugs."
IRGC General Yahya Rahim-Safavi, senior advisor to Ali Khamenei and former Chief Commander of the IRGC, said in a June 12, 2024 address that was aired on SNN.ir that Iran needs to increase the depth of its strategic defense to 5,000 kilometers. He said that the Iranian defense should expand beyond its borders. He gave examples of historical Persian leaders who made vast territorial conquests, like Cyrus the Great, who liberated Jerusalem and King Xerxes who led his troops to Anatolia and took over Greece. Safavi said that Iran’s reach has expanded through Hizbullah to the Mediterranean Sea. He added that Iran is also present at the Red Sea and the Bab Al-Mandab Strait.
IRGC Qods Force commander Esmail Qaani said that any country that defended Israel against the Iranian missile attack on April 14 would be held accountable, in a May 15, 2024 address that was aired on IRINN TV (Iran). He said that France, Germany, and England should not think that this was over the night they mobilized their airplanes. Qaani warned regional leaders to consider whether the U.S. would protect them any better than the U.S. protected Israel against Iran. Esmail Qaani spoke at a memorial for IRGC General Mohammad Hadi Haji Rahimi, who was killed in the April 1 attack on the Iranian embassy compound in Damascus.
#11077 - Senior Iranian Official Kamal Kharrazi: Iran Is Capable Of Producing A Nuclear Bomb And May Decide To Change Its Doctrine In This Regard If Its Nuclear Facilities Are Attacked; The War With Israel Is The Palestinians' War, Iran Has No Military Presence There
President of the Iranian Strategic Council on Foreign Relations Kamal Kharrazi said in a May 8, 2024 interview on Al-Jazeera Network (Qatar) that Iran might change its doctrine banning nuclear weapons, if its nuclear facilities are attacked. He also said that Iran does not plan on fighting for the Palestinians, but it will provide support. Kharrazi added that Iran’s policy is not to expand the scope of the war and that it will not fight for the Palestinian people. He added that Iran would be happy to provide support for the Palestinians, however, it is not able to provide weapons at this time.
Dr. Amir Reza Shahani, president of K.N. Toosi University of Technology in Tehran extended an invitation to students and professors at American universities who were expelled due to campus protests, in an April 30, 2024 show on IRIB Ofogh TV (Iran). He said that his university is willing to accept the students, and they can join other international students at the university. Shahani added that the faculty at his university would be happy to have the professors join as colleagues.
Tehran University professor Foad Izadi, one of the leading mouthpieces of the Iranian regime, discussed encampments in American college campuses on an April 26, 2024 show on Ofogh TV [Iran]. He said that Iranians like what they see on the college campuses, but "it should not end with this." Izadi continued to say that these students are "our people." He added that if tensions between America an Iran rise, "these are the people who will have to take to the streets to support of Iran." Izadi said that Iran could potentially repeat what it did in Lebanon in greater measure, because its "Hizbullah-style" groups in America are "much larger" than in Lebanon. He further said that America is the Great Satan and Iran's main enemy, but "we have hope."
Khorasan Razavi TV (Iran) aired a rally of university students and professors in Mashhad, Iran in support of campus encampments and protests in the West on April 27, 2024. A speaker at the rally said that the Basij organization of university lecturers in the province of Khorasan Razavi supports the "freedom-seeking professors and students" in American and European universities. He said that the student community will demand vengeance for the blood of the innocent children of Gaza. The speaker led the crowd in chants of 'Death to America!' 'Death to Israel!' and 'Death to the Jewish oppressors!' He said that liberal democracy and global Zionists are on a path of decline and destruction. The speaker further suggested that Western students study Iranian Supreme Leader's message and act until the "cancerous growth that is Israel" is annihilated along with "global arrogance and heresy."
Former Iranian diplomat Amir Mousavi warned in an April 14, 2024 interview with Al-Jadeed TV (Lebanon) that if "Zionist attacks" on Iran continue, there will be "great surprises." He said that Iran will use strategic missiles, strategic UAVs, and operations similar to October 7, carried out by Iranians themselves. Mousavi said that the weapons used by Iran in its attack against Israel earlier that day "were not very advanced."
IRGC General [Ret.] Saeed Ghasemi said on an April 14, 2024 show on Tehran TV [Iran], the day that Iran launched a missile and UAV attack on Israel, that Israel manufactures artificially-fertilized fetuses by the thousands. He described these as "robots made of flesh, explained that this is why it doesn't bother Israel to massacre children, and added: "This collective must be annihilated."
On April 14, 2024, IRINN TV [Iran] aired footage of Iran's Majles members celebrating the first reports of the missile and UAV attack against Israel. The Majles members chanted "Death to America!", "Death to Israel!", and "Congratulations to the warriors of Islam!"
On April 14, 2024, IRINN TV [Iran] aired a press conference in which Iranian Armed Forces Chief of Staff IRGC General Mohammad Bagheri and IRGC Commander-in-Chief General Hossein Salami spoke about the same-day Iranian missile and UAV attack against Israel. General Bagheri said that the operation achieved its goals and that Iran does not intend to continue the operation further, unless Israel acts against Iran. He said that the operation was targeted at the Israeli intelligence base and airbase from where the April 1, 2024 attack against the Iranian consulate complex in Damascus was planned and launched. Bagheri also claimed that Israel's air defenses and Iron Dome system were incapable of dealing with the attack, asserting that the targets were "significantly destroyed." He also said that the U.S. failed to thwart the attack. General Salami said that the operation has created a "new equation" according to which Iran will retaliate from its own soil against any Israeli attack on Iranian interests.
Iranian nuclear scientist Mahmoud Reza Aghamiri, the President of Beheshti University, said in an April 7, 2024 interview with Channel 2 (Iran) that Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei can change his fatwa forbidding the production of an atomic bomb at any time. He said that Iran's nuclear capabilities "are high" and that once a country has nuclear capabilities, making a nuclear bomb "is not complicated." Aghamiri continued to say that Iran is one of the top five countries with regards to nuclear capabilities.
Iranian political analyst Mohammad Taghi Aghayan criticized the regime in an April 1, 2024 show on Ofogh TV (Iran) for failing to retaliate for the assassination of Iranian officials. He spoke following an attack on senior Iranian military officials in the Iranian embassy in Damascus, attributed to Israel. Aghayan stated that Iran promised a "harsh revenge" following the killing of IRGC Qods Force commander Qasem Soleimani, Sayyed Razi Mousavi, Hamas military leader Saleh Al-Arouri, and PMU leaders, however, this never materialized beyond an attack on the Ayn Al-Asad Airbase and Erbil. He suggested that Iran strikes Israeli territory directly without using its proxies, in response to its attack on the Iranian embassy in Damascus. Aghayan said that Iran should use the ballistic and hypersonic missiles that Iran has unveiled and tested.
Former Iranian cultural attache to Lebanon Mohammad Mehdi Shariatmadar said in a March 26, 2024 interview with Sky News Arabia (UAE) that all of the weapons used by Hamas and the "resistance movements" throughout the region are either provided directly by Iran or produced locally based on Iranian expertise and training. He qualified that even though Iran arms Hamas and these resistance groups, this does not mean that it bears any responsibility for the operations of these groups. When the host suggested that Shariatmadar is applying a double standard since he has asserted that America is complicit in Israel's crimes because it provides Israel with weapons, Shariatmadar answered that Israel is an unjust, plundering, occupying, and criminal entity, while Hamas is a resistance group fighting on behalf of the Palestinian nation, which he said has the right to self-determination. He added: "There is a great difference between the two cases."
Channel 1 (Iran) aired a report about the joint Iran-China-Russia naval military exercise in the Indian Ocean. According to the report, during the drill called "Maritime Security Belt 2024," Iranian Navy and IRGC vessels simulated maritime battle, hitting ground and air targets, and operations to liberate hostages and hijacked ships.
On March 5, 2024, the IRGC-linked "Iran Military Capabilities" Telegram channel shared a sixteen-second video showing the production of Iranian Shahed-136 suicide drones in factories in Russia, stating that they are the main drones used by the Russian Air Force to destroy strongholds of "Westerners" in Ukraine.
Director of Jurisprudence and Islamic Civilization Institute Mohammad-Taghi Akbarnejad discussed the Iranian regime's support of Palestine in a December 23, 2023 interview with DidarNews (Iran). He said that a large part of the Iranian population despises the regime's support of Palestine. Akbarnejad suggested that Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei stop stating that he wants to wipe Irael off the face of the earth, stop supplying weapons to Gaza, and stop providing military support to the Palestinians. He said that this will lift the sanctions off Iran. Akbarnejad said that Iran is at a "very dangerous crossroad," and if it continues on the same path, it will collapse and the regime will fall.
Former Iranian Nuclear Chief Ali-Akbar Salehi discussed in a February 11, 2024 interview that aired on Nasim TV (Iran) whether Iran is capable of producing a nuclear bomb. He said that Iran has crossed "all the scientific and technological nuclear thresholds" necessary to create a nuclear bomb.
On February 13, 2024, Channel 1 [Iran] aired a report from an IRGC ballistic missile drill, which simulated an attack on Israel's Palmachim airbase. The report showcased a combined attack from land and sea, in which ballistic missiles were launched against a model of Palmachim airbase, which was built in the Iranian desert. According to the report, Palmachim is Israel's largest airbase, and it is the main base for its F-35 warplanes. The reporter said that "this is an illustration of what the IRGC can do [...] if Iran's territory is attacked."
Iranian ambassador to Afghanistan Hassan Kazemi Qomi said on a February 6, 2024 show on Ofogh TV (Iran) that Afghanistan is part of the "axis of resistance." He added that although Afghanistan is "quite far away from Gaza," if need be, more than one division of martyrdom-seekers can go from Afghanistan to support Gaza.
On January 23, 2024, Channel 1 (Iran) aired a report about "multitudes" of drones that were manufactured by Iran's Ministry of Defense and are being delivered to the Islamic Republic of Iran Army for use in its countrywide combat arrays. The drones – which include the Arash, Karrar, and Ababil-5 drones – have operational ranges of up to 1700 kilometers and can reportedly be used to carry out precision strikes, perform reconnaissance, or intercept hostile aircraft.
Former Iranian Foreign Minister Ali-Akbar Salehi said in a January 22, 2024, interview that aired on Russia Today TV that as long as Israel exists, the confrontation between it and Iran will remain. He added that Iran could never recognize the "plundering Zionist entity," even if a Palestinian state is established as part of a two-state solution. Salehi added that this confrontation will continue until the "Zionist entity ceases to exist."
