During a meeting with President Masoud Pezeshkian and his cabinet on Sunday, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s Supreme Leader, warned that the state of “neither war nor peace” is dangerous and one that the “enemy” seeks to impose. He stressed that solutions should not be expected from “external changes” but rather achieved through work, effort, and hope. Khamenei identified livelihood and housing as top national priorities, urging the government to curb uncontrolled price increases, ensure steady supply of around ten basic goods, and promote the use of Kalabarg vouchers (Electronic Vouchers). He also addressed the energy imbalance, emphasizing the need to plan for gas imports in winter, while apologizing to citizens for power and gas outages. Furthermore, he instructed state institutions to avoid wastefulness and urged the media to cover the country’s achievements and progress, not just its shortcomings.
The Telegraph reported that Iran, Russia, and China are conducting a campaign of information warfare and influence operations in the United Kingdom to advance their respective agendas. According to the paper, the Iranian regime uses cultural centers, schools, and charities to spread IRGC propaganda, lobby British lawmakers, and run educational programs aimed at radicalizing youth, even forging unexpected ties with the Muslim Brotherhood. Russia, meanwhile, has amplified far-right movements across Europe through disinformation, while China has poured more than £50 million into British universities, particularly Oxford and Cambridge, raising concerns about academic freedom and the transfer of military-use technology. The report criticizes both past Conservative and current Labour governments for weak responses but notes that the 2023 National Security Act gives authorities greater powers. The UK is also considering designating the IRGC a terrorist organization, a move that would tighten restrictions on Iranian-linked entities in the UK.
Iran’s Judiciary confirmed the execution of Mehran Bahramian, arrested during the 2022 protests, at Isfahan Central Prison on charges of “moharebeh” and killing security officer Mohsen Rezaei. The death sentence, initially overturned by the Supreme Court, was reinstated after retrial. Rights groups reported his family had been cut off before the execution and pressured to remain silent. Human rights organizations warn that since the June 2025 war with Israel, Iran has escalated executions, with more than 20,000 people detained in recent months. His brother Fazel remains in custody with his case unresolved, while another brother, Morad, was killed during the November 2022 protests in Semirom.
During his recent visit to China, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian shook hands with President Xi Jinping but declined Xi’s wife’s hand – an incident that drew diplomatic attention and revived debate over the Islamic Republic’s policy in place since the 1979 Revolution. The ban on male-female handshakes stems from religious tradition and has been reinforced by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who instructed diplomats to avoid such contact.
Photograph: khamenei.ir, Wikimedia Commons