Mohsen Rezaei, whose four decades in Iran’s ruling establishment span the disputed Karbala-4 offensive, repeated failed presidential campaigns and an Interpol Red Notice over the AMIA bombing, returned to a top security post on Sunday.
Israeli general says Gaza should remain ‘destroyed for generations’ A former head of Israel’s National Security Council has called for Gaza to remain devastated for decades, openly presenting Palestinian despair and destruction as desirable outcomes after Israel’s genocide in the enclave. Retired Major General Giora Eiland told Israel’s 103FM radio station on Sunday that rebuilding Gaza would run against Israeli interests. “Israel has no interest in Gaza being rebuilt, it is better for us that it be destroyed for generations to come,” Eiland said.
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Ali Akbar Velayati, a senior adviser to the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, congratulated Mohsen Rezaei on his appointment as the new secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, lauding the Leader’s prudence and foresight.
Morning update Good morning Middle East Eye readers, Here are the latest developments from across the region: Israel will not have to withdraw its forces from Gaza until Palestinian groups surrender their weapons under the Board of Peace’s plan, its senior envoy has said contradicting his earlier position stating that it did. Speaking to Israel’s Channel 12, Nikolay Mladenov said any withdrawal would follow the verified decommissioning of weapons. Israel has rejected US President Donald Trump's 15-point plan for Gaza and will not withdraw until Hamas fully disarms, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday.
Union documents 108 Israeli attacks against Palestinian journalists in July The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate documented 108 attacks by the Israeli occupation against Palestinian journalists and media workers in July. The attacks include detentions, beatings, interrogations, targeting them with stun grenades and tear gas, cases of settler violence, raids on their home and workplaces, seizure of journalistic equipment and obstruction of journalists’ work. These various instances of violence has rendered Palestinian journalists and media personelle unable to carry out their work or cover ongoing human rights violations.
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Yemen’s armed forces resumed attacks on positions held by Saudi-backed mercenaries, with a new round of drone and missile strikes reported against their positions.
Iran, Oman 'very close' to reaching deal, Araghchi says During a press conference in Tehran, Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi stated that negotiations with Oman over a "temporary route" for the Strait of Hormuz are "very close to reaching a conclusion". During the same presser, Iran's president Masoud Pezeshkian made remarks on the management of the Hormuz crisis, underlining that "violations occur in every memorandum of understanding," and thus "a team should have been formed to address violations rather than to fight". During a press conference in Tehran, Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi stated that negotiations with Oman over a "temporary route" for the Strait of Hormuz are "very close to reaching a conclusion".
US army says 55 commercial vessels redirected amid its blockade against Iran The US Central Command said late on Sunday that its forces redirected 55 commercial vessels as part of its "strict enforcement" of the blockade against Iran. It also added that two more were disabled and another two were boarded to "ensure compliance".
The Islamic Republics supreme leader has not been seen in public for months, fueling speculation about his condition Iran will release footage of its new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, appearing in public, a senior paramilitary commander said on Sunday, in an apparent effort to dispel rumors about his health.
The Islamic Republic's supreme leader has not been seen in public for months, fueling speculation about his condition Iran will release footage of its new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, appearing in public, a senior paramilitary commander said on Sunday, in an apparent effort to dispel rumors about his health.
Houthi attack on Mocha kills seven, Yemeni military says The Yemeni military said early on Monday that a Houthi attack on the Red Sea port city of Mocha killed seven people, including military personnel and civilians, and wounded 30 others. The military added that air defences intercepted and shot down 11 Houthi drones that participated in the attack.
Candidates running in Zambia’s general elections on 13 August must commit to reversing a growing pattern of authoritarian practices that threaten human rights before, during and after the polls, Amnesty International said today. In a new briefing, Authoritarian Practices Eating Away at Human Rights in Zambia: Escalating crackdown on human rights ahead of the 2026 general […] The post Zambia: stalled reforms risk reversing human rights gains appeared first on Amnesty International .
Report: Tensions deepening between US, Israel Tensions between Israel and the US is growing amid Washington's efforts to wind down fighting in Gaza, Lebanon and Iran, according to the Israeli Channel 13 reported. That US Central Command (CENTCOM) chief Brad Cooper conveyed the message of Washington wanting to shift toward "closing the three fronts" during a visit to Israel over the weekend, the broadcaster indicated citing a military source.
Iran marked its annual Journalists’ Day this week as reporters remained behind bars, others faced lengthy prison sentences and rights groups warned that a crackdown on independent reporting has intensified since nationwide anti-government protests erupted earlier this year.
Watch: Netanyahu says Israel 'rejects' Trump's 15-point plan for Gaza Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected a Gaza plan hailed by US President Donald Trump, vowing no military withdrawal until Hamas "genuinely" disarms. "Israel rejects the 15-point document," Netanyahu said during a cabinet meeting. "The [Israeli military] will not carry out any withdrawal until Hamas is genuinely disarmed and will continue to thwart threats against our forces and our citizens.
Lebanon will not take part in next talks with Israel unless demands met: Report Lebanon will not take part in the next round of talks with Israel that are scheduled for early September unless its conditions are met, L’Orient-Le Jour reported citing a source close to the Lebanese delegation's leadership. According to the report, the specific date of the discussions have not been finalised as Beirut has its participation conditional on Israel accepting its demands. "There will be no new negotiations unless Israel accepts Lebanon's conditions, which also include a full cease-fire and an end to the destruction and earthworks being carried out by the Israeli army," the source told the daily.
Israeli attacks in south Lebanon continue, despite truce talks The Israeli army has continued to launch attacks in southern Lebanon, the state-run National News Agency (NNA)reported. This includes artillery shelling in the town of Mansouri and Nabatieh al-Fawqa as well as a "large bombing" in the town of Kfar Tebnit.
The pro-Iranian group said the attack on the port of Mokha was a response to Riyadhs aggression Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels launched ballistic missiles and drones at Saudi-backed government forces in the port city of Mokha on Sunday, describing the attack as a tit-for-tat response to the kingdom's "aggression.
The pro-Iranian group said the attack on the Yemeni port of Mokha was a response to Riyadhs aggression Iran-backed Houthi rebels launched ballistic missiles and drones at Saudi-backed government forces in the Yemeni port city of Mokha on Sunday, describing the attack as a tit-for-tat response to the kingdom's "aggression.
Mojtaba Khamenei’s continued absence from public view has created an unusual system of authority in Tehran, where decisions are made and justified through written messages attributed to him while responsibility appears dispersed across a core establishment network.
