Israeli ex-general warns Iran of new strikes over missiles, nuclear sites

The detentions occurred amid a heated gathering of mourners at a memorial service for Khosrow Alikordi, a prominent human rights lawyer whose recent death has drawn public anger and suspicion among his supporters of foul play.

Alikordi, a former political prisoner who represented jailed protesters, was found dead under unclear circumstances in his office in Mashhad last week, with fellow lawyers and activists questioning the official account of cardiac arrest and alleging possible involvement by security forces.

"Khosrow Alikardi was devoted to freedom and justice, but he never bowed his head to oppression," Narges told attendees in a speech.

"The people are standing here. We are all sisters and brothers. We are all Iranians. With one voice, in solidarity and unity, we say: by the blood of our fallen comrades, we will stand firm until the end," she said.

The Norwegian Nobel Committee on Friday condemned her arrest and called on Tehran to "specify Mohammadi’s place of detention, ensure her safety and well-being and release her unconditionally."

Mohammadi, according to videos circulated online, appeared to be heckled off stage by some attendees, who chanted slogans against the Islamic authorities and in favor of the country's pre-1979 ousted monarchy.

Her foundation posted online that activists Sepideh Qolian, Pouran Nazemi, Hasti Amiri and Aliyeh Motalebzadeh were also arrested, among others.

Mashhad governor Hassan Hosseini told state media that the arrests were made for the detainees' safety as the crowd turned unruly.

"This was done to protect them, because in such circumstances other groups might also take confrontational action. For this reason, the prosecutor’s office intervened to ensure that no problems would arise for these individuals," he told state media.

Javad Alikordi, the lawyer’s brother, said in an audio message that security forces beat Mohammadi and Gholian before taking them away. He said detainees were transferred to a detention facility linked to the intelligence arm of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards in Mashhad.

It was not immediately possible for Iran International to verify his account.

Crackdown

Human Rights Watch decried the arrests and said they come "amid an intensified and full-fledged crackdown on dissent."

"Authorities must immediately and unconditionally release all individuals arrested in connection with exercising their human rights," the rights watchdog added on X.

Mohammadi, one of Iran’s most prominent human rights defenders, has repeatedly said she faces serious threats from Iranian security agencies. In August, she told Germany’s Der Spiegel magazine that intelligence agents had issued direct and indirect death threats against her.

The chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee said at the time that Mohammadi had warned her life was in danger, citing what she described as threats of “physical elimination” by state agents.

Mohammadi has accused Iranian authorities of intensifying pressure on civil society since the June ceasefire with Israel, saying repression of activists, journalists and critics has deepened.

Rights groups say Iran remains one of the world’s most restrictive environments for free expression, with activists frequently detained, prosecuted and imprisoned.

Mohammadi, who is serving a combined 13-year and nine-month prison sentence on national security charges, has been on medical furlough from Tehran’s Evin Prison. She has said she will not return voluntarily and that any re-arrest would amount to civil disobedience.

“We have received warnings from Arab and international parties that Israel is preparing for a wide military operation against Lebanon,” Foreign Minister Youssef Raji told Al Jazeera on Friday. He said Beirut was “intensifying diplomatic contacts to keep Lebanon and its facilities out of any Israeli strike.”

Raji said Hezbollah’s arsenal has failed to protect Lebanon or support Gaza, as the Lebanese state pushes to bring all weapons under national control.

“Hezbollah’s weapons have proven ineffective in supporting Gaza and defending Lebanon,” he said, adding that the government is in dialogue with the group to persuade it to hand over its arms. “But Hezbollah refuses,” he said.

Lebanon has tasked its army with extending state authority nationwide following a ceasefire with Israel that took effect in late 2024 after more than a year of cross-border fighting.

Iran ties and conditions for dialogue

Raji said Iran’s role in Lebanon and the wider region has fueled instability, while stressing that Beirut remains open to talks with Tehran under clear conditions.

“Iran’s role in Lebanon and the region has been very negative,” he said. “We have a problem with Iran, but we are open to dialogue, provided it stops interfering in our internal affairs and halts funding an illegal organization in Lebanon.”

Iran has long backed Hezbollah and has resisted international and domestic calls for the group to disarm, arguing that continued Israeli actions justify its armed presence.

Diplomatic exchange with Tehran

Raji’s remarks follow a diplomatic exchange with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who earlier this month invited his Lebanese counterpart to visit Tehran. Raji declined the invitation, citing unfavorable conditions, and proposed meeting in a neutral third country.

In response, Araghchi said he understood Lebanon’s position given ongoing Israeli actions and said he would accept an invitation to visit Beirut. He said Iran also seeks “a new chapter” in relations based on mutual respect and sovereignty.

The public appeal, published this week under the title Campaign to Support Bita Shafiee, warns that the teenager remains in detention while being held separately from her mother, Maryam Abbasi-Nikoo, who is also imprisoned.

“Bita Shafiee is a child in prison, separated from a mother who is herself incarcerated … Iran, as a member of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, is obliged to uphold fundamental human rights,” the statement reads.

The signatories demanded immediate action to secure the release of both detainees and a transparent account of their legal status and health. They stressed the need for prompt access to lawyers and family members, impartial investigations into any mistreatment, and an end to delays in providing medical or psychological care.

Call for independent monitoring

The campaign says that safeguarding children’s rights “is not contingent on political beliefs” and that all citizens, regardless of family background, are entitled to legal protection, counsel and freedom from arbitrary arrest.

Security forces detained Shafiee, a former political prisoner from Shahinshahr, on November 13. Abbasi-Nikoo was arrested days earlier on November 10 by Intelligence Organization personnel of the Revolutionary Guards. She had previously been detained in July 2022 on a charge of “insulting the prophet” before being acquitted.

Intensified crackdown after June conflict

Rights groups and media outlets report a widening crackdown in recent months, particularly after the 12-day war with Israel. Reuters reported on November 13 that the scope of political repression in Iran has expanded, citing activists who said the escalation was without precedent.

The petition’s organizers highlighted what they called the need for “cross-border solidarity” to press for the safety of the teenager and her mother. International pressure from human rights groups, professional associations and educational networks “can reduce the cost of repression and enable practical support for those at risk,” they wrote.

Most signatures came from inside the country, with additional support from Iranians in Sweden, Canada, Germany and the United Kingdom.

The petition reflects growing civic mobilization over arrests that critics say increasingly target minors and family members alongside political activists.

Ukraine’s special forces said in a statement on Telegram that the operation was carried out with the help of what they described as a local resistance group and targeted the ships near the Russian republic of Kalmykia.

The vessels were identified as the Composer Rakhmaninoff and the Askar-Sarydzha. Ukraine said both ships had been used by Russia for military purposes and were under US sanctions over their role in moving weapons and military equipment between Iran and Russia.

Ukraine did not say how the ships were hit or provide details on the extent of any damage.

The statement said the resistance group had supplied information on the ships’ маршруtes and cargoes. Russia has not commented on the claim.

Iran and Russia have expanded military and logistical cooperation since Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Western governments have accused Tehran of supplying drones and other equipment to Russia, allegations Iran has denied.

Iranian-designed Shahed drones, now manufactured inside Russia under the name Geran, have played a growing role in the war. The Financial Times reported earlier this year that the drones are increasingly overwhelming Ukraine’s air defenses as Russia steps up swarm attacks.

Ukraine’s air force has said Russia often launches large numbers of Shahed-type drones alongside missile strikes to strain air defense systems. The United States has imposed multiple rounds of sanctions on Iran’s drone production and procurement networks over their alleged role in supporting Russia’s war effort.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Russian President Vladimir Putin held talks on the sidelines of the International Forum for Peace and Trust in the capital Ashgabat, an unusual gathering in one of the world’s most closed states.

Putin said Moscow and Tehran remain in close contact on major international issues, including Iran’s nuclear program.

“We are in close contact on all key international issues, including all matters related to the Iranian nuclear program. You know our position: we support Iran at the UN,” Putin said, adding that the foreign ministers of the two countries are “in constant contact.”

He said Russia and Iran are negotiating cooperation in the gas and electricity sectors and will work together on energy transmission projects.

“We are holding talks in the gas and power sectors, and cooperation in energy transfer will take shape,” he said.

He added that relations between the two countries are expanding steadily. “Our relations are developing day by day,” Putin said, pointing to plans to advance the North–South transport corridor linking Russia to South Asia via Iran.

Putin also cited plans to expand cooperation at Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power plant, which was built by Russia.

Broader strategic ties

The meeting comes as Tehran and Moscow deepen strategic cooperation under Western sanctions. Earlier this month, the two countries signed a new agreement covering artificial intelligence and cybersecurity, expanding collaboration in digital infrastructure, data transit and e-government.

Iran and Russia have also worked closely on space projects. Tehran has said three Iranian satellites will be launched aboard a Russian Soyuz rocket later this month, following earlier launches carried out with Russian support.