TOP STORIES
Charges Coming In Alleged Iranian Hack-And-Leak Attack On Trump Campaign | Washington Post
Federal authorities are preparing to file criminal charges over Iran’s alleged hack and leak attack against Donald Trump’s presidential campaign, according to people familiar with the matter. The FBI investigation has focused on an online persona named “Robert” who contacted American reporters, these people said, speaking on the condition of anonymity to describe details of an ongoing investigation. That persona shared campaign documents they falsely claimed to have obtained while working with the Trump campaign, the people said.
Israeli Commandos Carried Out Raid On Secret Weapons Site In Syria | New York Times
Israel carried out a commando raid in Syria on Sunday that obliterated a Hezbollah missile production facility near the Lebanese border, killing a number of people at the site, according to American and other Western officials. The operation included a daring raid by Israeli special forces, who rappelled down from helicopters and apparently seized materials from the missile facility, the officials said. Ground forces were used in the attack because of its complexity and to recover information from the secret weapons site, the officials said, adding that there were no Israeli casualties.
Hamas Chief Sinwar Thanks Hezbollah In Letter To Nasrallah | Reuters
Hamas chief Yehya Sinwar thanked the leader of Lebanon's Hezbollah Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah for his group's support in the conflict with Israel, Hezbollah said on Friday, in the first reported message since Sinwar became Hamas leader in August. The Iran-backed Hezbollah has been waging attacks on Israel for nearly a year in a conflict across the Lebanese-Israeli border that has been taking place in parallel to the Gaza war. Hezbollah says its attacks aim to support the Palestinians. "Your blessed actions have expressed your solidarity on the fronts of the Axis of Resistance, supporting and engaging in the battle," Sinwar told Nasrallah, according to Hezbollah's al-Manar broadcaster. Sinwar has not appeared in public since the Oct. 7 attacks and is widely thought to be running the war from tunnels beneath Gaza. It was the second time this week he is reported to have sent a letter.
SANCTIONS, BUSINESS RISKS, & OTHER ECONOMIC NEWS
Bread Prices Soar In Iran As Working Class Falls Below Poverty Line | Iran International
Iran's government has admitted that the price of bread in Iran has increased by 40 to 66 percent, but more rises are predicted ahead amid the country's economic crisis. While households are already struggling to provide for basic needs like food and clothing, Tehran has already seen new bread prices announced, showing a sharp rise in costs. The price of lavash, a common flatbread, has climbed by roughly 40 percent, while the popular Sangak has seen a 66 percent jump.
Critics Brand Iran’s €10 Airport Fee Profiteering | Iran International
The Iranian government has introduced a new €10 fee on international flights from Imam Khomeini International Airport in Tehran leading to allegations of government profiteering. Saeed Chalandari, CEO of Imam Khomeini Airport City, estimated that the newly imposed fee could generate up to twenty trillion rials (over 33 million dollars). Chalandari defended the move as a step towards implementing Iran's Seventh Development Plan, insisting that it is common practice in airports across the world.
TERRORISM & EXTREMISM
Three Border Guards Killed In Attack In Iran’s Restive Southeast | Iran International
Three border guards were killed in an attack in southeastern Iran on Thursday, an assault claimed by the Sunni Islamist militant group Jaish al-Adl, according to Iran's state news agency. The attack took place in Mirjaveh, a city in Sistan-Baluchestan province near the Pakistani border. According to IRNA, gunmen in a car opened fire on a border regiment vehicle, killing two soldiers and an officer. A civilian was also wounded in the attack.
PROTESTS & HUMAN RIGHTS
Prominent Female Political Prisoner Accuses Other Prisoners Of ‘Tyranny’ | Iran International
Former presidential daughter turned dissident, Faezeh Hashemi, has sparked controversy with her recent letter from Evin Prison. She accused "leftist and monarchist" prisoners of creating "an atmosphere of fear" and labeled their actions as "tyranny." Many in Iran's "reformist" camp have welcomed Hashemi’s letter but she has come under attack from other political groups who believe she is now advocating reformism despite her past statements that the Islamic Republic is incorrigible.
GULF STATES, YEMEN, & IRAN
Risky Salvage Of Sounion Tanker To Restart In Red Sea This Week, Sources Say | Reuters
Experts will this week resume a risky operation to salvage the Sounion tanker that was repeatedly attacked by Yemen's Houthis in the Red Sea last month and still holds about one million barrels of crude oil, maritime sources said on Thursday. The towing of the 900-foot Greek-registered vessel - which was struck by multiple projectiles, lost power and caught fire on Aug. 21 - was paused after it was deemed unsafe by the companies initially involved in the project.
A top Iranian official has disputed the move by Kuwait and Saudi Arabia to unilaterally develop the giant Dorra, also known as Arash, an offshore gas field in the Persian Gulf. Iran is locked in a long-standing dispute with Saudi Arabia and Kuwait over Dorra, which lies in the latter two countries’ shared Neutral Zone. The dispute centers around the field development that Saudi Arabia and Kuwait refer to as Dorra, and Iran refers to as Arash, which is expected to produce 1 billion cubic feet per day of gas and 84,000 barrels per day of condensate.
OTHER FOREIGN AFFAIRS
France Summoned Iran's Chief Diplomat In Paris Over Tensions On Ballistic Missiles | Reuters
France's foreign ministry on Thursday summoned Iran's diplomatic charge d'affaires in the country over the alleged transfer of ballistic missiles to Russia, a diplomatic source said on Friday. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said this week that Russia had received ballistic missiles from Iran and would likely use them in its war in Ukraine within weeks. Iran has denied this.