Baghaei, Iran’s Foreign Minister spokesman, defended the expenditures, saying military programs were necessary to counter perceived threats facing Iran.

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) warned Tuesday that economic relief provided under a reported Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) could allow Iran to rapidly rebuild its military capabilities, citing statements from Iranian officials indicating that funding has been used for missile and drone programs.

In its assessment, the ISW said the reported agreement could provide Tehran with resources that may be used to restore military assets.

The organization noted previous comments by Iranian officials regarding defense spending priorities.

The assessment comes amid reports of a conditional $300 billion investment package backed by Gulf States.

The package is reportedly tied to Iran dismantling its nuclear program and does not involve direct funding from the U.S. government.

Previously, President Donald Trump rejected reports describing the package as a U.S.-backed initiative, calling claims that the United States would provide $300 billion to Iran “fake news.”

However, the $300 billion package is mentioned int the 14-point memorandum of understanding released on Wednesday.

The ISW cited comments made by Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmail Baghaei in May addressing criticism of Iranian spending on military programs.

“I think even the stones of Mina would be moved to tears upon hearing such absurd statements from American officials, who, after nearly 73 years of hostile actions against the Iranian people, still claim to care about them and pretend to be upset because, in their view, Iran’s money has been spent on missiles and drones…”

Baghaei defended the expenditures, saying military programs were necessary to counter perceived threats facing Iran.

“Of course, we spend part of Iran’s money on missiles and drones, because if we did not, our enemies would have been able to achieve their ambitions, as we have repeatedly seen over the past few months…”

The ISW assessment highlighted the remarks as evidence that Iranian officials have publicly acknowledged directing state resources toward missile and drone development.

The reported investment package remains conditional on nuclear-related commitments, while questions continue over how future economic relief could affect Iran’s military capabilities.

The ISW said Iranian officials’ statements indicate that at least some financial resources have previously been allocated to missile and drone programs.

Trump, meanwhile, has continued to dispute reports describing the package as direct U.S. funding for Iran, maintaining that such claims are inaccurate.

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Although there were some reports that an Israeli strike was imminent, Iranian officials said they dismissed the reports as propaganda or an attempt to pressure Iran into making concessions.

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

Iranian officials told the New York Times that they were prepared for the possibility that Israel might attack, but only after the failure of the nuclear talks with the US, not before.

The sixth round of negotiations about Iran’s nuclear program was scheduled for Sunday, but given the Israeli strikes, Iran said it would not be attending.

Although there were some reports that an Israeli strike was imminent, Iranian officials said they dismissed the reports as propaganda or an attempt to pressure Iran into making concessions.

Iranian officials didn’t shelter in safe areas, even though they were warned, resulting in Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh, the commander of the Revolutionary Guards’ aerospace unit, and his staff getting killed in a strike during a security meeting.

Israel’s initial strikes on Friday devastated Iran’s defense systems, destroyed radars and air defenses, and eliminated key military commanders.

The above-ground area of a significant nuclear enrichment plant in Natanz was severely damaged.

The New York Times reported that the officials sent messages to each other that said, “Where is our air defense?” and “How can Israel come and attack anything it wants, kill our top commanders, and we are incapable of stopping it?”

They also called into question their defense commanders and asked how they could have been so unprepared for a full-scale Israeli operation.

“Israel’s attack completely caught the leadership by surprise, especially the killing of the top military figures and nuclear scientists. It also exposed our lack of proper air defense and their ability to bombard our critical sites and military bases with no resistance,” Hamid Hosseini, a member of the country’s Chamber of Commerce’s energy committee, said.

Hosseini remarked on the extent of Israel’s covert operations within Iran, which secured extensive intelligence that helped the operations reach their target and inflict extensive damage.

“Khamenei faces no good options,” said Ali Vaez, the Iran project director of the International Crisis Group. “If he escalates, he risks inviting a more devastating Israeli attack that the US could join. If he doesn’t, he risks hollowing out his regime or losing power.”

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Ali Shamkhani, who has advised Khamenei since 2023, served as Iran’s national security chief for over ten years. 

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

Israel’s ongoing Operation Rising Lion has eliminated 30 senior Iranian officers as well as the top adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s State media has reported on Saturday.

According to Iranian state media, Israeli strikes on Iran’s northeastern East Azerbaijan province have killed at least 30 military personnel, one Red Crescent staff member, and two civilians. An additional 55 individuals were reported injured.

East Azerbaijan Governor Behram Sarmast stated on state television that Israel targeted 19 sites across the province, with most of the strikes concentrated in the city of Tabriz.

Also on Saturday, Iranian media announced the death of Khamenei’s top adviser, Ali Shamkhani, who died from a wound sustained after Israel’s initial series of airstrikes on Friday.

The death of Shamkhani is considered one of the most high-profile deaths since Israel launched Operation Rising Lion on Friday.

Shamkhani, who has advised Khameini since 2023, served as Iran’s national security chief for over ten years.

On Friday, the IDF eliminated three Iranian top military commanders: Revolutionary Guards chief Maj. Gen. Hossein Salami, Armed Forces chief Maj. Gen. Mohammad Bagheri, and the emergency command head Maj. Gen. Gholam Ali Rashid.

The strikes also killed Brig. Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh, commander of the IRGC Aerospace Force, was the head of Iran’s missile and drone operations.

Hajizadeh and his top deputies were reportedly struck during an underground meeting to decide how to respond to Israel’s first barrage.

The IDF announced that it had also eliminated Gholam-Reza Marhabi, the head of the Iranian Armed Forces’ intelligence division.

Israeli airstrikes crippled Iran’s anti-aircraft system allowing the Israel Air Force to inflict substantial damage to Iran’s Natanz uranium enrichment facility, including power substations and above-ground structures.

Israeli strikes targeted and reportedly dismantled the Tabriz airbase, destroyed dozens of Iranian drones and missile launchers, and struck multiple military sites, including the Hamadan and Parchin airbases.

In Friday’s operation, Israel eliminated nine nuclear scientists who had advanced the country’s development of technology to create a nuclear bomb.

The nine nuclear scientists were: Fereydoon Abbasi, a specialist in atomic engineering; Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi, an expert in physics; Akbar Motalebi Zadeh, who specialized in chemical engineering; Saeed Barji, a materials engineering expert; Amir Hassan Fakhahi, also an expert in physics; Abd al-Hamid Minoushehr, known for his work in reactor physics; Mansour Asgari, another physics expert; Ahmad Reza Zolfaghari Daryani, who focused on nuclear engineering; and Ali Bakhouei Katirimi, an expert in mechanical engineering.

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Israeli security official: “We knew this (our intelligence) would lead them to meet — but more importantly, we knew how to keep them there.”

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

An Israeli security official told Fox News that Israel tricked Iran’s leading air force commanders into gathering for a meeting to distract them during a strike on their nuclear facilities.

“We carried out specific activities to help us learn more about them, and then used that information to influence their behavior,” the official told Fox News. “We knew this would lead them to meet — but more importantly, we knew how to keep them there.”

On Thursday, Israel created several ruses to defuse Iran’s suspicions that a strike was imminent.

The security cabinet, aware of the plans to attack, leaked to the press that it was meeting to discuss the situation in Gaza and the stalled hostage negotiations.

One source said, “The aim was to put Iran to sleep.”

Every minister signed a strict non-disclosure document, known as a Shomer Sod (“guardian of the secret”).

Netanyahu also leaked his “vacation plans” in the Galilee, and there were reports that he was making preparations for his son Avner’s wedding, scheduled for next Tuesday.

The PMO also released a statement that Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer and Mossad Chief David Barnea were preparing to travel to Washington, D.C., on Friday to speak with special envoy Steve Witkoff before the sixth round of nuclear talks with Iran; however, Barnea and Dermer ultimately stayed in Israel.

In addition, Netanyahu gave the illusion of a rift with Trump by not denying fabricated quotes describing a growing disagreement between the two leaders regarding the attack.

Last week, Trump reportedly warned Netanyahu not to strike Iran while the nuclear negotiations were still ongoing.

However, on Friday, Trump revealed that he was aware that Netanyahu planned to strike Iran.

Although Trump admitted that the strike on Iran might have shelved his goal of a nuclear treaty, he told the Wall Street Journal that Netanyahu informed him before the strike.

“Heads-up? It wasn’t a heads-up. It was, we know what’s going on,” Trump said.

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He criticized the belief that Assad’s regime fell because Iran didn’t send in their army.

Vered Weiss, World Israel News

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei defended Iran’s decision not to defend Syria as rebels overthrew the Assad regime.

He criticized the belief that Assad’s regime fell because Iran didn’t send in their army.

The Ayatollah wrote: “It is neither logical nor acceptable to public opinion for the Iranian army to fight on behalf of the Syrian army. The responsibility for defending Syria rests with its own forces. What our military provided was advisory support.”

He continued, “A nation’s army must bear the brunt of the fighting. Voluntary forces like the Basiji can only fight alongside that country’s army. If the local army is weak, the Basiji cannot compensate for it. Unfortunately, this was the situation in Syria.”

He also criticized Israel for its operations in Syria and wrote in Hebrew, “The youth of Syria will be the ones to liberate the territories occupied by the Zionist entity.”

Switching to English, he attacked the West for approving of Israel’s actions.

He wrote: “The Zionist regime has bombed more than 300 locations in Syria and occupied Syrian territories.”

“Meanwhile, the US and Europe, quick to react to similar actions in other countries—even over matters as small as one or ten meters—are not only staying silent on this issue but actively supporting it.”

The IDF said that military actions, including the elimination of 85% of Syrian anti-aircraft missiles, may provide an opportunity to target Iran’s nuclear program.

Sources in the Israeli Air Force said they were preparing for action against Iran’s nuclear sites and were enlisting the aid of the US.

The IDF announced that it has struck 320 targets and destroyed at least 80% of Syria’s military capabilities to prevent them from falling into the hands of terrorist groups.

Among the targets were advanced military systems such as tanks, fighter jets, helicopters, air defense systems, missile-equipped ships, rockets, arms manufacturing facilities, munitions storage sites, Scud missiles, cruise missiles, coastal defense missiles, drones, and various other weaponry.

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