Seyed Abbas Araghchi, Iran’s Foreign Minister, criticized the European Union’s approach toward developments in Iran, describing the Munich Security Conference as the “Munich Circus.” He stated that the event, once considered prestigious, has now fallen into decline.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned on Tuesday that if the United States were to initiate a war against Iran, the conflict would not be limited and would turn into a regional war.
Following Canada’s decision to designate Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)—an official branch of Iran’s armed forces—as a terrorist group in violation of international law, Iran announced a reciprocal measure and announced the Canadian Navy as a terrorist organization.
Final preparations for the launch of a Soyuz‑2.1b rocket carrying three Iranian satellites at Russia’s Vostochny Cosmodrome have entered their final stage. After safety reviews, Russia’s State Space Commission has authorized fueling of the launch vehicle, and operational teams are conducting final checks.
The twelve‑day cyber war between Iran and Israel (June 13–24) began with Operation Rising Lion, leading to a 700 percent surge in cyberattacks against Israeli infrastructure. Unit 8200, responsible for SIGINT, codebreaking, and cyber warfare, played a central role in this confrontation. Since the 1950s, this unit has evolved into one of the world’s most advanced cyber military divisions, with its alumni later founding major companies such as Check Point, CyberArk, and Palo Alto Networks.
A Hebrew daily reported that Israel has concluded the damage inflicted on Iran’s ballistic missile program during the 12‑day war was far less than initially estimated, with Tehran’s missile capability essentially preserved.
The third session of the trilateral joint committee between Iran, Saudi Arabia, and China was convened on Tuesday, December 18, in Tehran.
On December 3, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced the creation of a new special unit called the Task Force Scorpion Strike (TFSS) and the deployment of the first squadron of Low‑Cost Unmanned Combat Aerial Systems (LUCAS) in West Asia.
The IRGC Navy carried out a maritime operation in which the oil tanker Talara was seized on charges of transporting contraband cargo near the southern Makran coast.
The Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported: Israeli intelligence assessments indicate that Hezbollah, after suffering heavy losses in recent attacks, is rebuilding its military capabilities and organizational structure, particularly in areas north of the Litani River—an action that Tel Aviv describes as a “violation of the ceasefire” following the 2006 war.
The MV Falcon is a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tanker that caught fire in October 18 after being struck by an unidentified projectile near the coast of Ahwar in southern Yemen, within the Gulf of Aden. The vessel, sailing under the flag of Cameroon, was en route from Sohar Port in Oman to Djibouti. Reports suggest the cargo was Iranian and intended for delivery to Yemen.
In a powerful address to Iranian sports champions and international Olympiad medalists, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei responded to recent remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump and condemned American policies in the region.
