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.
According to unofficial sources, the Cameroon-flagged vessel MV Falcon—carrying Iranian liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) destined for Ras Isa port in Yemen’s Al Hudaydah province—was reportedly struck near the Yemeni coast. The ship had loaded its cargo at Iran’s Asaluyeh port on September 25 and was en route to Ras Isa.
Recent developments across the region suggest that the United States and Israel are actively preparing operational infrastructure for potential scenarios targeting Iran. The deployment of U.S. aerial refueling aircraft at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, their flights over Iraq and the broader region, and the arrival of the USS Ford aircraft carrier in the Mediterranean all point to a new strategic alignment—possibly signaling a limited military confrontation or a show of force aimed at political pressure.
