GCC urges security guarantees in Iran nuclear talks

Iranian hardline daily Javan has called on the country’s negotiators to adhere strictly to the ideological and moral principles of the Islamic Revolution during nuclear talks, arguing that success lies not in outcomes but in fidelity to core values.

In an editorial addressing public concerns over perceived US pressure, Javan wrote: “Remain committed to your principles, and every experience will be a successful one.”

The piece cited the founder of Islamic Republic Rouhollah Khomeini’s principles, and criticized blind persistence in diplomatic mistakes, warning that insistence on errors is “satanic.”

“According to Imam [Khomeini]'s principles, if we made a mistake in past negotiations or have taken a wrong path during the current talks, we should not persist in it to the end,” Javan said without elaborating.

The article also said that while US negotiators are unwavering in their pursuit of material interests, Iranian representatives are heirs to a spiritual legacy rooted in the religious scripture such as Qur’an and Nahj al-Balagha.

Iran’s armed forces are at peak readiness and capable of responding swiftly to any threat, the commander of the Iranian Army’s Ground Forces said on Tuesday.

Speaking during a visit to a missile unit in central Iran, Brigadier General Kioumars Heydari said missile forces were actively deployed and fully prepared to defend the country.

“We have five missile bases in the Ground Forces structure and are fully prepared for any threats, operating under the command of the Commander-in-Chief,” he said, referring to Iran’s Supreme Leader.

The UN Security Council is set to convene later this month to review the implementation of Resolution 2231, which endorsed the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo is expected to brief the Council on the secretary-general’s report concerning compliance with the resolution.

Ambassador Samuel Žbogar of Slovenia, the Security Council’s facilitator for Resolution 2231, is also scheduled to present a report on the Council’s activities related to the resolution.

A representative of the European Union, in its role as coordinator of the JCPOA’s Joint Commission, will provide an update on the agreement’s implementation by its signatories.

The session is tentatively scheduled for June 24.

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“I hope that, in light of the new regional conditions and Lebanon’s new circumstances, a new chapter of respectful relations between Iran and Lebanon will begin,” Araghchi said at Rafic Hariri Airport.

Araghchi also met with his Lebanese counterpart, Youssef Rajji, and is also scheduled to meet the country’s president, parliament speaker and prime minister during his visit.

Lebanon elected Joseph Aoun as its new president in January 2025 — a figure backed by the United States who is now working to strengthen the army and counterbalance Hezbollah's influence after the Iran-backed militant group was severely weakened by Israel last year in a spate of high-stakes military operations.

Lebanon’s new prime minister, Nawaf Salam, said in late May that "the era of exporting the Iranian revolution is over," adding, "We will not remain silent in the face of weapons outside the control of the state."

The Wall Street Journal reported last week that Lebanon’s army has largely disarmed Hezbollah in its southern strongholds — in part with the help of Israeli intelligence.

The country’s new government continues enforcing a fragile ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel, which began last year but has seen both sides alleging scores of breaches from the other.

Araghchi made no mention of these developments in his remarks and instead said that Iran would continue to support Lebanon against Israel, while stressing that this support does not amount to interference in Lebanon’s internal affairs.

“Lebanon’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity are of great importance to us and to the entire region,” he said. “We have supported Lebanon’s sovereignty at all stages, and we will continue to do so against the Zionist regime’s occupation — this is simply the support of a friend for its friends and not an act of interference.”

“No country in the region has the right to interfere in the internal affairs of other regional countries,” he added.

Karim Masoumi, a member of Iran’s parliament, called for regular joint meetings between parliament, the judiciary, and the nuclear negotiating team.

He told ISNA that transparent updates on the progress of negotiations—without revealing sensitive details—would build public trust and reinforce the position of negotiators.

He framed public support as essential to safeguarding national interests while pursuing diplomacy with strength. “National unity means all segments of society share a common goal: the dignity of Iran and the welfare of its people.”