Escalating Risks After UN Security Council Decision on Iran, Execution of Babak Shahbazi, Israel’s Strike on Qatar and the Shifting Regional Narrative, and More

Escalating Risks After the UN Security Council Decision on Iran

Today, September 19, 2025, the United Nations Security Council failed to adopt a draft resolution that would have continued the termination of six prior UN Security Council Resolutions on Iran. The vote ended with four in favor, nine against, and two abstentions. As a result, unless further action is taken, all previous Security Council sanctions on Iran will automatically snap back on 27 September 2025.

Iran strongly condemned the outcome. In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the move by France, Germany, and the United Kingdom as an unlawful, unfounded, and provocative abuse of the JCPOA’s dispute resolution mechanism. Tehran declared that full responsibility for the consequences would lie with the United States and the three European countries if the expired resolutions are restored. The ministry called on “all responsible members of the international community” to reject today’s action. Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi emphasized that Iran is “prepared for every scenario” and dismissed the snapback as meaningless, stating that “when enrichment activities are not taking place, the mechanism has no relevance.”

The failure of the resolution underscored Iran’s weak position in the Council. Algeria, China, Pakistan, and Russia supported continued sanctions relief, while Denmark, France, Greece, Panama, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, Somalia, the United Kingdom, and the United States voted against. Guyana and South Korea abstained. To pass, the resolution required nine positive votes with no veto from any Permanent Member of the UN Security Council. Britain and France claimed that they had offered Tehran an extension of Resolution 2231 if it were to meet certain conditions, but that Iran had refused. In theory, Iran could still use the remaining eight days to reach an agreement to prevent sanctions, but there is no sign that such a compromise will occur.

Additional reporting has shown that Iran was willing to meet the E3 part way on its demands, but that the European powers did not entertain Iran’s offer. This includes an understanding with the IAEA and - as reported by Amwaj Media - a formal proposal presented to the Europeans and U.S. Envoy Steve Witkoff, entailing sanctions relief, security guarantees and accessing and accounting for Iran’s stockpile of higher-enriched uranium, which many believe to be buried and largely inaccessible in Iran’s bombed nuclear facilities.

France’s ambassador asserted that conditions are no longer comparable to 2015, highlighting Iran’s expanded nuclear activity since 2019. The United States insisted the world must pressure Iran “with one voice” and criticized Iran for denying IAEA monitoring, refusing the Additional Protocol, and stockpiling higher enriched uranium. Ambassador Dorothy Shea noted that the Europeans had offered an extension in July if Iran reduced uranium stockpiles, complied with the IAEA, and engaged in direct diplomacy with Washington, but Tehran declined.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi spoke by phone with IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi, reiterating Iran’s rejection of “political and unfair pressure.” Iran’s UN envoy, Amir Saeid Iravani, told the Council that “Iran has not abandoned diplomacy,” recalling the 9 September Cairo understanding with the IAEA. He accused the United States of coordinating with Israel in spreading “fabricated claims” about Iran’s nuclear program, stressing that Iran “will not bow to pressure, will not fear unlawful threats, and will not allow this Council to be turned into a tool of oppression.”

Israel welcomed the outcome, urging the world to stop Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. By contrast, China and Russia denounced the decision as unjust and destabilizing. China’s ambassador warned that enforcing snapback undermines diplomacy and condemned US and Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities during the recent twelve-day war. Russia accused the Europeans of disregarding the JCPOA’s future.

According to Reuters, Tehran and European powers still technically have eight days to strike a deal to delay sanctions. Otherwise, all suspended resolutions and restrictions—covering arms, banking, trade, and nuclear activities—will return by 27 September. French President Emmanuel Macron said Tehran had not been serious in talks and predicted sanctions will indeed return.

The events of 19 September mark a decisive turning point. Iran faces the imminent return of sanctions, deeper isolation, and heightened economic pressure. The vote revealed a deep geopolitical divide between Western states and the Eastern powers of Russia and China.

Most importantly, this decision risks reigniting the June war. Iran has warned that if the snapback is enforced, it will reconsider its agreement with Grossi and may halt cooperation with the IAEA. Voices inside Iran advocating withdrawal from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) are gaining strength, framing diplomacy as exhausted. Such a move could allow Iran to pursue a clandestine nuclear program in the absence of international monitoring and move closer to a nuclear weapons capability. With its regional tools weakened after recent conflicts with the United States and Israel, Tehran may perceive a nuclear deterrent as its only path to survival.

This trajectory could lead either to a direct war or to Iran crossing the nuclear threshold. Rather than restraining Iran, the Council’s decision may convince Tehran to pursue the bomb. In this sense, the vote is not just a diplomatic defeat for Iran but also a potential catalyst for regional war and nuclear escalation, carrying consequences far beyond the Middle East.

Iran Crowned Freestyle Wrestling World Champion After 12 Years

Iran’s freestyle wrestling team has reclaimed the top spot on the global stage, winning the team title at the 2025 World Wrestling Championships in Zagreb, Croatia. This historic victory ends a 12-year wait for the championship and highlights the country’s enduring strength in the sport. The Iranian squad secured the crown with an impressive haul of two gold medals, two silvers, and three bronzes, outpacing its rivals and re-establishing itself as the world’s wrestling powerhouse.

The gold medals came from Amirhossein Zare (125 kg) and Rahman Amouzad (65 kg). Zare, already considered one of the best heavyweights in the world, added another world title to his growing legacy. Amouzad, meanwhile, delivered one of the standout stories of the tournament: after earlier victories over tough opponents such as Slovakia’s Batyrbek Tsakulov, he faced Japanese world champion Kaiki Yamaguchi in the final. In a highly anticipated showdown, Amouzad secured revenge for his previous loss to Yamaguchi, dominating the match and taking the gold medal for Iran.

Silver medals were claimed by Amirali Azarpira (97 kg) and Ahmad Mohammadnejad Javan (61 kg), while the team’s depth was further demonstrated by bronzes for Mohammad Nokhodi (79 kg), Kamran Ghasempour (86 kg), and Amirhossein Firouzpour (92 kg).

Wrestling holds a special place in Iran’s cultural and historical identity, dating back centuries as both a sport and a symbol of strength, honor, and perseverance. Known as “koshti” in Persian, it has long been regarded as Iran’s national sport, rooted in the tradition of Zurkhaneh (house of strength), where athletics were intertwined with spirituality, poetry, and ethics. Victories on the world stage are therefore not only athletic achievements but also a continuation of a deeply cherished cultural legacy.

This triumph is celebrated not just for the medals won, but for the reminder it provides of wrestling’s role in shaping Iran’s national pride. By defeating world-class opponents and reclaiming the team title after more than a decade, Iran’s wrestlers reaffirmed the country’s status as one of the cradles of wrestling tradition and excellence.

Passing of Samineh Baghcheban: Pioneer of Children’s Literature and Deaf Education in Iran

Samineh Baghcheban, writer, translator, and one of the pioneers of education for deaf and hard-of-hearing children in Iran, passed away on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, at the age of 97. According to Noushafarin Ansari, Secretary of the Children’s Book Council of Iran, her funeral ceremony took place the following day in front of the Baghcheban School.

Born on March 24, 1927, in Tabriz, Baghcheban was the daughter of Jabbar Baghcheban, the founder of Iran’s first school for the deaf. She began her early education at the “Baghche-ye Atfal” (Children’s Garden) kindergarten, established by her father. Later, the family moved to Shiraz and then Tehran.

She pursued studies in English at Daneshsara-ye Ali (Higher Teachers’ College) in Iran before continuing her education in the United States. At Columbia University, she earned a Master’s degree in Deaf Education and Speech Therapy. Returning to Iran in 1953, she began teaching at the School for the Deaf, where she introduced modern teaching methods and worked alongside her father to expand education for children with hearing and speech impairments.

Baghcheban’s notable works include “The Wooden Bridge,” “Nowruz,” “Kites,” “Jam Jamak Barghe Khazon” (a famous nursery rhyme collection), and “Aftab Mahtab Che Rangeh”. Many of these were recognized by the Children’s Book Council of Iran as outstanding contributions to children’s literature. She also authored “Roshangar-e Tarikiha” (“Illuminator of Darkness”), a biography of her father, Jabbar Baghcheban.

Her contributions went far beyond writing. She produced educational videos in sign language, including a performance of the popular folk song “Dodidam o Dodidam” (I Ran and I Ran). She also translated specialized books on deaf education and speech disorders into Persian, making critical resources accessible for teachers and families.

Baghcheban began her collaboration with the Children’s Book Council in 1962, helping to develop textbooks, pioneer innovative teaching methods, and train future educators. She played a key role in the management of the Baghcheban Institute, the National Organization for the Welfare of the Deaf, and in the training of audiology specialists at the National University of Iran.

Throughout her life, Samineh Baghcheban remained a tireless advocate for the right to education and literature for deaf children. With her teaching, writing, translation, and cultural activities, she built bridges between the deaf community and broader Iranian society. Like her father, Jabbar Baghcheban, her legacy will remain a lasting cornerstone in the history of Iranian education and culture.

From the perspective of the National Iranian American Council (NIAC), Baghcheban’s passing is a profound loss not only for her family and the deaf community but for all Iranians inspired by her life’s work. We extend our deepest condolences to her friends, family, and the generations of children, parents, and educators whose lives were touched by her commitment. Her contributions remind us that the pursuit of dignity, education, and equality is a shared legacy that transcends time.

Execution of Babak Shahbazi: Allegations of Espionage, Torture, and Political Repression

Today, September 17, 2025 the Islamic Republic of Iran executed Babak Shahbazi, a contractor arrested in January 2024 on charges of “espionage for Israel.” His execution took place at Qezel Hesar Prison in Karaj after a Revolutionary Court sentenced him to death in May 2025, and the Supreme Court upheld the verdict in July 2025. Rights groups, family members, and civil activists now highlight grave concerns about due process, coerced confessions, and the political motivations behind his case.

Shahbazi, described by his family as a technician specializing in industrial cooling systems, was arrested in January 2024. According to Iran’s judiciary, he had allegedly used his professional access in sensitive facilities to pass information to Israel’s Mossad. Authorities further claimed that he recruited Esmail Fekri as a collaborator; Fekri was executed earlier this year on similar charges. However, Iran Human Rights (IHR) and other monitors reject these accounts, arguing that Shahbazi’s arrest was linked not to espionage but to his social media outreach, including a letter he wrote to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, offering to help Ukrainians in their war against Russia. Human rights organizations say this letter became the pretext for his arrest, and that Shahbazi spent nine months in solitary confinement in Evin Prison and secret detention facilities, where he was pressured under torture to confess.

His trial drew sharp criticism for legal irregularities. His lawyer, Miladi Panahi Pour, revealed that in less than four months, five separate rulings were issued against Shahbazi, many of them inconsistent. He argued that the espionage charges were incompatible with Shahbazi’s real occupation as a cooling technician. Despite appeals and requests for retrial, the judiciary pressed ahead, and his sentence was confirmed by the Supreme Court in July 2025. Civil activist Mehdi Mahmoudian, who had shared a cell with Shahbazi, called the ruling part of a “systematic program to destroy hope” in Iranian society.

Shahbazi’s execution took place at dawn on September 17, 2025. Family members reported he was moved to solitary confinement the night before, a common signal that executions are imminent. His brother, Keyhan Shahbazi, posted an emotional message online after the execution, linking his death to those of Mahsa Amini, Mohammad Mehdi Karami, Kian Pirfalak, and other victims of repression: “We join the families of Amini, Najafi, Pirfalak, and thousands of our compatriots killed by these traitors and criminals.” Yesterday marked the three years since Amini’s killing at the hands of Iranian authorities, sparking the Woman, Life, Freedom protest movement. Another relative insisted Shahbazi had never confessed to spying, reinforcing the family’s claim that his case was fabricated to serve political purposes.

The execution came against the backdrop of heightened regional tensions following the 12-day war between Israel and Iran earlier this year. In that conflict’s aftermath, Iran executed several prisoners accused of spying for Israel. According to Iran Human Rights, Iran has executed over 940 people so far this year, one of the highest rates in the world. The organization highlights that “national security” and “espionage” charges are often applied selectively against dissidents or ordinary workers caught in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Rights groups stress three main violations: lack of fair trial, with Shahbazi’s rushed and inconsistent proceedings; coerced confessions, given the reports of torture and extended solitary confinement; and the instrumentalization of justice, where espionage charges are deployed as a political tool. The execution also underscores the gap between state narratives and independent accounts. While authorities painted Shahbazi as a Mossad asset, rights defenders describe him as a technician, protest sympathizer, and victim of political scapegoating. As Iran faces economic, social, and regional crises, executions like Shahbazi’s are likely to deepen mistrust between state and society.

Israel’s Strike on Qatar and the Shifting Regional Narrative: From Anti-Iran to Anti-Israel

An emergency diplomatic meeting in Doha, convened in the wake of Israel’s September 9 airstrike on Hamas negotiators in Qatar, brought together Arab and regional leaders in a rare show of unity. Among those present were Qatari officials, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Egyptian and Turkish envoys, and representatives from across the Arab world. Their collective message was clear: Israel’s strike represented a direct violation of Arab sovereignty and a dangerous precedent that could destabilize the entire region.

The gathering was remarkable not only for the condemnations issued, but also for what it revealed about shifting dynamics in the Middle East. For years, Arab summits had focused overwhelmingly on Iran’s role in regional conflicts. In Doha, however, the conversation shifted decisively toward Israel as a source of destabilization. Leaders warned that if attacks on Arab capitals like Doha could occur with impunity, no country in the region was safe.

Egypt used the moment to float a bold proposal: the creation of a joint Arab Army to defend against external threats. The proposal underscored the growing sense of vulnerability among Arab states, increasingly doubtful of Washington’s willingness or ability to protect them. Iran, for its part, welcomed any move that emphasized Arab sovereignty, while warning against illusions that U.S. backing would deter future Israeli aggression.

The Israeli strike on Qatar has already shifted public opinion. For many across the Arab world, the attack was viewed not just as an assault on Hamas, but as an attack on a Gulf state that had invested heavily in mediation and diplomacy. Qatar denounced the raid as an act of “state terrorism,” while other states expressed solidarity, stressing that such actions undermine the credibility of regional negotiation efforts.

For Tehran, the incident offers a chance to recast its role. Iranian officials framed Israel as the aggressor and highlighted how the Doha strike endangered civilians and diplomats alike. State media portrayed the attack as proof that Israel—not Iran—is the actor most willing to trample Arab sovereignty. This narrative has found resonance, especially as images of destroyed buildings in Doha circulate widely across the region.

The shift is not only rhetorical. By attacking Qatar—a state long seen as a neutral mediator—Israel has complicated the delicate balance that had allowed Gulf states to cautiously normalize ties while still claiming to protect Arab interests. Now, the question for many Arab leaders is whether Israel can be considered a partner at all, or whether its actions make it an unacceptable liability in the eyes of their own populations.

Beneath this debate lies a deeper anxiety: the erosion of U.S. deterrence. The 2019 Iranian strike on Saudi Aramco had already exposed gaps in American protection of Gulf infrastructure. Now, Israel’s ability to hit Doha without consequence reinforces the perception that the U.S. cannot—or will not—prevent attacks on Arab soil. This realization does not yet provide Arab states with clear alternatives, but it is reshaping calculations about alliances and security strategies. The sense that “America cannot protect you” is becoming harder to ignore.

In this new context, Israel’s strike may mark a turning point. Where once the region’s central question was “How do we contain Iran?” the debate is increasingly becoming “How do we restrain Israel?” Whether through Egypt’s Arab Army proposal, recalibrated diplomacy with Tehran, or new security arrangements, Arab leaders are being forced to consider paths that were unthinkable just a few years ago. Israel may have intended the strike on Doha to demonstrate strength and eliminate adversaries, but its wider effect has been to unite regional voices against it and to accelerate the erosion of U.S. credibility as the ultimate guarantor of Arab security. For Gulf states, the reality is stark: their choices are narrowing, and the balance of power in the Middle East is once again in flux.

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