Iran tensions rise amid sanctions, threats, and airstrikes

Iran has warned of retaliation if the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) imposes 'snapback' nuclear sanctions on the 10-year anniversary of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). The JCPOA was intended to halt Iran's nuclear ambitions, but its effectiveness has been questioned. The US and other nations are considering enforcing snapback sanctions, which would reimpose sanctions on Iran, but Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson has threatened an 'appropriate and proportionate response'. Experts warn that Iran's likely response would be to abandon the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).

An Iranian movement called 'Blood Covenant' has reportedly crowdfunded over $40 million as a reward for assassinating former US President Donald Trump. The movement's website features a poster of Trump in crosshairs with a quote from the Quran, 'Strive with your wealth and your lives in the cause of Allah,' and an appeal to donate 'to help establish stable peace.' The apparent threat comes after the US launched airstrikes on Iran's nuclear facilities and amid increased calls from Iranian officials and clerics for Trump's assassination, backed by fatwas issued by grand ayatollahs. The US Secret Service has stated that it operates in a heightened threat environment and prioritizes the safety of protectees.

Iran's semi-official Fars news agency reports that Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian suffered a minor leg injury while escaping an alleged Israeli airstrike on a secure government facility in Western Tehran last month. The attack, which occurred on June 16, involved six bombs or missiles targeting entry and exit points, and Pezeshkian escaped through an emergency hatch.