January 27
International: Israeli officials accused two Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reservists of espionage on behalf of Iran. Yuri Eliasfov, a member of the IDF’s Iron Dome air defense unit, and his co-conspirator, Georgi Andreyev, allegedly transferred classified information to their Iranian handler in return for financial compensation. The suspects also spray painted graffiti and hung banners in Tel Aviv in support of the Islamic Republic.
January 28
Nuclear: Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that the prospect of Israel and the United States attacking Iran’s nuclear facilities was “crazy” and would lead to a “very bad disaster” in the region. In an interview with Sky News, he reiterated that Iran would respond immediately to a strike. Araghchi said that he was prepared to listen to U.S. President Donald Trump regarding a diplomatic solution but that the situation remained difficult.
January 29
International: Government-backed hackers in Iran, China, Russia, and North Korea used Google’s AI program Gemini to enable their operations. Iranian hackers accounted for three quarters of all use by threat actors, using the program to research potential targets, identify vulnerabilities, and seek assistance with “malicious scripting and evasion techniques.”
January 30
International: Israel alleged that Iranian diplomats had delivered tens of millions of dollars to continue funding Hezbollah by flying from Tehran to Beirut with suitcases of cash.
February 1
Military: The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) revealed a new underground storage facility that housed cruise missiles to target destroyers in southern waters, according to state media. The IRGC released a report with details of the new “missile city,” the third underground missile base unveiled in less than a month.
February 2
Military: Iran unveiled a new ballistic missile that could allegedly travel 1,700 kilometers, capable of reaching Israel. Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian attended the unveiling ceremony, where he said that the “development of defense capabilities and space technologies… aims to ensure that no country dares to attack Iranian territory.”