Iran Update, May 27, 2025
Iran is continuing to strengthen ties with revisionist actors such as Russia and North Korea. An Iranian delegation led by Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Akbar Ahmadian arrived in Moscow on May 27 for the three-day 13th Moscow International Security Conference.[50] Russian state media reported that the conference will focus on strengthening global security cooperation and feature a Russian defense exhibition.[51] Delegates from over 150 countries will reportedly attend the conference, including delegations from BRICS and Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states. North Korean media reported that a delegation led by North Korea’s Minister of State Security will attend the conference.[52] Iran’s engagement with BRICS and the SCO is part of a broader Iranian effort to establish a parallel international order that challenges Western “dominance.”[53] Ahmadian emphasized the importance of developing BRICS and the SCO upon his arrival in Moscow.[54] Ahmadian also stated that he will meet with officials on the sidelines of the summit and discuss progress on the January 2025 Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty with unspecified Russian officials.[55] Iran and Russia have continued to expand ties since they signed the agreement, which covers military, economic, energy, and nuclear cooperation.[56] Iran has provided significant support to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine by providing Fateh-360 ballistic missiles and launchers and Shahed drones. Iran also reportedly purchased Russian Su-35 fighter jets in January 2025, which illustrates Iran and Russia’s mutual defense cooperation, though Russia has not yet delivered the Su-35s.[57] Russia has also coordinated with Iran on the latter’s nuclear program during US-Iran negotiations.[58]
The Iranian Parliament re-elected hardline Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf for a sixth term on May 27.[70] The Parliament Speaker serves a one-year term.[71] Ghalibaf is a longtime member of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) and maintains close personal and political relations with the highest echelons of the IRGC that date to the Iran-Iraq War.[72] Ghalibaf also served as Iran’s police chief between 2000 and 2005.[73] The Parliament also elected Ali Nikzad as First Deputy Speaker and Hamidreza Haj Babaei as Second Deputy Speaker.[74] Nikzad previously served as the Second Deputy Speaker, and Babaei served as the First Deputy Speaker in 2024.[75] Ghalibaf previously appointed Nikzad as his campaign manager in June 2024, during Ghalibaf’s most recent unsuccessful presidential campaign, indicating that Nikzad is close to Ghalibaf.[76]
The Iranian rial depreciated from 821,500 rial to one US dollar on May 26 to 827,500 rial to one US dollar on May 27.[86]
https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/iran-update-may-27-2025
Iran Update, May 28, 2025
Iran is increasingly taking steps to facilitate its removal from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) blacklist. The FATF blacklisted Iran in 2020.[58] Iran’s blacklist designation requires the 40 FATF member countries to sanction and limit economic engagement with Iran.[59] The Iranian Expediency Discernment Council reviewed the Combating the Financing of Terrorism (CFT) laws on May 28, but did not reach a consensus and decided to continue discussing the CFT measures in a future meeting.[60] The CFT is a set of laws that aim to restricting state funding for terrorist organizations.[61] Iran must approve and implement both the CFT and the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, also known as the Palermo Convention, for the FATF to remove Iran from its blacklist.[62] The Expediency Discernment Council approved the Palermo Convention on May 14.[63] An Iranian delegation separately discussed Iranian efforts to rejoin the FATF with representatives of the Eurasian Group on Combating Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism (EAG) on in Moscow on May 26.[64] The EAG is an associate member of the FATF that is comprised of nine countries, including China, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.[65]
The recent Iranian efforts to rejoin the FATF are notable given that Iran’s FATF membership has historically been a controversial issue within the Iranian regime.[66] The FATF will decide whether to suspend countermeasures imposed on Iran, such as sanctions, if Iran ratifies and implements the Palermo Convention and CFT in line with FATF standards.[67] It is very unlikely that Iran would cease financial support for US-designated terrorist organizations, including Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis, even if the Expediency Discernment Council approved the CFT.
Iran is continuing to support the Axis of Resistance despite military setbacks that Israel imposed on the Axis of Resistance throughout the October 7 War. Supreme Leader International Affairs Adviser Ali Akbar Velayati met with Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) representative to Iran Nasser Abu Sharif and Hamas representative to Iran Khaled Qaddoumi in Tehran on May 28.[68] Velayati reiterated Iran’s longstanding objective to destroy the state of Israel by using proxy groups.[69] Sharif stated on May 14 that Iran has continued to fund PIJ.[70] Velayati also praised the Houthis for their continued attacks targeting Israel.[71]
The Iranian rial depreciated from 827,500 rials to one US dollar on May 27 to 828,800 rials to one US dollar on May 28.[78]
https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/iran-update-may-28-2025