President Pezeshkian dismissed his parliamentary deputy Shahram Dabiri over his luxury Antarctica trip, emphasizing that expensive official travel contradicts the principle of simple living expected from government representatives. The controversy dominated morning headlines before attention shifted to military posturing.
IRGC Commander Salami delivered a provocative speech declaring Israel "like a spread tablecloth before us" while asserting Iran would not initiate conflict despite being "ready for any war." Simultaneously, BBC Persian reported IRGC Aerospace Commander Hajizadeh visiting southern Iranian islands to assess military readiness amid escalating tensions.
President Pezeshkian maintained his diplomatic stance, stating negotiations must occur "on equal footing without threats" while criticizing US contradictions in seeking talks while issuing threats. General Petraeus's detailed outline of potential US targets in Iran - including nuclear facilities, air defenses, and missile bases - circulated widely, reinforcing the military dimension of the crisis.