Morning coverage centered on military exercises at Fordow and Khandab nuclear facilities, with state media emphasizing air defense capabilities against simulated drone attacks. This follows recent reports of weakened IRGC air defenses after October's Israeli strikes.
By midday, attention shifted to Iran's diplomatic isolation, as Riyadh hosted a Syria-focused summit excluding Tehran and Moscow, while discussing post-Assad scenarios. The Space Organization attempted to counter this narrative by announcing progress with Qaem-100 and Simorgh launchers.
Evening brought closure to the Italian diplomatic episode, with Mohammad Abedini returning to Tehran following Cecilia Sala's departure - though state media insisted the releases were unrelated. Washington Post's analysis of the day's air defense exercises suggested degraded capabilities compared to pre-October systems, undermining the morning's military messaging.