Iran Update, November 28, 2025

Data Cutoff: 2:00 PM ET 

The Critical Threats Project (CTP) at the American Enterprise Institute and the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) publish the Iran Update, which provides insights into Iranian and Iranian-sponsored activities that undermine regional stability and threaten US forces and interests. CTP-ISW publishes the Iran Update daily.

Click here to see CTP and ISW’s interactive map of assessed control of terrain in Syria, and here to see CTP and ISW’s interactive map of Israeli ground operations. The Syria map is updated daily alongside the static Syria maps in this report. CTP-ISW ended daily maps of Israeli ground operations in February 2025.

Click here to see ISW-CTP's interactive map showing the total strikes in Iran during the Israel-Iran War, as well as an interactive timelapse showing the strikes day-by-day.

Note: Today’s Iran Update covers data between 2:00 PM ET on November 26, 2025, and 2:00 PM ET on November 28, 2025, as CTP-ISW did not publish an Iran Update on November 27 in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday.

Israel reportedly gave the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) a deadline of December 7 to make progress in its disarmament of Hezbollah amid ongoing Israeli preparations for a potential operation in Lebanon.[i] An Israeli Channel 13 journalist reported on November 28 that the LAF has until after Pope Leo XIV and US Deputy Special Envoy Morgan Ortagus’s upcoming visits to Beirut to show unspecified progress on its disarmament plan.[ii] Pope Leo XIV will visit Beirut between November 30 and December 2, and Ortagus will visit Beirut on December 5 and 6.[iii] Israel has simultaneously continued to prepare for a potential operation in Lebanon. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a “special discussion” with Israeli defense officials on November 27, during which the defense officials presented operational plans to continue “enforcement activities” and prevent Hezbollah reconstitution.[iv] Israel’s reported deadline comes amid Israeli officials’ frustration with the LAF’s lack of progress on its plan to disarm Hezbollah and repeated warnings about a potential Israeli operation in Lebanon.[v] Israeli officials told Israeli media on November 27 that Israel is “running out of patience” over the LAF’s continued delays and reiterated how Hezbollah is working to reconstitute its military capabilities and infrastructure.[vi] The officials warned that Hezbollah’s reconstitution activities may lead to increased Israeli operations along Israel’s northern border.[vii] Israel has consistently conducted air and drone strikes in Lebanon as well as targeted killings to prevent Hezbollah reconstitution since the November 2024 Israel-Lebanon ceasefire agreement.[viii] US officials have also expressed frustration over the LAF’s lack of progress.[ix] US President Donald Trump recently warned the Lebanese government that Israel will launch an operation if the LAF does not disarm Hezbollah by the end of 2025, according to the Israeli Channel 13 journalist.[x]  

The LAF has continued to reject Israeli and US statements about its lack of progress in disarming Hezbollah, claiming that the LAF has made significant progress in its disarmament plan.[xi] LAF Southern Sector Commander Brigadier General Nicholas Tabet stated on November 28 that the LAF has implemented 80 percent of its disarmament plan in southern Lebanon and noted that the LAF will not request an extension for its end-of-year deadline.[xii] CTP-ISW has not observed any reports that the LAF has seized arms from Hezbollah fighters or raided any active Hezbollah sites with Hezbollah personnel present, however. Tabet claimed that Israel has failed to cooperate with the LAF and the Lebanese state, stating that Israel has not provided the LAF with evidence that new weapons are entering southern Lebanon.[xiii] Israel has consistently stated that Hezbollah is replenishing its weapons stockpiles in southern Lebanon.[xiv] Tabet also claimed that most of the private homes in southern Lebanon that Israel has recently targeted were civilian homes.[xv] Hezbollah has historically used civilian homes to store weapons.[xvi] The LAF reportedly requested that the ceasefire monitoring committee inspect the private homes prior to Israeli airstrikes.[xvii] Israel reportedly rejected this request and “insisted” on targeting the private homes, according to Tabet.[xviii] Lebanese and LAF officials have consistently stated that continued Israeli operations in Lebanon are preventing the LAF from fully deploying to southern Lebanon and hindering the LAF’s ability to disarm Hezbollah.[xix]

Iranian-backed Iraqi militias may have conducted a drone strike targeting the Emirati-operated Khor Mor Gas Field in Chamchamal District, Sulaymaniyah Province, Iraq, on November 26 to try to deter Iraqi Kurdish political parties from working against Iranian-backed Iraqi parties in the government formation process.[xx] The drone attack caused material damage and sparked a fire but did not cause any casualties.[xxi] The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) paused the supply of gas to power plants due to the attack, which reduced electricity in Iraqi Kurdistan by 75 percent.[xxii] An adviser to Prime Minister Mohammad Shia al Sudani announced on November 28 that an investigative committee formed by Sudani and led by the Iraqi Interior Ministry will announce the results of its investigation on December 1.[xxiii] Iranian-backed Iraqi militias may also have attempted to conduct a drone attack targeting Khor Mor on November 23.[xxiv] Kurdish security forces intercepted the drone.[xxv]

Iranian-backed Iraqi militias have previously attacked oil fields in Iraqi Kurdistan to affect Kurdish political behavior and may have attacked Khor Mor on November 26 to warn Kurdish political parties from allying with Sudani. Sudani, whose coalition won a plurality of votes in the recent parliamentary elections, could try to secure a second term as prime minister by allying with Kurdish political parties against the Shia Coordination Framework.[xxvi] The Shia Coordination Framework is a loose coalition of Shia political parties, some of which are the political wings of Iranian-backed Iraqi militias. Harakat Hezbollah al Nujaba led a drone strike campaign targeting oil fields in Iraqi Kurdistan following the 2021 parliamentary elections to deter the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) from allying with Shia nationalist cleric Muqtada al Sadr to exclude Iranian-backed parties from government formation.[xxvii] A Harakat Hezbollah al Nujaba political bureau official condemned the November 26 attack on Khor Mor and claimed that Iranian-backed Iraqi militias have an agreement with the Iraqi federal government not to conduct attacks.[xxviii] Iranian-backed Iraqi militias have previously ignored Iraqi federal government direction regarding kinetic activity and thus have likely not conducted attacks recently due to other reasons, such as Iranian direction. The militias likely conducted at least nine one-way drone attacks targeting seven oil fields in Iraqi Kurdistan in July 2025 amid KRG-Iraqi federal government negotiations about oil exports.[xxix] Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) Quds Force Commander Brigadier General Esmail Ghaani condemned unilateral militia activity, likely in reference to the attacks on the oil fields, during a visit to Iraq in July 2025.[xxx] Kataib Hezbollah, another Iranian-backed militia that could be responsible for the recent attacks, has not condemned the Khor Mor attacks or denied involvement in them at the time of this writing.

Key Takeaways

• Hezbollah Disarmament: Israel reportedly gave the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) a deadline of December 7 to make progress in its disarmament of Hezbollah amid ongoing Israeli preparations for a potential operation in Lebanon. The LAF has continued to reject Israeli and US statements about its lack of progress in disarming Hezbollah, claiming that the LAF has made significant progress.
• Drone Attack in Iraqi Kurdistan: Iranian-backed Iraqi militias may have conducted a drone strike targeting the Emirati-operated Khor Mor Gas Field in Chamchamal District, Sulaymaniyah Province, Iraq, on November 26 to try to deter Iraqi Kurdish political parties from working against Iranian-backed Iraqi parties in the government formation process. The drone attack caused material damage and sparked a fire but did not cause any casualties.

Iran

Iranian officials have dismissed reports that Iran seeks for Saudi Arabia to mediate between Iran and the United States on the Iranian nuclear issue. Reuters reported on November 20 that Iran asked Saudi Arabia to persuade the United States to “revive stalled nuclear talks,” according to two unspecified regional sources.[xxxi] Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei delivered a speech on November 27 in which he dismissed “rumors” that the Iranian government had sent a message to the United States through an intermediary country as a "pure lie."[xxxii] Foreign Affairs Minister Abbas Araghchi also denied reports during an interview with French media on November 26 that Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian’s recent letter to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman “had anything to do with” the nuclear issue or US-Iran talks.[xxxiii] Araghchi expressed “full confidence” in Saudi Arabia as a partner for regional stability but claimed that "US behavior" is the sole obstacle for nuclear talks rather than a lack of mediators.[xxxiv]  The Iranian judiciary filed a case against a former Iranian parliamentarian on November 25 for alleging that President Pezeshkian, with Khamenei’s approval, had sent a message to US President Donald Trump through Salman to restart nuclear negotiations.[xxxv] Unspecified Western sources also told Hezbollah-affiliated media on November 25 that Trump gave Salman a “mandate” to mediate a US-Iran agreement.[xxxvi] Unspecified sources told anti-regime media on November 28 that the United States recently reiterated its three conditions to restart negotiations in response to Pezeshkian’s letter to Salman.[xxxvii] These conditions include zero enrichment, limitations on Iran’s missile program, and a halt of Iranian support for the Axis of Resistance.[xxxviii] US-Iran nuclear negotiations previously stalled, mainly because Iran consistently rejected the US demand for zero Iranian uranium enrichment.[xxxix] Iranian officials have repeatedly stated that Iran will only negotiate on the nuclear issue and will not expand negotiations to include Iran’s missile program or the Axis of Resistance.[xl]

Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei reportedly ordered the Iranian Intelligence Ministry to crack down on individuals who violate Iran’s mandatory hijab law, according to an Iranian religious propaganda official on November 25.[xli] Khamenei reportedly issued this directive after being “shocked” by an Intelligence Ministry report on women’s use of the hijab in Iranian society. The report presumably highlighted that Iranian women are increasingly flouting the mandatory hijab law, a trend that has become more prevalent since the Mahsa Amini movement in late 2022 and early 2023.[xlii] Iranian hardliners, including Judiciary Chief Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejei, support stricter enforcement of the mandatory hijab law.[xliii] A large group of individuals, most of whom were women, attended a demonstration organized by the Islamic Propaganda Organization in support of hijab enforcement at Tehran University on November 28.[xliv] The Islamic Propaganda Council is responsible for spreading and implementing the Iranian regime's religious propaganda.[xlv] Moderates, including current President Masoud Pezeshkian, have been reluctant to enforce the mandatory hijab law out of concern that it may spark social unrest similar to the Mahsa Amini protests in 2022 and 2023.[xlvi]

Iraq

See topline section.

Syria

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) conducted several airstrikes in Beit Jinn, Rif Dimashq Province, on November 28.[xlvii] The 55th Reserve Paratroopers Brigade (210th Division) initially entered Beit Jinn to detain three villagers that the IDF said were al Jamaa al Islamiyya members planning to attack Israeli citizens.[xlviii] Al Jamaa al Islamiyya is a Lebanese Muslim Brotherhood splinter, and its fighters have previously engaged Israeli forces in southern Lebanon.[xlix] An al Jamaa al Islamiyya representative to the Lebanese Parliament denied that the organization has members in southern Syria.[l] Israeli forces came under fire during the detainment operation.[li] Israeli forces engaged locals in Beit Jinn on November 28, killing 13 villagers and injuring 20 others, according to Syrian media.[lii] The engagement injured six Israeli soldiers.[liii] Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al Shaibani condemned the “persistence” of Israeli operations in Syria and said that such operations “threaten regional peace and security.”[liv] Israel’s public broadcaster reported that Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz told the Israeli Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee on November 26 that Israel is "not on track" for peace with Syria.[lv] Katz also told the committee that there are several armed groups, including the Houthis, operating in southern Syria that are considering a ground operation into the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights.[lvi] Katz’s statements highlight Israel’s heightened threat perception of southern Syria.

Arabian Peninsula

Nothing significant to report.

Palestinian Territories and Lebanon

Iran may be relying more heavily on financial networks in third-party countries, such as the United Arab Emirates (UAE), to transfer funds to Hezbollah amid increased Lebanese counter-smuggling efforts. A senior US official and other sources familiar with the matter told the Wall Street Journal on November 27 that Iran has sent hundreds of millions of dollars through UAE-based money exchanges, private companies, businessmen, and couriers to Hezbollah.[lvii] Hezbollah and Iran have historically used international money laundering and sanctions evasion networks that have included UAE-based entities.[lviii] The US Treasury Department reported in November 2025 that Iran has smuggled at least $1 billion to Hezbollah in 2025, mostly through Lebanese money exchange companies.[lix] Lebanese authorities have tightened counter-smuggling measures at the Beirut International Airport since February 2025, including by firing Hezbollah-affiliated airport staff, removing exemptions on plane searches, implementing new surveillance technologies, and banning direct flights between Iran and Lebanon.[lx] Arab officials also told the Wall Street Journal on November 27 that Iran has smuggled funds to Hezbollah using operatives who fly from Turkey to Beirut carrying smaller amounts of cash or jewelry that do not have to be declared at customs and can thus circumvent increased Lebanese airport security measures.[lxi]