Day 209 of the WarThursday, September 24, 2026
Day 209 — Tehran Floats a Seven-Day Hormuz Plan; Europe and Kuwait Press Pezeshkian; U.S. Strikes on IRGC Navy Reported
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A Death Sentence Overturned as Victims' Families Answer Pezeshkian
Iran- Iran's Supreme Court overturned the death sentence of Arghavan Fallahi, 24, held in Evin, who had been condemned for 'baghy' (armed rebellion) though the defense lawyer says no weapon was found; Fallahi was arrested in January 2025, per Emtedad via Iran International.source
- Victims' families and opposition figures protested Pezeshkian's UN claim that Iranians had been in the streets nightly to stop 'those whom America and Israel incited and armed,' a remark that made no mention of the January killings, per IranWire.source
- Four years after Zhina Mahsa Amini died in morality police custody, Iran International recalls that Amnesty International has documented 377 deaths in the crackdown on the Woman, Life, Freedom uprising and holds over 150 more names awaiting verification.source
- Activist Masih Alinejad told Pezeshkian he does not 'get to kill women at home, hang men at home and come to New York asking to be treated not as terrorist,' adding that 'no suit, no speech, no UN podium can wash that away.'source
Behind the Podium — Kayhan's Applause, a Mocking MP and a Rift Over Janfada
Iran- Kayhan, published under the Supreme Leader's representative, said Pezeshkian 'turned New York into a court for the trial of the crimes of Washington and Tel Aviv' and read his black attire as mourning for the 'martyrdom' of the Leader and commanders, per Iran International.source
- MP Abolfazl Abutorabi, asked about trouble with Pezeshkian's return flight after U.S. sanctions on Iranian aviation, quipped that America could keep him and 'put him in Trump's place,' per Iran International.source
- A government official with IRGC ties told IranWire that the government, the Supreme National Security Council and many IRGC commanders oppose expanding the 'Janfada Campaign,' which many believe Hossein Taeb set up as a pressure group that threatens national cohesion.source
- Iran International reporter Amir Giti said the Islamic Republic's delegation in New York faces unprecedented diplomatic isolation, with Pezeshkian's and Araghchi's meetings well below the level seen at past General Assemblies.source
Reported U.S. Strikes on IRGC Navy Targets as Tehran Eyes Bab al-Mandab
Gulf & Naval- Babak Taghvaee reports the U.S. military struck IRGC Navy targets overnight after the deadly attack on the MV Cape Dao, though no official U.S. statement had yet confirmed the strikes were ordered in retaliation for it.source
- He says the Antigua and Barbuda-flagged Cape Dao, bound for India, was hit twice by Iranian one-way attack drones; the seafarer killed was Suraj Yadav, a 26-year-old wiper from Uttar Pradesh, and the ship carried 28 crew, 20 of them Indian, per an Indian seafarers' union.source
- Yahya Rahim-Safavi, adviser to Mojtaba Khamenei, praised the Houthis' weapons progress and wrote that linking Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab 'will change the scene of the war,' while IRGC chief Ahmad Vahidi wrote 'we are not afraid of war,' per Iran International.source
A Deal Before the Midterms — Tehran Floats a Seven-Day Plan
Global- Pezeshkian told NBC News and other outlets on the UN sidelines that Tehran wants to revive the ceasefire understanding with the U.S. before the November midterm elections: 'We would like the Americans to return to the agreement before then,' per Iran International.source
- Iran has proposed a seven-day plan to the U.S. to end hostilities, reopen the Strait of Hormuz and begin comprehensive nuclear negotiations, and is awaiting a U.S. response, the foreign minister told reporters, per Open Source Intel.source
- Pezeshkian also vowed that the Islamic Republic 'will keep resisting until the very end' despite mounting pressure, adding that 'in order to remain, we will go through any hardship and endure,' per Open Source Intel.source
- Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met Pezeshkian on the sidelines alongside Araghchi, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Defense Minister Khawaja Asif and special assistant Tariq Fatemi; talks focused on bilateral ties and regional developments, per Iran International.source
Europe, Kuwait and Israel Turn Up the Pressure at the Assembly
Global- European Council President Antonio Costa urged a halt to Iran's attacks on its neighbors and the full restoration of navigation in Hormuz; with Germany's foreign minister and Norway's prime minister, he pressed Pezeshkian and Araghchi on de-escalation and IAEA cooperation, per Iran International.source
- German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul told Al Arabiya any talks must end Iran's 'nuclear threat,' doubted Tehran would give up its program, said there is no justification for Hormuz tolls and that 'the Iranian regime must think about saving its own people,' per Iran International.source
- Kuwait's Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah accused Tehran of missile and drone attacks on Kuwait, other Gulf states and Jordan that hit Kuwait's international airport, power, water and oil facilities, and of using Hormuz as a 'bargaining chip,' per Iran International.source
- Netanyahu opened his UN speech with Iran and the death of Ali Khamenei; analyst Jamshid Barzegar noted he spoke of Iranians' suffering under repression and displayed a Starlink device to stress free internet access, which Pezeshkian never mentioned, per Iran International.source