Iranian security forces face wave of deadly attacks in restive southeast

Key Points:

• Three of five Iraqi militia factions have handed over heavy weapons and military headquarters to the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), which is integrating members and severing prior affiliations, though full disarmament has not occurred; Kataib Hezbollah and Harakat al-Nujaba remain resistant.
• The Iraqi government seeks to amend PMF leadership laws to limit the chairman's term and include regular military officers in senior posts, a move opposed by some political groups, with a June 2027 deadline set for completing weapons control.
• A recent poll in Iran shows 68% of respondents believe ordinary citizens bear the greatest economic burden from US sanctions, citing rising prices, medicine shortages, and declining incomes, while opinions diverge on whether these hardships justify political change.
• US-Iran tensions persist with ongoing negotiations amid US military preparations for possible attacks after the November 3 US elections; Iran emphasizes its capacity for prolonged conflict and warns against interference in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical strategic chokepoint.
• Reports of Iran transferring $200 million to Hezbollah amid Iran’s domestic economic crisis sparked public outrage in Iran, with citizens criticizing government spending on regional allies over addressing local poverty and rising living costs; US officials dispute the reported transfer.