All articles tagged with #us iran relations
Sen. Tom Cotton says the U.S. and its allies expect 'weeks, not days' of joint action against Iran after the Operation Epic Fury strikes, with aims to curb Iran’s nuclear program and dismantle its terror networks; Iran reportedly retaliated with missile strikes on U.S. bases as tensions escalate, underscoring ongoing congressional scrutiny of wartime actions.
US President Donald Trump said additional talks with Iran on its nuclear program are expected on Friday, stressing that Tehran cannot have nuclear weapons and expressing a desire to reach a deal, while noting he does not want to use force but that it could be necessary as diplomatic efforts continue amid a large U.S. military buildup in the region.
Iran pushed back against Trump’s pressure ahead of Geneva talks on Tehran’s nuclear program, calling his remarks “big lies” while leaving room for “honorable diplomacy.” The United States has assembled its largest Middle East military buildup in decades as negotiations approach, and Iranian officials warned that diplomacy is possible if mutual respect is maintained, but warned of consequences if the U.S. attacks. Talks in Geneva, mediated by Oman, will involve Iran’s foreign minister and the U.S. envoy, with outcomes uncertain amid heightened regional tension.
Iranian anti-regime protesters received mass SMS messages in Farsi claiming Donald Trump is a 'man of action' and urging them to wait, as outlets report Trump is weighing broader U.S. actions against Iran that could aim at regime change.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi tells CBS’s Face the Nation that diplomacy is the path to a peaceful, potentially stronger nuclear deal than the 2015 JCPOA, asserts Iran’s right to enrichment under the NPT, and says a draft proposal is being prepared ahead of a Geneva meeting with U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff. He warns against war and frames any response as self-defense if attacked, while arguing that the current military buildup should not derail negotiations.
Western security officials warn Iran could direct proxies—such as the Houthis, Hezbollah, and Al Qaeda affiliates—to attack American targets in Europe and the Middle East if President Trump orders large-scale strikes, though no specific plots have been confirmed. Increased chatter suggests planning and coordination, including possible attacks on Western shipping and on U.S. bases or embassies abroad. The threat complicates war planning, leads to defensive postures, and has sparked calls for a clear U.S. strategy to avoid a wider regional conflict and economic disruption.
A foreign-policy analyst outlines ten plausible scenarios as negotiations with Iran unfold, arguing Khamenei is unlikely to offer a zero-enrichment deal, Trump may favor a limited “Enforce” option over a weak agreement, Netanyahu could preempt with a strike, and the U.S. could shift through Enforce, Degrade, or Remove. The piece explores symbolic Iranian retaliation, potential escalation if miscalculations occur, possible Iranian protests, mass killings, and how such moves would test U.S. credibility and regional stability.
OilPrice argues that geopolitical risk—especially U.S.-Iran tensions and the Strait of Hormuz—still poses a meaningful price threat despite U.S. shale. Five Scenarios from Rystad Energy show a spectrum from negotiated deals to wide conflict, with worst-case shocks potentially pushing Brent and WTI above $100 if Hormuz is disrupted; meanwhile global energy efficiency and storage could cushion some impacts. A potential deal with Iran would be bearish for oil prices, but the risk of escalation remains a key factor for markets.
BBC Verify used satellite imagery to place the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group off Oman, part of a broader US military deployment in the Middle East that includes ships and fighter jets. Washington is pressing Iran ahead of a second round of talks in Switzerland over Iran’s nuclear program and sanctions, while Tehran conducted a maritime drill in the Strait of Hormuz. Analysts say the current build-up shows deeper, more sustainable deterrence than past operations, with potential for a sustained engagement in the region.
The United States told Iran it expects meaningful concessions at the next round of nuclear negotiations, while Tehran says enrichment must continue and the talks should focus on the nuclear issue only. Iran rejects halting enrichment and pushes for assurances the program remains peaceful, even as Israel signals a hardline stance and prepares for a White House meeting. U.S. envoys recently met Iranian officials in Oman to shape the agenda for the upcoming talks.
Oil edged higher on Friday as traders remained wary of a potential U.S.-Iran conflict despite Oman-mediated talks; Brent settled at $68.05 a barrel and WTI at $63.55, with intraday gains and ongoing uncertainty over agenda and negotiations keeping supply risks tied to the Strait of Hormuz in focus.
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei crushed nationwide protests with a harsh crackdown but is signaling openness to talks with the United States over its nuclear program to avert a possible U.S. attack, a move that underscores the regime's grip on power through the Revolutionary Guard while Iran navigates sanctions, economic woes, and regional pressure.
Senior U.S. and Iranian officials are set to meet in Istanbul to de-escalate rising tensions, with Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner and Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi reportedly among attendees alongside regional representatives from Turkey, Qatar and Egypt.
Iranian leaders warn a limited U.S. strike could reignite mass protests and threaten the regime after January’s crackdown; officials say the public’s fear is eroding and external pressure may embolden demonstrators, risking a harsher crackdown or bloodshed if protests resume.
Iran is weighing terms to resume talks with the United States over its nuclear programme, potentially in Turkey, and seeks sanctions relief while showing flexibility on enrichment; Washington has a naval buildup near Iran and hard limits on Tehran’s missile program are central to the dispute, with Tehran insisting no preconditions for talks, and satellite imagery showing repairs at Isfahan and Natanz as talks stall after years of deadlock.