Month: February 2026

Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) – Ahead of planned nuclear talks between the United States and Iran, looking beyond the diplomacy reveals how the US is positioning itself for potential military escalation.

The US has a vast military footprint in the Middle East, but has been filing more resources into the region in the past month as tensions with Iran continue to simmer.

US fighter jets, warships, and missile defence systems have been positioned around Iran in what analysts say is a readying of arms for a potential strike.

Piecing together data from US officials and satellite imagery paints a picture of the US’s growing military presence.

An image of the United States’ Al Udeid air base in Qatar on January 25 shows significant aerial assets in position, some of which were not seen in satellite imagery a week prior.

Jennifer Parker, a former director of operations in the US Central Command (CENTCOM), said fighter jets and various other aircraft were among the US’s recently deployed assets.

Satellite imagery also shows multi-purpose helicopters and drones at the Dqum Airport in Oman and the Jordanian Muwaffaq Salti air base, which both host US assets.

“It also includes what you would call tanker aircraft … that’s significant because those tanker aircraft could be used to refuel bombers, which is the method of attack the US used in June to suppress some of Iran’s nuclear facilities,” Ms Parker said.

Preparing for retaliation

Ms Parker said she had expected the US to strike earlier, but the continued influx of military assets in the past week suggested the US may have required more resources to manage any potential retaliation.

“Perhaps there was a perception in the US that they didn’t have the adequate degree of air defence for the scale of response that Iran might provide,” Ms Parker said.

But Ms Parker said that shortfall had likely been addressed.

“Those systems are clearly deployed to that region in increased numbers because the US has a view that Iran would retaliate, with any strikes, with missile and drone strikes,” she said.

Comparing satellite imagery from January 17 and February 2 shows Patriot missile interceptor systems have been deployed at the US’s largest military base in the Middle East, Al Udeid, according to Planet Labs analysts.

Warships carrying additional aircraft, such as the USS Abraham Lincoln, are also in the region, along with other vessels with anti-missile systems, Ms Parker said.

In another sign of bubbling tensions, US and UK personnel were evacuated from a military base in Qatar in mid-January.

While some have reportedly returned since, Ms Parker said the relationship between the US and Iran had likely reached a point similar to during the 2019-2021 Gulf Crisis, which she said was one of the most intense periods of military tension between the nations.

“It’s different in some ways, but I think we are there,” Ms Parker said.

Nuclear talks

The looming threat of military action comes as US and Iranian officials are scheduled for talks on Friday.

The round of negotiations between the two countries will be the first since their talks in mid-2025, which were cancelled after Israel launched a surprise aerial assault on Iran, which developed into an intense 12-day war.

Iran retaliated with a wave of ballistic missiles, which overpowered Israel’s defence system.

The US bombed three Iranian nuclear facilities during the war, which also prompted retaliatory missile attacks from Iran on the US’s Al Udeid air base.

A ceasefire was brokered by the US soon after.

The US had hoped for this week’s renewed negotiations to grow beyond the scope of Iran’s nuclear program, according to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

He said the US wanted to discuss Iran’s ballistic missiles program, its support of armed proxy groups in the region, and the “treatment of their own people” following mass demonstrations and killings of protesters across the country.

But Iran has been keen to shrink the scope of the discussions to only its nuclear program, which it has long insisted was “peaceful” and not for the development of weapons.

The planned talks almost collapsed amid disputes over the agenda, and last-minute requests from Iran to change the meeting location from Türkiye to Oman, and exclude other states from negotiations.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi ultimately confirmed late on Wednesday that the talks would go ahead, but with no mention of any discussions outside of its nuclear program.

“Nuclear talks with the United States are scheduled to be held in Muscat on about 10 am Friday,” Mr Araghchi posted on X.

Ms Parker said it was unlikely Iran would meet demands to demolish its nuclear enrichment program or its ballistic missile capabilities.

“I can’t see the Iranian regime agreeing to that because in many ways this is their trump card, their leverage,” she said.

Internal strife and external pressure

The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency’s (HRANA’s) latest figure on the number of confirmed civilian deaths in Iran’s latest crackdown on protesters has reached more than 6,400.

The number of fatalities under review by HRANA stands at 11,280, and there are unconfirmed reports that the death toll is much higher.

The protests were sparked by the nation’s economic crisis, and have grown into a movement calling for an end to Iran’s government.

Professor and founding director of the University of St Andrews’ Institute of Iranian Studies, Ali Ansari, said the nation was likely to face continued upheaval regardless of the US’s actions.

“It’s very likely whatever happens, whether the Americans intervene or not, that you’re going to find a period in Iran of considerable civil disturbance,” he said.

“All they’re really looking for at the moment is perhaps Trump giving them some sort of lifeline.”

Professor Ansari said Iran had been “increasing the bombast and the rhetoric” in what he believed was likely a show of might against the US.

Iranian politicians were seen chanting “death to America, death to Israel” while wearing military uniforms after the European Union designated Iran’s paramilitary, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, a “terrorist organisation”.

“With one hand they’re sort of talking about de-escalation and diplomatic solutions, on the other hand, there’s a huge amount of very aggressive rhetoric coming out of Iran,” Professor Ansari said.

He also believed a US strike on Iran was likely, but not certain.

“There may also be a situation where the Americans just sit tight and keep the Sword of Damocles over Iran for another couple of months,” Professor Ansari said.

He said recent social unrest amid the nation’s economic crisis meant the Iranian regime was vulnerable.

“What triggered the protests on December the 28th has not gone away,” he said.

“Even if Americans do absolutely nothing, the Islamic Republic of Iran is fast becoming a failed state.”

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BBC – Senior US and Iranian officials are set to continue discussions after talks in Oman, the Iranian foreign minister says, amid a crisis that had raised fears of a conflict between the countries.

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Rubio hopes talks will go beyond nuclear ones

Tensions between the countries spiked after Trump suggested the U.S. might use force against Iran in response to the bloody crackdown on nationwide protests last month that killed thousands of people or if Iran conducted mass executions of detained demonstrators. The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency reported Wednesday that over 50,000 people also had been arrested over the protests.

Trump also has been pushing Tehran for a deal to constrain its nuclear program.

Iran’s reformist President Masoud Pezeshkian on Tuesday said he had instructed the foreign minister to “pursue fair and equitable negotiations” with the U.S., in the first clear sign from Tehran it wants to try to negotiate. That signaled the move is supported by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has the final say on all matters of state and previously dismissed any negotiations.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the U.S. hoped to discuss a number of concerns beyond the nuclear issue, including discussions on Iran’s ballistic missiles, support for proxy networks across the region and the “treatment of their own people.”

“The leadership of Iran at the clerical level does not reflect the people of Iran. I know of no other country where there’s a bigger difference between the people who lead the country and the people who live there,” he told reporters.

Vice President JD Vance told “The Megyn Kelly Show” that diplomatic talks with Iran are challenging because Khamenei oversees Tehran’s political system and declines to speak directly with Trump, unlike the leaders of China, North Korea or Russia.

Vance said Trump’s bottom line is that Iran cannot be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon, asserting that other states in the region would quickly do the same.

Iran long has insisted its nuclear program is peaceful. However, Iranian officials in recent years have increasingly threatened to pursue the bomb and had been enriching uranium up to 60% purity, a short, technical step away from weapons-grade levels of 90%.

Vance said he believed Trump would work to “accomplish what he can through non-military means. And if he feels like the military is the only option, then he’s ultimately going to choose that option.”

Talks expected even after US shot down Iranian drone

On Tuesday, a U.S. Navy fighter jet shot down an Iranian drone that approached an American aircraft carrier. Iranian fast boats from its paramilitary Revolutionary Guard also tried to stop a U.S.-flagged ship in the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf, the Navy said.

Iran did not formally acknowledge either incident, which strained but apparently did not derail hopes for talks with the U.S.

On Wednesday, Iranian military chiefs visited a missile base in an attempt to highlight its military readiness after the 12-day war devastated Iran’s air defenses. The base holds the Khorramshahr missile, which has a range of more than 2,000 kilometers (1,250 miles) and was launched toward Israel during the war last year.

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ABC News – Nuclear talks between Iran and the United States will take place Friday in Oman, the Iranian foreign minister said, as tensions between the countries remain high following Tehran’s bloody crackdown on nationwide protests last month.

The announcement Wednesday by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi came after hours of indications that the anticipated talks were faltering over changes in the format and content of the talks. U.S. President Donald Trump, meanwhile, sent a blunt warning to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei ahead of the talks.

“I would say he should be very worried,” Trump said of Khamenei in an interview with NBC News.

Turkey had been working behind the scenes to host talks in Istanbul with regional countries taking part and discussions focused on issues like Iran’s ballistic missile program and other concerns.

Early Wednesday, a regional official said Iran was seeking a “different” type of meeting focused exclusively on the issue of Iran’s nuclear program, with participation limited to Iran and the United States. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief the media.

A similar series of talks had been hosted last year by Oman, a sultanate on the eastern edge of the Arabian Peninsula that long as served as an interlocutor between Iran and the West. Those talks ultimately broke down in June as Israel launched what became a 12-day war on Iran that included the U.S. bombing Iranian nuclear sites.

A White House official, who spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to discuss the talks publicly, confirmed the talks would happen in Oman. The official said several Arab and Muslim leaders urged the Trump administration on Wednesday not to walk away from talks even as Iranian officials pressed to narrow their scope.

The official added that the White House remains “very skeptical” that the talks will be successful but has agreed to go along with the change in plans out of respect for allies in the region.

Alan Eyre, a former U.S. diplomat once involved in past nuclear negotiations with Tehran, similarly offered a skeptical opinion of talks succeeding.

“Opting for indirect talks is the diplomatic equivalent of a surgeon taking a hit of ether and then putting on gloves before a difficult surgery,” Eyre wrote on X.

Tensions between the countries spiked after Trump suggested the U.S. might use force against Iran in response to the bloody crackdown on nationwide protests last month that killed thousands of people or if Iran conducted mass executions of detained demonstrators. The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency reported Wednesday that over 50,000 people also had been arrested over the protests.

Trump also has been pushing Tehran for a deal to constrain its nuclear program.

Iran’s reformist President Masoud Pezeshkian on Tuesday said he had instructed the foreign minister to “pursue fair and equitable negotiations” with the U.S., in the first clear sign from Tehran it wants to try to negotiate. That signaled the move is supported by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has the final say on all matters of state and previously dismissed any negotiations.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the U.S. hoped to discuss a number of concerns beyond the nuclear issue, including discussions on Iran’s ballistic missiles, support for proxy networks across the region and the “treatment of their own people.”

Vice President JD Vance told “The Megyn Kelly Show” that diplomatic talks with Iran are challenging because Khamenei oversees Tehran’s political system and declines to speak directly with Trump, unlike the leaders of China, North Korea or Russia.

Vance said Trump’s bottom line is that Iran cannot be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon, asserting that other states in the region would quickly do the same.

Iran long has insisted its nuclear program is peaceful. However, Iranian officials in recent years have increasingly threatened to pursue the bomb and had been enriching uranium up to 60% purity, a short, technical step away from weapons-grade levels of 90%.

Vance said he believed Trump would work to “accomplish what he can through non-military means. And if he feels like the military is the only option, then he’s ultimately going to choose that option.”

On Tuesday, a U.S. Navy fighter jet shot down an Iranian drone that approached an American aircraft carrier. Iranian fast boats from its paramilitary Revolutionary Guard also tried to stop a U.S.-flagged ship in the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf, the Navy said.

Iran did not formally acknowledge either incident, which strained but apparently did not derail hopes for talks with the U.S.

On Wednesday, Iranian military chiefs visited a missile base in an attempt to highlight its military readiness after the 12-day war devastated Iran’s air defenses. The base holds the Khorramshahr missile, which has a range of more than 2,000 kilometers (1,250 miles) and was launched toward Israel during the war last year.

Also Wednesday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reiterated Turkey’s opposition to foreign intervention in neighboring Iran, calling for the resolution of issues through dialogue.

Turkey has been urgently working for the past week to bring the U.S. and Iran to the negotiating table, and was previously expected to host the talks.

“We believe that external interventions involving our neighbor Iran would pose significant risks for the entire region,” Erdogan said during a visit to Cairo. “Resolving issues with Iran, including the nuclear file, through diplomatic means is the most appropriate approach.”

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Al Jazeera – Iranian authorities have launched an online portal for people to report the names of loved ones missing from a government list of thousands killed during recent nationwide protests, as calls for accountability grow.

Authorities say 3,117 people were killed during the anti-establishment protests that began in late December, rejecting statements by the United Nations and international human rights organisations that state forces were behind the killings, which were mostly carried out on January 8 and 9.

The United States-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) says it has verified 6,872 deaths and is investigating more than 11,000 other cases. A UN special rapporteur has said the death toll may be higher than 20,000 as information trickles out despite heavy internet filtering by the state.

On Sunday, the government of President Masoud Pezeshkian released the names of 2,986 Iranians confirmed to have been killed during the protests. It said the remaining 131 have not been identified, so a complementary list will be forthcoming at an undisclosed time.

The list includes the full names of those killed, the first name of their father, and the last six digits of their 10-digit national identification number. It does not elaborate where, when, how or by whom they were killed, and avoids any further classification, such as distinguishing between protesters and heavily armed state forces.

Since the release of the list, many Iranians have taken to social media to report the omission of names of people confirmed by their families and friends to have been killed during the protests. The register also contained a number of repetitive entries, with matching names and national identification codes.

Late on Tuesday, the government announced a website where people could report the names of loved ones missing from the list. But it was unclear when any potential update would be forthcoming to add names and clarify errors and ambiguities.

People were also urged to report any violations, including being demanded money by authorities to receive the bodies of their loved ones, and any refusal to provide lifesaving medical care to wounded protesters.

The government has consistently rejected all reports of misconduct by state forces, including raids on hospitals and the arrests of medical personnel for assisting protesters.

It has also announced an internal fact-finding mission – as it rejects a UN mandate on the issue – but has provided no details, including who the members are or when findings may be published.

In an apparent attempt to appease families of the victims and the grieving public, a government statement on Sunday said “all of the victims of the recent incidents and unrest were the children of this land and no bereaved person must be abandoned in silence and helplessness”.

However, the messaging was in stark contrast with daily comments from the political, military and judicial authorities, including Pezeshkian, stressing that “terrorists” were behind the “riots”, which they claim were armed and funded by the United States and Israel.

Moreover, in late January, Iran’s Martyrs Foundation said 2,427 of those killed were “innocent”, including civilians and security forces. The figure suggested that the remaining 690 killed may have been classified as the “terrorists” referenced by state officials, but there has been no further clarity on that.

The government’s list of names was also published in full and in small text on the front pages of two newspapers, with the Payam-e Ma morning daily using the headline, “the deceased”, for the victims.

Government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani held a news conference on Tuesday, where she was met with a rebuke from a journalist, clips of which are being widely shared online.

Parisa Hashemi, a journalist with Ham-Mihan newspaper – which is currently under legal prosecution for reporting on the protests – reminded the spokesperson that Iran is suffering from corruption, poverty, energy and water crises, chronic air pollution and much more.

“Now we hear that the ‘enemy’ sabotaged protests in our country, created rivers of blood, and committed a mass killing. There is no doubt that those who fired at our youth, children, women and men are enemies of this land,” she said, pointing out that not a single official has resigned in the aftermath.

“If this had happened in any other country, its officials would either die from the shame or kill themselves out of honour,” Hashemi said.

In response, Mohajerani smiled and said the journalist was posing a statement rather than a question and repeated a line about “hope” being crucial for any society.

The official IRNA news agency did not include the three-minute part of the journalist’s comments when releasing the recorded footage of the news conference on its website.

Meanwhile, renowned actress Elnaz Shakerdoost on Monday announced in a handwritten statement appearing to be stained in blood that she is quitting Iranian cinema due to the protest killings.

“I will never again play any role in this soil that smells of blood. This is my main role,” she wrote, also saying she is boycotting the Fajr International Film Festival.

The state-run festival opened this week amid boycotts from artists and the public, but some of the directors and actors who took part lashed out at those who were absent.

Film director and screenwriter Mohammad Hossein Mahdavian received a backlash online after calling boycotters “cowards” and saying he is happy not to have hired “a bunch of scared stars” for his state-funded film featuring at the festival.

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Spectrum News NY1 – Nuclear talks between Iran and the United States will take place Friday in Oman, the Iranian foreign minister said, as tensions between the countries remain high following Tehran’s bloody crackdown on nationwide protests last month.

The announcement Wednesday by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi came after hours of indications that the anticipated talks were faltering over changes in the format and content of the talks. U.S. President Donald Trump, meanwhile, sent a blunt warning to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei ahead of the talks.

“I would say he should be very worried,” Trump said of Khamenei in an interview with NBC News.

Turkey had been working behind the scenes to host talks in Istanbul with regional countries taking part and discussions focused on issues like Iran’s ballistic missile program and other concerns.

Early Wednesday, a regional official said Iran was seeking a “different” type of meeting focused exclusively on the issue of Iran’s nuclear program, with participation limited to Iran and the United States. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief the media.

A similar series of talks had been hosted last year by Oman, a sultanate on the eastern edge of the Arabian Peninsula that long as served as an interlocutor between Iran and the West. Those talks ultimately broke down in June as Israel launched what became a 12-day war on Iran that included the U.S. bombing Iranian nuclear sites.

A White House official, who spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to discuss the talks publicly, confirmed the talks would happen in Oman. The official said several Arab and Muslim leaders urged the Trump administration on Wednesday not to walk away from talks even as Iranian officials pressed to narrow their scope.

The official added that the White House remains “very skeptical” that the talks will be successful but has agreed to go along with the change in plans out of respect for allies in the region.

Alan Eyre, a former U.S. diplomat once involved in past nuclear negotiations with Tehran, similarly offered a skeptical opinion of talks succeeding.

“Opting for indirect talks is the diplomatic equivalent of a surgeon taking a hit of ether and then putting on gloves before a difficult surgery,” Eyre wrote on X.

Rubio hopes talks will go beyond nuclear ones

Tensions between the countries spiked after Trump suggested the U.S. might use force against Iran in response to the bloody crackdown on nationwide protests last month that killed thousands of people or if Iran conducted mass executions of detained demonstrators. The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency reported Wednesday that over 50,000 people also had been arrested over the protests.

Trump also has been pushing Tehran for a deal to constrain its nuclear program.

Iran’s reformist President Masoud Pezeshkian on Tuesday said he had instructed the foreign minister to “pursue fair and equitable negotiations” with the U.S., in the first clear sign from Tehran it wants to try to negotiate. That signaled the move is supported by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has the final say on all matters of state and previously dismissed any negotiations.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the U.S. hoped to discuss a number of concerns beyond the nuclear issue, including discussions on Iran’s ballistic missiles, support for proxy networks across the region and the “treatment of their own people.”

“The leadership of Iran at the clerical level does not reflect the people of Iran. I know of no other country where there’s a bigger difference between the people who lead the country and the people who live there,” he told reporters.

Vice President JD Vance told “The Megyn Kelly Show” that diplomatic talks with Iran are challenging because Khamenei oversees Tehran’s political system and declines to speak directly with Trump, unlike the leaders of China, North Korea or Russia.

Vance said Trump’s bottom line is that Iran cannot be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon, asserting that other states in the region would quickly do the same.

Iran long has insisted its nuclear program is peaceful. However, Iranian officials in recent years have increasingly threatened to pursue the bomb and had been enriching uranium up to 60% purity, a short, technical step away from weapons-grade levels of 90%.

Vance said he believed Trump would work to “accomplish what he can through non-military means. And if he feels like the military is the only option, then he’s ultimately going to choose that option.”

Talks expected even after U.S. shot down Iranian drone

On Tuesday, a U.S. Navy fighter jet shot down an Iranian drone that approached an American aircraft carrier. Iranian fast boats from its paramilitary Revolutionary Guard also tried to stop a U.S.-flagged ship in the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf, the Navy said.

Iran did not formally acknowledge either incident, which strained but apparently did not derail hopes for talks with the U.S.

On Wednesday, Iranian military chiefs visited a missile base in an attempt to highlight its military readiness after the 12-day war devastated Iran’s air defenses. The base holds the Khorramshahr missile, which has a range of more than 2,000 kilometers (1,250 miles) and was launched toward Israel during the war last year.

Turkey urges diplomacy

Also Wednesday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reiterated Turkey’s opposition to foreign intervention in neighboring Iran, calling for the resolution of issues through dialogue.

Turkey has been urgently working for the past week to bring the U.S. and Iran to the negotiating table, and was previously expected to host the talks.

“We believe that external interventions involving our neighbor Iran would pose significant risks for the entire region,” Erdogan said during a visit to Cairo. “Resolving issues with Iran, including the nuclear file, through diplomatic means is the most appropriate approach.”

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Devdiscourse – In recent developments, Iranian police have detained 139 foreign nationals in the central province of Yazd, alleging their involvement in ongoing protests. This information comes via the semi-official Tasnim news agency, which noted that the protests began due to economic grievances before morphing into broader political dissent.

Authorities report that these demonstrations, initially sparked by economic challenges in December, quickly escalated. The Iranian government accuses foreign entities of inciting the unrest, citing a history of foreign involvement as a catalyst. The official death toll from the protests stands at over 3,000, although rights groups believe the number is higher.

Officials claim the arrested foreign nationals actively participated in organizing and inciting the protests, with some allegedly communicating with overseas networks. Iran’s judiciary has warned of severe repercussions for detainees implicated in violent actions during the unrest.

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VOI – Iranian authorities have arrested more than 50,000 people as part of a crackdown on protests, an NGO said on Tuesday, adding that new arrests were still taking place.

Human rights groups have accused Iranian security forces of killing thousands of people in a crackdown on protests that peaked on January 8 and 9 and have since subsided.

However, police have also arrested large numbers of people from all walks of life across the country, with state leaders blaming the unrest on foreign-backed “rioters”.

The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) said it had counted at least 50,235 arrests related to the protests, as reported by Al Arabiya from AFP (3/2).

“The arrests target a wide range of citizens, including students, writers, and teachers,” he said.

“In some cases, arrests are accompanied by house searches and seizure of personal belongings,” HRANA explained.

HRANA further said it had counted more than 300 forced confessions related to the protests, in which suspects made televised statements after experiencing physical or psychological torture.

Previously, Amnesty International said in a statement last week, thousands of people, including children, had been arrested in the crackdown.

They are said to be at “high risk of enforced disappearance, torture and other ill-treatment, death in custody and prolonged imprisonment as well as arbitrary execution following grossly unfair trials.”

Meanwhile, the head of Iran’s Supreme Court Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei has vowed “there will be no leniency” for violators, while the judiciary has indicated some may be charged with crimes punishable by death.

Among those recently arrested was screenwriter Mehdi Mahmoudian, co-writer of Jafar Panahi’s film “It was Just an Accident,” which was nominated for best international film at this year’s Oscars and won the prestigious Palme d’Or at the 2025 Cannes festival.

Abdollah Momeni and women’s rights activist Vida Rabbani were also detained in the same case, after they signed a joint statement with more than a dozen other activists condemning the “organized state crime against humanity” in the crackdown, according to the detained Nobel laureate’s foundation, Narges Mohammadi.

Mohammadi, the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize winner, was arrested during a demonstration in December before the current wave of protests began and has only been allowed one phone call with his family since.

Mohammadi’s foundation said prosecutors would only allow him to make new phone calls if he complied with rules about what he said, a condition he rejected.

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Euro News – Iranian authorities arrested 139 foreign nationals in the central city of Yazd during recent anti-government protests, state-run media reported on Tuesday, as the death toll from the unrest remains heavily disputed.

The police chief in Yazd said those detained were involved “in organising, inciting and directing riotous actions, and in some cases were in contact with networks outside the country”, according to Iran’s Tasnim news agency. The nationalities of those arrested were not disclosed.

“During the review of cases related to the recent rioters, it was determined that 139 of those arrested in these disturbances were foreign nationals,” Ahmad Negahban said.

Protests against the rising cost of living erupted in Iran on 28 December before spreading into nationwide anti-government demonstrations that have drawn international condemnation over the violent crackdown.

The Tehran regime acknowledged in January that more than 3,000 deaths occurred during the unrest, but continues to claim most were members of security forces and innocent bystanders, attributing the violence to “terrorist acts”.

However, the Human Rights Activists News Agency, a US-based organisation, says it has confirmed 6,854 deaths, mostly protesters killed by security forces.

Other human rights groups warn the actual toll is likely far higher, with insiders in Iran estimating as many as 30,000 people are feared to have been killed.

Iranian authorities maintain the rallies began as peaceful demonstrations before turning into “riots” involving killings and vandalism that were inflamed by the United States and Israel, which Tehran considers arch-enemies.

The protests represent the most significant challenge to Iran’s regime since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, with demonstrators calling for an end to clerical rule and demanding fundamental political change.

Talks on the table

International pressure has mounted on Tehran over its response to the demonstrations, with several countries imposing sanctions on Iranian officials accused of ordering the violent suppression of protesters.

Washington threatened to intervene with military action over the killing of peaceful demonstrators and mass executions.

Last week, the Pentagon moved the carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and several guided-missile destroyers to the region, although it remains unclear whether President Donald Trump will decide to use force.

Tehran has dismissed fears of an intervention over the weekend, saying it is currently involved in negotiations with Washington.

However, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned Washington that any conflict would spill over into the entire region.

“America should know that if it starts a war, this time it will be a regional war,” Khamenei said.

“These threats are nothing new. In the past as well, American officials repeatedly talked about war and said that all options were on the table including war,” he added.

The US president has since dismissed Khamenei’s sabre-rattling, stating that a deal is still on the table.

“We have the biggest, most powerful ships in the world over there, very close, a couple of days,” Trump told reporters on Sunday.

“Hopefully, we’ll make a deal. If we don’t make a deal, we’ll find out whether or not he was right.”

Trump’s words were followed by an announcement that Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is expected to meet US Special Representative Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in Istanbul on Friday, according to President Masoud Pezeshkian.

“I have instructed my minister of foreign affairs, provided that a suitable environment exists — one free from threats and unreasonable expectations — to pursue fair and equitable negotiations, guided by the principles of dignity, prudence, and expediency,” Pezeshkian wrote on X on Tuesday.

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