Trump-Iran latest: US president hopeful of Tehran deal even as Khamenei warns of ‘regional war’
Iran's supreme leader warned that a US attack would spark a ‘regional war’
Donald Trump said he hoped to reach a deal with Iran even as tensions escalated after Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned that any US attack would trigger a “regional war”.
“We are not the ones who start a war and we do not want to attack any country,” Iran’s supreme leader said, according to state media. “But if America attacks or harms Iran, the Iranian nation will deliver a strong blow, and any war started by America will spread across the region.”
While both sides have signalled that they are ready to resume talks, the US president has still declined to say if he has made his “final decision” on whether or not he will use force against Iran.
He has repeatedly threatened military intervention, urging Tehran to stop killing protestors in its deadly crackdown and agree to a deal without nuclear weapons.
Speaking to reporters, Trump said: “Hopefully, we’ll make a deal. If we do make a deal, that’s good. If we don’t make a deal, we’ll see what happens.”
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Calls grow in Iran for independent probe into protest death toll
Pressure is mounting inside Iran for an independent inquiry into the true death toll from recent protests, after the government said it would publish the names of those killed.
Reformists and civil society figures say the official toll of just over 3,000 lacks credibility, with many believing the real number is far higher, and are calling for transparent mechanisms or a UN-led investigation to address deep public distrust and fears of retaliation against victims’ families.
“Citizens should be able to publicly and openly upload names and information about the deceased without being identified. The site should then commit itself to verifying and providing necessary information about each announced name,” Mohsen Borhani, a law professor at Tehran University and a critic of the Iranian government, was quoted as saying by the Guardian.
Iran warns of regional warfare if US launches attack
Iran has issued a stark warning of potential regional conflict should the United States launch an attack, further escalating tensions between Washington DC and Tehran.
In a retaliatory move, Tehran also designated European Union armies as “terrorist groups”.
The US has ramped up its naval presence in the Middle East, prompted by President Donald Trump’s repeated threats of intervention over Iran’s nuclear programme and its handling of protesters.
Despite the ongoing standoff, both Iran’s clerical leadership and the Trump administration have signalled a readiness to resume talks, with regional allies like Turkey actively seeking de-escalation.
Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was quoted on state media as saying that although Trump says he has sent ships to the region, “the Iranian nation shall not be scared by these things, the Iranian people will not be stirred by these threats.
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Iran warns of regional warfare if US launches attack
Trump claims India will buy oil from Venezuela instead of Iran
Donald Trump said India will begin buying oil from Venezuela instead of Iran, claiming a deal is already in place as Washington seeks to reshape global oil flows amid sanctions and trade pressure.
Speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump said: “India is coming in, and they’re going to be buying Venezuelan oil as opposed to buying it from Iran. So, we’ve already made that deal, the concept of the deal.”
India has largely avoided Iranian oil because of US sanctions and instead ramped up imports from Russia after discounted crude became available following the Ukraine war.
The US has repeatedly pressured New Delhi to curb Russian oil purchases, including by sharply raising tariffs on Indian exports last year. However, officials have since signalled a possible rollback as Indian imports from Russia declined.
At the same time, Washington has eased some sanctions on Venezuela’s oil sector to facilitate sales, with a White House official saying the move “would help flow existing product” and that more easing could follow.
Iranian protester Erfan Soltani released on bail – report
Iranian protester Erfan Soltani, who was widely reported to be facing imminent execution over anti-government protests, has been released on bail after weeks in detention.
Iranian authorities denied he had been sentenced to death, saying he faced security-related charges.
Soltani’s lawyer, Amir Mousakhani, told AFP that his client was freed on bail on Saturday and was returned all his personal belongings, including his mobile phone.
He said bail was set at two billion tomans (about $12,600 or £9,200).
Comment: Donald Trump must proceed with caution on Iran
A misstep by America in the Middle East could be catastrophic, so it needs to seek a resolution through negotiation:
Trump must proceed with caution on Iran
Khamenei warns of ‘regional war’ if Trump attacks Iran
Donald Trump said he hopes to reach a deal with Iran even as tensions escalate, after Iran’s leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned that any US attack would trigger a “regional war”.
In comments reported by the state media, he said: “America should know that if it starts a war, this time it will be a regional war.
“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.
“Now this man (Trump) too, keeps claiming that they have brought aircraft carriers and warplanes. The Iranian people should not and will not be frightened by such things.
“We are not the ones who start a war and we do not want to attack any country, but if America attacks or harms Iran, the Iranian nation will deliver a strong blow and any war started by America will spread across the region.”
Iranians living abroad hold protests
Iranians living abroad staged large-scale rallies across major cities worldwide to show solidarity with protesters in Iran and condemn the Islamic Republic’s crackdown, Iran International reported.
Tens of thousands, including about 100,000 in Toronto alone, marched in cities across North America, Europe, and Australia, calling on the international community to take stronger “action against Tehran’s theocracy”.
Large numbers of demonstrators gathered in cities including London, Washington DC, Vienna, Paris, Brussels, Cologne, while earlier on Saturday, protests were held in London, Berlin, Paris, Hamburg, Stockholm, Dusseldorf, Manchester, Newcastle and numerous other locations, the outlet reported.
Confirmed death toll more than 6,700 in Iran's deadly crackdown
The total number of confirmed deaths in Iran’s deadly crackdown has hit 6,713, while 17,091 cases are under investigation, according to US-based HRANA rights group.
Of those confirmed dead, 137 were under 18. Another 6,305 were reported as “protesters”, 214 were members of government-affiliated forces and 57 were “civilian, non-protesters”.
The number of injured civilians stands at 11,021, with 84 student arrests, 295 cases of forced confessions, and 11,028 summonses reported.
In pictures: Buildings damaged by explosions in Iran from suspected gas leak
'Ball in Iran's court', says US Nato ambassador
Matt Whitaker, the US representative to Nato, said that the Trump administration had given Iran an “ultimatum” and that the “ball is in [Iran’s] court”.
Speaking to Fox News, Mr Whitaker said that Donald Trump had been clear on his demands and would not be patient with Iran.
He said: "The president has been very clear on Iran, you can't have a nuclear weapon, and you need to stop killing protesters in your streets, and that’s a pretty clear red line.
“President Trump is backing that up with this armada that is sitting off the coast of Iran and in the region, and so certainly that is a show of strength, but it is also an offering for Iran.”
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