Trump-Iran latest: US president warns Tehran must do ‘two things’ to avoid military force
Tehran warned that it will retaliate instantly and decisively to any US attack
Donald Trump has warned Iran it must do “two things” to avoid US military action, as US forces continue to build in the Middle East.
"Number one, no nuclear. And number two, stop killing protesters," the US president said, adding that there are “lot of very big, very powerful ships sailing to Iran right now”.
Tensions continue to simmer between Washington and Tehran, sparking concerns that Trump will decide to renew the conflict between the US and Iran followint tit-for-tat strikes last summer.
Iran earlier warned it will retaliate to any US attack “instantly” and that its response would not be limited. A response would likely see it attack the US military bases stationed in Gulf countries.
Iranian brigadier general Mohammad Akraminia said the bases are “within the range of our medium-range missiles”.
He added: "If such a miscalculation is made by the Americans, it will certainly not unfold the way Trump imagines – carrying out a quick operation and then, two hours later, tweeting that the operation is over.”
Trump earlier said he plans to speak with Iran but did not elaborate on the nature or timing of the dialogue.
Oil slips, but set for biggest monthly gain in years
Oil prices slipped more than 1 per cent this morning from multi-month highs, though they are set for their most substantial gains in years, as the risk premium surged due to a potential US attack on Iran that could disrupt supplies.
Brent crude futures fell 91 cents to $69.80 a barrel after rising 3.4 per cent to close at its highest point since 31 July yesterday.
The March contract expires later today. The more active April contract slid $1.07 to $68.52.
US West Texas Intermediate crude dropped $1.06 to $64.36 a barrel after gaining 3.4 per cent to settle at its highest level since 26 September in the previous session.
US imposes further sanctions on Iranian figures
The US on Friday imposed sanctions on Iranian interior minister Eskandar Momeni and a businessman it said helped launder money for Tehran, as Donald Trump's administration ramps up pressure on the Islamic Republic.
The Department of the Treasury said Momeni was responsible for a brutal security crackdown in Iran this month as he oversees law enforcement forces it said were responsible for the deaths of thousands of peaceful protesters.
The financial sanctions on Friday also targeted five other Iranian security officials involved in "violently repressing the Iranian people", the Treasury said in a statement.
Sanctions were also issued against investor Babak Zanjani and two digital asset exchanges registered in Britain that the Treasury said had processed funds linked to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Treasury secretary Scott Bessent said: "Like rats on a sinking ship, the regime is frantically wiring funds stolen from Iranian families to banks and financial institutions around the world. Rest assured, Treasury will act.”
Analysis- Why Iran is the wrong war for Trump to back
Trump may be very proud of his ‘armada’ off the coast of Iran but the US president could look good, back a winner, and support his allies by leaving Tehran alone and helping Ukraine win instead, writes world affairs editor Sam Kiley.
Read more here:
Why Iran is the wrong war for Trump to back
Houthi seizure of telecom gear threatens Yemen aid, says UN
Yemen's Iran‑aligned Houthi paramilitary has removed critical telecommunications equipment belonging to the UN, the global body said on Friday, warning that further restrictions on its work would fuel a worsening humanitarian crisis
The Houthis, who control areas in north Yemen, entered at least six unstaffed UN offices in the capital Sanaa and took telecommunications equipment and several vehicles to an unknown location, the UN's Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Yemen, Julien Harneis, said in a statement.
"This equipment is part of the minimum infrastructure needed by the United Nations to be present and to implement programmes," said Harneis.
The UN has warned of a worsening humanitarian crisis in Yemen with some 21 million people needing aid.
Iran has no plans to 'meet with the Americans' but it ready for 'negotiations'
Iran's foreign minister announced that his country is ready to resolve tensions but that there are no concrete plans for talks with the US.
Abbas Araghchi spoke in Istanbul on Friday for talks with Turkish officials. Ankara has been working to reduce tensions in the wider region following threats of a possible US military strike against Iran.
Mr Araghchi told reporters during a joint news conference with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan that Iran has no plans to "meet with the Americans".
"We are ready for fair and equitable negotiations," he said. "For such negotiations, arrangements must first be made, both regarding the form of the talks and the location of the talks, and about the topic of the talks."
"The Islamic Republic of Iran, just as it is ready for negotiations, it is also ready for war," Mr Araghchi added.
Turkey opposes a military intervention against Iran, warning such an action would lead to regional instability.
"We are against resorting to military options to solve problems, and we do not believe that this will be very effective," Mr Fidan said. "We advocate for negotiation and diplomacy."
Iran's retaliation will not be limited, military warns
Iran’s reaction to any US action will not be limited, an Iranian military spokesperson has warned.
A decisive response, he said, would be “delivered instantly”.
Speaking to Iranian state television, brigadier general Mohammad Akraminia said US aircraft carriers have “serious vulnerabilities”.
Several US bases in the Gulf region are “within the range of our medium-range missiles”, he added according to Le Monde.
"If such a miscalculation is made by the Americans, it will certainly not unfold the way Trump imagines – carrying out a quick operation and then, two hours later, tweeting that the operation is over.”
Hegseth warns Iran against developing nuclear weapons, saying US military 'prepared to deliver'
Iranian leadership 'buying time' after recent protests, says retired US admiral
A retired US admiral has argued that Iran is “buying time” following the recent protests, adding that the US will need to define its “mission objectives” clearly before any use of force.
"Iranian leadership is still just buying time after the huge recent protests, and high numbers of protesters that were killed by the regime. Khamenei and his lieutenants are more unpopular than ever,” argues professor Robert Murrett, who now works at Syracuse University's Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs and as deputy director of the Institute for Security Policy and Law.
He said the movement of US warships to the Middle East is “of some note, although there is already significant combat power in the region at this time."
Prof Murrett added: "Defining our mission objectives will be key for any use of force again Iran, that is, one which can credibly lead to meeting a strategic end state."
Pictured: Iranian foreign minister meets Turkish counterpart on Friday
No US talks planned, says Iranian foreign minister
Iran is ready to participate in "fair and equitable" negotiations, Tehran’s foreign minister has said, adding that there are currently no meetings with US officials arranged.
"Iran has no problem with negotiations, but negotiations cannot take place under the shadow of threats. They must certainly set aside their threats and change their approach toward a fair and equitable negotiation, as Mr. Trump himself said in his post," said Abbas Araghchi, speaking at a press conference in Istanbul after talks with his Turkish counterpart.
"I should also state unequivocally that Iran's defensive and missile capabilities — and Iran's missiles — will never be the subject of any negotiations," he added.
"We will preserve and expand our defensive capabilities to whatever extent is necessary to defend the country.”
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