Arya News - Iran’s missile and defence capabilities “will never be subject to negotiation”, Tehran’s foreign minister said.
Iran’s missile and defence capabilities “will never be subject to negotiation”, Tehran’s foreign minister said.
Abbas Araghchi said the Islamic Republic “is ready for negotiations, it is also ready for war” during a visit to Turkey on Friday.
The US is gathering warships in the Middle East with Donald Trump threatening strikes if he is unable to strike a deal with Iran to limit its nuclear capabilities.
Mr Araghchi insisted Iran has “never sought to obtain nuclear weapons”, but added: “I want to state firmly that Iran’s defensive and missile capabilities will never be subject to negotiation.”
Sir Keir Starmer echoed Mr Trump, saying that it was “hugely important” that Iran should not be allowed to have nuclear weapons, appearing to support potential US action.
US officials say any deal with Tehran would have to include a cap on its stockpile of long-range missiles, along with the removal of enriched uranium from the country and a ban on independent enrichment, Axios reported on Monday.
04:54pm
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04:09pm
US sanctions Iran’s interior minister
Iran’s interior minister has been slapped with US sanctions after Washington accused him of brutally repressing nationwide protests earlier this month.
The Trump administration hit Eskandar Momeni with financial penalties after thousands of peaceful protesters were killed across Iran in January.
Economic woes sparked the protests in late December before they broadened into a challenge to the Islamic Republic throughout January.
The crackdown soon followed, which activists say has killed more than 6,000 people. Iranian officials and state media repeatedly refer to the demonstrators as “terrorists.”
03:37pm
Analysis: Where could US commandos strike?
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The task of a US special forces raid on Iranian nuclear facilities has been eased by Trump-ordered strikes on Tehran’s main nuclear facilities at Natanz, Isfahan and Fordow last year.
What remains, however, is widely dispersed and often buried deep underground. Military planners would face an unpalatable choice: launch multiple simultaneous operations, raising the risk of failure, or limit the scope of the mission and risk falling short of irreversibly degrading Iran’s nuclear capabilities.
Matters are further complicated by the fact that a deep-infrastructure operation would require US personnel to remain on the ground far longer than they did in Caracas.
Several sites could be targeted, the most significant — and most challenging — of which is a heavily fortified facility known as “Pickaxe Mountain”, buried deep in the Zagros Mountains near the uranium enrichment site at Natanz.
Quite what Iran has been doing there is unknown. The site has never been visited by UN inspectors. Construction has been under way since at least 2020, and its above-ground footprint sprawls across roughly a square mile of mountainside.
There is speculation that Iran’s 440-kg stockpile of highly enriched uranium — enough for up to ten nuclear bombs — could be hidden at Pickaxe Mountain.
Other potential targets include centrifuge manufacturing units and nuclear research sites at Parchin and Abadeh, where Iran carries out high-explosive testing.
Israeli strikes during its 12-day aerial offensive in June are believed by Western intelligence assessments to have caused only surface-level damage. US commandos could therefore be tasked with destroying surviving infrastructure and specialised technical equipment.
There is little question that if Mr Trump is intent on destroying Iran’s nuclear capability, inserting elite units would increase his chances of success. But it is equally clear that such a mission would be far riskier than anything he has yet authorised — and that he would have little choice but to own the failure.
03:05pm
IRGC official vows ‘devastating response’ to US military action
Iran is ready to carry out a “devastating response” to any US military action in the region, an IRGC official warned.
Abdollah Haji Sadeqi said the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps had its “finger on the trigger” and could strike all US bases in the Middle East.
He said: “Today, not only one base, but the entire US interests and its regional mercenaries are within our reach.
“The armed forces have their fingers on the trigger. Any action by the enemy will be met with a devastating response on land and at sea, targeting all American bases in the region.”
02:43pm
Mapped: US military movements in the Middle East
Donald Trump warned Iran that “time was running out” to make a nuclear deal and said a “massive armada” was on the way to the Persian Gulf.
His threats followed the steady build up of US military forces in the region after Iran was rocked by anti-regime unrest earlier this month.
This map outlines US Navy and Air Force movements across the Middle East over recent weeks.
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02:28pm Analysis
Analysis: Trump taking lessons from the past
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A US commando raid on Iranian nuclear facilities would be fraught with risk.
The US president may still be savouring the astonishing operation to snatch Venezuela’s ousted president, Nicolás Maduro, from Caracas, but he is acutely aware that missions of this kind can go badly awry.
Mr Trump has frequently referenced Operation Eagle Claw, the botched 1980 commando raid authorised by Jimmy Carter to rescue 52 Americans held hostage at the US embassy in Tehran. Nearly everything that could go wrong did go wrong.
The mission was aborted before the hostage rescue could be attempted — but not before eight US servicemen were killed in a collision between a combat helicopter and a transport aircraft at a rendezvous point in the Iranian desert. The failure helped doom Carter’s re-election bid — a cautionary tale Mr Trump will have in mind with November’s midterms looming.
If the commando option reported by the New York Times is being seriously considered, it can only succeed if a plan has already been prepared. These operations cannot be improvised.
So-called “shadow teams” must be pre-positioned weeks in advance to gather real-time intelligence, compromise enemy defences and place laser designators and biometric sensors near targets. Both Eagle Claw and Absolute Resolve — the codename for the mission to seize Mr Maduro — required roughly five months of planning.
The Maduro operation was complex enough. The Venezuelan leader had to be extracted from a compound protected by elite Cuban forces inside a military base.
But using commandos to eliminate what remains of Iran’s nuclear programme would be far more daunting.
Member of the Iranian community in Glasgow wears a ‘Make Iran Great Again’ hat calling for US intervention - Alamy/Alamy
02:14pm
Iran puts European armies and Isis on same footing
Iran’s decision to designate European armies as terrorists means it would fight them in the same way it does with Isis and Al-Qaeda, a former diplomat has warned.
Former Iranian ambassador to Azerbaijan Mohsen Pakaein said the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps will be forced to treat Western troops like the Sunni Islamic extremist groups.
Iran designated EU member states’ militaries as “terrorist entities” in response to the bloc’s decision to describe the IRGC as a terrorist organisation on Thursday.
Mr Pakaein told Iranian state media Mehr News: “Tehran will consider European militaries as terrorist organisations.
“It will oblige the country’s military forces to deal with European military complexes in the same way as it deals with Isis and Al-Qaeda”.
The IRGC has intervened across Syria and Iraq to fight insurgents over the last two decades.
01:44pm
Senior Iranian cleric says Trump ‘fears uncontrollable war’ with Iran
A prominent Iranian cleric said Donald Trump understands that war with Iran would ignite an “uncontrollable war” engulfing the region, and accused Washington of using threats to force Iranian submission without military action.
Ayatollah Seyyed Mohammad Saeedi, Friday prayer leader in the religious city of Qom, told worshippers that conflict with Iran would affect energy security, the global economy and the security of US allies.
“When entering the field is high-risk, fake fear-mongering becomes the main tool,” Mr Saeedi said.
He said the “enemy’s goal is surrender without war by exaggerating dangers to undermine the will to resist”.
Qom is Iran’s main centre for Shia religious scholarship and home to influential clerics who shape religious and political discourse in the Islamic Republic.
01:37pm
Pictured: Protester hangs banner from Kings Cross, London
An Iranian anti-regime protester hung a banner condemning the thousands killed off the Kings Cross station clock tower - Harry Murray/Story Picture Agency
Police and firefighters attended the scene after the man climbed the 120ft tower this morning - Harry Murray/Story Picture Agency
01:31pm
US accuses Iran of exploiting internet for profit
The US accused the Iranian regime of exploiting internet restrictions for profit.
The US state department wrote on its Persian social media page that access to online services had become unaffordable for many people.
It said Iranians were being forced to pay large sums for limited internet access through VPNs while struggling for basic essentials such as food and rent because of “the economic mismanagement of the Islamic Republic regime”, making it a luxury to be online.
The department called for unrestricted internet access and said Iranians should not have to choose between necessities and staying connected.
It added: “Iranians should not be forced to choose between life’s essentials and connecting with the world. Open the internet.”
01:02pm Key moments
No nuclear talks until Trump drops ‘belligerent threats’
Tehran will not begin nuclear talks with the US until Donald Trump stops making “belligerent” threats, the Iranian president said.
The US president toned down his rhetoric on Thursday, insisting that he would prefer not to use military action but warned US warships were making their way to Iran.
Masoud Pezeshkian told his Turkish counterpart on Friday that the “success of any diplomacy depends on … the abandonment of belligerent and threatening actions in the region”.
Turkey has sought to act as a mediator between Tehran and Washington amid rising concerns about Mr Trump’s threat to restart a war with Iran.
12:44pm
Iran blacklists European armies as ‘terrorists’
Iran plans to designate the armed forces of European countries as “terrorists”, according to a top Iranian security official.
It comes in response to the European Union voting to blacklist the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as “terrorists”. Britain said on Friday it would follow suit.
“Therefore, the consequences will fall on the European countries that undertook such an action,” Ali Larijani said.
12:20pm
Iran ready for nuclear talks on ‘equal footing’
Iran is ready to resume nuclear talks with the United States “on an equal footing”, its top diplomat Abbas Araghchi said in Istanbul this morning.
“If the negotiations are fair and on an equal footing, the Islamic Republic of Iran is ready to participate,” he said, adding the standard disclaimer that Tehran has “never sought to obtain nuclear weapons”.
12:00pm Analysis
Is Israel ready for a war with Iran?
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The mood music in Israel regarding another war with Iran has changed.
In the first half of January, the usual provocative chatter about warring with the Islamic republic came to a sudden halt.
Remarkably for Israel, this discipline was largely maintained throughout the system: politicians, security sources and many others who are usually happy to rattle the cage in off-record comments to journalists became models of discretion.
There was a feeling that Israel wasn’t all that keen for a fight right now.
Retired generals, people not currently ‘in the room’ but well connected with those who are, kept their counsel, even in private.
However, one former national security advisor shared with me a link of an article questioning whether Israel had enough interceptor missiles for a sustained campaign.
By some estimates, Israel fired off two years’ worth of global production capacity during the 12 days of Operation Rising Lion in June.
Though Israeli discipline remains, conversations about Iran are starting to surface one again. Now the mood can be summarised as “if Trump is going to do it, let’s hope he achieves something meaningful for our long-term security”.
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11:38am
US must resume nuclear talks with Iran, says Turkey
Restarting talks between Tehran and Washington over Iran’s nuclear programme is “vital” for reducing tensions over potential US strikes, Turkey’s foreign minister said this morning.
“The resumption of nuclear negotiations between Iran and the US is vital for reducing regional tensions,” Hakan Fidan said at joint press conference in Istanbul with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi.
“The Islamic Republic is ready to restart nuclear talks,” Mr Araghchi said in Istanbul.
11:23am
US military presence in the Middle East
Iran’s military has warned it will respond to any attack, stating that any US military action would engulf the entire region and American bases would be within range of Iranian weapons.
Brig Gen Mohammad Akraminia said Iran learned from the 12-day war that “delays in responding to enemies are unacceptable,” and armed forces have been ordered to strike back instantly if attacked.
“If the enemy makes a foolish move and again makes a miscalculation, we will give them an immediate response,” Gen Akraminia said.
Gen Akraminia warned that any US military operation would not end quickly as American officials might hope.
“The scope of the war will be very wide, and the entire West Asia region, from the Israeli regime to some countries where America has military bases, will be within range of our missiles and drones,” he said.
11:11am
Azerbaijan won’t allow its territory to be used for strikes against Iran
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Azerbaijan will not permit any country to use its territory or airspace for military operations against Iran, foreign minister Jeyhun Bayramov said.
Mr Bayramov made the statement during a phone call with Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi.
The Azerbaijani foreign minister expressed concern about the escalation of tensions in the region and emphasised the need for all parties to avoid actions and rhetoric that could destabilise Iran and the surrounding areas.
Mr Bayramov stressed the importance of resolving issues through dialogue and diplomacy in accordance with international law, the ministry statement said.
Azerbaijan shares a border with Iran and has maintained complex relations with its southern neighbour.
10:59am
US Navy destroyer anchors in Israel
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A US Navy destroyer has anchored at Eilat in southern Israel, in a further sign America is preparing for the possibility of strikes against Iran.
The USS Delbert D Black, a guided missile destroyer, was photographed off the the Red Sea town of Eilat.
With its surface-to-air capability, it is a significant addition to the missile defence network protecting the Jewish state. Analysts have predicted a high chance that Iran could launch retaliatory missiles at Israel if Donald Trump decides to strike.
It comes as it was reported that the head of IDF intelligence, Major General Shlomi Binder, had visited Washington DC to deepen military cooperation in the event of a war.
Israel has a formidable independent missile defence network, and a defence chief said recently that the interception rate for ballistic missiles during last year’s 12-day Iran war was about 86 per cent.
However, there are questions about the depth of its ammunition stocks for interceptor missiles, given the huge number fired off defending the country in that war.
The US adds to Israel’s capability, with land-based Thaad batteries and naval assets, such as the destroyer now on its southern coast.
10:51am Pictures
Trump opens door to diplomacy
Mr Trump was asked about a potential conflict with Iran during the premiere for his wife’s documentary, Melania.
The US president seemed open to the idea of diplomacy but warned Iran that American warships were on their way to the country.
“We have a lot of very big, very powerful ships sailing to Iran right now. And it would be great if we didn’t have to use them. I told them two things; number one, no nuclear. And number two stop killing protesters ... they’re going to have to do something.”
Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump attend a screening of the documentary film ‘Melania’ at The Kennedy Centre - Getty Images North America
10:45am Pictures
US flies commando plane from Britain to Azerbaijan
The options presented to Mr Trump go beyond the military action he was considering during a wave of mass protests two weeks ago.
One of the riskier options would be to send US commandos on a secret mission to destroy or damage the parts of the Iranian nuclear programme that remain functional following last year’s military campaign.
On Thursday, the US flew an MC-130J Commando II plane from Britain to Azerbaijan. It was designed for infiltration and exfiltration operations by US special forces.
Scarred by failures of the past, including Jimmy Carter’s failed rescue operation in 1980, Mr Trump has been hesitant to send US forces on the ground.
An alternative would be to launch military strikes against Iran’s senior leadership in a bid to remove the 86-year-old supreme leader.
US Air Force Lockheed MC-130J Commando II on its final approach into RAF Mildenhall in July 2020
10:41am
Iranian armed forces ‘stronger than June war’, says IRGC official
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Iran’s military is better prepared for conflict now than it was during the 12-day war in June last year, a senior Revolutionary Guards commander has said.
Brig Gen Hossein Nejat, deputy commander of the IRGC’s Sarallah base, said Iranian armed forces had “much better readiness” now than at the start of the “12-day imposed war.”
“The enemy is also in a very bad situation and cannot do any mischief,” Brig Gen Nejat said.
The commander praised supreme leader Ali Khamenei’s role during the war, saying his “decisive, guiding and leadership” actions were critical.
“If it weren’t for the appropriate, timely actions and the very beautiful spirit of the leader in those days, we would be really far behind,” he said.
Brig Gen Nejat said Iran’s forces tended to grow stronger after military confrontations. “Certainly after every war, our power will be greater than before,” he added.
Men sign up to the “martyrdom brigades” under Iraq’s Hezbollah Brigades to help fight alongside Iran in the event of war - Ahmad al-Rubaye/AFP/Getty
10:35am Analysis
Trump has six options that will define the future of Iran
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For someone so instinctively non-interventionist, Donald Trump has developed a taste for military action – particularly when the battle is short and decisive.
The snatch-and-run operation to spirit Nicolás Maduro out of Venezuela this month and last year’s bunker-busting raids on Iran’s nuclear facilities allowed the United States president to savour emphatic victories without entanglement. Both reinforced his belief that force, swiftly applied, can deliver results.
Emboldened by those successes, determined to reassert Washington’s global primacy and sensing what he sees as a historic opportunity to remove a regime that has menaced the Middle East for nearly half a century, Mr Trump is again contemplating the military option.
This time, however, the gamble is far greater. If the US president decides to use force, it is conceivable that he could indeed topple the ayatollahs who have suffocated and subjugated Iran for decades.
But if things go wrong, he could also ignite a regional conflagration, spark a civil war and drag the US into the very kind of forever conflict he has long railed against.
The build-up of US assets in the Middle East has calmed concerns about Iranian retaliation to an attack - Seaman Daniel Kimmelman/US Navy
10:30am Key moments
Trump ‘open to finding diplomatic solution’
Sources close to the president said he remained open to finding a diplomatic solution and admitted that the threat of military action was designed to strong-arm Iran into negotiations.
Mr Trump, however, has been handed a list of military options ranging from covert operations inside the country to outright strikes against Tehran’s leadership.
“As the commander in chief of the world’s most powerful military, President Trump has many options at his disposal with regard to Iran,” said Anna Kelly, a White House spokesman.
“The president has stated he hopes that no action will be necessary, but the Iranian regime should make a deal before it is too late.”
10:23am
Welcome to our live coverage
Hello and welcome to our live coverage as Donald Trump considers military options against Iran.
Reports from US media overnight indicated that the US president has been given a list of options to consider, including sending US commandos into the country to destroy the remainder of Tehran’s nuclear programme.
We’ll be bringing you the latest news and analysis throughout the day, so stay tuned for updates.
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