Iran says next Saturday talks will be in Oman, denying report of Europe venue

He addressed commanders in Tehran on Sunday, describing the military as the nation’s shield and saying Iran’s progress had left its enemies frustrated.

“What makes them hostile is not the name of the Islamic Republic, but the resolve of a Muslim and independent nation that refuses to rely on others for its dignity,” Khamenei said.

He called for ongoing upgrades in capacity—including weapons, logistics, and personnel welfare—alongside a parallel emphasis on ideological commitment.

Khamenei told military officers that foreign actors were actively working to undermine belief in the legitimacy of the armed forces’ mission.

“Armies that lack conviction, courage, and trust in their cause have collapsed, no matter how heavily equipped they were,” Khamenei added, accusing Western powers of hypocrisy for opposing Iran’s military development while holding massive arsenals of their own.

He acknowledged economic weaknesses but warned against allowing them to overshadow what he called advances in both physical preparedness and national morale.

Chief of Staff Major General Mohammad Bagheri also echoed the call for readiness, referring to Iran’s weapons production, joint exercises, and cooperation between military branches. He praised Iran’s role in supporting Gaza and Lebanon and said public backing remained strong.

“The armed forces are fully prepared, and the enemy will fail to achieve its goals,” Bagheri said.

The comments follow recent threats by US officials, including president Donald Trump over Iran’s nuclear activities and regional support for proxies.

After Trump’s threats of a military strike, Tehran agreed to indirect talks, despite a previous refusal by Khamenei.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on Sunday emphasized the need for the country's armed forces to maintain maximum readiness and enhance both their hardware and software capabilities, saying Iran's advancements have angered its adversaries.

In a meeting with senior military commanders and officials on the occasion of the new Iranian year, Khamenei described the armed forces as the nation's shield and refuge against any aggressor.

He stressed the importance of continuous efforts to strengthen preparedness and improve both military equipment and the spiritual and ideological commitment of personnel.

He added that it is Iran's desire to be Muslim, independent, and self-reliant that provokes the anger of its enemies, not merely its name.

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The mother of Siavash Mahmoudi, a teenage protester killed during the "Woman, Life, Freedom" uprising, has voiced her criticism of the ongoing indirect talks between Iran and the United States, questioning their significance in light of the sacrifices made by those demanding justice and freedom.

Speaking about the negotiations, the grieving mother said, "Thousands of young men and women were killed for shouting for justice, freedom, and liberty, and now we sit and see if the negotiation is direct or indirect?"

The visit of Steve Witkoff to Tehran could recalibrate how both he and Donald Trump perceive Iran, said Abolfazl Zohrevand, a member of Iran’s parliamentary national security committee.

“If Witkoff visits Iran and sees the reality for himself, it may reset his mindset—and through him, Trump’s—for more rational decision-making on how to deal with Iran,” he said.

Zohrevand called the visit beneficial to Iran’s national interests if it aligns with a constructive negotiation path.

He dismissed prospects of future US investment in Iran as unrealistic while stressing that the priority is correcting what he called Washington’s miscalculations about Iran.

The United States uses negotiations to escape military and ideological defeat, Gholamreza Mirzaei, an Iranian lawmaker said on Sunday.

“Americans know they will lose against the faith of the Iranian people and the modern weapons of Iran’s armed forces, so negotiations are their way to avoid failure,” he said.