US President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer in a phone call on Friday discussed a range of issues including Iran and the US military action against Tehran-backed Houthis in Yemen, the British prime minister's office said.
A Democratic senator has called on the Trump administration not to negotiate with Tehran and to provide Israel with whatever it needs to destroy the Islamic Republic's nuclear capabilities.
"The only purpose of Iran's nuclear program is to create weapons," said Senator John Fetterman in a post on X on Friday. "We can't allow that or negotiate with this regime."
The United States should "provide our comprehensive military support and whatever else Israel requires to destroy Iran's capabilities," the outspoken pro-Israel lawmaker added.
Fetterman made the remarks in reaction to an Axios report about a meeting between Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff and Israeli officials in Paris about nuclear talks with Iran, a second round of which is slated for Saturday in Rome.
Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman’s visit to Iran reflects the strength of the Islamic Republic, a senior Iranian cleric said on Friday.
“The visit of the Saudi crown prince’s minister to Iran is a sign of the power of this sacred system,” said Saeed Hosseini, the Friday prayer Imam in the central city of Kashan, according to Iranian media.
Hosseini said the visit showed that regional actors were reassessing their attitude toward Iran. He suggested it also signaled that Saudi Arabia does not intend to serve as a channel for future aggression against Tehran, adding that some Persian Gulf states are wary of being caught in the crossfire if tensions escalate.
"When I was appointed to the position of Defense Minister, I pledged to lead two central goals: preventing nuclear weapons from Iran and winning the war," Israeli defense minister Israel Katz said in a statement on Friday.
"The IDF is currently working towards a decisive victory in all arenas," he added. "Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and I are committed, together with all parties, to leading a clear line that will prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons."
"We will not allow threats of annihilation against the State of Israel," Katz continued. "This is our responsibility and historic role, and we will do whatever it takes to realize them."
