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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that the air force diverted Iranian aircraft carrying troops to help former Syrian president Bashar al-Assad amid the country’s revolution last year.
“They had to rescue Assad,” Netanyahu said, adding that Iran wanted to send “one or two airborne divisions” to help the Syrian leader.
“We stopped that. We sent some F-16s to some Iranian planes that were making some routes to Damascus,” he said. “They turned back.”
Netanyahu made the announcement on Sunday in a speech which revealed insights into the country’s role in the fall of the long-time ruler, who was overthrown by insurgents in December.
At a Jewish News Syndicate conference, he said that Tehran sought to bolster Assad's position, especially after Hezbollah, a major ally in Lebanon, sustained considerable losses during last year's conflict with Israel.
Targeted airstrikes decimated Hezbollah's leadership, killing scores of top figures, including its long-time head Hassan Nasrallah, and obliterating extensive infrastructure both above and below ground.
Iran’s foreign ministry said on Monday that any agreement with the US must respect Tehran’s key demands, including the continuation of uranium enrichment inside the country and the effective lifting of sanctions.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei told reporters at his weekly press briefing that the upcoming talks — expected to be chaired by Iran’s foreign minister and the US special envoy — follow an understanding reached in Muscat.
Baghaei stressed that Iran’s fundamental negotiating principles remain unchanged. "Entering the details of any negotiation must be within the framework of broad outlines agreed upon by both sides," he said.
"Uranium enrichment inside the country and the effective removal of sanctions are Iran’s red lines and will be pursued with seriousness."
On the ongoing visit of an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) technical team, Baghaei said the discussions would focus purely on technical issues and pending safeguarding matters.
"The visit of the IAEA technical delegation is a continuation of the discussions that took place between the Director General (Grossi) and Iranian officials, and today they will have talks with officials of the Atomic Energy Organization, and it is only technical. The discussion will be about the remaining safeguards issues,” he said.
Following the conclusion of the third round of nuclear talks in Oman on Saturday, Iran's foreign minister said IAEA experts might join the next round of talks on Saturday.
Visiting Tehran earlier in April, IAEA Chief Rafael Grossi said his agency could help achieve a positive outcome in the negotiations.
Last week, speaking at the US-based think tank Council on Foreign Relations, Grossi said Iran has enough enriched uranium to produce several nuclear warheads and could do so within months.
In 2018, Trump withdrew the US from a 2015 nuclear pact between Iran and major world powers, leading Iran to subsequently surpass that deal's uranium enrichment limits and limit the IAEA's oversight.
In February, the IAEA released a report saying the current situation is concerning as Tehran is enriching uranium to up to 60% purity, near weapons grade. Tehran has long denied seeking nuclear weapons.
Baghaei also addressed the role of European nations in the nuclear talks. "We hope the Europeans will play a constructive role," he said, adding that Iran’s continued engagement with neighboring countries and other JCPOA participants signals the Islamic Republic's good will.
When asked about the decision to exclude three European parties of the JCPOA from the talks, Baghaei said, "That was their own choice... Iran stands ready for European nations to play a role in these discussions.”
He criticized US pressure tactics beyond Iran, saying, "The maximum pressure policy is not limited to Iran; it is being pursued against other countries like China and disrupts free trade. It ultimately violates the human rights of individuals subjected to sanctions."
US President Donald Trump has threatened to bomb Iran if it does not agree to a new nuclear deal and on Sunday night, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu said: "We are in close contact with the United States. But I said, one way or the other, Iran will not have nuclear weapons."
Baghaei responded to the threats saying: "Any adventurism against Iran will face a crushing response. Western countries, especially those continuing to support this regime [Israel], must understand they are assisting an entity whose survival depends on crisis."
Baghaei confirmed that the next round of talks is planned for Saturday, warning that the process will not be fast. "Entering technical issues is time-consuming and an inseparable part of negotiations," he said. "We have said that we are serious."
He emphasized that sanctions relief must be comprehensive and includes Tehran’s access to its assets blocked in foreign banks due to US sanctions. "Effective termination of sanctions is a key term that must include a diverse set of commitments. Ensuring free access to Iran’s resources and assets is our right."
Authorities are conducting a thorough investigation to determine whether negligence or a deliberate act caused the Rajaei Port explosion, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf told ISNA Monday.
The findings would be shared with the public, he added. The main cause remains unclear, and the fire has yet to be fully contained.
About 90 percent of the fire at Iran’s Rajaei Port has been extinguished, Bandar Abbas mayor Mehdi Noubani told ISNA news outlet.
“Port operations are ongoing and damages are still being assessed,” he added.
The death toll from the explosion at Iran’s Rajaei Port rose to 46, Hormozgan province’s crisis management chief said.
Firefighters have yet to contain the blaze, with 138 people still hospitalized, added Mehrdad Hassanzadeh. Authorities say that 1,072 injured individuals were treated and discharged.
