Port operations back to normal, official says

Iran’s leading hardline daily Kayhan has accused the United States of delegating an aggressive posture to European nations in a coordinated effort to pressure Tehran over its nuclear program.

In a strongly worded editorial published Wednesday, Kayhan said European signatories to the 2015 nuclear deal — France, Germany, and the United Kingdom — were playing the role of the "bad cop" in what it described as a calculated division of labor, with the United States acting as the "good cop" seeking a diplomatic solution.

“This scenario was written in Washington and is being carried out in Paris, Berlin, and London,” the editorial read, referring to recent remarks by French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, who warned that Europe may trigger the snapback mechanism to reimpose UN sanctions on Iran.

“Europe has done nothing but follow the US line,” Kayhan said, calling the snapback mechanism a tool of political blackmail.

Iran is entering nuclear negotiations from a position of strength and talks are progressing well, an Iranian member of parliament said on Wednesday, while cautioning those profiting from sanctions against undermining the discussions.

Mohammad Sadat Ebrahimi told parliament that Israel should understand Iran is negotiating from a position of power, adding that the talks have so far proceeded positively.

He warned those benefiting from the continuation of sanctions not to disparage the ongoing negotiations.

Iran has told the UN Security Council that France's assertion that Tehran is "on the verge" of developing nuclear weapons is entirely unfounded and that its defense doctrine has not changed, according to a letter released on Wednesday.

In a letter to the Security Council, Iran's Permanent Representative to the UN, Amir Saeid Iravani, described French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot's claims as "completely baseless and politically irresponsible," emphasizing that the Islamic Republic has never sought nuclear weapons.

The letter, also addressed to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, said that if France and its partners genuinely seek a diplomatic solution, they should cease threats and respect the sovereign rights of nations under international law.

Iravani emphasized that Iran, as a member of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), remains committed to its obligations and that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) consistently verifies the peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear program, confirming no diversion of nuclear materials for non-peaceful purposes.

The IAEA says it has lost continuity of knowledge regarding Iran's nuclear program, particularly concerning the production and inventory of key components like centrifuges and heavy water.

The Iranian envoy also criticized France's threat to reimpose sanctions via the so-called snapback mechanism, calling it a clear example of political and economic coercion and a violation of the UN Charter.

Iran’s Etemad newspaper reported that roughly 90% of those killed in the deadly explosion at Rajaei port in Bandar Abbas were workers, most of them earning minimum wages and working long hours under difficult economic conditions.

“This tragedy is not the first and will not be the last,” the editorial said, criticizing employer negligence and systemic safety failures. It added that in such cases, “employers are rarely held accountable,” while victims’ families are left with grief and minimal compensation — if any.

The blast on April 26 killed at least 70 people and injured over 1,200. An investigation is ongoing.

A senior Iranian judicial official said Wednesday that the investigation into the deadly explosion at Shahid Rajaei port is in its early stages, and stressed that anyone found responsible will face consequences, regardless of their position.

“The case is in the preliminary investigation phase,” said Mehdi Amiri Esfahani, deputy political and security prosecutor general. “If anyone is found to have acted illegally or negligently, they will be held accountable without exception.”

He said the judiciary is awaiting expert and intelligence reports to finalize its assessment and promised the findings would be announced to the public. At least 70 people were killed in the April 26 explosion, which officials have linked to misdeclared chemical cargo.

Amiri Esfahani added that oversight committees and technical teams are meeting regularly and that the judiciary has asked the interior ministry and security agencies to assist in establishing the full facts.