Khamenei says US pushing failed regional model, calls Trump’s rhetoric ‘shameful’

“We are not seeking war. We believe in negotiations and dialogue,” Pezeshkian said at a military ceremony in Tehran. “But we are not afraid of threats and we will never retreat from our legal rights.”

Pezeshkian criticized US President Donald Trump for sending what he called contradictory messages. “He talks of peace while threatening us with advanced weapons. No one but him believes these contradictions,” Pezeshkian said.

The president added that Iran would stand firm. “They assassinate our scientists and accuse us of terrorism. But we are the victims of terror,” he said. “They should not expect us to give up our military and nuclear achievements under pressure.”

Separately, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran remains committed to peaceful nuclear development under the Non-Proliferation Treaty but will not negotiate away its right to enrichment.

“Iran is ready to build trust about the peaceful nature of its program, but cannot compromise on the legal and inalienable right to enrichment,” Araghchi said at a meeting with the Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs. He added that Iran had “paid a heavy price” to preserve this right and would not accept restrictions as a long-standing NPT signatory.

Araghchi also criticized what he called inconsistent messages from US officials, saying they had complicated negotiations and undermined trust. “The Americans change their positions frequently and face pressure from war-driven lobbies,” he said. “This is their internal issue, but Iran will stay focused on its lawful and principled position.”

The men — Mostafa Sepahvand, 39, Farhad Javadi Manesh, 44, and Shapoor Qalehali Khani Noori, 56 — were arrested at their homes in London on May 3 and charged on Friday.

All three are accused of engaging in conduct likely to assist a foreign intelligence service between August 14, 2024 and February 16, 2025, in breach of Section 3 of the National Security Act 2023.

The foreign state involved is Iran, police said.

Surveillance linked to Iran International journalists

According to the Crown Prosecution Service, the men carried out surveillance and reconnaissance targeting journalists associated with Iran International.

"Examination of their phones revealed that from the 14th August 2024 they had been engaged in carrying out surveillance with a view to locating journalists associated with Iran International," read the statement by the Crown Prosecution Service.

Iran International is a Persian-language TV news network that broadcasts 24/7 and has a strong following in Iran, despite government efforts to restrict access to the internet and satellite signals. Tehan has labelled it a terrorist organisation.

Phones seized during the arrests allegedly contained satellite images and mobile phone videos of buildings and streets in London.

Sepahvand faces an additional charge of conducting reconnaissance with the intention of committing acts of serious violence in the UK. Javadi Manesh and Noori are charged with similar conduct intended to facilitate serious violence by others.

“These are extremely serious charges under the National Security Act,” said Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command. “Detectives have been working around the clock and we have worked closely with colleagues in the CPS to reach this point.”

All three men have been remanded in custody and appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Saturday.

Iran International has previously been the subject of threats and attacks. In 2023, a man was convicted under terrorism laws after filming outside its premises, and in 2024, Pouria Zeraati, the television host of the "Last Word" program on Iran International was stabbed in London.

UK Minister: Iran must be held to account for its actions

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper on Saturday confirmed Iran was the foreign state referred to in the charges.

“I want to thank the police and security services for their continuing work on this very serious investigation, and for their immense dedication to protecting our national security and the safety of our communities,” she said in a statement.

“The charges that have been laid must now take their course through the criminal justice system… But we will also take separate action to address the very serious wider issues raised by this case. Iran must be held to account for its actions.”

Cooper said the government would publish next week the findings of a review by Jonathan Hall KC -- the Home Secretary's independent reviewer of terrorism legislation -- into whether existing counter-terrorism frameworks can be adapted to address modern state-based threats, including the design of a proscription mechanism for state-linked entities.

UK raises alarm over Iranian state threats

UK security agencies have warned of increasing threats linked to Tehran. In October, MI5 Director General Ken McCallum said at least 20 plots linked to Iranian state actors had been disrupted since early 2022, including efforts to kidnap or kill individuals seen as dissidents.

A fourth man, aged 31, arrested as part of the investigation was released without charge on May 15.

All three defendants arrived in the UK by irregular means, including via small boats, between 2016 and 2022. Sepahvand claimed asylum in 2016, Javadi Manesh in 2019 on religious grounds, and Noori's asylum application was rejected in 2024. He is currently appealing that decision.

Iran’s government has previously denied involvement in alleged plots on British soil. In earlier comments, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran “categorically rejects” claims of targeting foreign sites and called for due process to be afforded to Iranian nationals abroad.

“There’s not plenty of time,” Trump said in an interview with Fox News' Bret Baier. “We’re going to have a solution one way or the other. It’s either going to be violent or non-violent. And I far prefer non-violent.”

“I don’t want it to be a violent thing, but they’re not going to have a nuclear weapon,” he added. “I know so many Iranians from New York, from Washington, from a different place. These are great people. You know, they have to view them as people.”

Trump said Iran appears interested in engaging. “Iran wants to trade with us, okay, if you can believe that. And I’m okay with it. I’m using trade to settle scores and to make peace,” he said. “I’ve told Iran, we make a deal, you're going to be really... you’re going to be very happy.”

He also questioned why Iran would pursue nuclear energy given its vast oil reserves. “When you have unlimited amounts of oil and gas, why are you putting up nuclear civil?” he said. “If you’re sitting on one of the largest piles of oil in the world, why?”

Trump says Iran got US proposal

Earlier in the day, Trump told reporters that Iran had received a formal US proposal for a nuclear agreement and warned Tehran not to delay. “They have a proposal. More importantly, they know they have to move quickly or something bad—something bad's going to happen,” he said.

Axios reported Thursday that the written proposal was delivered during the fourth round of indirect talks between US and Iranian officials last Sunday in Muscat, Oman. The document, carried by White House envoy Steve Witkoff, reportedly outlines terms for a monitored civilian nuclear program.

According to the report, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi took the proposal back to Tehran for review by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and other senior officials. U.S. and diplomatic sources described the offer as the first formal one from the Trump administration since talks began in April.

Iran, however, denied receiving any proposal. Araghchi wrote on X that no such document had been delivered and reaffirmed Iran’s position on uranium enrichment.

“The messaging we—and the world—continue to receive is confusing and contradictory,” Araghchi said. “Mark my words: there is no scenario in which Iran abandons its hard-earned right to enrichment for peaceful purposes.”

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking Thursday from Turkey, said diplomacy remains on the table but emphasized that the decision ultimately lies with Iran’s Supreme Leader.

“I hope he chooses the path of peace and prosperity, not a destructive path,” Rubio said.

“Iran stands behind them, providing support, guidance and approval,” Netanyahu said.

“The Houthis will pay a very heavy price, and we will defend ourselves through all necessary means to protect Israel's security.”

Earlier on Friday, Israeli airstrikes targeted the Houthi-controlled ports of Hodeidah and Salif in Yemen. The Israeli military reported that 15 fighter jets dropped over 30 munitions on these ports, which it said were to be used for transferring weapons.

Netanyahu confirmed the strikes saying, “Our pilots have now successfully struck two Houthi terrorist ports again, and this is just the continuation, with more to come.”

“We are not willing to sit aside and let the Houthis harm us. We will strike them much harder, including their leadership and all infrastructure that enables them to attack us.”

The Houthis have continued firing missiles at Israel in support of Palestinians in Gaza, though they have stopped targeting US ships.

In response, Israel has launched retaliatory strikes, including a May 6 attack on Sanaa airport in Yemen that killed several people.

“They have a proposal. More importantly, they know they have to move quickly or something bad—something bad's going to happen,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One after leaving the United Arab Emirates.

Axios reported Thursday that the written proposal was delivered during the fourth round of indirect talks between US and Iranian officials last Sunday in Muscat, Oman. It was the first formal offer made by the Trump administration since negotiations began in April, Axios cited US and diplomatic sources saying.

The document, handed over by White House envoy Steve Witkoff, outlines terms for a civilian nuclear program, with specific provisions for international monitoring and verification.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reportedly took the proposal back to Tehran for review by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, President Masoud Pezeshkian, and other senior officials.

Witkoff described the proposal as “elegant” and “very big” in a recent briefing to the United Nations Security Council, according to Axios, but acknowledged that more work was needed. A fifth round of talks has not yet been scheduled.

Iran has responded positively in public statements. Ali Shamkhani, a senior adviser to Khamenei told NBC News that Tehran is ready to stop enriching uranium to weapons-grade levels, reduce its stockpiles and accept inspections—if the United States lifts all sanctions.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking Thursday from Turkey, said the diplomatic window remains open but warned the decision ultimately rests with Iran’s leadership.

“In the end, the decision lies in the hands of one person, and that's the Supreme Leader in Iran, and I hope he chooses the path of peace and prosperity, not a destructive path,” Rubio told reporters.