Ali Babaei Karnami, head of Iran’s parliamentary Social Committee, called on security agencies to investigate overseas trips taken by some officials over the past six months, saying some of the travel appears “suspicious.”
He said authorities should determine the purpose of the trips – particularly to “certain countries” – and what tangible outcomes, if any, they produced amid the country’s current crisis.
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said Iran’s leadership lacks legitimacy, accusing the government of killing its own people to stay in power.
Wong told Australia’s Senate that Canberra has strongly condemned Iran’s violent crackdown on peaceful protesters and has called for respect for the right to protest, an end to killings, arbitrary detentions and internet shutdowns.
She pointed to Australia’s measures including sanctions on more than 200 individuals and entities linked to Iran’s authorities, including more than 100 tied to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, as well as steps such as expelling Iran’s ambassador and designating the IRGC as a terrorist organization.
US Representative Cory Mills said he joined a gathering of 350,000 Iranian Americans in Los Angeles seeking the overthrow of what he called a “brutal Islamic dictatorship.”
He said the current moment has created an opportunity to remove the Islamic Republic, protect US allies and help bring stability to the region.
He added, “As Trump has said, help is on the way.”
Iran is prepared to consider steps on its stockpile of highly enriched uranium as part of a nuclear deal with the United States, but the demand for zero enrichment is not on the table, Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi said in an interview published on Sunday.
Takht-Ravanchi told the BBC that Tehran was ready to discuss curbs on its nuclear program, including measures related to its roughly 400 kg stockpile of highly enriched uranium, if Washington was willing to lift sanctions.
“If they are ready to talk about sanctions, we are ready to discuss this and other issues related to our nuclear program,” he said, adding that it was too early to say what specific steps might emerge from negotiations.
Iran is prepared to consider steps on its stockpile of highly enriched uranium as part of a nuclear deal with the United States, but the demand for zero enrichment is not on the table, Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi said in an interview published on Sunday.
Takht-Ravanchi told the BBC that Tehran was ready to discuss curbs on its nuclear program, including measures related to its roughly 400 kg stockpile of highly enriched uranium, if Washington was willing to lift sanctions.
“If they are ready to talk about sanctions, we are ready to discuss this and other issues related to our nuclear program,” he said, adding that it was too early to say what specific steps might emerge from negotiations.
Iran’s atomic energy chief said on Monday that Tehran could dilute its most highly enriched uranium in exchange for the removal of all financial sanctions, a point Takht-Ravanchi cited as an example of Iran’s flexibility.
However, he repeated that the idea of ending all uranium enrichment in Iran – a longstanding US position and a major sticking point in past talks – would not be accepted.
“The issue of zero enrichment is no longer raised and, as far as Iran is concerned, is not on the negotiating table,” he said.
Indirect talks between Tehran and Washington resumed in Oman earlier this month, with a second round scheduled for Tuesday in Geneva, Takht-Ravanchi confirmed.
“(Initial talks went) more or less in a positive direction, but it is too early to judge,” he said.
A US delegation including envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner is expected to meet Iranian officials in Geneva, with Omani representatives mediating.
Takht-Ravanchi said the “ball is in the US court” to demonstrate it is serious about reaching an agreement, adding that Washington had publicly and privately, through Oman, expressed interest in a peaceful resolution.
While Tehran has signaled readiness to negotiate limits on its nuclear activities in return for sanctions relief, it has repeatedly ruled out discussions on its ballistic missile program. Takht-Ravanchi reaffirmed that position, saying Iran would not deprive itself of what it considers defensive capabilities.
“When we were attacked by the Israelis and the Americans, our missiles came to our help. So how can we accept depriving ourselves of our defensive capabilities?” he said.
Iran has also rejected linking the nuclear talks to its regional policies, including support for allied armed groups, an issue increasingly raised in US political discourse around the negotiations.
US chief negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner have told President Donald Trump that history shows it is difficult, if not impossible, to reach a good deal with Iran, Axios reported citing a US official.
In their recent meeting in Washington DC, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Trump it is impossible to make a good deal with Iran and claimed that even if a deal is signed, Iran will not abide by it, the report said citing a US official.
Trump told Netanyahu he thinks there is a chance to reach a deal with Iran, the official said.
"We'll see if it's possible. Let's give it a shot", Trump said, according to the US official.
