Iran says speculation of interim deal with US not confirmed

Iran has signaled it is prepared to make concessions on its nuclear program in talks with the United States in return for sanctions relief and recognition of its right to enrich uranium, as it seeks to avert a US attack, Reuters reported, citing a senior Iranian official.

Tehran would seriously consider sending half of its most highly enriched uranium abroad, diluting the rest and taking part in creating a regional enrichment consortium, the Iranian official said according to Reuters.

Iran would do so in return for US recognition of its right to “peaceful nuclear enrichment” under a deal that would also include lifting economic sanctions, the official said.

In addition, Iran has offered openings for US companies to participate as contractors in Iran’s oil and gas industries, the official said.

“Within the economic package under negotiation, the United States has also been offered opportunities for serious investment and tangible economic interests in Iran’s oil industry,” Reuters quoted the official as saying.

Araghchi earlier said Iran would not “capitulate,” responding to US envoy Steve Witkoff’s remarks that President Donald Trump was “curious” why Tehran had not capitulated under mounting US pressure.

The United States has increased aircraft deployments at bases in Jordan and Saudi Arabia, the Financial Times reported, citing satellite tracking analysis and defense experts.

A tracker run by Tel Aviv University estimates at least 66 fighter jets are now at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan, according to the report.

Eighteen of the aircraft visible in imagery are F-35 fighter jets, two former defense officials and an air force expert who reviewed the images told the FT. The expert also identified 17 F-15s and eight A-10 aircraft at the base.

Satellite images also show additional aircraft at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia, including E-3 airborne warning and control system planes as well as C-130 and C-5 transport aircraft, the report said.

US House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman said he believes Iran will not meet US demands and could face US military action.

“I expect that Iran does not take the diplomatic off-ramp and that it comes to a strike for the president to protect the homeland of the United States of America, which absolutely this is against an imminent threat against the American people,” Brian Mast told Fox News.

Exiled Iranian Princess Noor Pahlavi said Iran’s current ruling system “has never been this close” to falling and urged US President Donald Trump to support Iranians seeking change.

Speaking in an interview with The California Post, Pahlavi appealed to Trump for help, saying Iranians were “begging” for support.

Speaking in an interview with The California Post, Pahlavi appealed to Trump for help, saying Iranians were “begging” for support.

“It’s literally a government waging war on its own citizens. It’s just incredibly painful to watch, to hear about. And it’s hard for people here to see and hear about. But it’s our responsibility not to look away,” she said.

"The regime has never been this weak," she added.

The agreement, signed in Moscow in December, commits Russia to deliver 500 man-portable Verba launch units and 2,500 9M336 missiles over three years, the FT reported, citing leaked Russian documents and several people familiar with the deal.

The Verba is described as one of Russia’s most modern shoulder-fired, infrared-guided air defense systems, capable of targeting cruise missiles, low-flying aircraft, and drones. Operated by small mobile teams, it allows forces to create dispersed defenses without relying on fixed radar installations, which are more vulnerable to strikes, the report said.

Under the €495 million contract, deliveries are scheduled in three tranches from 2027 through 2029, the FT said, adding that one person familiar with the transaction suggested a smaller number of systems could have been delivered earlier.

Tehran formally requested the systems last July, days after the end of a 12-day conflict in which the US briefly joined Israel in strikes on Iran’s three key nuclear facilities, according to a contract seen by the newspaper.

A former senior US official told the FT that Moscow likely viewed the agreement as a way to repair ties with Tehran after failing to come to its ally’s aid during the June conflict.

The deal was negotiated between Rosoboronexport, Russia’s state arms export agency, and the Moscow representative of Iran’s Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics (MODAFL), FT’s report said.

The contract was arranged by Ruhollah Katebi, a Moscow-based MODAFL official who previously helped broker Iran’s sale of hundreds of Fath-360 close-range ballistic missiles for use in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

One Russian Ilyushin Il-76TD cargo plane has made at least three runs from Mineralnye Vody in Russia’s northern Caucasus to the Iranian city of Karaj in the past eight days, FT’s report said. At least one more Il-76 flew the same route in late December.

Iran reportedly received up to six Russian Mi-28 attack helicopters in January and operated one of them in Tehran this month.

According to documents seen by the newspaper, Rosoboronexport is selling the 9M336 missiles at €170,000 per unit and the launch systems at €40,000 each.

The deal also includes 500 “Mowgli-2” night-vision sights designed to track aircraft and other targets in darkness, the report added.

Unlike larger Russian strategic air defense systems such as the S-300 and S-400, the Verba systems do not require extensive training or integration and can be deployed more quickly, FT’s report said.

The report added that Verbas have not played a significant role in Russia’s defenses against Ukrainian drone attacks, which could make Moscow more willing to part with them than other air defense systems.