EU foreign policy chief urges diplomatic solution on Iran

Oil prices may surge as the United States and Iran appear to be heading toward war, Bloomberg reported on Monday, citing energy consultant Fereidun Fesharaki.

“I don’t think the US has a choice but to go to war,” Fesharaki, chairman emeritus of FGE NexantECA, told Bloomberg TV. “It is very hard for me to see a scenario that they would just avoid this, and turn the ships around and go home.”

He said prices of $90 to $100 a barrel were “within reach,” depending on the severity of any disruption, pointing to risks to crude flows from the region and the possibility Iran could seek to block the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran does not confirm any speculation about a possible interim agreement with the United States, Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said on Monday ahead of talks planned in Geneva on Thursday.

“We do not confirm any speculation,” Baghaei said, according to state media.

He also said Iran would not accept any notion of surrender. “We have nothing to do with surrender, and this is also in conflict with international law,” he said, adding that Tehran remained determined to pursue a diplomatic path.

Baghaei denied that a visit by the International Atomic Energy Agency to damaged nuclear facilities was being set as a precondition for talks with Washington.

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.