Germany says Iran must end support for Hamas, Hezbollah, Houthis

OPEC+ is considering an increase in oil output for April as tensions between the United States and Iran push crude prices higher, Reuters reported, citing sources familiar with the group’s discussions.

The move comes as fears grow that a possible US strike on Iran could disrupt oil flows from the Middle East. Reuters also reported that top producer Saudi Arabia has activated a contingency plan to boost output and exports in case conflict affects regional supplies.

Eight OPEC+ members are set to meet on March 1 to discuss production policy, the report said.

A video shared with Iran International shows a banner addressed to US President Donald Trump that reads in Persian, “You are a man of action, but each day of delay means dozens of executions.”

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  Iranians plead with Trump not to negotiate with the Islamic Republic

Esmail Kosari, a member of Iran’s parliament national security and foreign policy committee, said the United States should pull its naval forces out of the region.

“Americans must return their aircraft carriers and warships to their own territory,” he said, according to state media.

Kosari criticized what he called contradictory US statements on Iran’s nuclear program. “On the one hand they say Iran’s nuclear facilities were destroyed, and on the other they say Iran can reach its goal in a short time and must be stopped militarily,” he said, adding that such remarks were “nonsense.”

He said Iran remains prepared and warned that if the US takes military action, it would face a response.

Ali Shamkhani, a veteran security figure and long-time adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader, has returned to a central role in shaping Tehran’s military and diplomatic strategy after surviving an Israeli strike last year, Reuters reported in a profile.

Reuters said Shamkhani, 70, was confirmed as secretary of Iran’s newly established Defence Council following the 2025 12-day war, placing him back at the core of security decision-making as tensions with the United States rise.

A former commander in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and ex-head of the Supreme National Security Council, Shamkhani has played roles in nuclear negotiations and regional diplomacy. In January, he warned on X that any US military action would be treated as the start of war and would draw what he called an “all out” response.

Reuters also noted that Shamkhani has been sanctioned by the United States over alleged links to networks moving sanctioned oil, allegations he has not publicly addressed.

Turkey is reviewing possible actions should tensions between neighboring Iran and the United States escalate into conflict, a Turkish diplomatic source told Reuters.

The source said Ankara was assessing different scenarios to protect its citizens in the event of a “negative development,” but stressed that any move that would breach Iran’s sovereignty was not being considered.

Turkey, which borders Iran and is a member of NATO, has said it opposes military intervention and favors a diplomatic solution. The Turkish presidency’s office for countering disinformation earlier rejected reports that Ankara was preparing to enter Iranian territory to prevent a possible refugee influx.