Donald Trump said he hoped to reach a deal with Iran even as tensions escalated after Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned that any US attack would trigger a “regional war”.
“We are not the ones who start a war and we do not want to attack any country,” Iran’s supreme leader said, according to state media. “But if America attacks or harms Iran, the Iranian nation will deliver a strong blow, and any war started by America will spread across the region.”
While both sides have signalled that they are ready to resume talks, the US president has still declined to say if he has made his “final decision” on whether or not he will use force against Iran.
He has repeatedly threatened military intervention, urging Tehran to stop killing protestors in its deadly crackdown and agree to a deal without nuclear weapons.
Speaking to reporters, Trump said: “Hopefully, we’ll make a deal. If we do make a deal, that’s good. If we don’t make a deal, we’ll see what happens.”
Read MoreDonald Trump must proceed with caution on Iran
Iran warns of regional warfare if US launches attack
Omid Djalili: ‘Iranians will fight to the very end against this regime’
The potential outcomes if Trump strikes Iran
Why Iran is the wrong war for Trump to back
Key Points
- Khamenei warns of ‘regional war’ if Trump attacks Iran
- Four killed in gas explosion in western Iran: state media
- Explosion reported at Iranian port
- US warns Iran as Tehran announces naval exercise in Strait of Hormuz
- Iranian official says work on framework for negotiations with US is underway
- Iran says it now considers all EU militaries to be terrorist groups
- Iranian anti-government protester Erfan Soltani released on bail, lawyer says
Full story: Iranian anti-government protester Erfan Soltani released on bail, lawyer says
10:56 , Maira ButtAn Iranian man arrested over his alleged involvement inthe massive anti-government protests that rocked Tehran last month has been released on bail, his lawyer said.
Earlier this month, the Iranian regime had granted a reprieve for Erfan Soltani, 26, who was reportedly facing execution for joining protests against the rulers.
Iran’s foreign minister had told America’s Fox TV there would be “no hangings today, tomorrow or whatever”. His comments were reinforced by Iran’s judiciary which revealed the legal charge against Mr Soltani, who was scheduled to be executed on 14 January, had been downgraded.
Arpan Rai reports:
Iranian anti-government protester Erfan Soltani released on bail, lawyer says
Russia trying to de-escalate Iran tensions, says Kremlin
10:27 , Maira ButtRussia has reiterated that it is involved in discussions to de-escalate tensions in Iran, it said on Monday.
The Kremlin has offered its support in the form of services to process or store Iran’s enriched uranium.
The relationship between Moscow and Tehran has changed significantly over the past decade, most notably since the outbreak of war in Ukraine in February 2022.
Traditionally, their relationship has been characterised by a mix of “cooperation, competition, and suspicion”, according to the Washington-based CNA national security think tank.
In January last year, Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian and Russian president Vladimir Putin signed a 20-year strategic partnership, which was approved in May by the Iranian parliament.
Confirmed death toll nears 7,000 in deadly crackdown
10:06 , Maira ButtThe total number of confirmed deaths in Iran’s deadly crackdown has hit 6,713, while 17,091 cases are under investigation, according to US-based HRANA rights group.
Of those confirmed dead, 137 were under 18. Another 6,305 were reported as “protesters”, 214 were members of government-affiliated forces and 57 were “civilian, non-protesters”.
The number of injured civilians stands at 11,021, with 84 student arrests, 295 cases of forced confessions, and 11,028 summonses reported.
Iran 'confident' on reaching a deal with the US
09:31 , Maira ButtIran’s foreign minister said he was “confident that we can achieve a deal” with the US on Tehran’s nuclear weapons program.
Speaking to CNN Sunday, Abbas Araghchi said there were parties wanting to drag Donald Trump in to a war for their own gain.
He said a meaningful negotiation between the two countries should be based on trust.
“Unfortunately, we have lost our trust [in] the US as a negotiating partner,” he said, adding that the exchange of messages through mediating countries was still able to facilitate “fruitful” talks.
“It is obvious to us that there are certain elements, certain parties, that want to drag President Trump into this war for their own benefits and I think President Trump is wise enough to make the correct decision.”
Iran summons EU ambassadors to protest Revolutionary Guard being listed as terror group
09:00 , Maira ButtIran has summoned all of the European Union’s ambassadors in the country to protest the bloc’s listing of the Islamic Republic’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard as a terror group.
Last week the group was classified as a terrorist organisation over its part in a brutal crackdown on nationwide protests that have led to thousands of deaths.
Other countries, including the US and Canada, have previously designated the Guard as a terrorist organization.
While the move is largely symbolic, it does add to the economic pressure squeezing Iran, particularly has the Guard has a major influence on the country's economy.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei told journalists that the ambassadors had been summoned on Sunday.
Iran exploring diplomacy options with US and expects results in coming
08:29 , Maira ButtIran is examining various diplomatic processes in order to manage tensions with the US, the country’s foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said on Monday.
It expects results in the coming days.
“Regional countries are the go-between for messages that have been exchanged,” he said.
“Various points have been exchanged and we are currently deciding and examining the details of each diplomatic process that we hope will bring results in coming days.”
He added: “This pertains to the process and framework of (talks).”
Calls grow in Iran for independent probe into protest death toll
08:00 , Maroosha MuzaffarPressure is mounting inside Iran for an independent inquiry into the true death toll from recent protests, after the government said it would publish the names of those killed.
Reformists and civil society figures say the official toll of just over 3,000 lacks credibility, with many believing the real number is far higher, and are calling for transparent mechanisms or a UN-led investigation to address deep public distrust and fears of retaliation against victims’ families.
“Citizens should be able to publicly and openly upload names and information about the deceased without being identified. The site should then commit itself to verifying and providing necessary information about each announced name,” Mohsen Borhani, a law professor at Tehran University and a critic of the Iranian government, was quoted as saying by the Guardian.
Iran warns of regional warfare if US launches attack
07:30 , Maroosha MuzaffarIran has issued a stark warning of potential regional conflict should the United States launch an attack, further escalating tensions between Washington DC and Tehran.
In a retaliatory move, Tehran also designated European Union armies as “terrorist groups”.
The US has ramped up its naval presence in the Middle East, prompted by President Donald Trump’s repeated threats of intervention over Iran’s nuclear programme and its handling of protesters.
Despite the ongoing standoff, both Iran’s clerical leadership and the Trump administration have signalled a readiness to resume talks, with regional allies like Turkey actively seeking de-escalation.
Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was quoted on state media as saying that although Trump says he has sent ships to the region, “the Iranian nation shall not be scared by these things, the Iranian people will not be stirred by these threats.
Read more here:
Iran warns of regional warfare if US launches attack
Trump claims India will buy oil from Venezuela instead of Iran
07:00 , Maroosha MuzaffarDonald Trump said India will begin buying oil from Venezuela instead of Iran, claiming a deal is already in place as Washington seeks to reshape global oil flows amid sanctions and trade pressure.
Speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump said: “India is coming in, and they’re going to be buying Venezuelan oil as opposed to buying it from Iran. So, we’ve already made that deal, the concept of the deal.”
India has largely avoided Iranian oil because of US sanctions and instead ramped up imports from Russia after discounted crude became available following the Ukraine war.
The US has repeatedly pressured New Delhi to curb Russian oil purchases, including by sharply raising tariffs on Indian exports last year. However, officials have since signalled a possible rollback as Indian imports from Russia declined.
At the same time, Washington has eased some sanctions on Venezuela’s oil sector to facilitate sales, with a White House official saying the move “would help flow existing product” and that more easing could follow.
Iranian protester Erfan Soltani released on bail – report
06:00 , Maroosha MuzaffarIranian protester Erfan Soltani, who was widely reported to be facing imminent execution over anti-government protests, has been released on bail after weeks in detention.
Iranian authorities denied he had been sentenced to death, saying he faced security-related charges.
Soltani’s lawyer, Amir Mousakhani, told AFP that his client was freed on bail on Saturday and was returned all his personal belongings, including his mobile phone.
He said bail was set at two billion tomans (about $12,600 or £9,200).
Comment: Donald Trump must proceed with caution on Iran
05:30 , Maroosha MuzaffarA misstep by America in the Middle East could be catastrophic, so it needs to seek a resolution through negotiation:
Trump must proceed with caution on Iran
Khamenei warns of ‘regional war’ if Trump attacks Iran
05:00 , Maroosha MuzaffarDonald Trump said he hopes to reach a deal with Iran even as tensions escalate, after Iran’s leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned that any US attack would trigger a “regional war”.
In comments reported by the state media, he said: “America should know that if it starts a war, this time it will be a regional war.
“These threats are nothing new. In the past as well, American officials repeatedly talked about war and said that all options were on the table including war.
“Now this man (Trump) too, keeps claiming that they have brought aircraft carriers and warplanes. The Iranian people should not and will not be frightened by such things.
“We are not the ones who start a war and we do not want to attack any country, but if America attacks or harms Iran, the Iranian nation will deliver a strong blow and any war started by America will spread across the region.”
Iranians living abroad hold protests
04:00 , Maroosha MuzaffarIranians living abroad staged large-scale rallies across major cities worldwide to show solidarity with protesters in Iran and condemn the Islamic Republic’s crackdown, Iran International reported.
Tens of thousands, including about 100,000 in Toronto alone, marched in cities across North America, Europe, and Australia, calling on the international community to take stronger “action against Tehran’s theocracy”.
At least 100,000 Iranians attended one of the largest protest rallies in Toronto on Sunday, according to local police, expressing solidarity with protesters in Iran and calling for international action against Tehran’s theocracy.pic.twitter.com/9G1pWXesv0
— Iran International English (@IranIntl_En) February 2, 2026
Large numbers of demonstrators gathered in cities including London, Washington DC, Vienna, Paris, Brussels, Cologne, while earlier on Saturday, protests were held in London, Berlin, Paris, Hamburg, Stockholm, Dusseldorf, Manchester, Newcastle and numerous other locations, the outlet reported.
Confirmed death toll more than 6,700 in Iran's deadly crackdown
03:00 , Harriette BoucherThe total number of confirmed deaths in Iran’s deadly crackdown has hit 6,713, while 17,091 cases are under investigation, according to US-based HRANA rights group.
Of those confirmed dead, 137 were under 18. Another 6,305 were reported as “protesters”, 214 were members of government-affiliated forces and 57 were “civilian, non-protesters”.
The number of injured civilians stands at 11,021, with 84 student arrests, 295 cases of forced confessions, and 11,028 summonses reported.
In pictures: Buildings damaged by explosions in Iran from suspected gas leak
02:01 , Harriette Boucher 'Ball in Iran's court', says US Nato ambassador
01:03 , Harriette BoucherMatt Whitaker, the US representative to Nato, said that the Trump administration had given Iran an “ultimatum” and that the “ball is in [Iran’s] court”.
Speaking to Fox News, Mr Whitaker said that Donald Trump had been clear on his demands and would not be patient with Iran.
He said: "The president has been very clear on Iran, you can't have a nuclear weapon, and you need to stop killing protesters in your streets, and that’s a pretty clear red line.
“President Trump is backing that up with this armada that is sitting off the coast of Iran and in the region, and so certainly that is a show of strength, but it is also an offering for Iran.”
Watch: 'Human chain' on Golden Gate Bridge calls for change in iran
00:00 , Harriette Boucher'We'll find out': Trump responds to Khamenei claims that US attack would spark regional conflict
Sunday 1 February 2026 23:06 , Harriette BoucherDonald Trump has responded to comments from Iran’s leader that a US strike could cause a regional war, saying that if a deal wasn’t reached “we’ll find out whether or not he was right”.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned earlier on Sunday that any US attack would result in a "regional war" in the Middle East.
Speaking to reporters in response to the comments, President Trump said: “We have the biggest, most powerful ships in the world over there.
“Hopefully we’ll make a deal. If we don’t make a deal, then we’ll find out whether or not he was right.”
Editorial: Donald Trump must proceed with caution on Iran
Sunday 1 February 2026 23:05 , Harriette BoucherAccording to Donald Trump, Iran does “want to do a deal” which would, in theory, preserve the power of the present regime in return for ending its nuclear weapons programme. On the face of it, that is an offer that the supreme leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, cannot refuse.
It is an offer that he cannot refuse, in the old mafiosi sense, because the overwhelming firepower available to the United States could destroy the current Iranian state. It is also an offer that, rationally, it would be wise for the regime to accept for the basic purposes of self-preservation.
After all, despite the president’s earlier vocal support for the Iranian protesters and promise that “help is coming”, the only tangible effect of US policy has been to deter the mass hangings of anti-regime Iranians arrested in the recent disturbances.
Read here:
Trump must proceed with caution on Iran
Iran 'confident' on reaching a deal with the US
Sunday 1 February 2026 22:05 , Harriette BoucherIran’s foreign minister said he was “confident that we can achieve a deal” with the US on Tehran’s nuclear weapons program.
Speaking to CNN Sunday, Abbas Araghchi said there were parties wanting to drag Donald Trump in to a war for their own gain.
He said a meaningful negotiation between the two countries should be based on trust.
“Unfortunately, we have lost our trust [in] the US as a negotiating partner,” he said, adding that the exchange of messages through mediating countries was still able to facilitate “fruitful” talks.
“It is obvious to us that there are certain elements, certain parties, that want to drag President Trump into this war for their own benefits and I think President Trump is wise enough to make the correct decision.”
Iran says it now considers all EU militaries to be terrorist groups
Sunday 1 February 2026 21:06 , Harriette BoucherIran's parliament speaker said today that the Islamic Republic now considers all European Union militaries to be terrorist groups.
The speaker's comments come after Europe declared Tehran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard a terror group over its deadly crackdown on nationwide protests.
"By seeking to strike at the (Guard), which itself has been the greatest barrier to the spread of terrorism to Europe, Europeans have in fact shot themselves in the foot and, once again through blind obedience to the Americans, decided against the interests of their own people," the speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf said.
Confirmed death toll nears 7,000 in deadly crackdown
Sunday 1 February 2026 20:02 , Harriette BoucherThe total number of confirmed deaths in Iran’s deadly crackdown has hit 6,713, while 17,091 cases are under investigation, according to US-based HRANA rights group.
Of those confirmed dead, 137 were under 18. Another 6,305 were reported as “protesters”, 214 were members of government-affiliated forces and 57 were “civilian, non-protesters”.
The number of injured civilians stands at 11,021, with 84 student arrests, 295 cases of forced confessions, and 11,028 summonses reported.
Watch: Omid Djalili: Iranians will fight to the very end against this regime
Sunday 1 February 2026 19:32 , Harriette BoucherOscar-nominated screenwriter arrested in Tehran
Sunday 1 February 2026 19:02 , Harriette BoucherMehdi Mahmoudian, an Oscar-nominated screenwriter, has been arrested in Tehran just days after he and 16 others signed a statement condemning Islamic Republic leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the regime's violent crackdown.
Mr Mahmoudian who wrote Iranian drama "It Was Just an Accident” was arrested on Saturday, according to his representatives. No details on the charges against him were available.
Two other signatories, Vida Rabbani and Abdullah Momeni, were also arrested.
Jafar Panahi, the prize-winning director of the film, said: "Mehdi Mahmoudian is not just a human-rights activist and a prisoner of conscience; he is a witness, a listener, and a rare moral presence — a presence whose absence is immediately felt, both inside prison walls and beyond them.”
The potential outcomes if Trump strikes Iran
Sunday 1 February 2026 18:44 , Harriette BoucherDonald Trump has renewed his threat of military action against Iran, urging the Islamic Republic to make a ‘deal’ or face the consequences with a “massive armada” already en route to the region.
The US president said on Wednesday that time was running out for Tehran to avoid a repeat of last summer’s strikes against the country’s nuclear facilities, warning this time would be “far worse”.
The U.S. has been seeking a deal to curb Iran’s nuclear programme even after claiming to have totally destroyed it in a bombing campaign last June. However, officials fear the programme was not destroyed and that the regime has been reconstituting it. Iran denies trying to make a bomb, but says it is open to talks.
The decision to move a carrier strike group to the region gives Trump a wider range of options than he had earlier this month, when he vowed to come to the rescue of anti-government protesters being brutally killed and targeted by the regime.
But U.S. bases and partners in the region will be fearing an Iranian retaliation after regime officials threatened an ‘unprecedented’ response if provoked. The Independent looks at what is likely to happen next in Iran.
James C. Reynolds reports:
The potential outcomes if Trump strikes Iran
Khamenei says clashes with the US would blow up into regional conflict
Sunday 1 February 2026 10:36 , James ReynoldsIran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said that if the U.S. attacked Iran, it would become a regional conflict, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported on Sunday.
"America should know that if it starts a war, this time it will be a regional war. These threats are nothing new. In the past as well, American officials repeatedly talked about war and said that all options were on the table including war.”
He added: "We are not the ones who start a war and we do not want to attack any country, but if America attacks or harms Iran the Iranian nation will deliver a strong blow and any war started by America will spread across the region."
In Video: Explosions leave multiple dead in Iran
Sunday 1 February 2026 08:30 , Vishwam SankaranTehran 'in no way seeks war', Iran's president says
Sunday 1 February 2026 08:00 , Vishwam SankaranAmid escalating tensions with the US, Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian told his Egyptian counterpart yesterday that Tehran in "no way" seeks war with Washington.
"The Islamic Republic of Iran has never sought, and in no way seeks, war, and it is firmly convinced that a war would be in the interest of neither Iran, nor the United States, nor the region," he said.
Turkey's president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, also warned that military action against Iran could destabilise the entire Middle East region, and has offered to act as a “facilitator” between Iran and the US.
In pictures: Buildings damaged by explosions in Iran from suspected gas leak
Sunday 1 February 2026 07:30 , Vishwam Sankaran Iran says it now considers all EU militaries to be terrorist groups
Sunday 1 February 2026 07:03 , Vishwam SankaranIran's parliament speaker said today that the Islamic Republic now considers all European Union militaries to be terrorist groups.
The speaker's comments come after Europe declared Tehran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard a terror group over its deadly crackdown on nationwide protests.
"By seeking to strike at the (Guard), which itself has been the greatest barrier to the spread of terrorism to Europe, Europeans have in fact shot themselves in the foot and, once again through blind obedience to the Americans, decided against the interests of their own people," the speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf said.
What do we know about Trump's 'armada' heading towards Iran?
Sunday 1 February 2026 07:00 , Vishwam SankaranMultiple reports suggest the US has built up a fleet of about 10 warships in and around the Middle East, including air craft carriers and navy destroyers.
The fleet is headed by the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72), which has been deployed towards the Middle East.
Sailors aboard USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) perform routine maintenance as the aircraft carrier sails in the Indian Ocean, Jan. 26. The Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group is currently deployed to the Middle East to promote regional security and stability. pic.twitter.com/dkuN946hce
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) January 26, 2026
It also includes the guided-missile destroyer USS Delbert D. Black (DDG-119) positioned near the Red Sea, along with three other destroyers and three littoral combat ships.
The carriers host stealth aircraft, including Lockheed Martin’s F-35 Lightning II fighter jets and Boeing’s F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jets.
Trump said last week that the US fleet was "ready, willing, and able to rapidly fulfil its mission, with speed and violence, if necessary".
Video: Thousands form human chain on Golden Gate Bridge calling for regime change in Iran
Sunday 1 February 2026 06:30 , Vishwam Sankaran'Big powerful ships' heading towards Iran, Trump says
Sunday 1 February 2026 06:00 , Vishwam SankaranAsked by reporters aboard Air Force One for an update on what he plans to do with Iran, the American president refused to give away specifics, but added that "very big powerful ships" were heading towards the Gulf.
"I certainly can't tell you that, but we do have very powerful ships heading in that direction," Trump said.
"But I hope they negotiate something that is acceptable," he added.
Iran's army chief warns US and Israel against attack
Sunday 1 February 2026 05:30 , Vishwam SankaranIran's army chief Amir Hatami warned Israel and the US against attacking Tehran following Washington's deployment of its fleets in the Gulf.
"If the enemy makes a mistake, without a doubt it will endanger its own security, the security of the region, and the security of the Zionist regime," Hatami said, according to Iran's state news agency IRNA.
The army chief said Iran's forces were "at full defensive and military readiness".
Top Iranian official says negotiations with US are progressing
Sunday 1 February 2026 05:00 , Vishwam SankaranA top Iranian national security official said in a post on X that negotiations with the United States are progressing even as tensions rise in the Middle East amid a buildup of American forces in the Gulf.
"Contrary to the hype of the contrived media war, structural arrangements for negotiations are progressing," said Ali Larijani, the head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, without providing further details about the nature of the framework.
US president Donald Trump has also suggested Iran is negotiating with Washington.
“[Iran is] talking to us, and we’ll see if we can do something; otherwise, we’ll see what happens… We have a big fleet heading out there,” Trump told Fox News.
Thousands form human chain on Golden Gate Bridge in solidarity with Iranians
Sunday 1 February 2026 04:30 , Vishwam SankaranThousands of people gathered on the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco to form a human chain, showing support for the people of Iran amid Tehran's brutal crackdown on protesters calling for regime change.
Witnesses say there were likely over 20,000 protesters forming the human chain for Iran, covering the entire length of the bridge.
Protesters are calling for greater international pressure on the Iranian regime to end violence and political repression.
Similar protests were organised in 2022 on the bridge following the in-custody death of 22-year-old Iranian Kurdish womanMahsa Amini, who had been detained by Iran's "morality police" for “improper wearing of the hijab”.
Trump urges India to buy oil from Venezuela instead of Iran
Sunday 1 February 2026 04:00 , Vishwam SankaranThe US president has suggested that there is a deal in progress with India to buy oil from Venezuela instead of Iran.
"We've already made that deal, the concept of the deal," Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One.
Until 2018, Tehran was one of New Delhi's largest suppliers of crude oil, with imports hitting a peak of about $12bn, but threats of sanctions have significantly reduced its crude imports from Iran.
Currently, Iranian oil accounts for about 0.04 per cent of India’s total crude imports, with an estimated value of about $70m.
Deal with Iran to give up nuclear weapons 'would be satisfactory', Trump says
Sunday 1 February 2026 03:30 , Vishwam SankaranAfter reiterating that the US has dispatched its "armada" to the Middle East, US president Donald Trump said he hoped Iran's leadership negotiated "something that’s acceptable".
Asked if failing to strike would embolden Iran, he said, “Some people think that. Some people don’t.”
“You could make a negotiated deal that would be satisfactory with no nuclear weapons… They should do that, but I don’t know that they will. They are talking to us – seriously talking,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One.
Recap: Iranian official says work on framework for negotiations with US is underway
Sunday 1 February 2026 03:00 , Harriette BoucherA top Iranian security official has said that work on a framework for negotiations with the United States was progressing.
In a post on social media on Saturday, Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, said: "Contrary to the atmosphere being created by artificial media warfare, the formation of a structure for #negotiations is underway.”
It follows comments from Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi on Friday, who said the country was ready for “fair and equitable” talks.
“Iran has no problem with negotiations, but negotiations cannot take place under the shadow of threats,” he said.
In pictures: Explosion rips through apartment building in Bandar Abbas
Sunday 1 February 2026 02:40 , Harriette Boucher Omid Djalili: ‘Iranians will fight to the very end against this regime’
Sunday 1 February 2026 02:00 , Harriette BoucherOn a late January afternoon, British-Iranian comedian Omid Djalili arrived at The Independent’s offices wearing a navy blue military-style jacket.
“I’m dressed like Zelensky,” the 60-year-old says, in the playful manner seen in his stand-up comedy and acting roles in blockbuster films including “The Mummy” and “Gladiator”.
More recently, since the start of the protests in Iran, and the deadly crackdown by the Islamic regime, Djalili has been fighting for Iran’s freedom.
Djalili has given over his social media to the “voiceless”, as he describes them, the Iranians stuck in an internet blackout imposed by the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Read more:
Omid Djalili: ‘Iranians will fight to the very end against this regime’
Qatari PM met Iranian security official to discuss easing tensions in region
Sunday 1 February 2026 01:00 , Harriette BoucherQatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani met with top Iranian security official Ali Larijani in Tehran on Saturday to discuss easing regional tensions.
In a statment, Qatar's foreign ministry said: “During the meeting, they reviewed ongoing efforts to de-escalate tensions in the region.
“He also stressed the need for concerted efforts to spare the peoples of the region the consequence of escalation and to continue coordination with brotherly and friendly countries to address differences through diplomatic means.”
US talking to Iran as Trump weighs strikes
Sunday 1 February 2026 00:02 , Harriette BoucherDonald Trump said the US was talking to Iran and suggested the two countries were trying to negotiate a deal.
Speaking to Fox News on Saturday, President Trump said the US could not share its military plans with Gulf allies due to security reasons.
Trump said: ‘‘Well, we can’t tell them the plan. If I told them the plan, it would be almost as bad as telling you the plan — it could be worse, actually.
‘‘But look, the plan is that [Iran is] talking to us, and we’ll see if we can do something, otherwise we’ll see what happens… We have a big fleet heading out there, bigger than we had — and still have, actually — in Venezuela.’’
Girl, 4, dies in Iran explosion a day before Strait of Hormuz naval drill
Saturday 31 January 2026 23:01 , Harriette BoucherAn explosion ripped through an apartment building in Iran’s port city of Bandar Abbas on Saturday, claiming the life of a four-year-old girl.
Local media footage reportedly showed a member of the security forces being carried out by rescuers in the aftermath of the blast.
The incident occurred just a day before Iran’s planned naval drill in the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, the narrow gateway to the Persian Gulf through which a fifth of the world’s traded oil passes.
Girl, 4, dies in Iran explosion a day before Strait of Hormuz naval drill
Watch: Hegseth warns Iran against developing nuclear weapons, saying US military 'prepared to deliver'
Saturday 31 January 2026 22:01 , Harriette BoucherWhat is Iran’s Revolutionary Guard? The force labelled a ‘terrorist group’ by the EU
Saturday 31 January 2026 21:00 , James ReynoldsIran’s powerful paramilitary Revolutionary Guard has become a formidable entity within the nation's theocracy.
The force oversees the country's ballistic missile arsenal and has been linked to attacks overseas.
This week, the European Union moved to declare the Guard a terrorist organisation. The designation comes in response to its role in the brutal crackdown on nationwide protests across Iran earlier this month.
Here's what to know about the Guard:
What is Iran’s Revolutionary Guard? The force labelled a ‘terrorist group’ by EU
Recap: Israel denies involvement in two blasts across Iran
Saturday 31 January 2026 20:00 , James ReynoldsA gas leak caused an explosion at a building in the southern Iranian port of Bandar Abbas on Saturday, the semi-official Mehr news agency reported, citing the local fire department chief.
At least one person was killed and 14 injured in the explosion in the blast. It came as four people were killed in a gas explosion at a residential building in Ahvaz, in the west of the country, according to the state-run Tehran Times.
It was unclear what had caused the blast. Two Israeli sources promptly told Reuters that Israel was not involved, amid heightened tensions between Iran, the US and Israel.
Analysis: Why Iran is the wrong war for Trump to back
Saturday 31 January 2026 19:00 , James ReynoldsTrump may be very proud of his ‘armada’ off the coast of Iran but the US president could look good, back a winner, and support his allies by leaving Tehran alone and helping Ukraine win instead, writes world affairs editor Sam Kiley:
Why Iran is the wrong war for Trump to back
Iranian official says work on framework for negotiations with US is underway
Saturday 31 January 2026 18:25 , Harriette BoucherA top Iranian security official has said that work on a framework for negotiations with the United States was progressing.
In a post on social media on Saturday, Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, said: "Contrary to the atmosphere being created by artificial media warfare, the formation of a structure for #negotiations is underway.”
It follows comments from Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi on Friday, who said the country was ready for “fair and equitable” talks.
“Iran has no problem with negotiations, but negotiations cannot take place under the shadow of threats,” he said.
Recap: US warns Iran as Tehran announces naval exercise in Strait of Hormuz
Saturday 31 January 2026 18:00 , James ReynoldsThe US warned Iran that it “will not tolerate unsafe” actions in the Strait of Hormuz after Tehran announced a two-day live-fire naval exercise there.
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) urged the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to conduct its naval exercise "in a manner that is safe, professional and avoids unnecessary risk to freedom of navigation for international maritime traffic".
"Any unsafe and unprofessional behaviour near US forces, regional partners or commercial vessels increases risks of collision, escalation, and destabilisation," CENTCOM said in a statement.
"We will not tolerate unsafe IRGC actions, including overflight of US military vessels engaged in flight operations, low-altitude or armed overflight of US military assets when intentions are unclear, high-speed boat approaches on a collision course with US military vessels, or weapons trained at US forces," it said.
The potential outcomes if Trump strikes Iran
Saturday 31 January 2026 17:00 , James ReynoldsDonald Trump has renewed his threat of military action against Iran, urging the Islamic Republic to make a ‘deal’ or face the consequences with a “massive armada” already en route to the region.
Here are the potential outcomes if Trump does strike Iran: