Iran, US Tensions Highlights: Iran's Abbas Araqchi prepares for nuclear talks with Trump administration on 6 Feb

Iran, US Tensions Iran, US Tensions: The updates to this blog have ended

US envoy Steve Witkoff, who slated to convene US-Iran meeting in Turkey, is set to visit Israel today. He will meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday, Reuters reported.

Following Monday's 4% drop in oil prices, it held steady on Tuesday as market participants weighed the possibility of a de-escalation in US-Iran tensions. On Monday, the development about US-Iran meeting on Friday signalled a de-escalation of tensions.

Amid growing US military presence in the Middle East, Iran warned that any military aggression against the country would have sweeping consequences for the entire West Asia region.

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei on Monday said, “We believe that regional countries fully understand that any threat or act of adventurism against Iran will have repercussions for others as well,” Tehran Times reported. He added “That is why there is a collective regional effort to prevent war.”

This comes as US President Donald Trump expressed hope that Washington will "work something out" with Iran but also warned that "bad things would happen" if no deal is reached.

Iran on Sunday released the names and national ID numbers of nearly 3,000 individuals killed in the nationwide unrest in the period between January 8 and January 14, Tehran Times reported.

"A meeting between US negotiators and senior Iranian officials was likely to take place on Friday in Turkey," AFP quoted an Arab official as saying.

He added, “The potential meeting had been arranged following interventions by Egypt, Qatar, Turkey and Oman.”

Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi are likely to meet on Friday in Istanbul to discuss a possible nuclear deal.

The UK has sanctioned 10 Iranian officials, including their interior minister, for their roles in "recent brutality against protesters". The individuals also include some police officers and two Islamic Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) officers.

The measures include asset freezes, travel bans and disqualification from being a company director under UK jurisdiction, the government said.

As the Middle East simmers amid US warnings, Israel's military struck several locations in south Lebanon on Monday, including in two villages where it issued evacuation warnings, saying it was hitting Hezbollah targets.

As the tensions have escalated in the Middle East region, the president of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Mohamed bin Zayed, has cancelled a state visit to Japan, public broadcaster NHK reported.

The UAE cited “domestic circumstances” for scrapping the three-day visit. It was supposed to begin on February 8.

Oil prices fell 5% on Monday after U.S. President Donald Trump said Iran was "seriously talking" with Washington, signalling a de-escalation of tensions with an OPEC member, while a stronger dollar also weighed on prices.

Brent crude futures were down $3.50, or 5%, at $65.86 per barrel at 1303 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude fell $3.42, or 5.2%, to $61.79 per barrel.

Brent and WTI fell after posting their biggest monthly increase since 2022 in January, as risks of a military strike on Iran receded after Trump's weekend comments. Brent gained 16% in January, while WTI rose by 13%.

EU Commission spokesperson says we reject the listing of EU armies as terrorist organisations and Iran’s accusations of terrorism.

Oil prices fell more than 4% on Monday, February 2, after Donald Trump said Iran was "seriously talking" with Washington, signalling a de-escalation of tensions with an OPEC member, while a stronger dollar also weighed on prices.

Brent crude futures were down $3.34, or 4.8%, at $65.98 per barrel at 1113 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude fell $3.37, or 5.2%, to $61.84 per barrel.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has ordered the start of nuclear talks with the United States as the threat on military action on Tehran looms, the news agency Fars reported.

"President Pezeshkian has ordered the opening of talks with the United States," Fars reported, adding, “Iran and the United States will hold talks on the nuclear file.”

Donald Trump’s senior envoy, Steve Witkoff, is expected to visit Israel for meetings with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the country’s military chief, two senior Israeli officials said on Monday. The officials said the visit is due to begin on Tuesday, amid heightened regional tensions with Iran and as the Trump administration pushes ahead with its efforts to end the Gaza war.

Kremlin said on the Iran situation and uranium that it offered its services when it came to removing “irritants” long ago. It said that it is still trying to de-escalate tensions around Iran.

Iran has arrested four foreigners for their alleged participation in the riots during protests, state TV has flashed as per AFP

Hours after Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps were proscribed as a terror group, Tehran said it has summoned all of the European Union ambassadors to register its protest.

The moves amid US threat of action after the killing of hundreds of Iranians in anti-govt protests. The American military has moved the USS Abraham Lincoln and several guided-missile destroyers into the Mideast.

Iran has denied receiving US President Donald Trump's ultimatum on making a deal over nuclear programmes by Tehran

Iran said Monday it had summoned all of the European Union ambassadors in the Islamic Republic to protest the bloc’s listing of the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard as a terror group.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reportedly held separate phone calls with his counterparts in Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Turkey to discuss regional and international developments.

Iranian media, IRGC outlet Tasnim, said Araghchi has stepped up outreach to regional capitals in recent weeks, focusing in particular on Washington’s warnings toward Iran.

He also traveled to Turkey last week for talks with President Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan.

“Iran possesses numerous attractions: Its oil, gas, rich minerals, and geographic location are attractive. The US wants to seize control of this country just as they controlled it before,” Khamenei said in a post on X on Sunday/

Iran’s Supreme Leader said if the US launches a war, it would not stay confined to Iran and would likely escalate into a broader regional conflict. Trump responded by saying, "We'll find out" whether Khamenei was right if no deal is reached with Iran.

In a series of posts on X on Sunday, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said, "The Americans should know if they start a war, this time it will be a regional war."

Khamenei likened the recent protests to a "coup", warning that a US attack would trigger a broad conflict.

He also posted on X, “That Americans sometimes talk about war - saying we will come with warships and aircrafts - is nothing new. The Iranian nation is not affected by such talk. They shouldn't try to intimidate the Iranian nation with such things.”

Khamenei warned, “We are not the initiators of war. We do not seek to oppress anyone. We do not seek to attack any country. However, anyone who seeks to attack or cause harm will face a decisive blow from the Iranian nation.”