Iran’s supreme leader dismissed a key U.S. demand to halt uranium enrichment but did not close the door on further negotiations, as nuclear talks continue amid rising regional tensions.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Wednesday criticised a U.S.-backed nuclear proposal, rejecting the idea of ending uranium enrichment, which he called vital to Iran’s sovereignty and energy needs. He described the proposal as contrary to Iran’s principle of self-reliance.
“If we do not have enrichment, then we should extend our hand (begging) to the U.S.,” Khamenei said, reiterating that enrichment is central to Iran’s peaceful nuclear ambitions.
Despite the sharp rhetoric, Khamenei did not rule out further dialogue. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed Tehran will issue a formal response soon. Talks are seen as crucial for easing sanctions that have hit Iran’s economy.
Details of the U.S. proposal remain unclear. Reports suggest it includes a nuclear consortium to handle enrichment for Iran and its neighbours, with possible limited enrichment rights for Iran.
President Donald Trump has reinstated his “maximum pressure” campaign, renewing sanctions and warning of military action. Khamenei accused U.S. leaders of seeking to dismantle Iran’s nuclear industry, but his remarks stopped short of ending negotiations.
Experts warn that failure to reach a deal could escalate tensions further, risking conflict and ending cooperation with international nuclear inspectors.
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U.S. Vice President JD Vance has arrived in Armenia, marking the first time a sitting U.S. vice president or president has visited the country, as Washington seeks to deepen engagement in the South Caucasus and advance a U.S.-brokered peace process between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Pressure is mounting on UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer amid resignations and a row over Peter Mandelson, a powerful figure in the ruling Labour Party. The episode has raised doubts about Starmer’s authority and how firmly his own party continues to back him.
Chinese authorities have quietly signalled a shift in strategy, instructing some state-owned banks to rein in their purchases of U.S. government bonds.
Convicted Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell refused to answer questions before Congress, while her lawyer said she could clear President Donald Trump of wrongdoing if granted clemency.
U.S. President Donald Trump has criticised American freestyle skier Hunter Hess after the athlete said he felt conflicted about representing the United States at the Winter Olympics in Italy, sparking a public clash that highlights growing political tensions surrounding the Games.
U.S. skiing great Lindsey Vonn underwent surgery in an Italian hospital on Sunday after her attempt to win Olympic downhill gold ended in a violent crash just seconds into the race at the Milano Cortina Winter Games.
Several avalanches struck northern Italy on Saturday, killing at least three people, as rescue officials warned the death toll could rise with unstable conditions persisting across the Alps.
U.S. President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner visited the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier in the Arabian Sea on Saturday after completing a round of talks with Iran.
Russian forces attacked Ukraine’s energy infrastructure overnight on Saturday, marking the second such strike in less than a week, according to Ukrainian authorities.
Iran’s atomic energy chief says Tehran could dilute uranium enriched to 60 per cent if all international sanctions are lifted, stressing that technical nuclear issues are being discussed alongside political matters in ongoing negotiations.
NATO member Türkiye has dispatched several military aircraft to Germany, along with roughly 2,000 troops, to take part in the Western alliance’s largest annual military exercise.
Uzbekistan is set to introduce mandatory preparatory “zero classes” before primary school, after President Shavkat Mirziyoyev approved a decree making year-long school readiness programmes an official part of compulsory education.
The U.S. Helsinki Commission is set to refocus attention on Georgia’s domestic political crisis and its faltering relationship with Washington with a 11 February briefing titled “Georgian Dream’s Growing Suppression of Dissent.”
Kazakhstan has significantly expanded its international air connectivity last year, reopening and launching flights to 30 countries according to data released by the country’s transport authorities. By the end of 2025, Kazakhstan was operating 135 international routes.
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