US President Donald Trump said on Friday that his administration is holding talks with representatives of Tehran, adding to reporters: “Things are going very well with Iran,” while keeping the option of targeting Iran open.
This comes after Trump said that Washington must decide whether to move forward with additional steps towards Iran or “ratify the agreement,” stressing that he will implement many things during the next two weeks.
He told reporters at the White House regarding the proposals being considered by Iran: “It does not matter what the proposals include, it will not possess nuclear weapons,” adding that Tehran will not take any step “without the approval” of Washington.
He said that the United States has control in Iran of everything it has wanted to control since the beginning of its presence there seven months ago, adding: “You will soon know what we will decide regarding Iran,” expressing his preference not to destroy what is left of Iran, but he said: “Maybe I will have to.”
In this context, the US Treasury Department announced that it has imposed financial sanctions on eight Canadian-based financial services companies that it says have facilitated transactions with sanctioned Iranian entities.
These sanctions isolate these companies from the dollar-based financial system, freeze any assets that these companies may have in the United States, and prohibit any transactions with American persons or entities.
These are the latest in a series of steps taken by the Treasury Department against companies outside the United States that it says are helping Iran circumvent US sanctions at a time when Washington continues to pressure Tehran.
On the other hand, Ali Bagheri Kani, Deputy Chairman of the Iranian Supreme National Security Council, told state television that Tehran is not satisfied with “paper pledges” and demands to see practical steps from Washington before starting any new diplomatic efforts.
The Iranian army spokesman had warned that any aggression, new adventure, or hostilities in the region would not lead to the opening of the Strait of Hormuz, stressing that its reopening is contingent on the United States complying with Tehran’s seven conditions.
The spokesman said that Iran will target, if it is subjected to an attack, all material and non-material targets of the United States without taking into account any geographical restrictions, noting that the Iranian Leader stressed during his meeting with military leaders the necessity of responding quickly to any attack.
Meanwhile, the Commander of the Ground Forces of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, Brigadier General Mohammad Karami, during a visit to the Gulf islands, confirmed the readiness of the Iranian Armed Forces to respond forcefully to any hostile action, stressing that the Iranian people and the “Resistance Front” will not back down before their opponents, according to Iranian official television.
Meanwhile, on Friday, Trump made a phone call to the Emir of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, to discuss efforts aimed at ending the tension between the United States and Iran, according to a Qatari statement, in light of a diplomatic movement aimed at avoiding a new round of conflict.
The Qatari statement stated that the two leaders discussed the mediation efforts made by Qatar to reach a comprehensive agreement to end the regional crisis.
In the context of diplomatic efforts, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdel Ati and his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, discussed during a phone call the latest regional developments and efforts aimed at reducing the escalation and containing the ongoing tension between Washington and Tehran.
According to a statement published by the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday, Abdel-Aty stressed the importance of giving priority to diplomatic solutions, calling on all parties to demonstrate the openness and flexibility necessary to reach a political settlement that achieves everyone’s interests and prevents further escalation that may have serious political, economic, and humanitarian repercussions.
The two ministers exchanged views on recent developments that raise fears of a possible military confrontation.
Araghchi also discussed with his counterparts in Iraq, Tunisia and the UAE, the latest regional developments and efforts aimed at reducing tension and enhancing stability.
According to the Iranian Tasnim Agency, Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein, during a call with Araghchi, warned of the continued danger of a return to military confrontation, stressing the need to take practical steps to reduce the escalation.
Hussein proposed forming a committee that includes foreign ministers from countries in the region, which would go to Tehran and Washington to help reach a peaceful solution to the crisis.
"Strutting down American marches"
On the ground, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard announced that it shot down a sixth American MQM-170 drone over Qeshm Island, using “advanced electronic warfare systems.”
On Friday, Iranian media quoted the Revolutionary Guard as saying that Iranian air defenses destroyed an American MQ-1 drone over Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz, according to Reuters.
There was no immediate confirmation from the United States regarding this news.
In the Strait of Hormuz, the British Maritime Trade Operations Authority said on Friday that the captain of an oil tanker that was crossing the strait reported an explosion at the waterline on the left side of the ship, 16 nautical miles east of the Omani city of Khasab.
The authority explained that the tanker is still able to sail using its own energy and continue its journey, noting that all crew members are safe and in good condition.
In a separate incident, the Greek company Velos Tankers, which operates the oil products tanker MT Velos Sapphire, announced the death of a crew member of the tanker in an explosion believed to have been caused by a missile attack in the Gulf on Thursday.
The company said on Friday that the tanker, flying the Marshall Islands flag, was sailing without cargo towards Bahrain when it was attacked.
She explained that the sailor was found seriously injured on board the ship, after he was initially reported missing following the explosion.
She added that no other injuries were recorded among the crew members, who were able to extinguish the fire resulting from the explosion, and that no reports of pollution were recorded.
The tanker was transported to Khalifa Bin Salman Port in Bahrain, where an investigation is scheduled to be opened into the accident, while the extent of the damage to the ship’s hull is still being assessed.
Pressure on the US Secretary of Defense
On the other hand, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is facing increasing pressure, with Democrats in Congress announcing their intention to open investigations into his performance and management of the Iran war, while a Republican representative intends to submit articles of impeachment in preparation for his removal.
These moves come after the Democrats won a majority in the House of Representatives and the Senate in the midterm elections, while Trump and his deputy, Jay Dee Vance, attributed the Republican losses to the war, of which Hegseth was one of the most prominent supporters and spokespersons for the administration.
Despite mounting calls for his impeachment, Trump still stands by his defense secretary, saying that he is “doing a very good job,” in response to a question about the possibility of appointing a successor to him.
Rezaei in Moscow
Rezaei said that the Russian President stressed “the necessity of having regional security mechanisms,” rejecting “any interference by external forces” in settling the situation in the Middle East.
The Iranian official also explained that he discussed "the issue of extending gas pipelines between Russia and Iran, which will not only fill the gas shortage within the Iranian market, but will also allow organizing the transfer of Russian gas to neighboring countries."
