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Iran’s supreme leader on Tuesday pushed back against US criticism of the country’s nuclear program, saying that Tehran won’t seek permission from anyone to enrich uranium and calling American statements “nonsense.” “They say, ‘We won’t allow Iran to enrich uranium.’ That’s way out of line,” Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said during a memorial for late President Ebrahim Raisi, who died in a helicopter crash last year, AP reports. “No one in Iran is waiting for their permission. The Islamic Republic has its own policies and direction — and it will stick to them.” Khamenei’s remarks came as indirect talks between Iran and the US reportedly continue, though he expressed doubt about their outcome. Trump and US administration used power for massacre in Gaza: Ayatollah Khamenei “Yes, indirect negotiations were held during Raisi’s time too, just like now,” he said. “But they didn’t go anywhere — and we don’t expect much from the current ones either. Who knows what will happen.” His comments reflect Tehran’s growing frustration with the stalled nuclear discussions, as well as the broader tensions that have defined US-Iran relations in recent years. Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei told the state-run IRNA news agency that “no definitive decision has been made about the next round of negotiations,” adding that “the Islamic Republic of Iran is reviewing the matter while considering the US side’s contradictory and constantly changing positions.” IRNA also reported that Kazem Gharibabadi, the deputy foreign minister, said that Tehran had received a proposal regarding the next round of indirect talks with Washington and was currently reviewing it.

President Donald Trump announced Monday that the United States will engage in direct discussions with Iran regarding its nuclear programme, while warning that Iran would face “great danger” if the talks fail to persuade Tehran to abandon its pursuit of nuclear weapons. Iran, meanwhile, confirmed that talks will take place but maintained they will be indirect, mediated through a third party. Trump warns of additional tariffs on China Speaking to reporters following a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump said the negotiations will begin Saturday and stressed that Iran must not acquire nuclear weapons. “We’re dealing with them directly and maybe a deal is going to be made,” Trump said, adding, “doing a deal would be preferable to doing the obvious.” When asked whether he would resort to military action if a diplomatic resolution cannot be reached, Trump replied, “Iran is going to be in great danger, and I hate to say it.” “If the talks aren’t successful, I think it’s going to be a very bad day for Iran,” he added. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, writing on X (a platform banned in Iran), asserted that the negotiations would not be face-to-face. “Iran and the United States will meet in Oman on Saturday for indirect high-level talks,” he posted. “It is as much an opportunity as it is a test. The ball is in America’s court.” Trump’s Letter Reopens Dialogue Trump recently sent a letter to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei proposing direct negotiations on Iran’s accelerating nuclear programme. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said last month that while Tehran rejected the offer for direct talks, it remained open to indirect discussions with the U.S. Trump, however, has repeatedly called on Iran — a key backer of Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthi rebels — to dismantle its nuclear programme or face consequences. “If they don’t make a deal, there will be bombing,” Trump said in a March interview with NBC News. “It will be bombing the likes of which they have never seen before.” During his first presidential term, Trump withdrew the U.S. from the 2015 nuclear deal brokered under President Barack Obama. Netanyahu expressed support for Trump’s diplomatic initiative, stating that both the U.S. and Israel are committed to preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. Notably, Netanyahu was a vocal critic of the original 2015 deal and encouraged Trump’s 2018 withdrawal. The Israeli leader said he would welcome an agreement similar to Libya’s 2003 deal to dismantle its nuclear programme — a move that saw Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi give up his secret programme entirely. However, Iran insists its nuclear activities, under the oversight of the International Atomic Energy Agency, should continue. “I think that would be a good thing,” Netanyahu said. “But whatever happens, we have to make sure that Iran does not have nuclear weapons.” Trump noted that the talks would take place “at almost the highest level,” but declined to reveal the location or the identity of the lead U.S. negotiators. While Oman played a key role in facilitating past U.S.-Iran discussions, it has not confirmed its involvement this time. Netanyahu's Visit Highlights Regional Tensions, Trade Disputes Trump announced the planned talks during Netanyahu’s sudden visit to the White House — his second in just over two months — where they also discussed Trump’s global tariff policies, Iran’s nuclear ambitions, and the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. The two leaders also touched on Iran’s regional influence, Israel’s relationship with Turkey, and the International Criminal Court (ICC), which issued a warrant for Netanyahu’s arrest last year. In February, Trump signed an executive order imposing sanctions on the ICC over its probes involving Israel. Dr Yunus urges Trump to delay reciprocal tariffs on Bangladesh by 3 months Ahead of their meeting, Trump had phone calls with French President Emmanuel Macron, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, and Jordan’s King Abdullah II — all of whom are involved in efforts to calm tensions in the region and end the Israel-Hamas war. On Sunday evening, Netanyahu met with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and U.S. Trade Representative Jameson Greer to discuss tariffs. On Monday, he met Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff before speaking with the president. Netanyahu said he assured Trump that Israel would address its trade imbalance with the U.S., which stood at $7.4 billion in 2024 out of $37 billion in total bilateral trade. “We will eliminate the trade deficit with the United States,” Netanyahu said. “We intend to do it very quickly.” Trump pointed out that beyond trade, the U.S. provides nearly $4 billion in annual assistance to Israel, mostly for military purposes. When asked whether he would consider lowering Israel’s tariff rate, Trump said, “Maybe not, maybe not. Don’t forget we help Israel a lot.” Instead of economic concessions, Trump might pressure Netanyahu to make progress towards ending the war in Gaza — possibly through a temporary truce with Hamas to pause hostilities and release hostages. Eytan Gilboa, a U.S.-Israel relations expert at Israel’s Bar-Ilan University, said Trump aims to return from his upcoming trip to Saudi Arabia with movement on normalising ties between Israel and the kingdom — a development that would likely require Israeli compromises in Gaza. Such progress could bolster Trump’s regional standing and reinforce diplomatic pressure on Iran, against which he has signalled intentions to impose new sanctions or take military action. Trade and Tariff Issues Loom Large Last week, in anticipation of U.S. tariffs, Israel announced it was eliminating duties on U.S. imports, mostly agricultural products. However, the move did not exempt it from Trump’s broader trade actions. Despite being a relatively small market for U.S. goods, Israel is a significant trade partner, especially in high-tech services — which are less affected by tariffs. Still, critical Israeli sectors could feel the impact. According to the Manufacturers Association of Israel, Trump’s tariffs could cost the country $3 billion annually in exports and result in 26,000 job losses across industries such as biotechnology, chemicals, plastics, and electronics. Israel’s GDP, according to the World Bank, exceeds $500 billion annually.

The United States and Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen are both pledging to escalate the conflict following U.S. airstrikes aimed at deterring the rebels from targeting military and commercial ships in a critical shipping route. The Health Ministry controlled by the Houthis reported that at least 53 people, including five women and two children, were killed in the strikes, with nearly 100 injured in Sanaa and other areas, such as Saada, a key rebel stronghold on the Saudi border. Iran denies aiding Yemen's Houthi rebels after US strikes, Trump’s threat U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the U.S. would continue until the Houthis no longer have the capability to block shipping, emphasizing the determination to stop their control over vital maritime routes. President Donald Trump pledged to use "overwhelming lethal force" against the Houthis, holding Tehran fully accountable for supporting them. The Houthis have attacked Red Sea shipping in the past, targeting vessels in solidarity with Palestinians amid the Israel-Hamas war. Attacks ceased after a ceasefire in January, but the Houthis threatened to renew assaults after Israel halted aid to Gaza earlier this month. Since then, there have been no new attacks reported. The U.S. airstrikes, one of the most significant against the Houthis since the Gaza conflict began, were confirmed by national security adviser Mike Waltz as targeting multiple Houthi leaders, although their identities were not disclosed. Rubio added that some Houthi facilities had been destroyed. Houthi leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi warned that the group would retaliate to U.S. strikes with more attacks, including missile and drone strikes targeting U.S. warships, and hinted at further escalation if the U.S. continued its aggression. In response, the Houthis launched drones and missiles, with U.S. forces intercepting most of them. U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres called for restraint, highlighting the risks to Yemen's humanitarian crisis. Rubio pointed out that over the last 18 months, the Houthis had directly attacked U.S. Navy vessels 174 times and targeted commercial shipping 145 times, causing the most significant naval combat since World War II. Meanwhile, Iran's General Hossein Salami denied involvement in the Houthi attacks, claiming that Iran does not control the rebels’ operations. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi condemned the U.S. airstrikes and emphasized that Washington should not dictate Iran’s foreign policy. The U.S. has previously seized Iranian-made weapons intended for the Houthis, reinforcing accusations of Tehran’s support. Trump orders strikes on Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen The new U.S. airstrike operation is the first since Trump’s second term began and marks the continued presence of the USS Harry S. Truman carrier strike group in the Red Sea, alongside other U.S. naval assets like the USS Georgia submarine.

An American warship fired warning shots when vessels of Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard came too close to a patrol in the Persian Gulf, the U.S. Navy said Wednesday. The Navy released black-and-white footage of the encounter Monday night in international waters of the northern reaches of the Persian Gulf. In it, lights can be seen in the distance and what appears to be a single gunshot can be heard, with a tracer round racing across the top of the water. Also Read: Iran, US warships in first tense Mideast encounter in a year Iran did not immediately acknowledge the incident. The Navy said the USS Firebolt fired the warning shots after three fast-attack Guard vessels came within 68 yards (62 meters) of it and the U.S. Coast Guard patrol boat USCGC Baranoff. “The U.S. crews issued multiple warnings via bridge-to-bridge radio and loud-hailer devices, but the (Guard) vessels continued their close range maneuvers,” said Cmdr. Rebecca Rebarich, a spokeswoman for the Mideast-based 5th Fleet. “The crew of Firebolt then fired warning shots, and the (Guard) vessels moved away to a safe distance from the U.S. vessels.” She called on the Guard to “operate with due regard for the safety of all vessels as required by international law.” Also Read: Iran builds at underground nuclear facility amid US tensions “U.S. naval forces continue to remain vigilant and are trained to act in a professional manner, while our commanding officers retain the inherent right to act in self-defense,” she said. The incident Monday marked the second time the Navy accused the Guard of operating in an “unsafe and unprofessional” manner this month alone after tense encounters between the forces had dropped in recent years. Footage released Tuesday by the Navy showed a ship commanded by the Guard cut in front of the USCGC Monomoy, causing the Coast Guard vessel to come to an abrupt stop with its engine smoking on April 2. The Guard also did the same with another Coast Guard vessel, the USCGC Wrangell, Rebarich said. Such close passes risk collisions. The interaction marked the first “unsafe and unprofessional” incident involving the Iranians since April 15, 2020, Rebarich said. However, Iran had largely stopped such incidents in 2018 and nearly in the entirety of 2019, she said. In 2017, the Navy recorded 14 instances of what it describes as “unsafe and or unprofessional” interactions with Iranians forces. It recorded 35 in 2016, and 23 in 2015. The incidents at sea almost always involve the Revolutionary Guard, which reports only to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Typically, they involve Iranian speedboats armed with deck-mounted machine guns and rocket launchers test-firing weapons or shadowing American aircraft carriers passing through the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf through which 20% of all oil passes. Some analysts believe the incidents are meant in part to squeeze President Hassan Rouhani’s administration after the 2015 nuclear deal. They include a 2016 incident in which Iranian forces captured and held overnight 10 U.S. sailors who strayed into the Islamic Republic’s territorial waters. The incident comes as Iran negotiates with world powers in Vienna over Tehran and Washington returning to the 2015 nuclear deal. It also follows a series of incidents across the Mideast attributed to a shadow war between Iran and Israel, which includes attacks on regional shipping and sabotage at Iran’s Natanz nuclear facility.