Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi will travel to Turkey for talks on Friday (Jan. 30) as tensions with the U.S. rises.
Iran has been reaching out to other Middle Eastern countries over the threat of possible U.S. military strikes as an aircraft carrier strike group, led by the USS Abraham Lincoln, and warships arrived in the Middle East region.
Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have indicated that they would not allow their airspace to be used for any attack against Iran.
Russian President Vladimir Putin met with the president of the UAE.
“Of course, we are all closely monitoring the current developments in the Iranian situation,” Putin said during the meeting. “I would like to discuss all these issues with you not only in such an extended meeting, but also in a private setting.”
Russian state-run media said Russia is willing to evacuate its personnel from an Iranian nuclear power plant if necessary.
Iran has remained defiant and beefed up its defense “as a batch of 1,000 drones was received by the various branches of the Iranian army, semi-official Tasnim news agency reports,” according to The Times of Israel.
The report also quoted Iran’s army Commander-in-Chief Amir Hatami as saying, “In accordance with the threats ahead, the army maintains and enhances its strategic advantages for rapid combat and imposing a crushing response against any aggressor.”
U.S. President Donald Trump has warned Iran that the U.S. would respond if Iran continues killing protestors.
According to the Iran International, the Iranian government has killed at least 36,000 protesters in the recent nationwide demonstrations across 400 cities.
Since his second term as president in January last year, Trump has been negotiating with Iran to stop its nuclear weapons programs. Talks have failed which culminated in the destruction of Iran’s nuclear facilities in June last year, in an operation described by the U.S. as “Midnight Hammer.”
Trump wrote on Truth Social on Wednesday, “Hopefully Iran will quickly “Come to the Table” and negotiate a fair and equitable deal – NO NUCLEAR WEAPONS – one that is good for all parties.”
“Time is running out, it is truly of the essence! As I told Iran once before, MAKE A DEAL! They didn’t, and there was “Operation Midnight Hammer,” a major destruction of Iran. The next attack will be far worse!” he warned.
During the president’s cabinet meeting on Thursday, U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth gave multiple examples to show that Trump meant what he says.
“Same thing with Iran right now, ensuring that they have all the options to make a deal. They should not pursue nuclear capabilities,” Hegseth said. “We will be prepared to deliver whatever this president expects of the War Department.”
On Thursday, the European Union (EU) formally designated Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organisation over its deadly response to protestors.
The U.S designated the IRGC as a terrorist organization during Trump’s first term in 2019.
Internet In Iran Not Yet Restored
Residents in Iran are still dealing with an internet blackout.
Iranian authorities cut internet services in the country around Jan. 8 following nationwide protests.
Internet access has partially returned in Iran but connectivity remains limited and inconsistent, with many services still blocked.
An online teacher Nazafarin Mosavari in Iran said she tried to contact her family when the phone lines were open.
“I was able to call for about a minute, and the operator let me call and tell them that my family and I were alive,” Mosavari said.
“And when I was telling them, I was upset because why should people have such conversations in this day and age and say, for example, I’m alive? How sad can everything be?”
