<p>In a cryptic message to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-should-respect-international-laws-britains-foreign-minister-239218">Iran amid rising</a> tensions in the Gulf, US president Donald Trump said that Iranians&nbsp;have "never won a war".</p>

<p>"Just remember, the Iranians never won a war, but never lost a negotiation!, the US president said in a tweet.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Just remember, the Iranians never won a war, but never lost a negotiation!</p>
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1155941248705761280?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 29, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<p>US president Trump who had pulled out of the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran last year has imposed new sanctions againt Rouhani's government&nbsp;in the past few months leading to increased tensions in the Gulf with attack on tankers and downing of a US survellence drone by Iran's Republican Guards.</p>

<p>On Sunday, Iran termed Britain's move to send a European naval mission to escort tankers as "provocative" even as the UK government&nbsp;and Iran kept up the war of words over tanker seizure by the both sides.</p>

<p>Iran added that it considered Britain's seizure of an Iranian oil tanker a "breach"&nbsp;of the ailing 2015 nuclear deal,</p>

<p>Meanwhile, France said it was not willing to send extra military assets to the Gulf, but would share information and coordinate its currently deployed assets.</p>

<p>British authorities had detained an Iranian tanker the Grace 1 off its overseas territory Gibraltar with Iran taking control of British ship Stena Impero as tensions mounted between the two countries.</p>

<p>Iran government spokesman said it believed the country's security had to be maintained by countries in the region. Last week, Britain ordered its navy to escort UK-flagged ships through the Strait of Hormuz, where the Stena Impero was seized by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard.</p>

<p>The 33-kilometre (22-mile) wide Strait of Hormuz provides the eastern entrance and exit point into the Gulf and runs between the United Arab Emirates and Iran.<br />
&nbsp;</p>


In a cryptic message to Iran amid rising tensions in the Gulf, US president Donald Trump said that Iranians have "never won a war". "Just remember, the Iranians never won a war, but never lost a negotiation!

In a cryptic message to Iran amid rising tensions in the Gulf, US president Donald Trump said that Iranians have "never won a war". "Just remember, the Iranians never won a war, but never lost a negotiation!, the US president said in a tweet. Just remember, the Iranians never won a war, but never lost a negotiation! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 29, 2019 × US president Trump who had pulled out of the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran last year has imposed new sanctions againt Rouhani's government in the past few months leading to increased tensions in the Gulf with attack on tankers and downing of a US survellence drone by Iran's Republican Guards. On Sunday, Iran termed Britain's move to send a European naval mission to escort tankers as "provocative" even as the UK government and Iran kept up the war of words over tanker seizure by the both sides. Iran added that it considered Britain's seizure of an Iranian oil tanker a "breach" of the ailing 2015 nuclear deal, Meanwhile, France said it was not willing to send extra military assets to the Gulf, but would share information and coordinate its currently deployed assets. British authorities had detained an Iranian tanker the Grace 1 off its overseas territory Gibraltar with Iran taking control of British ship Stena Impero as tensions mounted between the two countries. Iran government spokesman said it believed the country's security had to be maintained by countries in the region. Last week, Britain ordered its navy to escort UK-flagged ships through the Strait of Hormuz, where the Stena Impero was seized by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard. The 33-kilometre (22-mile) wide Strait of Hormuz provides the eastern entrance and exit point into the Gulf and runs between the United Arab Emirates and Iran.

Iranians never won a war, but never lost a negotiation: Trump

<p>South Korea plans to join a US-led maritime force in the Middle East by sending a naval unit, which includes a destroyer, to help guard oil tankers sailing through the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-says-european-naval-mission-in-gulf-would-be-provocative-238986">Strait of Hormuz</a>, a South Korean newspaper reported on Monday.</p>

<p>Tensions between Iran and the United States have increased since Washington pulled out of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-says-meeting-with-parties-to-nuclear-deal-constructive-239070">Iranian nuclear deal last year </a>and reimposed sanctions on Tehran.</p>

<p>Attacks on oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of Iran in recent months further soured ties, prompting US officials to call for allies to join a planned maritime security mission.</p>

<p>The Maekyung business newspaper, citing an unidentified senior government official, said South Korea had decided to send the anti-piracy Cheonghae unit operating in waters off Somalia, possibly along with helicopters.</p>

<p><strong>Watch Video:</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/europeans-china-russia-meet-iran-in-vienna-to-save-nuclear-deal-239104/embed" width="560" height="350" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" autoplay=1 allowfullscreen></iframe></div>

<p>Seoul's defence ministry said the government was exploring measures to protect its ships in the area but no decision had been made.</p>

<p>"It is obvious that we have to protect our ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, isn't it? So we're considering various possibilities," deputy ministry spokesman Ro Jae-cheon told a regular news briefing on Monday.</p>

<p>US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said last week Washington had asked South Korea, Japan, France, Germany, Australia and others to take part.</p>

<p>US national security adviser John Bolton visited Seoul last week and discussed the issue with senior officials, including the defence minister, but Ro said there was no official request made during that meeting.</p>

<p>The Cheonghae unit has been stationed in the Gulf of Aden since 2009, working to tackle piracy in partnership with African countries as well as the United States and the European Union.</p>

<p>The 302-strong unit operates a 4,500-ton destroyer, a Lynx anti-submarine helicopter and three speed boats, according to South Korea's 2018 defence white paper.<br />
&nbsp;</p>


South Korea plans to join a US-led maritime force in the Middle East by sending a naval unit, which includes a destroyer, to help guard oil tankers sailing through the Strait of Hormuz, a South Korean newspaper reported on Monday.

South Korea plans to join a US-led maritime force in the Middle East by sending a naval unit, which includes a destroyer, to help guard oil tankers sailing through the Strait of Hormuz, a South Korean newspaper reported on Monday. Tensions between Iran and the United States have increased since Washington pulled out of the Iranian nuclear deal last year and reimposed sanctions on Tehran. Attacks on oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of Iran in recent months further soured ties, prompting US officials to call for allies to join a planned maritime security mission. The Maekyung business newspaper, citing an unidentified senior government official, said South Korea had decided to send the anti-piracy Cheonghae unit operating in waters off Somalia, possibly along with helicopters. Watch Video: Seoul's defence ministry said the government was exploring measures to protect its ships in the area but no decision had been made. "It is obvious that we have to protect our ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, isn't it? So we're considering various possibilities," deputy ministry spokesman Ro Jae-cheon told a regular news briefing on Monday. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said last week Washington had asked South Korea, Japan, France, Germany, Australia and others to take part. US national security adviser John Bolton visited Seoul last week and discussed the issue with senior officials, including the defence minister, but Ro said there was no official request made during that meeting. The Cheonghae unit has been stationed in the Gulf of Aden since 2009, working to tackle piracy in partnership with African countries as well as the United States and the European Union. The 302-strong unit operates a 4,500-ton destroyer, a Lynx anti-submarine helicopter and three speed boats, according to South Korea's 2018 defence white paper.

South Korea navy may join US-led coalition in Strait of Hormuz: Report

<p>Iran is ready for "just" negotiations but not if they mean surrender, Iran's<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-does-not-seek-confrontation-says-foreign-minister-mohammad-javad-zarif-after-tanker-seizure-237827"> President Hassan Rouhani</a> said on Wednesday, without saying what talks he had in mind.</p>

<p>Rouhani seemed to be referring to possible negotiations with the United States. US&nbsp;President Donald Trump withdrew from a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-sanctions-chinese-oil-buyer-over-alleged-iran-violations-237836">landmark 2015 nuclear deal</a> with Iran last year but has said he is willing to hold talks with the Islamic Republic.</p>

<p>"As long as I have the responsibility for the executive duties of the country, we are completely ready for just, legal and honest negotiations to solve the problems," Rouhani said, according to his official website.</p>

<p>"But at the same time we are not ready to sit at the table of surrender under the name of negotiations."</p>

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<p>Meanwhile, the US military said that a Navy ship had "destroyed" an Iranian drone in the Strait of Hormuz after the aircraft threatened the vessel, but Iran said it had no information about losing a drone.</p>

<p>"This was a defensive action by the USS Boxer in response to aggressive interactions by two Iranian UAS platforms in international waters," Lieutenant Colonel Earl Brown, a US Central Command spokesman, said. UAS is an acronym for unmanned aerial system.</p>

<p>Tensions in the Gulf region are high, with fears that the United States and Iran could stumble into war.</p>

<p>The United States has blamed Iran for a series of attacks since mid-May on shipping around the Strait of Hormuz, the world's most important oil artery. Tehran rejects the allegations.</p>

<p>Iran in June shot down a US military surveillance drone in the Gulf with a surface-to-air missile. Iran says the drone was in its airspace, but Washington says it was in international skies.</p>

<p>President Donald Trump said at the time the United States had come close to launching a military strike on Iran in retaliation for the downing of the US drone.</p>

<p>The increased use of drones by Iran and its allies for surveillance and attacks across the Middle East is raising alarms in Washington.<br />
&nbsp;</p>


Iran is ready for "just" negotiations but not if they mean surrender, Iran's President Hassan Rouhani said on Wednesday, without saying what talks he had in mind.

Iran is ready for "just" negotiations but not if they mean surrender, Iran's President Hassan Rouhani said on Wednesday, without saying what talks he had in mind. Rouhani seemed to be referring to possible negotiations with the United States. US President Donald Trump withdrew from a landmark 2015 nuclear deal with Iran last year but has said he is willing to hold talks with the Islamic Republic. "As long as I have the responsibility for the executive duties of the country, we are completely ready for just, legal and honest negotiations to solve the problems," Rouhani said, according to his official website. "But at the same time we are not ready to sit at the table of surrender under the name of negotiations." Meanwhile, the US military said that a Navy ship had "destroyed" an Iranian drone in the Strait of Hormuz after the aircraft threatened the vessel, but Iran said it had no information about losing a drone. "This was a defensive action by the USS Boxer in response to aggressive interactions by two Iranian UAS platforms in international waters," Lieutenant Colonel Earl Brown, a US Central Command spokesman, said. UAS is an acronym for unmanned aerial system. Tensions in the Gulf region are high, with fears that the United States and Iran could stumble into war. The United States has blamed Iran for a series of attacks since mid-May on shipping around the Strait of Hormuz, the world's most important oil artery. Tehran rejects the allegations. Iran in June shot down a US military surveillance drone in the Gulf with a surface-to-air missile. Iran says the drone was in its airspace, but Washington says it was in international skies. President Donald Trump said at the time the United States had come close to launching a military strike on Iran in retaliation for the downing of the US drone. The increased use of drones by Iran and its allies for surveillance and attacks across the Middle East is raising alarms in Washington.

Ready for negotiations but will not surrender: Rouhani on standoff with US

<p>After US secretary of state Mike Pompeo dismissed<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/the-regime-has-a-long-history-of-lying-pompeo-on-iran-capturing-cia-spies-237725"> Iran’s announcement it had captured</a> 17 spies, US President Trump said Iran's report is "totally false".</p>

<p>"Just more lies and propaganda (like their shot down drone) put out by a religious regime that is badly failing and has no idea what to do," President Trump said in a tweet.</p>

<p>"Their economy is dead, and will get much worse. Iran is a total mess!"</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">The Report of Iran capturing CIA spies is totally false. Zero truth. Just more lies and propaganda (like their shot down drone) put out by a Religious Regime that is Badly Failing and has no idea what to do. Their Economy is dead, and will get much worse. Iran is a total mess!</p>
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1153290669424807936?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 22, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<p>Iran's state televison quoting its defence ministry had said that the country had captured <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-sentences-us-spies-to-death-after-claiming-to-have-broken-cias-intelligence-ring-237639">17 spies working</a> for the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and some have been sentenced to death.</p>

<p>"The identified spies were employed insensitive and vital private sector centres in the economic, nuclear, infrastructural, military and cyber areas... where they collected classified information," said a ministry statement read on state television.</p>

<p>However, US secretary of state Pompeo told a US television channel that the "Iranian regime has a long history of lying" while adding that the US was trying to get a long list of Americans from Iran.</p>

<p>"I would take with a significant grain of salt any Iranian assertion about actions that they’ve taken," he said.</p>

<p>US and Iran relations hit a new low after Iran's Revolutinary Guard shot down a US survellence drone last month. President Trump later threatened to carry out air strikes against Iranian targets which he later called off as tensions escalated in West Asia.</p>

<p>The US also blamed attack on oil tankers on Iran's Revolutinary Guard, a charge denied by the Rouhani regime as relations between the two countries continued to slide.</p>


After US secretary of state Mike Pompeo dismissed Iran’s announcement it had captured 17 spies, US President Trump said Iran's report is "totally false". "Just more lies and propaganda (like their shot down drone) put out by a religious regime that is badly failing and has no idea what to do," President Trump said in a tweet.

After US secretary of state Mike Pompeo dismissed Iran’s announcement it had captured 17 spies, US President Trump said Iran's report is "totally false". "Just more lies and propaganda (like their shot down drone) put out by a religious regime that is badly failing and has no idea what to do," President Trump said in a tweet. "Their economy is dead, and will get much worse. Iran is a total mess!" The Report of Iran capturing CIA spies is totally false. Zero truth. Just more lies and propaganda (like their shot down drone) put out by a Religious Regime that is Badly Failing and has no idea what to do. Their Economy is dead, and will get much worse. Iran is a total mess! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 22, 2019 × Iran's state televison quoting its defence ministry had said that the country had captured 17 spies working for the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and some have been sentenced to death. "The identified spies were employed insensitive and vital private sector centres in the economic, nuclear, infrastructural, military and cyber areas... where they collected classified information," said a ministry statement read on state television. However, US secretary of state Pompeo told a US television channel that the "Iranian regime has a long history of lying" while adding that the US was trying to get a long list of Americans from Iran. "I would take with a significant grain of salt any Iranian assertion about actions that they’ve taken," he said. US and Iran relations hit a new low after Iran's Revolutinary Guard shot down a US survellence drone last month. President Trump later threatened to carry out air strikes against Iranian targets which he later called off as tensions escalated in West Asia. The US also blamed attack on oil tankers on Iran's Revolutinary Guard, a charge denied by the Rouhani regime as relations between the two countries continued to slide.

Report of Iran capturing CIA spies totally false: Trump

<p>Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said today that <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/irans-foreign-minister-javad-zarif-warns-us-says-its-playing-with-fire-236255">Iran will certainly continue to reduce </a>nuclear commitments even as the EU held a meeting on to diffuse the nuclear deal issue with &nbsp;Macron dispatched an envoy to Tehran for the second time in a month on Tuesday in an&nbsp;attempt to convince the Iranian government to come back into compliance with the landmark 2015 deal.</p>

<p>After <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-declines-to-set-united-states-uranium-production-quotas-235511">President Donald Trump </a>unilaterally pulled the United States out of the deal in May 2018, Iran has begun enriching uranium to higher levels, leading to fears the faltering accord could be doomed.&nbsp;</p>

<p>If it falls apart and Iran continues enriching uranium all the way to levels approaching those that could be used in a weapon, diplomats see a high risk of conflict in the Middle East involving the United States and possibly its ally Israel.</p>

<p><strong>Watch Video:</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/europe-foreign-ministers-meet-to-salvage-iran-deal-236252/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>French President Macron has taken an active mediation role, speaking to Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and Trump in recent days.</p>

<p>Last year, he was weighing whether to become the first French leader to travel to Tehran since 1976. But tensions over the nuclear issue and Iran's involvement in the wars in Syria and Yemen meant he never accepted an invitation to visit.</p>

<p>European nations are seen as wanting to avoid triggering a dispute mechanism in the text which could lead to sanctions being reimposed.</p>

<p>Such a move would heighten tensions, while the threat of fresh sanctions remains one of few levers available to the Europeans as they seek to convince Iran to respect the deal.</p>

<p>A top advisor to Iran's supreme leader had hinted Tehran could boost its uranium enrichment to five per cent for "peaceful" aims, ahead of deadline it set for world powers to save a landmark 2015 nuclear deal.</p>

<p>Iran is acting on its May 8 threat to suspend from Sunday parts of the agreement in response to US President Donald Trump's reimposition of crippling sanctions after withdrawing from the deal in May last year.</p>

<p>The accord capped Iran's enrichment maximum at 3.67 per cent, sufficient for power generation but far below the more than 90 per cent level required for a nuclear weapon.&nbsp;</p>


Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said today that Iran will certainly continue to reduce nuclear commitments even as the EU held a meeting on to diffuse the nuclear deal issue with Macron dispatched an envoy to Tehran for the second time in a month on Tuesday in an attempt to convince the Iranian government to come back into compliance with the landmark 2015 deal.

Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said today that Iran will certainly continue to reduce nuclear commitments even as the EU held a meeting on to diffuse the nuclear deal issue with Macron dispatched an envoy to Tehran for the second time in a month on Tuesday in an attempt to convince the Iranian government to come back into compliance with the landmark 2015 deal. After President Donald Trump unilaterally pulled the United States out of the deal in May 2018, Iran has begun enriching uranium to higher levels, leading to fears the faltering accord could be doomed. If it falls apart and Iran continues enriching uranium all the way to levels approaching those that could be used in a weapon, diplomats see a high risk of conflict in the Middle East involving the United States and possibly its ally Israel. Watch Video: French President Macron has taken an active mediation role, speaking to Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and Trump in recent days. Last year, he was weighing whether to become the first French leader to travel to Tehran since 1976. But tensions over the nuclear issue and Iran's involvement in the wars in Syria and Yemen meant he never accepted an invitation to visit. European nations are seen as wanting to avoid triggering a dispute mechanism in the text which could lead to sanctions being reimposed. Such a move would heighten tensions, while the threat of fresh sanctions remains one of few levers available to the Europeans as they seek to convince Iran to respect the deal. A top advisor to Iran's supreme leader had hinted Tehran could boost its uranium enrichment to five per cent for "peaceful" aims, ahead of deadline it set for world powers to save a landmark 2015 nuclear deal. Iran is acting on its May 8 threat to suspend from Sunday parts of the agreement in response to US President Donald Trump's reimposition of crippling sanctions after withdrawing from the deal in May last year. The accord capped Iran's enrichment maximum at 3.67 per cent, sufficient for power generation but far below the more than 90 per cent level required for a nuclear weapon.

Iran will 'certainly continue' to reduce nuclear commitments: Khamenei

<p>Iran's atomic energy agency said on Monday it could reverse its nuclear programme to its status before curbs were imposed <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/rouhani-says-iran-ready-to-talks-to-us-if-sanctions-lifted-report-235898">under a landmark 2015 agreement </a>with world powers.</p>

<p>"If the Europeans and the Americans don't want to carry out their duties... we will decrease our commitments and... reverse the conditions to four years ago," agency spokesman Behrouz Kamalvandi said, quoted by IRNA state news agency.</p>

<p>"These actions are not out of obstinacy. It is to give diplomacy a chance so that the other side come to their senses and carry out their duties," he added.</p>

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<p>The deal promised economic benefits and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-attempted-to-seize-british-tanker-fended-off-by-warship-hms-montrose-report-234800">sanctions relief to Iran</a>, but US President Donald Trump withdrew from the accord in May 2018 and reimposed tough punitive measures against Iran.</p>

<p>Angered that its beleaguered economy is not receiving sanctions relief it believes it was promised under the deal, Iran has intensified sensitive uranium enrichment work.</p>

<p>European foreign ministers were meeting in Brussels on Monday for crisis talks on the deal.</p>

<p>On Sunday, the European parties to the deal - Britain, France and Germany - called for dialogue as tensions further intensified between Iran and the United States.</p>

<p>In a statement, the so-called E3 expressed concern the deal was at risk of further unravelling but said it was up to Iran to ensure its survival.</p>

<p>Iran has repeatedly threatened to leave the deal unless the remaining parties to the agreement bypass US sanctions and deliver the promised benefits.<br />
&nbsp;</p>


Iran's atomic energy agency said on Monday it could reverse its nuclear programme to its status before curbs were imposed under a landmark 2015 agreement with world powers.

Iran's atomic energy agency said on Monday it could reverse its nuclear programme to its status before curbs were imposed under a landmark 2015 agreement with world powers. "If the Europeans and the Americans don't want to carry out their duties... we will decrease our commitments and... reverse the conditions to four years ago," agency spokesman Behrouz Kamalvandi said, quoted by IRNA state news agency. "These actions are not out of obstinacy. It is to give diplomacy a chance so that the other side come to their senses and carry out their duties," he added. The deal promised economic benefits and sanctions relief to Iran, but US President Donald Trump withdrew from the accord in May 2018 and reimposed tough punitive measures against Iran. Angered that its beleaguered economy is not receiving sanctions relief it believes it was promised under the deal, Iran has intensified sensitive uranium enrichment work. European foreign ministers were meeting in Brussels on Monday for crisis talks on the deal. On Sunday, the European parties to the deal - Britain, France and Germany - called for dialogue as tensions further intensified between Iran and the United States. In a statement, the so-called E3 expressed concern the deal was at risk of further unravelling but said it was up to Iran to ensure its survival. Iran has repeatedly threatened to leave the deal unless the remaining parties to the agreement bypass US sanctions and deliver the promised benefits.

If Europeans, Americans don't carry out their duties, will reverse nuclear deal to four years ago, warns Iran

<p>US President Donald Trump warned <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/after-britain-germany-strongly-urges-iran-to-halt-uranium-enrichment-233803">Iran over its imminent breach</a> of a uranium enrichment cap.</p>

<p>"Iran better be careful, because you enrich for one reason, and I won't tell you what that reason is. But it's no good. They better be careful," he told reporters in Morristown, New Jersey.</p>

<p>Trump's top diplomat, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, earlier Sunday said Iran will face <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/netanyahu-calls-iran-plan-to-breach-uranium-cap-dangerous-step-233785">further sanctions in response</a> to the expected breach of the cap set by an endangered nuclear deal reached with international powers but from which the United States withdrew last year.</p>

<p>The 3.67 per cent enrichment limit set in the agreement is far below the more than 90 per cent level required for a nuclear warhead.</p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/iran-to-raise-uranium-enrichment-limit-from-36-to-5-233847/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>Iran had said Sunday it was set to breach the uranium enrichment cap set by an endangered nuclear deal within hours as it seeks to press other parties into keeping their side of the bargain.</p>

<p>The Rouhani-led government&nbsp;also threatened to abandon more commitments unless a solution is found with the remaining parties to the landmark 2015 agreement after Washington unilaterally pulled out.</p>

<p>US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tweeted Sunday that Iran would face "further isolation and sanctions", adding to a raft of biting economic measures imposed by Washington, and President Donald Trump warned that Iran "better be careful."</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Iran’s latest expansion of its nuclear program will lead to further isolation and sanctions. Nations should restore the longstanding standard of no enrichment for Iran’s nuclear program. Iran’s regime, armed with nuclear weapons, would pose an even greater danger to the world.</p>
— Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) <a href="https://twitter.com/SecPompeo/status/1147939911854632962?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 7, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<p>The 2015 deal was reached between Iran and six world powers - Britain, China, France, Germany, the United States and Russia - and saw Tehran agree to drastically scale down its nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief.</p>


US President Donald Trump warned Iran over its imminent breach of a uranium enrichment cap. "Iran better be careful, because you enrich for one reason, and I won't tell you what that reason is.

US President Donald Trump warned Iran over its imminent breach of a uranium enrichment cap. "Iran better be careful, because you enrich for one reason, and I won't tell you what that reason is. But it's no good. They better be careful," he told reporters in Morristown, New Jersey. Trump's top diplomat, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, earlier Sunday said Iran will face further sanctions in response to the expected breach of the cap set by an endangered nuclear deal reached with international powers but from which the United States withdrew last year. The 3.67 per cent enrichment limit set in the agreement is far below the more than 90 per cent level required for a nuclear warhead. Iran had said Sunday it was set to breach the uranium enrichment cap set by an endangered nuclear deal within hours as it seeks to press other parties into keeping their side of the bargain. The Rouhani-led government also threatened to abandon more commitments unless a solution is found with the remaining parties to the landmark 2015 agreement after Washington unilaterally pulled out. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tweeted Sunday that Iran would face "further isolation and sanctions", adding to a raft of biting economic measures imposed by Washington, and President Donald Trump warned that Iran "better be careful." Iran’s latest expansion of its nuclear program will lead to further isolation and sanctions. Nations should restore the longstanding standard of no enrichment for Iran’s nuclear program. Iran’s regime, armed with nuclear weapons, would pose an even greater danger to the world. — Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) July 7, 2019 × The 2015 deal was reached between Iran and six world powers - Britain, China, France, Germany, the United States and Russia - and saw Tehran agree to drastically scale down its nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief.

Iran better be careful, warns Trump on breaching uranium enrichment cap

<p>Iran will face further sanctions in response to its expected breach Sunday of a uranium enrichment cap, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-better-be-careful-warns-trump-on-breaching-uranium-enrichment-cap-233859">US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo </a>said.</p>

<p>"Iran's latest expansion of its nuclear program will lead to further isolation and sanctions," the top US diplomat said on Twitter.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Iran’s latest expansion of its nuclear program will lead to further isolation and sanctions. Nations should restore the longstanding standard of no enrichment for Iran’s nuclear program. Iran’s regime, armed with nuclear weapons, would pose an even greater danger to the world.</p>
— Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) <a href="https://twitter.com/SecPompeo/status/1147939911854632962?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 7, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<p>Iran said earlier it was hours away from breaching the cap set by an endangered nuclear deal reached with international powers but from which the United States withdrew last year.</p>

<p>It&nbsp;also threatened to abandon more of its commitments unless a solution is found with parties to the landmark 2015 agreement.</p>

<p>The deal saw Iran commit not to acquire an atomic bomb, to accept drastic limits on its nuclear program and to submit to International Atomic Energy Agency inspections in exchange for a partial lifting of crippling international sanctions.</p>

<p>But US President Donald Trump's unilateral withdrawal from the deal on May 8, 2018 -- and subsequent sanctions -- have deprived Iran of the economic benefits it expected and plunged it into recession.</p>

<p>"Nations should restore the long-standing standard of no enrichment for Iran's nuclear program. Iran's regime, armed with nuclear weapons, would pose an even greater danger to the world," Pompeo said.</p>

<p>Even after the US pullout, experts said Iran had been complying with the agreement.&nbsp;</p>

<p>But Tehran, which has sought to pressure the remaining parties to save the deal, on May 8 announced it would no longer respect the limits set on its enriched uranium and heavy water stockpiles.</p>

<p>It also threatened to go further and abandon more nuclear commitments unless the remaining partners -- Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia -- help it to circumvent sanctions, especially to sell its oil.</p>


Iran will face further sanctions in response to its expected breach Sunday of a uranium enrichment cap, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said. "Iran's latest expansion of its nuclear program will lead to further isolation and sanctions," the top US diplomat said on Twitter.

Iran will face further sanctions in response to its expected breach Sunday of a uranium enrichment cap, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said. "Iran's latest expansion of its nuclear program will lead to further isolation and sanctions," the top US diplomat said on Twitter. Iran’s latest expansion of its nuclear program will lead to further isolation and sanctions. Nations should restore the longstanding standard of no enrichment for Iran’s nuclear program. Iran’s regime, armed with nuclear weapons, would pose an even greater danger to the world. — Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) July 7, 2019 × Iran said earlier it was hours away from breaching the cap set by an endangered nuclear deal reached with international powers but from which the United States withdrew last year. It also threatened to abandon more of its commitments unless a solution is found with parties to the landmark 2015 agreement. The deal saw Iran commit not to acquire an atomic bomb, to accept drastic limits on its nuclear program and to submit to International Atomic Energy Agency inspections in exchange for a partial lifting of crippling international sanctions. But US President Donald Trump's unilateral withdrawal from the deal on May 8, 2018 -- and subsequent sanctions -- have deprived Iran of the economic benefits it expected and plunged it into recession. "Nations should restore the long-standing standard of no enrichment for Iran's nuclear program. Iran's regime, armed with nuclear weapons, would pose an even greater danger to the world," Pompeo said. Even after the US pullout, experts said Iran had been complying with the agreement. But Tehran, which has sought to pressure the remaining parties to save the deal, on May 8 announced it would no longer respect the limits set on its enriched uranium and heavy water stockpiles. It also threatened to go further and abandon more nuclear commitments unless the remaining partners -- Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia -- help it to circumvent sanctions, especially to sell its oil.

Iran's latest expansion of nuclear program will lead to further sanctions: Pompeo

<p>After Iran <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/will-increase-uranium-enrichment-level-after-july-7-to-whatever-levels-iran-needs-rouhani-232694">President Rouhani said his country </a>will enrich uranium to any amount the country needs after July 7, US President warned "Iran to be careful" as tensions between the two nations continued to boil over the 2015 nuclear deal issue.</p>

<p>"Iran has just issued a new warning. Rouhani says that they will enrich uranium to “any amount we want” if there is no new nuclear deal. Be careful with the threats, Iran," the US president said, adding, "they can come back to bite you like nobody has been bitten before!"</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Iran has just issued a New Warning. Rouhani says that they will Enrich Uranium to “any amount we want” if there is no new Nuclear Deal. Be careful with the threats, Iran. They can come back to bite you like nobody has been bitten before!</p>
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1146517318509481984?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 3, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<p>On Wednesday, Iran President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/european-union-france-germany-and-uk-urge-iran-to-reverse-uranium-decision-232571">Hassan Rouhani had said Iran </a>would increase its level of uranium enrichment after July 7 to whatever levels it needs beyond the 3.67% cap set in the 2015 nuclear deal.</p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-iran-to-increase-uranuim-enrichment-as-us-iran-tension-escalates-232867/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>The enrichment maximum set in under the nuclear agreement is sufficient for power generation but far below the more than 90 per cent level required for a nuclear weapon.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"If the remaining signatories of the nuclear deal with world powers do not fulfil their promises, then the Arak nuclear reactor will return to its previous activities after July 7," Rouhani said.</p>

<p>Iran had recently breached the nuclear stockpile limit. Iran Fars news agency had reported that the country's enriched uranium stockpile had passed the 300-kg(661 lb) limit allowed under the nuclear deal.</p>

<p>The US had pulled out of the nuclear deal in May last year alleging that Iran hadn't done enough to limit its weapons stockpile and had continued to work on its nuclear programme, a claim denied by Iranian authorities.</p>

<p>The nuclear deal issue combined with the attack on oil tankers last month which the Trump administration alleged was carried out by Iran's Republican Guard army led to further deterioration of relations between US and Iran.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Finally, the downing of US surveillance drone a week after the tanker attack led Trump to call in for air strikes on Iran which he ultimately stopped in mid-air due to the threat of heavy civilian casualties.</p>


After Iran President Rouhani said his country will enrich uranium to any amount the country needs after July 7, US President warned "Iran to be careful" as tensions between the two nations continued to boil over the 2015 nuclear deal issue.

After Iran President Rouhani said his country will enrich uranium to any amount the country needs after July 7, US President warned "Iran to be careful" as tensions between the two nations continued to boil over the 2015 nuclear deal issue. "Iran has just issued a new warning. Rouhani says that they will enrich uranium to “any amount we want” if there is no new nuclear deal. Be careful with the threats, Iran," the US president said, adding, "they can come back to bite you like nobody has been bitten before!" Iran has just issued a New Warning. Rouhani says that they will Enrich Uranium to “any amount we want” if there is no new Nuclear Deal. Be careful with the threats, Iran. They can come back to bite you like nobody has been bitten before! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 3, 2019 × On Wednesday, Iran President Hassan Rouhani had said Iran would increase its level of uranium enrichment after July 7 to whatever levels it needs beyond the 3.67% cap set in the 2015 nuclear deal. The enrichment maximum set in under the nuclear agreement is sufficient for power generation but far below the more than 90 per cent level required for a nuclear weapon. "If the remaining signatories of the nuclear deal with world powers do not fulfil their promises, then the Arak nuclear reactor will return to its previous activities after July 7," Rouhani said. Iran had recently breached the nuclear stockpile limit. Iran Fars news agency had reported that the country's enriched uranium stockpile had passed the 300-kg(661 lb) limit allowed under the nuclear deal. The US had pulled out of the nuclear deal in May last year alleging that Iran hadn't done enough to limit its weapons stockpile and had continued to work on its nuclear programme, a claim denied by Iranian authorities. The nuclear deal issue combined with the attack on oil tankers last month which the Trump administration alleged was carried out by Iran's Republican Guard army led to further deterioration of relations between US and Iran. Finally, the downing of US surveillance drone a week after the tanker attack led Trump to call in for air strikes on Iran which he ultimately stopped in mid-air due to the threat of heavy civilian casualties.

Be careful Iran, threats will 'come back to bite you', warns Trump

<p>Iran will increase its level of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-was-violating-nuclear-deal-with-us-long-before-i-became-president-trump-232663">uranium enrichment after July 7</a> to whatever levels it needs beyond the 3.67% cap set in the 2015 nuclear deal, Iran's President Hassan Rouhani said on Wednesday, according to the IRIB news agency.</p>

<p>If the remaining signatories of the nuclear deal with world powers do not fulfil their promises, then the Arak nuclear reactor will return to its previous activities after July 7, Rouhani said.</p>

<p>Iran had recently breached the nuclear stockpile limit. Iran Fars news agency had reported that the country's enriched uranium stockpile had passed the 300-kg(661 lb) limit allowed under the nuclear deal.</p>

<p>Rouhani's announcement came just hours after US President Trump alleged that &nbsp;Iran was violating the nuclear deal long before he became president.</p>

<p>"Iran was violating the 150 billion dollar (plus 1.8 billion dollars in cash) nuclear deal with the United States, and others who paid nothing," he said on Twitter, adding,"long before I became president - and they have now breached their stockpile limit. Not good!"</p>

<p>The US had walked out of the Iran nuclear deal in May last year after President Trump alleged that Iran hadn't done enough to address its missile programme.<br />
&nbsp;</p>


Iran will increase its level of uranium enrichment after July 7 to whatever levels it needs beyond the 3.67% cap set in the 2015 nuclear deal, Iran's President Hassan Rouhani said on Wednesday, according to the IRIB news agency.

Iran will increase its level of uranium enrichment after July 7 to whatever levels it needs beyond the 3.67% cap set in the 2015 nuclear deal, Iran's President Hassan Rouhani said on Wednesday, according to the IRIB news agency. If the remaining signatories of the nuclear deal with world powers do not fulfil their promises, then the Arak nuclear reactor will return to its previous activities after July 7, Rouhani said. Iran had recently breached the nuclear stockpile limit. Iran Fars news agency had reported that the country's enriched uranium stockpile had passed the 300-kg(661 lb) limit allowed under the nuclear deal. Rouhani's announcement came just hours after US President Trump alleged that Iran was violating the nuclear deal long before he became president. "Iran was violating the 150 billion dollar (plus 1.8 billion dollars in cash) nuclear deal with the United States, and others who paid nothing," he said on Twitter, adding,"long before I became president - and they have now breached their stockpile limit. Not good!" The US had walked out of the Iran nuclear deal in May last year after President Trump alleged that Iran hadn't done enough to address its missile programme.

Will increase uranium enrichment level after July 7 to whatever levels Iran needs: Rouhani

<p>US President Donald Trump said today in a tweet that <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/war-clouds-loom-over-the-gulf-pros-and-cons-of-pre-emptive-strike-on-iran-232526">Iran was violating the nuclear deal </a>long before he became president.</p>

<p>"Iran was violating the 150 billion dollar (plus 1.8 billion dollars in cash) nuclear deal with the United States, and others who paid nothing," he said on Twitter, adding,"long before I became president - and they have now breached their stockpile limit. Not good!"</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Iran was violating the 150 Billion Dollar (plus 1.8 Billion Dollar in CASH) Nuclear Deal with the United States, and others who paid NOTHING, long before I became President - and they have now breached their stockpile limit. Not good!</p>
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1146268912553775110?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 3, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<p>In an almost similar statement on Tuesday, the White House had said that Tehran was long violating the terms of its nuclear deal with world powers. Trump had said yesterday that Iran was "playing with fire."</p>

<p>However, Iran's foreign minister Zarif said the move was not a violation of the accord, arguing that Tehran was exercising its right to respond to the US walkout.</p>

<p>Iran Fars news agency had reported that the country's enriched uranium stockpile had passed the 300-kg(661 lb) limit allowed under the nuclear deal.</p>

<p>Iran said it was the United States that first violated the deal when Trump withdrew from it while Iran&nbsp;was&nbsp;still was in compliance and then re-imposed sanctions.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, EU, France, Germany and the UK urged Iran to reverse its decision to breach the limit on enriched uranium reserves under the 2015 nuclear deal.</p>

<p>"We urge Iran to reverse this step and to refrain from further measures that undermine the nuclear deal," said the joint statement signed by EU diplomatic chief Federica Mogherini.</p>

<p>"We have been consistent and clear that our commitment to the nuclear deal depends on full compliance by Iran," it added.</p>

<p>The statement said the group was "urgently considering next steps under the terms" of the deal.</p>


US President Donald Trump said today in a tweet that Iran was violating the nuclear deal long before he became president. "Iran was violating the 150 billion dollar (plus 1.

US President Donald Trump said today in a tweet that Iran was violating the nuclear deal long before he became president. "Iran was violating the 150 billion dollar (plus 1.8 billion dollars in cash) nuclear deal with the United States, and others who paid nothing," he said on Twitter, adding,"long before I became president - and they have now breached their stockpile limit. Not good!" Iran was violating the 150 Billion Dollar (plus 1.8 Billion Dollar in CASH) Nuclear Deal with the United States, and others who paid NOTHING, long before I became President - and they have now breached their stockpile limit. Not good! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 3, 2019 × In an almost similar statement on Tuesday, the White House had said that Tehran was long violating the terms of its nuclear deal with world powers. Trump had said yesterday that Iran was "playing with fire." However, Iran's foreign minister Zarif said the move was not a violation of the accord, arguing that Tehran was exercising its right to respond to the US walkout. Iran Fars news agency had reported that the country's enriched uranium stockpile had passed the 300-kg(661 lb) limit allowed under the nuclear deal. Iran said it was the United States that first violated the deal when Trump withdrew from it while Iran was still was in compliance and then re-imposed sanctions. Meanwhile, EU, France, Germany and the UK urged Iran to reverse its decision to breach the limit on enriched uranium reserves under the 2015 nuclear deal. "We urge Iran to reverse this step and to refrain from further measures that undermine the nuclear deal," said the joint statement signed by EU diplomatic chief Federica Mogherini. "We have been consistent and clear that our commitment to the nuclear deal depends on full compliance by Iran," it added. The statement said the group was "urgently considering next steps under the terms" of the deal.

Iran was violating nuclear deal with US long before I became president: Trump

<p>Iran rejected on Tuesday a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-playing-with-fire-on-nuclear-deal-trump-232172">White House accusation that Tehran</a> was long violating the terms of its nuclear deal with world powers, after the Islamic Republic said it had amassed more low-enriched uranium than permitted under the accord.</p>

<p>"Seriously?" foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said in a message on social network Twitter, after a statement by White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham that said, "There is little doubt that even before the deal’s existence, Iran was violating its terms."</p>

<p>Tehran's announcement drew a warning from President Donald Trump that Tehran was "playing with fire."</p>

<p>The move marked Iran's first major step beyond the terms of the pact since the United States pulled out of it more than a year ago. However, Zarif said the move was not a violation of the accord, arguing that Tehran was exercising its right to respond to the US&nbsp;walkout.</p>

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<p>The step, however, could have far-reaching consequences for diplomacy at a time when European countries are trying to pull the United States and Iran back from confrontation. It comes less than two weeks after Trump said he ordered air strikes on Iran, only to cancel them minutes before impact.</p>

<p>Iran's semi-official Fars news agency reported that the country's enriched uranium stockpile has now passed the 300-kg(661 lb) limit allowed under the deal.</p>

<p>The UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic EnergyAgency (IAEA), which monitors Iran's nuclear programme under the deal, confirmed in Vienna that Tehran had breached the limit.</p>

<p>Trump, asked if he had a message for Iran, said, "No message to Iran. They know what they're doing. They know what they'replaying with, and I think they're playing with fire. So, no message to Iran whatsoever."</p>

<p>European powers, which remain party to the accord and have tried to keep it in place, urged Iran not to take further steps that would violate it. But they held off on declaring the agreement void or announcing sanctions of their own.</p>

<p>The White House charge that Iran probably was in violation of the nuclear deal before and after it was reached in 2015 sharply contrasts with CIA Director Gina Haspel’s testimony in January to the Senate Intelligence Committee saying, "At the moment, technically, they are in compliance."</p>

<p>Daryl Kimball, the executive director of the Arms Control Association, said the White House charge was "illogical".</p>

<p>He pointed out that at the time the nuclear deal was concluded, Tehran and the IAEA agreed on a "roadmap" through which Iran is addressing the nuclear watchdog’s unanswered questions about the nuclear weapons research program that the IAEA and the US intelligence community assessed ended in 2003.</p>

<p>"The process is still underway," he said.</p>

<p>He also said there was no international standard prohibiting Iran from enriching uranium, as asserted by Pompeo. "That is not the case. That is an American position," he said.</p>

<p>The six UN Security Council resolutions that Pompeo asserted established that standard were superseded by Resolution 2231 enshrining the nuclear deal and allowing Iran to enrich uranium within the agreement's restrictions.</p>

<p>While Iran announced on Monday that it breached the deal's restriction on storing more than 300 kg (661 lb) of low-enriched uranium, Kimball said the issue would be adjudicated through the accord’s dispute resolution mechanism.</p>

<p>It was the United States, he said, that first violated the deal when Trump withdrew from it while Iran still was in compliance and then re-imposed harsh U.S. sanctions that had been suspended by the nuclear agreement.</p>

<p>Iran’s breach, he said, does not affect the deal’s central target of extending to a year the time in which Iran could "breakout" and produce enough highly enriched uranium for a warhead.</p>

<p>The breach is a political move aimed at pressuring the European Union, China and Russia to compensate Iran for the serious damage to its economy from US&nbsp;sanctions, he said.</p>


Iran rejected on Tuesday a White House accusation that Tehran was long violating the terms of its nuclear deal with world powers, after the Islamic Republic said it had amassed more low-enriched uranium than permitted under the accord.

Iran rejected on Tuesday a White House accusation that Tehran was long violating the terms of its nuclear deal with world powers, after the Islamic Republic said it had amassed more low-enriched uranium than permitted under the accord. "Seriously?" foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said in a message on social network Twitter, after a statement by White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham that said, "There is little doubt that even before the deal’s existence, Iran was violating its terms." Tehran's announcement drew a warning from President Donald Trump that Tehran was "playing with fire." The move marked Iran's first major step beyond the terms of the pact since the United States pulled out of it more than a year ago. However, Zarif said the move was not a violation of the accord, arguing that Tehran was exercising its right to respond to the US walkout. The step, however, could have far-reaching consequences for diplomacy at a time when European countries are trying to pull the United States and Iran back from confrontation. It comes less than two weeks after Trump said he ordered air strikes on Iran, only to cancel them minutes before impact. Iran's semi-official Fars news agency reported that the country's enriched uranium stockpile has now passed the 300-kg(661 lb) limit allowed under the deal. The UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic EnergyAgency (IAEA), which monitors Iran's nuclear programme under the deal, confirmed in Vienna that Tehran had breached the limit. Trump, asked if he had a message for Iran, said, "No message to Iran. They know what they're doing. They know what they'replaying with, and I think they're playing with fire. So, no message to Iran whatsoever." European powers, which remain party to the accord and have tried to keep it in place, urged Iran not to take further steps that would violate it. But they held off on declaring the agreement void or announcing sanctions of their own. The White House charge that Iran probably was in violation of the nuclear deal before and after it was reached in 2015 sharply contrasts with CIA Director Gina Haspel’s testimony in January to the Senate Intelligence Committee saying, "At the moment, technically, they are in compliance." Daryl Kimball, the executive director of the Arms Control Association, said the White House charge was "illogical". He pointed out that at the time the nuclear deal was concluded, Tehran and the IAEA agreed on a "roadmap" through which Iran is addressing the nuclear watchdog’s unanswered questions about the nuclear weapons research program that the IAEA and the US intelligence community assessed ended in 2003. "The process is still underway," he said. He also said there was no international standard prohibiting Iran from enriching uranium, as asserted by Pompeo. "That is not the case. That is an American position," he said. The six UN Security Council resolutions that Pompeo asserted established that standard were superseded by Resolution 2231 enshrining the nuclear deal and allowing Iran to enrich uranium within the agreement's restrictions. While Iran announced on Monday that it breached the deal's restriction on storing more than 300 kg (661 lb) of low-enriched uranium, Kimball said the issue would be adjudicated through the accord’s dispute resolution mechanism. It was the United States, he said, that first violated the deal when Trump withdrew from it while Iran still was in compliance and then re-imposed harsh U.S. sanctions that had been suspended by the nuclear agreement. Iran’s breach, he said, does not affect the deal’s central target of extending to a year the time in which Iran could "breakout" and produce enough highly enriched uranium for a warhead. The breach is a political move aimed at pressuring the European Union, China and Russia to compensate Iran for the serious damage to its economy from US sanctions, he said.

Even before nuclear deal, Iran was violating terms: White House

<p>US President Donald Trump warned Monday that Iran is "playing with fire" after <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/united-nations-chief-antonio-guterres-urges-iran-to-stick-to-nuclear-deal-after-breaching-cap-232148">Tehran said it exceeded a limit</a> on enriched uranium reserves under a 2015 nuclear deal abandoned by Washington.</p>

<p>Israel urged European states to sanction Iran, while Russia voiced regret but said the move was a consequence of US pressure, which has pushed the deal towards collapse.</p>

<p>Britain called on Tehran "to avoid any further steps away" from the landmark deal, and the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-says-it-has-broken-enriched-uranium-stockpile-limit-set-by-2015-nuclear-deal-232067">UN said Iran must stick </a>to its commitments under the accord.</p>

<p>"Iran has crossed the 300-kilogram limit based on its plan" announced in May, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif told semi-official news agency ISNA.</p>

<p>But he also said the move could be reversed.</p>

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<p>"They know what they're doing. They know what they're playing with and I think they're playing with fire," Trump told reporters at the White House when asked if he had a message for Iran.</p>

<p>The United States withdrew from the nuclear deal last year and hit Iran's crucial oil exports and financial transactions as well as other sectors with biting sanctions.</p>

<p>Tehran, which has sought to pressure the remaining parties to save the deal, announced on May 8 it would no longer respect the limit set on its enriched uranium and heavy water stockpiles.</p>

<p>It threatened to abandon further nuclear commitments unless the remaining partners -- Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia -- helped it circumvent sanctions, especially to sell its oil.</p>

<p>The White House had earlier said that "the United States and its allies will never allow Iran to develop nuclear weapons," vowing to continue exerting "maximum pressure" on the regime.</p>

<p>"It was a mistake under the Iran nuclear deal to allow Iran to enrich uranium at any level," spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham said in a statement.</p>

<p>- 'One mustn't dramatize' -&nbsp;<br />
Zarif insisted Iran had done nothing wrong. "We have NOT violated the #JCPOA," he tweeted, referring to the deal.</p>

<p>He said Iran would "reverse" its decision "as soon as E3 abide by their obligations" -- referring to the European parties to the deal: Britain, France and Germany.</p>

<p>Zarif's American counterpart Mike Pompeo accused Iran of using its nuclear program "to extort the international community and threaten regional security."</p>

<p>The International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed Iran had exceeded the limit that the deal imposed on its stockpile of low-enriched uranium (LEU).&nbsp;</p>

<p>A diplomat in Vienna, where the UN's nuclear watchdog is based, told AFP that Iran had exceeded the 300 kilogram (661 pound) limit by two kilograms.</p>

<p>Russia's deputy foreign minister, Sergei Ryabkov, said Iran's move was a cause for "regret" but also "a natural consequence of recent events" and a result of the "unprecedented pressure" from the US.</p>

<p>"One mustn't dramatize the situation," Ryabkov, whose country is a close ally of Tehran, said in comments reported by Russian news agencies.</p>

<p>Britain's Foreign Minister Jeremy Hunt said on Twitter that London was "deeply worried" and urged Iran to "come back to compliance" with the nuclear deal.</p>

<p>UN chief Antonio Guterres said it was "essential" that Iran stick to the deal.</p>

<p>- 'Europe's efforts not enough' -<br />
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged European countries to impose sanctions on his country's arch-foe Iran.</p>

<p>Trump spoke with French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday about Iran's breach of the nuclear deal limit, the White House said.</p>

<p>The European Union said Friday after a crisis meeting aimed at salvaging the deal that a special payment mechanism set up to help Iran skirt the sanctions, known as INSTEX, was finally "operational" and that the first transactions were being processed.</p>

<p>But "the Europeans' efforts were not enough, therefore Iran will go ahead with its announced measures," Zarif said.</p>

<p>INSTEX, which "is just the beginning" of their commitments, has not yet been fully implemented, he added.</p>

<p>The 2015 deal saw Iran commit to never acquiring an atomic bomb, accept drastic limits on its nuclear program and submit to IAEA inspections in exchange for a partial lifting of crippling international sanctions.</p>

<p>Iran has also threatened to start enriching uranium above the agreed maximum purification level of 3.67 percent from July 7. That remains far short of the 90 percent purity required to build a weapon.</p>

<p>The latest tensions coincide with a buildup of US forces in the Gulf and a series of incidents including Iran's shooting down of a US drone it claimed had entered its airspace.</p>


US President Donald Trump warned Monday that Iran is "playing with fire" after Tehran said it exceeded a limit on enriched uranium reserves under a 2015 nuclear deal abandoned by Washington.

US President Donald Trump warned Monday that Iran is "playing with fire" after Tehran said it exceeded a limit on enriched uranium reserves under a 2015 nuclear deal abandoned by Washington. Israel urged European states to sanction Iran, while Russia voiced regret but said the move was a consequence of US pressure, which has pushed the deal towards collapse. Britain called on Tehran "to avoid any further steps away" from the landmark deal, and the UN said Iran must stick to its commitments under the accord. "Iran has crossed the 300-kilogram limit based on its plan" announced in May, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif told semi-official news agency ISNA. But he also said the move could be reversed. "They know what they're doing. They know what they're playing with and I think they're playing with fire," Trump told reporters at the White House when asked if he had a message for Iran. The United States withdrew from the nuclear deal last year and hit Iran's crucial oil exports and financial transactions as well as other sectors with biting sanctions. Tehran, which has sought to pressure the remaining parties to save the deal, announced on May 8 it would no longer respect the limit set on its enriched uranium and heavy water stockpiles. It threatened to abandon further nuclear commitments unless the remaining partners -- Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia -- helped it circumvent sanctions, especially to sell its oil. The White House had earlier said that "the United States and its allies will never allow Iran to develop nuclear weapons," vowing to continue exerting "maximum pressure" on the regime. "It was a mistake under the Iran nuclear deal to allow Iran to enrich uranium at any level," spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham said in a statement. - 'One mustn't dramatize' - Zarif insisted Iran had done nothing wrong. "We have NOT violated the #JCPOA," he tweeted, referring to the deal. He said Iran would "reverse" its decision "as soon as E3 abide by their obligations" -- referring to the European parties to the deal: Britain, France and Germany. Zarif's American counterpart Mike Pompeo accused Iran of using its nuclear program "to extort the international community and threaten regional security." The International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed Iran had exceeded the limit that the deal imposed on its stockpile of low-enriched uranium (LEU). A diplomat in Vienna, where the UN's nuclear watchdog is based, told AFP that Iran had exceeded the 300 kilogram (661 pound) limit by two kilograms. Russia's deputy foreign minister, Sergei Ryabkov, said Iran's move was a cause for "regret" but also "a natural consequence of recent events" and a result of the "unprecedented pressure" from the US. "One mustn't dramatize the situation," Ryabkov, whose country is a close ally of Tehran, said in comments reported by Russian news agencies. Britain's Foreign Minister Jeremy Hunt said on Twitter that London was "deeply worried" and urged Iran to "come back to compliance" with the nuclear deal. UN chief Antonio Guterres said it was "essential" that Iran stick to the deal. - 'Europe's efforts not enough' - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged European countries to impose sanctions on his country's arch-foe Iran. Trump spoke with French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday about Iran's breach of the nuclear deal limit, the White House said. The European Union said Friday after a crisis meeting aimed at salvaging the deal that a special payment mechanism set up to help Iran skirt the sanctions, known as INSTEX, was finally "operational" and that the first transactions were being processed. But "the Europeans' efforts were not enough, therefore Iran will go ahead with its announced measures," Zarif said. INSTEX, which "is just the beginning" of their commitments, has not yet been fully implemented, he added. The 2015 deal saw Iran commit to never acquiring an atomic bomb, accept drastic limits on its nuclear program and submit to IAEA inspections in exchange for a partial lifting of crippling international sanctions. Iran has also threatened to start enriching uranium above the agreed maximum purification level of 3.67 percent from July 7. That remains far short of the 90 percent purity required to build a weapon. The latest tensions coincide with a buildup of US forces in the Gulf and a series of incidents including Iran's shooting down of a US drone it claimed had entered its airspace.

Iran playing with fire on nuclear deal: Trump

<p>French President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday he will try to convince <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/us-openly-sowing-seeds-of-hostility-reject-pompeos-baseless-allegation-iran-230839">US&nbsp;President Donald Trump</a> to suspend some sanctions on Iran to allow for negotiations to de-escalate the crisis in the region.</p>

<p>"I want to convince Trump that it is in his interest to re-open a negotiation process (and) go back on certain sanctions to give negotiations a chance," Macron told reporters on the train from Tokyo to Kyoto.</p>

<p>The French leader will meet his US&nbsp;counterpart on the sidelines of the G20 summit this weekend.</p>

<p>Macron said the idea would be to begin a discussion and set up the parameters of talks ranging from Iran's nuclear activities to its wider role in the region.</p>

<p>"We'd give ourselves a few months," Macron said.</p>

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<p>Washington pulled out of the nuclear accord last year and has imposed punishing economic sanctions against Tehran.</p>

<p>Iran has threatened to respond by setting aside some of the deal's restrictions, which could cause the deal to collapse, though it has called on European powers to do more to shield it from US sanctions - a move the White House has called "nuclear blackmail".</p>

<p>The European powers are scrambling to protect trade with Iran but what they can achieve pales in comparison to US sanctions aimed at slashing Iran's vital oil exports to zero.</p>

<p>Diplomats have also stressed the European signatories are weary of Iranian demands that they sustain a pact that Washington has withdrawn from and said if Tehran followed suit they would have little choice but to acquiesce in the reimposition of UN sanctions.</p>

<p>The International Atomic Energy Agency, which is policing the deal's nuclear restrictions, does not generally comment on details of its inspections. It was not immediately available for comment on Thursday.</p>

<p>"We've made it clear to the Iranians that we have zero tolerance on the nuclear issue," a senior European official said. "They are close to the threshold, but we will wait for the IAEA to report back to us in the coming days."</p>


French President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday he will try to convince US President Donald Trump to suspend some sanctions on Iran to allow for negotiations to de-escalate the crisis in the region.

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday he will try to convince US President Donald Trump to suspend some sanctions on Iran to allow for negotiations to de-escalate the crisis in the region. "I want to convince Trump that it is in his interest to re-open a negotiation process (and) go back on certain sanctions to give negotiations a chance," Macron told reporters on the train from Tokyo to Kyoto. The French leader will meet his US counterpart on the sidelines of the G20 summit this weekend. Macron said the idea would be to begin a discussion and set up the parameters of talks ranging from Iran's nuclear activities to its wider role in the region. "We'd give ourselves a few months," Macron said. Washington pulled out of the nuclear accord last year and has imposed punishing economic sanctions against Tehran. Iran has threatened to respond by setting aside some of the deal's restrictions, which could cause the deal to collapse, though it has called on European powers to do more to shield it from US sanctions - a move the White House has called "nuclear blackmail". The European powers are scrambling to protect trade with Iran but what they can achieve pales in comparison to US sanctions aimed at slashing Iran's vital oil exports to zero. Diplomats have also stressed the European signatories are weary of Iranian demands that they sustain a pact that Washington has withdrawn from and said if Tehran followed suit they would have little choice but to acquiesce in the reimposition of UN sanctions. The International Atomic Energy Agency, which is policing the deal's nuclear restrictions, does not generally comment on details of its inspections. It was not immediately available for comment on Thursday. "We've made it clear to the Iranians that we have zero tolerance on the nuclear issue," a senior European official said. "They are close to the threshold, but we will wait for the IAEA to report back to us in the coming days."

I want to convince Trump to drop certain sanctions against Iran to give negotiations a chance: Macron

<p>Iran today slammed US secretary of state <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-warns-united-states-of-stronger-reaction-if-its-borders-violated-again-tasnim-230792">Mike Pompeo's joint statement </a>in New Delhi in which he accused Iran of being the "world's largest state sponsor of terror".</p>

<p>The Iran embassy in India said it "categorically rejects baseless allegations of the US secretary of state levelled against Iran", adding, "the US is openly sowing seeds of hostility against the peaceful people of Iran through maximum economic pressures in particular unfair sanctions as a brutal act of terrorism."&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The US has defined its interest in generating and aggravating regional disputes, and exacerbating conflict and insecurity to fuel an arms race and create bigger markets for its weapons," it said.</p>

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<p>"During the last decades, US interventions in the region has disturbed the natural harmony, domestic dynamics and ecosystem of communities in the region," the Iranian embassy said in a statement.</p>

<p>Iran alleged that that rise of extremist groups like <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-says-it-has-indisputable-evidence-us-drone-violated-its-airspace-229116">Taliban, Al-Qaeda and ISIS</a> were "contemporary demonstration of US adventurism" asserting that "the crises in the region, including in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria and Yemen, were rooted in "occupation", illegal military interventions, hegemonic and social engineering policies of the United States."</p>

<p>"Iran as a victim of terrorism which has lost 17,000 of its citizens by US-supported terrorist group (MKO/PMOI) and being in the forefront of fighting these groups such as ISIS, has identified its regional interests with good-neighborliness, and peace and stability in the highly sensitive Persian Gulf region," the statement added.</p>

<p>"Iran is determined to actively contribute to the promotion of an effective "regional dialogue" for peace and security," it said.</p>

<p>As tensions soared, Iran President Hassan Rouhani said his country "never seeks war" with the United States. Last week US President Trump had said he had pulled back from retaliatory strikes against Iran after it shot down a US surveillance drone.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The US administration instead imposed new sanctions against Iran targeting supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and top officials.</p>

<p>On Wednesday, while giving an interview to a US network Trump said there won't be any "boots on the ground" if the US undertook military action against the Iranian regime, while adding that "it wouldn't last very long."</p>


Iran today slammed US secretary of state Mike Pompeo's joint statement in New Delhi in which he accused Iran of being the "world's largest state sponsor of terror".

Iran today slammed US secretary of state Mike Pompeo's joint statement in New Delhi in which he accused Iran of being the "world's largest state sponsor of terror". The Iran embassy in India said it "categorically rejects baseless allegations of the US secretary of state levelled against Iran", adding, "the US is openly sowing seeds of hostility against the peaceful people of Iran through maximum economic pressures in particular unfair sanctions as a brutal act of terrorism." "The US has defined its interest in generating and aggravating regional disputes, and exacerbating conflict and insecurity to fuel an arms race and create bigger markets for its weapons," it said. "During the last decades, US interventions in the region has disturbed the natural harmony, domestic dynamics and ecosystem of communities in the region," the Iranian embassy said in a statement. Iran alleged that that rise of extremist groups like Taliban, Al-Qaeda and ISIS were "contemporary demonstration of US adventurism" asserting that "the crises in the region, including in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria and Yemen, were rooted in "occupation", illegal military interventions, hegemonic and social engineering policies of the United States." "Iran as a victim of terrorism which has lost 17,000 of its citizens by US-supported terrorist group (MKO/PMOI) and being in the forefront of fighting these groups such as ISIS, has identified its regional interests with good-neighborliness, and peace and stability in the highly sensitive Persian Gulf region," the statement added. "Iran is determined to actively contribute to the promotion of an effective "regional dialogue" for peace and security," it said. As tensions soared, Iran President Hassan Rouhani said his country "never seeks war" with the United States. Last week US President Trump had said he had pulled back from retaliatory strikes against Iran after it shot down a US surveillance drone. The US administration instead imposed new sanctions against Iran targeting supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and top officials. On Wednesday, while giving an interview to a US network Trump said there won't be any "boots on the ground" if the US undertook military action against the Iranian regime, while adding that "it wouldn't last very long."

US openly sowing seeds of hostility, reject Pompeo's baseless allegation: Iran

<p>As tensions continued to mount between <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-will-speed-up-enriching-of-uranium-after-deadline-to-europe-ends-on-thursday-irib-230564">US and Iran in the aftermath</a> of the downing of the US drone, President Trump in an interview to a US television network said there would be "no boots on the ground if US attacks".</p>

<p>"I hope we don't but we're in a very strong position if something should happen," adding,"I'm not talking boots on the ground ... I'm just saying if something would happen, it wouldn't last very long."</p>

<p>On the US-China trade war, the US president said China was "going down the tubes" and wanted a trade deal.</p>

<p>President Xi and Trump are due to meet in the<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-hopes-to-re-launch-china-trade-talks-will-not-accept-conditions-on-tariffs-230453"> G20 Summit in Osaka</a>, Japan shortly with several experts hoping for a deal, although there has been no word on it from the White House.</p>

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<p>"China wants a trade deal with the United States because its economy is weakening," the US president said.</p>

<p>However, on the trade front, the US president asserted that "Vietnam was worse than China on trade".</p>

<p>Vietnam was the "single worst abuser" on trade with the United States, worse even than China, he said.</p>

<p>"A lot of companies are moving to Vietnam, but Vietnam takes advantage of us even worse than China," he said.</p>

<p>"It's almost the single worst abuser of everybody," he added.</p>

<p>Trump said the European Union was out of line bringing lawsuits against US technology companies like Facebook and Google, saying legal action against those firms should be the purview of the United States.</p>

<p>She hates the United States perhaps worse than any person I've ever met," Trump said during the interview in an apparent reference to EU competition commissioner Margrethe Vestager.</p>

<p>"What she does to our country. She's suing all our companies. We should be suing Google and Facebook, and all that," he said. "They're suing Apple. They're suing everybody."<br />
&nbsp;</p>


As tensions continued to mount between US and Iran in the aftermath of the downing of the US drone, President Trump in an interview to a US television network said there would be "no boots on the ground if US attacks".

As tensions continued to mount between US and Iran in the aftermath of the downing of the US drone, President Trump in an interview to a US television network said there would be "no boots on the ground if US attacks". "I hope we don't but we're in a very strong position if something should happen," adding,"I'm not talking boots on the ground ... I'm just saying if something would happen, it wouldn't last very long." On the US-China trade war, the US president said China was "going down the tubes" and wanted a trade deal. President Xi and Trump are due to meet in the G20 Summit in Osaka, Japan shortly with several experts hoping for a deal, although there has been no word on it from the White House. "China wants a trade deal with the United States because its economy is weakening," the US president said. However, on the trade front, the US president asserted that "Vietnam was worse than China on trade". Vietnam was the "single worst abuser" on trade with the United States, worse even than China, he said. "A lot of companies are moving to Vietnam, but Vietnam takes advantage of us even worse than China," he said. "It's almost the single worst abuser of everybody," he added. Trump said the European Union was out of line bringing lawsuits against US technology companies like Facebook and Google, saying legal action against those firms should be the purview of the United States. She hates the United States perhaps worse than any person I've ever met," Trump said during the interview in an apparent reference to EU competition commissioner Margrethe Vestager. "What she does to our country. She's suing all our companies. We should be suing Google and Facebook, and all that," he said. "They're suing Apple. They're suing everybody."

US in a very strong position, no boots on the ground against Iran: Trump

<p>US national security advisor(NSA) John Bolton on Tuesday described as "deafening" <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-dismisses-new-us-sanctions-calls-white-house-retarded-230254">Iran's apparent silence</a> on an offer to negotiate with Washington.</p>

<p>"The president has held the door open to real negotiations," Bolton said in a statement.</p>

<p>"In response, Iran's silence has been deafening," he added during a visit to Jerusalem.</p>

<p>The United States imposed sanctions Monday on <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-sanctions-mean-permanent-closure-of-path-to-diplomacy-iran-230174">Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei</a> and others, which the Iranian foreign ministry said meant a "permanent closure of the path to diplomacy" with the US administration.</p>

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<p>Tensions are running high after Iran shot down a US spy drone last week and Trump considered, then cancelled, a retaliatory strike.</p>

<p>Bolton said Tuesday the US remains open to negotiations, more than a year after Washington pulled out of a landmark nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers.</p>

<p>"All that Iran needs to do is to walk through that open door," he said.</p>

<p>But Iran's president said Washington's decision to impose sanctions on senior officials including its top diplomat proved the US was "lying" about talks.</p>

<p>"At the same time as you call for negotiations, you seek to sanction the foreign minister? It's obvious that you're lying," President Hassan Rouhani said in a meeting with ministers broadcast live on TV.</p>


US national security advisor(NSA) John Bolton on Tuesday described as "deafening" Iran's apparent silence on an offer to negotiate with Washington. "The president has held the door open to real negotiations," Bolton said in a statement.

US national security advisor(NSA) John Bolton on Tuesday described as "deafening" Iran's apparent silence on an offer to negotiate with Washington. "The president has held the door open to real negotiations," Bolton said in a statement. "In response, Iran's silence has been deafening," he added during a visit to Jerusalem. The United States imposed sanctions Monday on Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and others, which the Iranian foreign ministry said meant a "permanent closure of the path to diplomacy" with the US administration. Tensions are running high after Iran shot down a US spy drone last week and Trump considered, then cancelled, a retaliatory strike. Bolton said Tuesday the US remains open to negotiations, more than a year after Washington pulled out of a landmark nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers. "All that Iran needs to do is to walk through that open door," he said. But Iran's president said Washington's decision to impose sanctions on senior officials including its top diplomat proved the US was "lying" about talks. "At the same time as you call for negotiations, you seek to sanction the foreign minister? It's obvious that you're lying," President Hassan Rouhani said in a meeting with ministers broadcast live on TV.

US remains open to negotiations, Iran needs to walk through  that open door: Bolton

<p>After Iranian President Hassan Rouhani dismissed White House actions as "mentally retarded", <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/have-military-intelligence-to-show-us-drone-was-iranian-airspace-russia-230296">US President Trump hit back today</a> saying "any attack by Iran on anything American will be met with great and overwhelming force" as the war of words between the two nations continued nearly a week after Iran downed a US surveillance drone.</p>

<p>"Iran’s very ignorant and insulting statement, put out today, only shows that they do not understand reality," the US president tweeted, adding,"the wonderful Iranian people are suffering, and for no reason at all. Their leadership spends all of its money on terror, and little on anything else."</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Iran leadership doesn’t understand the words “nice” or “compassion,” they never have. Sadly, the thing they do understand is Strength and Power, and the USA is by far the most powerful Military Force in the world, with 1.5 Trillion Dollars invested over the last two years alone..</p>
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1143529903238893568?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 25, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<p>"The US has not forgotten Iran’s use of IED’s &amp; EFP’s (bombs), which killed 2000 Americans, and wounded many more," any attack by Iran on anything American will be met with great and overwhelming force. In some areas, overwhelming will mean obliteration."</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">....The wonderful Iranian people are suffering, and for no reason at all. Their leadership spends all of its money on Terror, and little on anything else. The U.S. has not forgotten Iran’s use of IED’s &amp; EFP’s (bombs), which killed 2000 Americans, and wounded many more...</p>
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1143529905323479041?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 25, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">....Iran’s very ignorant and insulting statement, put out today, only shows that they do not understand reality. Any attack by Iran on anything American will be met with great and overwhelming force. In some areas, overwhelming will mean obliteration. No more John Kerry &amp; Obama!</p>
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1143529907403788288?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 25, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<p>Even as Iran and the US exchanged verbal firepower, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-dismisses-new-us-sanctions-calls-white-house-retarded-230254">US national security advisor(NSA)</a> John Bolton in a conciliatory tone said the door towards negotiation was open with Iran.</p>

<p>"All that Iran needs to do is to walk through that open door," he said.</p>

<p>However, Iran on Tuesday dismissed the new US sanctions and said the latest sanctions showed Washington is "lying" about offering to negotiate.</p>

<p>"At the same time as you call for negotiations, you seek to sanction the foreign minister? It's obvious that you're lying," Iran President Hassan Rouhani said.</p>

<p>On Monday, the United States imposed sanctions on Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and others as tensions continued to rise in West Asia ignited by&nbsp;the oil tanker attack which the US blamed on Iran's Revolutionary Guard.</p>


After Iranian President Hassan Rouhani dismissed White House actions as "mentally retarded", US President Trump hit back today saying "any attack by Iran on anything American will be met with great and overwhelming force" as the war of words between the two nations continued nearly a week after Iran downed a US surveillance drone.

After Iranian President Hassan Rouhani dismissed White House actions as "mentally retarded", US President Trump hit back today saying "any attack by Iran on anything American will be met with great and overwhelming force" as the war of words between the two nations continued nearly a week after Iran downed a US surveillance drone. "Iran’s very ignorant and insulting statement, put out today, only shows that they do not understand reality," the US president tweeted, adding,"the wonderful Iranian people are suffering, and for no reason at all. Their leadership spends all of its money on terror, and little on anything else." Iran leadership doesn’t understand the words “nice” or “compassion,” they never have. Sadly, the thing they do understand is Strength and Power, and the USA is by far the most powerful Military Force in the world, with 1.5 Trillion Dollars invested over the last two years alone.. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 25, 2019 × "The US has not forgotten Iran’s use of IED’s & EFP’s (bombs), which killed 2000 Americans, and wounded many more," any attack by Iran on anything American will be met with great and overwhelming force. In some areas, overwhelming will mean obliteration." ....The wonderful Iranian people are suffering, and for no reason at all. Their leadership spends all of its money on Terror, and little on anything else. The U.S. has not forgotten Iran’s use of IED’s & EFP’s (bombs), which killed 2000 Americans, and wounded many more... — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 25, 2019 × ....Iran’s very ignorant and insulting statement, put out today, only shows that they do not understand reality. Any attack by Iran on anything American will be met with great and overwhelming force. In some areas, overwhelming will mean obliteration. No more John Kerry & Obama! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 25, 2019 × Even as Iran and the US exchanged verbal firepower, US national security advisor(NSA) John Bolton in a conciliatory tone said the door towards negotiation was open with Iran. "All that Iran needs to do is to walk through that open door," he said. However, Iran on Tuesday dismissed the new US sanctions and said the latest sanctions showed Washington is "lying" about offering to negotiate. "At the same time as you call for negotiations, you seek to sanction the foreign minister? It's obvious that you're lying," Iran President Hassan Rouhani said. On Monday, the United States imposed sanctions on Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and others as tensions continued to rise in West Asia ignited by the oil tanker attack which the US blamed on Iran's Revolutionary Guard.

Attack by Iran on anything American will be met with overwhelming force: Trump

<p>Russia has military intelligence that shows that a US drone was in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-remains-open-to-negotiations-iran-needs-walk-though-that-open-door-bolton-230284">Iranian air space </a>when it was shot down by Iran last week, Nikolai Patrushev, secretary of Russia's Security Council, said on Tuesday.</p>

<p>An Iranian surface-to-air missile destroyed a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-dismisses-new-us-sanctions-calls-white-house-retarded-230254">US Global Hawk surveillance drone</a>.</p>

<p>Speaking at a briefing for journalists in Jerusalem, Patrushev said evidence presented by the United States alleging Iran was behind attacks on ships in the Gulf of Oman was poor quality and unprofessional.</p>

<p>Iran had shot down a US military drone it said was on a spy mission over its territory. Washington said the aircraft was targeted in international air space in "an unprovoked attack".</p>

<p>US President Trump had said last week that he aborted a military strike to retaliate for Iran's downing of the US drone because it could have killed 150 people, and signaled he was open to talks with Tehran.</p>

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<p>Tehran said the drone was shot down over its territory and Washington said it occurred in international airspace over the Strait of Hormuz.</p>

<p>Trump's decision to cancel what he said was a planned attack on three sites suggests he wants a diplomatic solution to end weeks of festering tensions with Iran, which Washington accuses of a spate of attacks on oil tankers in the Gulf region.</p>

<p>"I'm not looking for war, and if there is, it'll be obliteration like you've never seen before. But I'm not looking to do that," Trump told NBC News in an interview.</p>

<p>In a series of early-morning tweets, Trump said he was in no hurry to launch a strike and that U.S. economic sanctions designed to force Iran to curb its nuclear and missile programs and its involvement in regional wars were having an effect.</p>

<p>"We were cocked &amp; loaded to retaliate last night," Trump tweeted.</p>

<p>"Ten minutes before the strike I stopped it, not proportionate to shooting down an unmanned drone. I am in no hurry, our military is rebuilt, new, and ready to go, by far the best in the world," Trump tweeted.</p>


Russia has military intelligence that shows that a US drone was in Iranian air space when it was shot down by Iran last week, Nikolai Patrushev, secretary of Russia's Security Council, said on Tuesday.

Russia has military intelligence that shows that a US drone was in Iranian air space when it was shot down by Iran last week, Nikolai Patrushev, secretary of Russia's Security Council, said on Tuesday. An Iranian surface-to-air missile destroyed a US Global Hawk surveillance drone. Speaking at a briefing for journalists in Jerusalem, Patrushev said evidence presented by the United States alleging Iran was behind attacks on ships in the Gulf of Oman was poor quality and unprofessional. Iran had shot down a US military drone it said was on a spy mission over its territory. Washington said the aircraft was targeted in international air space in "an unprovoked attack". US President Trump had said last week that he aborted a military strike to retaliate for Iran's downing of the US drone because it could have killed 150 people, and signaled he was open to talks with Tehran. Tehran said the drone was shot down over its territory and Washington said it occurred in international airspace over the Strait of Hormuz. Trump's decision to cancel what he said was a planned attack on three sites suggests he wants a diplomatic solution to end weeks of festering tensions with Iran, which Washington accuses of a spate of attacks on oil tankers in the Gulf region. "I'm not looking for war, and if there is, it'll be obliteration like you've never seen before. But I'm not looking to do that," Trump told NBC News in an interview. In a series of early-morning tweets, Trump said he was in no hurry to launch a strike and that U.S. economic sanctions designed to force Iran to curb its nuclear and missile programs and its involvement in regional wars were having an effect. "We were cocked & loaded to retaliate last night," Trump tweeted. "Ten minutes before the strike I stopped it, not proportionate to shooting down an unmanned drone. I am in no hurry, our military is rebuilt, new, and ready to go, by far the best in the world," Trump tweeted.

Have military intelligence to show US drone was in Iranian airspace: Russia

<p>The US sanctions slapped Monday on Iran's <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/khamenei-ultimately-responsible-says-trump-after-fresh-us-sanctions-on-iran-230106">supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei</a> and other officials will block "literally billions" in Iranian assets, US Treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin said.</p>

<p>The sanctions, which US President Donald Trump signed in an Oval Office appearance with Mnuchin, target eight top military commanders as well as Khamenei.</p>

<p>Iran's foreign minister Javad Zarif also will be blacklisted "later this week," Mnuchin said.</p>

<p>Some of the sanctions had been planned in advance, while others were added in retaliation for the downing last week of a US Global Hawk surveillance drone, according to Mnuchin.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Trump had considered a military strike after the drone was downed Thursday, then reversed himself minutes before it was to be carried out. He has said he changed his mind after learning that as many as 150 people could be killed.</p>

<p>Among those sanctioned Monday was Iranian Revolutionary Guard naval commander Ali Reza Tangsiri, who the US said had threatened in February to close the Strait of Hormuz, crucial to global oil trade.</p>

<p>Also blacklisted was Aerospace Force commander Amirali Hajizadeh, whom Washington blames for the downing of the drone. Iran says it was shot down after entering its air space, but the US insists it was in international airspace over the Strait of Hormuz.</p>

<p>The sanctions largely freeze their targets out of much of the global financial system, blocking them from US-dollar-denominated transactions and barring international banks from moving money on their behalf while also freezing any assets under US jurisdiction.<br />
&nbsp;</p>


The US sanctions slapped Monday on Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other officials will block "literally billions" in Iranian assets, US Treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin said.

The US sanctions slapped Monday on Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other officials will block "literally billions" in Iranian assets, US Treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin said. The sanctions, which US President Donald Trump signed in an Oval Office appearance with Mnuchin, target eight top military commanders as well as Khamenei. Iran's foreign minister Javad Zarif also will be blacklisted "later this week," Mnuchin said. Some of the sanctions had been planned in advance, while others were added in retaliation for the downing last week of a US Global Hawk surveillance drone, according to Mnuchin. Trump had considered a military strike after the drone was downed Thursday, then reversed himself minutes before it was to be carried out. He has said he changed his mind after learning that as many as 150 people could be killed. Among those sanctioned Monday was Iranian Revolutionary Guard naval commander Ali Reza Tangsiri, who the US said had threatened in February to close the Strait of Hormuz, crucial to global oil trade. Also blacklisted was Aerospace Force commander Amirali Hajizadeh, whom Washington blames for the downing of the drone. Iran says it was shot down after entering its air space, but the US insists it was in international airspace over the Strait of Hormuz. The sanctions largely freeze their targets out of much of the global financial system, blocking them from US-dollar-denominated transactions and barring international banks from moving money on their behalf while also freezing any assets under US jurisdiction.

Billions in Iranian assets will be blocked in new sanctions: Treasury secretary Mnuchin

<p>US President Donald Trump ordered "hard-hitting" financial sanctions Monday on Iran's supreme<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-protests-sea-lanes-for-other-countries-for-zero-compensation-we-dont-even-need-to-be-there-trump-230043"> leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei</a>, holding him "ultimately responsible" for the Islamic republic's destabilising activities.</p>

<p>"We will continue to increase pressure on Tehran," Trump said as he signed the order in the Oval Office. "Never can Iran have a nuclear weapon."</p>

<p>"We do not ask for conflict," he said, adding that depending on <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-says-it-welcomes-any-defusion-of-tensions-in-gulf-region-report-229912">Iran's response the sanctions</a> could end tomorrow - or it "can also be years from now."</p>

<p>Meanwhile, in a joint statement, the United States, Britain, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates renewed concern about Iran including over alleged attacks on oil tankers but held out hope for talks.</p>

<p>"We call on Iran to halt any further actions which threaten regional stability, and urge diplomatic solutions to de-escalate tensions," said the statement released by the United States on Monday.</p>

<p>Trump has said he wants negotiations with Iran, which has replied that he is insincere after walking away from an earlier denuclearisation deal and slapping punishing sanctions.</p>


US President Donald Trump ordered "hard-hitting" financial sanctions Monday on Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, holding him "ultimately responsible" for the Islamic republic's destabilising activities.

US President Donald Trump ordered "hard-hitting" financial sanctions Monday on Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, holding him "ultimately responsible" for the Islamic republic's destabilising activities. "We will continue to increase pressure on Tehran," Trump said as he signed the order in the Oval Office. "Never can Iran have a nuclear weapon." "We do not ask for conflict," he said, adding that depending on Iran's response the sanctions could end tomorrow - or it "can also be years from now." Meanwhile, in a joint statement, the United States, Britain, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates renewed concern about Iran including over alleged attacks on oil tankers but held out hope for talks. "We call on Iran to halt any further actions which threaten regional stability, and urge diplomatic solutions to de-escalate tensions," said the statement released by the United States on Monday. Trump has said he wants negotiations with Iran, which has replied that he is insincere after walking away from an earlier denuclearisation deal and slapping punishing sanctions.

Khamenei ultimately responsible, says Trump after fresh US sanctions on Iran

<p>Amid the US-Iran crisis, President Trump in a tweet said America protests "<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/need-to-promote-maritime-security-in-strait-of-hormuz-says-pompeo-after-meeting-saudi-king-salman-230032">the shipping lanes for other countries</a> (many years) for zero compensation" while asserting that it does so for "zero compensation"</p>

<p>"China gets 91% of its Oil from the Strait, Japan 62%, &amp; many other countries likewise. All of these countries should be protecting their own ships on what has always been a dangerous journey," Trump said in a tweet.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">China gets 91% of its Oil from the Straight, Japan 62%, &amp; many other countries likewise. So why are we protecting the shipping lanes for other countries (many years) for zero compensation. All of these countries should be protecting their own ships on what has always been....</p>
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1143128642878410752?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 24, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<p>"We don’t even need to be there in that the US has just become (by far) the largest producer of energy anywhere in the world!"</p>

<p>The US request for Iran is very simple - no nuclear weapons and no further sponsoring of terror!" he said.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">....a dangerous journey. We don’t even need to be there in that the U.S. has just become (by far) the largest producer of Energy anywhere in the world! The U.S. request for Iran is very simple - No Nuclear Weapons and No Further Sponsoring of Terror!</p>
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1143128646162493441?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 24, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<p>As tensions in the region racheted up, US secretary of state <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-says-it-welcomes-any-defusion-of-tensions-in-gulf-region-report-229912">Mike Pompeo met Saudi King</a> Salman bin Abdulaziz as they discueed heightened tensions in the region after Iran brought down a US surveillance drone.</p>

<p>"Freedom of navigation is tantamount," he said in a tweet after meeting King Salman bin Abdulaziz.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, Iran hinted on Monday that it could be willing to discuss new concessions with Washington if the United States were to lift sanctions and offer new incentives.</p>

<p>"We welcome any reduction of tension, we do not want an increase in the tension and the problems after that," Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Seyyed Abbas Mousavi said.</p>

<p>"Is there any sanction left for America to impose that has not been imposed on us recently or in the last 40 years? And is there anything they have gained from this?," Mousavi asked.</p>

<p>As the US imposed a number of new sanctions, Iran said US cyber attacks on its military had failed after the US media reported last weekend that the United States launched cyber attacks disabling Iran's rocket launch systems.</p>

<p>Iran's foreign ministry spokesman, Abbas Mousavi, was quoted by ISNA news agency as saying on Monday that Tehran did not "want a rise of tensions and its consequences".</p>


Amid the US-Iran crisis, President Trump in a tweet said America protests "the shipping lanes for other countries (many years) for zero compensation" while asserting that it does so for "zero compensation" "China gets 91% of its Oil from the Strait, Japan 62%, & many other countries likewise.

Amid the US-Iran crisis, President Trump in a tweet said America protests "the shipping lanes for other countries (many years) for zero compensation" while asserting that it does so for "zero compensation" "China gets 91% of its Oil from the Strait, Japan 62%, & many other countries likewise. All of these countries should be protecting their own ships on what has always been a dangerous journey," Trump said in a tweet. China gets 91% of its Oil from the Straight, Japan 62%, & many other countries likewise. So why are we protecting the shipping lanes for other countries (many years) for zero compensation. All of these countries should be protecting their own ships on what has always been.... — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 24, 2019 × "We don’t even need to be there in that the US has just become (by far) the largest producer of energy anywhere in the world!" The US request for Iran is very simple - no nuclear weapons and no further sponsoring of terror!" he said. ....a dangerous journey. We don’t even need to be there in that the U.S. has just become (by far) the largest producer of Energy anywhere in the world! The U.S. request for Iran is very simple - No Nuclear Weapons and No Further Sponsoring of Terror! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 24, 2019 × As tensions in the region racheted up, US secretary of state Mike Pompeo met Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz as they discueed heightened tensions in the region after Iran brought down a US surveillance drone. "Freedom of navigation is tantamount," he said in a tweet after meeting King Salman bin Abdulaziz. Meanwhile, Iran hinted on Monday that it could be willing to discuss new concessions with Washington if the United States were to lift sanctions and offer new incentives. "We welcome any reduction of tension, we do not want an increase in the tension and the problems after that," Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Seyyed Abbas Mousavi said. "Is there any sanction left for America to impose that has not been imposed on us recently or in the last 40 years? And is there anything they have gained from this?," Mousavi asked. As the US imposed a number of new sanctions, Iran said US cyber attacks on its military had failed after the US media reported last weekend that the United States launched cyber attacks disabling Iran's rocket launch systems. Iran's foreign ministry spokesman, Abbas Mousavi, was quoted by ISNA news agency as saying on Monday that Tehran did not "want a rise of tensions and its consequences".

US protests sea lanes for other countries for zero compensation, we don’t even need to be there: Trump

<p>After reports said US planes were in the air ready to retaliate against <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-needs-to-meet-diplomacy-with-diplomacy-not-military-force-us-229256">Iran after it shot down a US drone</a>, President Trump confirmed it in a tweet asserting that he stopped the strike ten minutes before even as the planes were "cocked and loaded to retaliate last night on three different sights."</p>

<p>"I asked, how many will die. 150 people, sir, was the answer from a General. 10 minutes before the strike I stopped it," <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/had-received-message-from-trump-through-oman-warning-attack-was-imminent-iran-officials-229209">the US president said, adding</a>,"not proportionate to shooting down an unmanned drone. I am in no hurry, our military is rebuilt, new, &nbsp;and ready to go, by far the best in the world."</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">....On Monday they shot down an unmanned drone flying in International Waters. We were cocked &amp; loaded to retaliate last night on 3 different sights when I asked, how many will die. 150 people, sir, was the answer from a General. 10 minutes before the strike I stopped it, not....</p>
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1142055388965212161?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 21, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<p>"Sanctions are biting and more added last night. Iran can never have nuclear weapons, not against the USA, and not against the world!" he said.</p>

<p>Trump blamed ex-president Obama for the "terrible deal" with Iran who he alleged, "gave them $150 billion plus $1.8 billion in cash". &nbsp;"Iran was in big trouble and he bailed them out. Gave them a free path to nuclear weapons, and soon instead of saying thank you, Iran yelled death to America."</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">President Obama made a desperate and terrible deal with Iran - Gave them 150 Billion Dollars plus I.8 Billion Dollars in CASH! Iran was in big trouble and he bailed them out. Gave them a free path to Nuclear Weapons, and SOON. Instead of saying thank you, Iran yelled.....</p>
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1142055375186907136?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 21, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">....Death to America. I terminated deal, which was not even ratified by Congress, and imposed strong sanctions. They are a much weakened nation today than at the beginning of my Presidency, when they were causing major problems throughout the Middle East. Now they are Bust!....</p>
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1142055383193804801?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 21, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<p>Iran meanwhile said it had &nbsp;"indisputable" evidence that a US drone it had shot down had violated its airspace.</p>

<p>Deputy foreign minister Abbas Araghchi told Swiss ambassador, Markus Leitner, that "even some parts of the drone's wreckage have been retrieved from Iran"s territorial waters."</p>

<p>Foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif had said on Thursday that Iran would go to the United Nations to prove that the drone had entered its airspace before being shot down.</p>

<p>Brigadier General Amirali Hajizadeh, the commander of the aerospace arm of the Revolutionary Guards said that Iran had given two warnings before downing the US reconnaissance drone over the Gulf of Oman.</p>

<p>"Twice we... sent warnings," Brigadier General Amirali Hajizadeh said, without specifying the means.</p>

<p>"Unfortunately, when they failed to reply... and the aircraft made no change to its trajectory... we were obliged to shoot it down."</p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/trump-warns-iran-of-imminent-attack-229224/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>


After reports said US planes were in the air ready to retaliate against Iran after it shot down a US drone, President Trump confirmed it in a tweet asserting that he stopped the strike ten minutes before even as the planes were "cocked and loaded to retaliate last night on three different sights.

After reports said US planes were in the air ready to retaliate against Iran after it shot down a US drone, President Trump confirmed it in a tweet asserting that he stopped the strike ten minutes before even as the planes were "cocked and loaded to retaliate last night on three different sights." "I asked, how many will die. 150 people, sir, was the answer from a General. 10 minutes before the strike I stopped it," the US president said, adding,"not proportionate to shooting down an unmanned drone. I am in no hurry, our military is rebuilt, new, and ready to go, by far the best in the world." ....On Monday they shot down an unmanned drone flying in International Waters. We were cocked & loaded to retaliate last night on 3 different sights when I asked, how many will die. 150 people, sir, was the answer from a General. 10 minutes before the strike I stopped it, not.... — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 21, 2019 × "Sanctions are biting and more added last night. Iran can never have nuclear weapons, not against the USA, and not against the world!" he said. Trump blamed ex-president Obama for the "terrible deal" with Iran who he alleged, "gave them $150 billion plus $1.8 billion in cash". "Iran was in big trouble and he bailed them out. Gave them a free path to nuclear weapons, and soon instead of saying thank you, Iran yelled death to America." President Obama made a desperate and terrible deal with Iran - Gave them 150 Billion Dollars plus I.8 Billion Dollars in CASH! Iran was in big trouble and he bailed them out. Gave them a free path to Nuclear Weapons, and SOON. Instead of saying thank you, Iran yelled..... — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 21, 2019 × ....Death to America. I terminated deal, which was not even ratified by Congress, and imposed strong sanctions. They are a much weakened nation today than at the beginning of my Presidency, when they were causing major problems throughout the Middle East. Now they are Bust!.... — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 21, 2019 × Iran meanwhile said it had "indisputable" evidence that a US drone it had shot down had violated its airspace. Deputy foreign minister Abbas Araghchi told Swiss ambassador, Markus Leitner, that "even some parts of the drone's wreckage have been retrieved from Iran"s territorial waters." Foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif had said on Thursday that Iran would go to the United Nations to prove that the drone had entered its airspace before being shot down. Brigadier General Amirali Hajizadeh, the commander of the aerospace arm of the Revolutionary Guards said that Iran had given two warnings before downing the US reconnaissance drone over the Gulf of Oman. "Twice we... sent warnings," Brigadier General Amirali Hajizadeh said, without specifying the means. "Unfortunately, when they failed to reply... and the aircraft made no change to its trajectory... we were obliged to shoot it down."

We were cocked and loaded to retaliate, I stopped it 10 minutes before striking Iran: Trump

<p>Iran refrained from shooting down a US plane with 35 people on board that was accompanying the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/had-received-message-from-trump-through-oman-warning-attack-was-imminent-iran-officials-229209">downed drone in the Gulf</a>, a Revolutionary Guards commander said on Friday.</p>

<p>Amirali Hajizadeh, head of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/after-united-airways-new-jersey-mumbai-flight-suspension-dutch-airline-klm-suspends-flights-over-strait-of-hormuz-229192">Revolutionary Guards aerospace division</a>, was quoted as saying by Tasnim news agency: "With the US drone in the region there was also an American P-8 plane with 35 people on board. This plane also entered our airspace and we could have shot it down, but we did not."</p>

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<p>Earlier, Iranian officials told Reuters on Friday that Tehran had received a message from US President Donald Trump through Oman overnight warning that a US attack on Iran was imminent.</p>

<p>They spoke shortly after the New York Times reported that Trump had approved military strikes against Iran on Friday in retaliation for the downing of a US&nbsp;surveillance drone, but called off the attacks at the last minute.</p>

<p>"In his message, Trump said he was against any war with Iran and wanted to talk to Tehran about various issues...He gave a short period of time to get our response but Iran's immediate response was that it is up to Supreme Leader (Ayatollah Ali) Khamenei to decide about this issue," one of the officials told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity.</p>

<p>A second Iranian official said: "We made it clear that the leader is against any talks, but the message will be conveyed to him to make a decision...However, we told the Omani official that any attack against Iran will have regional and international consequences."</p>

<p>After weeks of rising tension amid a spate of attacks on oil tankers in the Gulf, Iran said on Thursday it had shot down an unmanned US military surveillance drone, fanning fears of an overt military confrontation between the longtime adversaries.</p>

<p>The New Times quoted a senior administration official as saying, US warplanes took to the air and ships were put in position for a retaliatory attack only for an order to come to stand down, without any weapons being fired.</p>

<p>Targets had included Iranian radar and missile batteries, the paper cited senior administration officials involved in, or briefed on, the deliberations, as saying.</p>

<p>The strikes were set for early in the day to minimize risk to the Iranian military or to civilians, the Times added.</p>

<p>It was unclear if attacks on Iran might go ahead later, it added, nor was it known whether Trump had changed his mind or whether his administration had become concerned about logistics or strategy.<br />
&nbsp;</p>


Iran refrained from shooting down a US plane with 35 people on board that was accompanying the downed drone in the Gulf, a Revolutionary Guards commander said on Friday.

Iran refrained from shooting down a US plane with 35 people on board that was accompanying the downed drone in the Gulf, a Revolutionary Guards commander said on Friday. Amirali Hajizadeh, head of the Revolutionary Guards aerospace division, was quoted as saying by Tasnim news agency: "With the US drone in the region there was also an American P-8 plane with 35 people on board. This plane also entered our airspace and we could have shot it down, but we did not." Earlier, Iranian officials told Reuters on Friday that Tehran had received a message from US President Donald Trump through Oman overnight warning that a US attack on Iran was imminent. They spoke shortly after the New York Times reported that Trump had approved military strikes against Iran on Friday in retaliation for the downing of a US surveillance drone, but called off the attacks at the last minute. "In his message, Trump said he was against any war with Iran and wanted to talk to Tehran about various issues...He gave a short period of time to get our response but Iran's immediate response was that it is up to Supreme Leader (Ayatollah Ali) Khamenei to decide about this issue," one of the officials told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity. A second Iranian official said: "We made it clear that the leader is against any talks, but the message will be conveyed to him to make a decision...However, we told the Omani official that any attack against Iran will have regional and international consequences." After weeks of rising tension amid a spate of attacks on oil tankers in the Gulf, Iran said on Thursday it had shot down an unmanned US military surveillance drone, fanning fears of an overt military confrontation between the longtime adversaries. The New Times quoted a senior administration official as saying, US warplanes took to the air and ships were put in position for a retaliatory attack only for an order to come to stand down, without any weapons being fired. Targets had included Iranian radar and missile batteries, the paper cited senior administration officials involved in, or briefed on, the deliberations, as saying. The strikes were set for early in the day to minimize risk to the Iranian military or to civilians, the Times added. It was unclear if attacks on Iran might go ahead later, it added, nor was it known whether Trump had changed his mind or whether his administration had become concerned about logistics or strategy.

With US drone, P-8 plane with 35 on board also entered airspace, we could have shot it down, but didn't: Iran Revolutionary Guard

<p>The US said on Friday that Iran has no right to respond to diplomacy "with military force", a day after Tehran shot down a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/had-received-message-from-trump-through-oman-warning-attack-was-imminent-iran-officials-229209">US reconnaissance drone</a> over the Strait of Hormuz.</p>

<p>"Our diplomacy does not give Iran the right to respond with military force," Brian Hook, the US special representative on Iran, told reporters in Saudi Arabia.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Iran needs to meet diplomacy with diplomacy, not military force."</p>

<p>Meanwhile, Iran said it had "indisputable" evidence a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/after-united-airways-new-jersey-mumbai-flight-suspension-dutch-airline-klm-suspends-flights-over-strait-of-hormuz-229192">US drone it downed had violated</a> its airspace, as reports emerged in the US that President Donald Trump had approved then scrapped retaliatory strikes against Iranian targets.</p>

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<p>The downing of the drone -&nbsp;which Washington insists was above international waters but Iran says was within its airspace -&nbsp;has seen tensions between the two countries spike further after a series of attacks on tankers the US has blamed on Tehran.</p>

<p>Under pressure to respond to the high-stakes incident near the strategic Strait of Hormuz, Trump issued orders for retaliatory strikes on a limited number of Iranian targets, the New York Times reported.</p>

<p>The US was planning to hit "a handful of Iranian targets, like radar and missile batteries" Thursday evening, the newspaper said, citing senior administration officials.</p>

<p>"The operation was underway in its early stages when it was called off," one official said. "Planes were in the air and ships were in position, but no missiles had been fired when word came to stand down."</p>

<p>White House and Pentagon officials declined to comment, the Times said, and it was unclear whether Trump had decided to delay retaliatory strikes or cancel them altogether.</p>

<p>The US president had struck a combative tone in his public comments before rowing back.</p>

<p>"Iran made a very big mistake!" he tweeted in response to news Iran had shot down the Global Hawk surveillance aircraft.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"This country will not stand for it, that I can tell you," he said later at the White House.</p>


The US said on Friday that Iran has no right to respond to diplomacy "with military force", a day after Tehran shot down a US reconnaissance drone over the Strait of Hormuz.

The US said on Friday that Iran has no right to respond to diplomacy "with military force", a day after Tehran shot down a US reconnaissance drone over the Strait of Hormuz. "Our diplomacy does not give Iran the right to respond with military force," Brian Hook, the US special representative on Iran, told reporters in Saudi Arabia. "Iran needs to meet diplomacy with diplomacy, not military force." Meanwhile, Iran said it had "indisputable" evidence a US drone it downed had violated its airspace, as reports emerged in the US that President Donald Trump had approved then scrapped retaliatory strikes against Iranian targets. The downing of the drone - which Washington insists was above international waters but Iran says was within its airspace - has seen tensions between the two countries spike further after a series of attacks on tankers the US has blamed on Tehran. Under pressure to respond to the high-stakes incident near the strategic Strait of Hormuz, Trump issued orders for retaliatory strikes on a limited number of Iranian targets, the New York Times reported. The US was planning to hit "a handful of Iranian targets, like radar and missile batteries" Thursday evening, the newspaper said, citing senior administration officials. "The operation was underway in its early stages when it was called off," one official said. "Planes were in the air and ships were in position, but no missiles had been fired when word came to stand down." White House and Pentagon officials declined to comment, the Times said, and it was unclear whether Trump had decided to delay retaliatory strikes or cancel them altogether. The US president had struck a combative tone in his public comments before rowing back. "Iran made a very big mistake!" he tweeted in response to news Iran had shot down the Global Hawk surveillance aircraft. "This country will not stand for it, that I can tell you," he said later at the White House.

Iran needs to meet diplomacy with diplomacy, not military force: US

<p>Iranian officials told Reuters on Friday that Tehran had received a message from <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/america-is-trying-to-create-iran-phobia-says-irans-defence-minister-229167">US&nbsp;President Donald Trump</a> through Oman overnight warning that a US&nbsp;attack on Iran was imminent.</p>

<p>They spoke shortly after the New York Times reported that Trump had approved <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/after-united-airways-new-jersey-mumbai-flight-suspension-dutch-airline-klm-suspends-flights-over-strait-of-hormuz-229192">military strikes against Iran</a> on Friday in retaliation for the downing of a U.S. surveillance drone, but called off the attacks at the last minute.</p>

<p>"In his message, Trump said he was against any war with Iran and wanted to talk to Tehran about various issues...He gave a short period of time to get our response but Iran's immediate response was that it is up to Supreme Leader (Ayatollah Ali) Khamenei to decide about this issue," one of the officials told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity.</p>

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<p>A second Iranian official said: "We made it clear that the leader is against any talks, but the message will be conveyed to him to make a decision...However, we told the Omani official that any attack against Iran will have regional and international consequences."</p>

<p>After weeks of rising tension amid a spate of attacks on oil tankers in the Gulf, Iran said on Thursday it had shot down an unmanned US&nbsp;military surveillance drone, fanning fears of an overt military confrontation between the longtime adversaries.</p>

<p>The New Times quoted a senior administration official as saying, US&nbsp;warplanes took to the air and ships were put in position for a retaliatory attack only for an order to come to stand down, without any weapons being fired.</p>

<p>Targets had included Iranian radar and missile batteries, the paper cited senior administration officials involved in, or briefed on, the deliberations, as saying.</p>

<p>The strikes were set for early in the day to minimize risk to the Iranian military or to civilians, the Times added.</p>

<p>It was unclear if attacks on Iran might go ahead later, it added, nor was it known whether Trump had changed his mind or whether his administration had become concerned about logistics or strategy.</p>


Iranian officials told Reuters on Friday that Tehran had received a message from US President Donald Trump through Oman overnight warning that a US attack on Iran was imminent.

Iranian officials told Reuters on Friday that Tehran had received a message from US President Donald Trump through Oman overnight warning that a US attack on Iran was imminent. They spoke shortly after the New York Times reported that Trump had approved military strikes against Iran on Friday in retaliation for the downing of a U.S. surveillance drone, but called off the attacks at the last minute. "In his message, Trump said he was against any war with Iran and wanted to talk to Tehran about various issues...He gave a short period of time to get our response but Iran's immediate response was that it is up to Supreme Leader (Ayatollah Ali) Khamenei to decide about this issue," one of the officials told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity. A second Iranian official said: "We made it clear that the leader is against any talks, but the message will be conveyed to him to make a decision...However, we told the Omani official that any attack against Iran will have regional and international consequences." After weeks of rising tension amid a spate of attacks on oil tankers in the Gulf, Iran said on Thursday it had shot down an unmanned US military surveillance drone, fanning fears of an overt military confrontation between the longtime adversaries. The New Times quoted a senior administration official as saying, US warplanes took to the air and ships were put in position for a retaliatory attack only for an order to come to stand down, without any weapons being fired. Targets had included Iranian radar and missile batteries, the paper cited senior administration officials involved in, or briefed on, the deliberations, as saying. The strikes were set for early in the day to minimize risk to the Iranian military or to civilians, the Times added. It was unclear if attacks on Iran might go ahead later, it added, nor was it known whether Trump had changed his mind or whether his administration had become concerned about logistics or strategy.

Had received message from Trump through Oman warning attack was imminent: Iran officials

<p>Dutch airline KLM said Friday it has suspended its flights over the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-regulator-bars-airlines-from-flying-over-some-iran-controlled-airspace-229082">Strait of Hormuz after Iran shot down</a> a US drone in the strategic region.</p>

<p>"Safety is the top priority for KLM," it said in a statement.</p>

<p>"We closely follow all developments that may be related to the safety of airspace 24/7 and we organise the operation in such a way that the safety of the flights is guaranteed.</p>

<p>"The incident with the drone is reason not to fly over the Strait of Hormuz for the time being. This is a precautionary measure."</p>

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<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-says-hard-to-believe-iranian-shooting-down-of-us-drone-was-intentional-229050">Iran's downing of the drone</a>&nbsp;-&nbsp;which Washington insists was above international waters but Iran says was within its airspace -- has seen tensions between the two countries spike further after a series of attacks on tankers the US has blamed on Tehran.</p>

<p>Earlier on Thursday, the US Federal Aviation Administration issued an emergency order prohibiting US operators from flying in an overwater area of Tehran-controlled airspace over the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman due to heightened tensions.</p>

<p>The order came hours after United Airlines suspended flights between New Jersey's Newark airport and the Indian financial capital of Mumbai, which fly through Iranian airspace.</p>

<p>FAA said according to flight tracking applications, the nearest civil aircraft was operating within around 45 nautical miles of a U.S. Global Hawk drone when it was shot down by an Iranian surface-to-air missile.</p>

<p>Inputs: AFP, Reuters</p>


Dutch airline KLM said Friday it has suspended its flights over the Strait of Hormuz after Iran shot down a US drone in the strategic region. "Safety is the top priority for KLM," it said in a statement.

Dutch airline KLM said Friday it has suspended its flights over the Strait of Hormuz after Iran shot down a US drone in the strategic region. "Safety is the top priority for KLM," it said in a statement. "We closely follow all developments that may be related to the safety of airspace 24/7 and we organise the operation in such a way that the safety of the flights is guaranteed. "The incident with the drone is reason not to fly over the Strait of Hormuz for the time being. This is a precautionary measure." Iran's downing of the drone - which Washington insists was above international waters but Iran says was within its airspace -- has seen tensions between the two countries spike further after a series of attacks on tankers the US has blamed on Tehran. Earlier on Thursday, the US Federal Aviation Administration issued an emergency order prohibiting US operators from flying in an overwater area of Tehran-controlled airspace over the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman due to heightened tensions. The order came hours after United Airlines suspended flights between New Jersey's Newark airport and the Indian financial capital of Mumbai, which fly through Iranian airspace. FAA said according to flight tracking applications, the nearest civil aircraft was operating within around 45 nautical miles of a U.S. Global Hawk drone when it was shot down by an Iranian surface-to-air missile. Inputs: AFP, Reuters

After United Airways New Jersey-Mumbai flight suspension, Dutch airline KLM suspends flights over Strait of Hormuz

<p>Iran said Thursday it would go to the UN to prove that a<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-made-a-very-big-mistake-says-trump-after-revolutionary-guard-shoots-down-us-drone-229027"> US spy drone it shot down</a> had entered Iranian airspace, contrary to Washington's claims.</p>

<p>"We'll take this new aggression to #UN &amp; show that the US is lying about international waters," foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif tweeted, after a US general said the drone was taken down some 34 kilometres (21 miles) off the Iranian coast.</p>

<p>"The US wages #EconomicTerrorism on Iran, has conducted covert action against us &amp; now encroaches on our territory," he wrote.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">The US wages <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EconomicTerrorism?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EconomicTerrorism</a> on Iran, has conducted covert action against us &amp; now encroaches on our territory.<br />
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We don't seek war, but will zealously defend our skies, land &amp; waters.<br />
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We'll take this new aggression to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UN?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UN</a> &amp; show that the US is lying about international waters</p>
— Javad Zarif (@JZarif) <a href="https://twitter.com/JZarif/status/1141731145270386693?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 20, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<p>"We don't seek war, but will zealously defend our skies, land &amp; waters."</p>

<p>With tensions soaring between the two countries following a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/irans-borders-represent-our-red-line-revolutionary-guard-head-hossein-salami-228935">series of attacks against tankers</a> in the Gulf, the Pentagon confirmed a US surveillance drone had been shot down by Iranian forces.</p>

<p>But it insisted the unmanned aircraft was in international airspace.</p>

<p>The Pentagon released a graphic pinpointing the position of the drone on a map of the Strait of Hormuz, the strategic passage through which some 35 percent of the world's seaborne oil passes.</p>

<p>The downing with an Iranian surface-to-air missile "occurred in the vicinity of established air corridors between Dubai, UAE, and Oman", said Lieutenant General Joseph Guastella, who commands US air forces in the region.</p>

<p>Iran said the "US-made Global Hawk surveillance drone" was hit with a missile "after violating Iranian air space" over the waters of Hormozgan province on the Strait of Hormuz.<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>


Iran said Thursday it would go to the UN to prove that a US spy drone it shot down had entered Iranian airspace, contrary to Washington's claims. "We'll take this new aggression to #UN & show that the US is lying about international waters," foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif tweeted, after a US general said the drone was taken down some 34 kilometres (21 miles) off the Iranian coast.

Iran said Thursday it would go to the UN to prove that a US spy drone it shot down had entered Iranian airspace, contrary to Washington's claims. "We'll take this new aggression to #UN & show that the US is lying about international waters," foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif tweeted, after a US general said the drone was taken down some 34 kilometres (21 miles) off the Iranian coast. "The US wages #EconomicTerrorism on Iran, has conducted covert action against us & now encroaches on our territory," he wrote. The US wages #EconomicTerrorism on Iran, has conducted covert action against us & now encroaches on our territory. We don't seek war, but will zealously defend our skies, land & waters. We'll take this new aggression to #UN & show that the US is lying about international waters — Javad Zarif (@JZarif) June 20, 2019 × "We don't seek war, but will zealously defend our skies, land & waters." With tensions soaring between the two countries following a series of attacks against tankers in the Gulf, the Pentagon confirmed a US surveillance drone had been shot down by Iranian forces. But it insisted the unmanned aircraft was in international airspace. The Pentagon released a graphic pinpointing the position of the drone on a map of the Strait of Hormuz, the strategic passage through which some 35 percent of the world's seaborne oil passes. The downing with an Iranian surface-to-air missile "occurred in the vicinity of established air corridors between Dubai, UAE, and Oman", said Lieutenant General Joseph Guastella, who commands US air forces in the region. Iran said the "US-made Global Hawk surveillance drone" was hit with a missile "after violating Iranian air space" over the waters of Hormozgan province on the Strait of Hormuz.

US lying about drone strike in international waters, will take it to UN: Iran

<p>After&nbsp;Pentagon confirmed that Iran had shot down its <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/irans-borders-represent-our-red-line-revolutionary-guard-head-hossein-salami-228935">surveillance drone on Thursday</a>, US President Trump tweeted saying Iran had made a "very big mistake".</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Iran made a very big mistake!</p>
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1141711064305983488?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 20, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<p>"This country will not stand for it, that I can tell you," Trump told reporters.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Pentagon insisted that the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-military-drone-shot-down-in-international-airspace-by-iranian-missile-official-228888">drone was brought down</a> in international airspace and not over Iran as claimed by Iran's Revolutionary Guard head&nbsp;Hossein Salami.</p>

<p>"Iranian reports that the aircraft was over Iran are false," US Central Command spokesman, Navy Captain Bill Urban, said in a statement, adding,"this was an unprovoked attack on a US surveillance asset in international airspace."</p>

<p>Iran, on the other hand, said the shooting down of the US drone was&nbsp;"a clear message" from the "defenders of the borders". Iran will "respond to all foreign aggression and our reaction is, and will be, categorical and absolute," Salami added.</p>

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<p>The incident reportedly occurred near the Strait of Hormuz, just a week after attacks on two tankers in the strategic waterway.</p>

<p>"The borders represent our red line," said Salami.</p>

<p>"We declare that we are not looking for war but we are ready to respond to any declaration of war," he added. "Any such violations of Iran's borders are strongly condemned ... We warn of the consequences of such illegal and provocative measures," said ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi.</p>

<p>The United States has blamed Iran for last week's tanker attacks in the Gulf of Oman, a charge denied by Iran.</p>

<p>Oil prices surged after Trump's tweet. US benchmark West Texas Intermediate climbed 6.3 per cent to $57.13 a barrel, while Brent futures in London gained 4.7 per cent to $64.69 a barrel as tensions escalated between Iran and US.</p>


After Pentagon confirmed that Iran had shot down its surveillance drone on Thursday, US President Trump tweeted saying Iran had made a "very big mistake". Iran made a very big mistake!

After Pentagon confirmed that Iran had shot down its surveillance drone on Thursday, US President Trump tweeted saying Iran had made a "very big mistake". Iran made a very big mistake! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 20, 2019 × "This country will not stand for it, that I can tell you," Trump told reporters. Pentagon insisted that the drone was brought down in international airspace and not over Iran as claimed by Iran's Revolutionary Guard head Hossein Salami. "Iranian reports that the aircraft was over Iran are false," US Central Command spokesman, Navy Captain Bill Urban, said in a statement, adding,"this was an unprovoked attack on a US surveillance asset in international airspace." Iran, on the other hand, said the shooting down of the US drone was "a clear message" from the "defenders of the borders". Iran will "respond to all foreign aggression and our reaction is, and will be, categorical and absolute," Salami added. The incident reportedly occurred near the Strait of Hormuz, just a week after attacks on two tankers in the strategic waterway. "The borders represent our red line," said Salami. "We declare that we are not looking for war but we are ready to respond to any declaration of war," he added. "Any such violations of Iran's borders are strongly condemned ... We warn of the consequences of such illegal and provocative measures," said ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi. The United States has blamed Iran for last week's tanker attacks in the Gulf of Oman, a charge denied by Iran. Oil prices surged after Trump's tweet. US benchmark West Texas Intermediate climbed 6.3 per cent to $57.13 a barrel, while Brent futures in London gained 4.7 per cent to $64.69 a barrel as tensions escalated between Iran and US.

Iran made a very big mistake, says Trump after Revolutionary Guard shoots down US drone

<p>Germany and Britain on Monday warned Tehran not to breach <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/will-exceed-enriched-uranium-limit-in-10-days-iran-227944">uranium stockpile limits set by the 2015</a> nuclear deal, as the EU's diplomatic chief dismissed Iranian threats as "political dialectics".</p>

<p>Iran set a 10-day countdown on Monday to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-weighing-full-range-of-options-to-counter-iran-including-a-military-strike-mike-pompeo-on-iran-227800">exceed the 300-kilogram limit set </a>on its enriched uranium stocks, dealing another blow to the crumbling nuclear accord signed by Tehran and six international powers.</p>

<p>The EU has battled to save the agreement since US President Donald Trump withdrew and reimposed sanctions, but Iran said it would step back from exceeding the 300-kg limit on June 27 only if "other parties live up to their commitments".</p>

<p>The move comes as Iran tries to step up pressure on the deal's other signatories -- Germany, France, Britain, China and Russia -- to help it sidestep US sanctions and in particular enable it to sell oil.</p>

<p>German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas rejected the Iranian ultimatum and insisted Tehran must stick to its commitments under the deal.</p>

<p>"We have already said in the past that we will not accept less for less. It is up to Iran to stick to its obligations," Maas said after talks with EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg.</p>

<p>"We will certainly not accept a unilateral reduction of obligations."</p>

<p>A spokesman for the British government echoed the call, saying the E3 -- the European signatories to the deal -- has "consistently made clear that there can be no reduction in compliance".</p>

<p>"For now Iran remains within its nuclear commitments. We are coordinating with E3 partners on next steps," the spokesman added.</p>

<p>The European Union's diplomatic chief Federica Mogherini said the bloc would not act on the basis of Iranian rhetoric but wait for reports by the UN's nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).</p>

<p>"Our assessment on the implementation of the nuclear deal has never been, is not and will never be based on statements, but on the evaluation that the IAEA makes, the reports that the IAEA produces and that can be done at any time," Mogherini said after the talks.</p>

<p>"Announcements are relevant elements of political dialectics but our assessment on the implementation of the agreement is based on the factual, technically sound assessment and evaluation that the IAEA makes in its reports."</p>

<p>On May 8, President Hassan Rouhani said Iran would stop observing restrictions on its stocks of enriched uranium and heavy water agreed under the 2015 nuclear deal.</p>

<p>Rouhani said the move was in retaliation for the unilateral US withdrawal from the accord a year earlier, which saw Washington impose tough economic sanctions on Tehran.</p>

<p>Tensions between Tehran and Washington have escalated ever since, with the United States bolstering its military presence in the region and blacklisting Iran's Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist organisation.<br />
&nbsp;</p>


Germany and Britain on Monday warned Tehran not to breach uranium stockpile limits set by the 2015 nuclear deal, as the EU's diplomatic chief dismissed Iranian threats as "political dialectics".

Germany and Britain on Monday warned Tehran not to breach uranium stockpile limits set by the 2015 nuclear deal, as the EU's diplomatic chief dismissed Iranian threats as "political dialectics". Iran set a 10-day countdown on Monday to exceed the 300-kilogram limit set on its enriched uranium stocks, dealing another blow to the crumbling nuclear accord signed by Tehran and six international powers. The EU has battled to save the agreement since US President Donald Trump withdrew and reimposed sanctions, but Iran said it would step back from exceeding the 300-kg limit on June 27 only if "other parties live up to their commitments". The move comes as Iran tries to step up pressure on the deal's other signatories -- Germany, France, Britain, China and Russia -- to help it sidestep US sanctions and in particular enable it to sell oil. German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas rejected the Iranian ultimatum and insisted Tehran must stick to its commitments under the deal. "We have already said in the past that we will not accept less for less. It is up to Iran to stick to its obligations," Maas said after talks with EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg. "We will certainly not accept a unilateral reduction of obligations." A spokesman for the British government echoed the call, saying the E3 -- the European signatories to the deal -- has "consistently made clear that there can be no reduction in compliance". "For now Iran remains within its nuclear commitments. We are coordinating with E3 partners on next steps," the spokesman added. The European Union's diplomatic chief Federica Mogherini said the bloc would not act on the basis of Iranian rhetoric but wait for reports by the UN's nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). "Our assessment on the implementation of the nuclear deal has never been, is not and will never be based on statements, but on the evaluation that the IAEA makes, the reports that the IAEA produces and that can be done at any time," Mogherini said after the talks. "Announcements are relevant elements of political dialectics but our assessment on the implementation of the agreement is based on the factual, technically sound assessment and evaluation that the IAEA makes in its reports." On May 8, President Hassan Rouhani said Iran would stop observing restrictions on its stocks of enriched uranium and heavy water agreed under the 2015 nuclear deal. Rouhani said the move was in retaliation for the unilateral US withdrawal from the accord a year earlier, which saw Washington impose tough economic sanctions on Tehran. Tensions between Tehran and Washington have escalated ever since, with the United States bolstering its military presence in the region and blacklisting Iran's Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist organisation.

Iran must stick to nuclear commitments, warn Germany, UK over enriched uranium row

<p>After warning Iran, President Trump said the US hadn't <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/if-iran-wants-to-fight-that-will-be-official-end-of-it-trump-warns-to-never-threaten-us-again-220000">reached out to Iran</a> for talks. &nbsp;</p>

<p>"Iran will call us if and when they are ever ready. In the meantime, their economy continues to collapse - very sad for the Iranian people!," US President tweeted on Monday.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">The Fake News put out a typically false statement, without any knowledge that the United States was trying to set up a negotiation with Iran. This is a false report....</p>
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1130526242531364864?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 20, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<p>"The Fake News put out a typically false statement, without any knowledge that the United States was trying to set up a negotiation with Iran. This is a false report," Trump wrote in a tweet that did not specify what report he was referring to.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">....Iran will call us if and when they are ever ready. In the meantime, their economy continues to collapse - very sad for the Iranian people!</p>
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1130526243751960576?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 20, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<p>On Sunday, Trump had said that if Iran wanted to fight then it would be "official end of Iran". Never threaten the United States again," Trump had said in a tweet as tensions between the two countries continued to simmer.</p>

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<p>The US had sent B-52 bombers and warships to the Gulf as tensions between the two countries reached fever pitch last week. The Trump administration has ordered non-essential diplomatic staff out of Iraq over Iran row.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, Iran's foreign minister <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trumps-genocidal-taunts-will-not-end-iran-foreign-minister-javad-zarif-hits-back-220126">Mohammad Javad Zarif </a>said that the "genocidal taunts" of US President Donald Trump will not "end Iran". "Iranians have stood tall for millennia while aggressors all gone. Economic terrorism and genocidal taunts won't 'end Iran'," Zarif wrote on Twitter.</p>

<p>Relations between the two countries had hit rock bottom last year when Trump pulled out of the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran and imposed tough sanctions, a move criticised by the European Union which backed Iran.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The United Nations voiced concern about the rising rhetoric between the United States and Iran and called on the two sides to dial down their remarks.</p>

<p>"We would ask all parties to lower the rhetoric and lower the threshold of action as well," said UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric, adding,"we are concerned about the rising rhetoric."</p>

<p>As tensions mounted, on Sunday a rocket was fired into the Green Zone of the Iraqi capital Baghdad, which houses government offices and embassies including the US mission. It was not immediately clear who was behind the attack.<br />
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After warning Iran, President Trump said the US hadn't reached out to Iran for talks. "Iran will call us if and when they are ever ready. In the meantime, their economy continues to collapse - very sad for the Iranian people!

After warning Iran, President Trump said the US hadn't reached out to Iran for talks. "Iran will call us if and when they are ever ready. In the meantime, their economy continues to collapse - very sad for the Iranian people!," US President tweeted on Monday. The Fake News put out a typically false statement, without any knowledge that the United States was trying to set up a negotiation with Iran. This is a false report.... — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 20, 2019 × "The Fake News put out a typically false statement, without any knowledge that the United States was trying to set up a negotiation with Iran. This is a false report," Trump wrote in a tweet that did not specify what report he was referring to. ....Iran will call us if and when they are ever ready. In the meantime, their economy continues to collapse - very sad for the Iranian people! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 20, 2019 × On Sunday, Trump had said that if Iran wanted to fight then it would be "official end of Iran". Never threaten the United States again," Trump had said in a tweet as tensions between the two countries continued to simmer. The US had sent B-52 bombers and warships to the Gulf as tensions between the two countries reached fever pitch last week. The Trump administration has ordered non-essential diplomatic staff out of Iraq over Iran row. Meanwhile, Iran's foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said that the "genocidal taunts" of US President Donald Trump will not "end Iran". "Iranians have stood tall for millennia while aggressors all gone. Economic terrorism and genocidal taunts won't 'end Iran'," Zarif wrote on Twitter. Relations between the two countries had hit rock bottom last year when Trump pulled out of the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran and imposed tough sanctions, a move criticised by the European Union which backed Iran. The United Nations voiced concern about the rising rhetoric between the United States and Iran and called on the two sides to dial down their remarks. "We would ask all parties to lower the rhetoric and lower the threshold of action as well," said UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric, adding,"we are concerned about the rising rhetoric." As tensions mounted, on Sunday a rocket was fired into the Green Zone of the Iraqi capital Baghdad, which houses government offices and embassies including the US mission. It was not immediately clear who was behind the attack.

US not trying to set up negotiation with Iran: Trump

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