US senator backs force if talks fail on Iran

The US Treasury on Tuesday slapped new sanctions on Iran's energy sales even as Washington is engaged in high-stakes talks with Tehran on its nuclear program.

Targeted in the new measure was "Iranian national and liquified petroleum gas (LPG) magnate Seyed Asadoollah Emamjomeh and his corporate network, which is collectively responsible for shipping hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of Iranian LPG and crude oil to foreign markets," a Treasury statement said.

Also included in the sanctions was Emamjomeh's son Meisam and a bevy of companies the treasury says are owned or controlled by the father.

"Emamjomeh and his network sought to export thousands of shipments of LPG—including from the United States—to evade US sanctions and generate revenue for Iran,” treasury secretary Scott Bessent said in a statement.

“The United States remains committed to holding accountable those who seek to provide the Iranian regime with the funding it needs to further its destabilizing activities in the region and around the world.”

"I’ve just spoken to Prime Minister of Israel, Bibi Netanyahu, relative to numerous subjects including Trade, Iran, etc.," US President Donald Trump said in a post on Truth Social.

"The call went very well—We are on the same side of every issue."

US President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff will visit Moscow this week, Russian news agency Interfax reported, citing Kremlin foreign policy adviser Yury Ushakov.

Witkoff, who is the chief US negotiator in nuclear talks with Tehran, had visited Russia before attending the first round of talks held in Muscat on April 12.

Moscow and Tehran have deepened ties in recent years and the two heavily sanctioned powers have stepped up military cooperation amid Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Nuclear talks with the United States are progressing beyond expectations, Al-Araby Al-Jadeed (New Arab) reported citing Iranian sources.

"Even the Iranian side has been surprised by the behavior of the US negotiator and the seriousness and urgency he has shown, as well as the fact that he has not yet put forward any impossible non-nuclear demands," the report said.

The sources were quoted as saying that US demands were “not high, which has provided a strong incentive for the negotiations to move forward quickly."

The head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization said Tuesday that the country's nuclear sites are protected against threats, just weeks after US President Donald Trump threatened to bomb Iran if it did not agree to a new nuclear deal.

“Good measures have been considered, and effective steps have been taken to fortify them," Mohammad Eslami said, speaking at an event marking the anniversary of the establishment of Iran's Revolutionary Guard (IRGC).

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  Iran nuclear chief says facilities safe in face of military threats