Trump is a 'tyrant like Pharaoh,' head of Iran's Expediency Council says

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi criticized Germany’s stance on Iran after Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Berlin was ready to increase pressure to end Tehran’s nuclear program.

“We are ready to further increase the pressure and to engage in talks that serve the purpose of a swift end to the Iranian nuclear program,” Merz wrote on X on Wednesday.

In response, Araghchi said Germany had abandoned a constructive role in diplomacy, pointing to Berlin’s earlier support for restoring UN sanctions on Iran. While emphasizing Iran’s long-standing relations with Germany and praising the German people, he added: “We hope that more mature and honorable political leadership will return to Germany.”

Russia is not pushing to act as a mediator between Iran and the United States despite what it describes as an increasingly dangerous situation, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said.

“The situation is explosive,” Lavrov said on Thursday in an interview with RT, adding that Moscow was “not imposing ourselves as mediators to Iran, Israel, or the United States,” but was closely following developments because they affect “not only Iran itself, but the entire Middle East.”

Lavrov warned that “there are too many time bombs waiting to be triggered by a clumsy foot,” while stressing that Russia remains ready to help enforce any agreements if they are reached. He said both Iran and Israel were aware that Moscow was prepared to assist in implementing deals, should negotiations succeed.

Former US Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro said on Thursday he saw little chance the next round of Iran-US talks would produce an agreement, as negotiators prepare to meet on Friday.

In an interview with Israel’s military radio Galei Zahal, Shapiro said the prospects were low given the negotiating format and Washington’s position, according to a transcript published by Israel National News.

“I don't see a path to a deal - Trump will not have the patience for long and complicated negotiations,” Shapiro said.

“He has no choice - there will be military action, he won’t be able to overthrow the regime without it,” he added.

The talks are expected to be held in Muscat, Oman, after a venue dispute in recent days, and are set to focus on Iran’s nuclear program

US Representative Claudia Tenney said on Wednesday that she had introduced a bipartisan bill aimed at expanding access to open internet for people in Iran, as authorities continue to restrict communications during protests.

“The Iranian people have shown extraordinary courage in demanding basic freedoms from a regime that fears open communication,” the Republican lawmaker wrote on X.

She said the proposed legislation, titled the IRAN Act, would require the US government to develop a clear strategy to support open and secure internet access inside Iran.

The bill would focus on protecting essential communication tools, countering bans on virtual private networks, and responding more directly to nationwide internet blackouts, according to her statement.

Tenney said the measure was intended to confront those restrictions “head-on” and ensure US policy more effectively supports free communication for Iranians.

Throughout the day, senior officials on both sides issued sharply conflicting messages about whether talks would happen at all, where they might be held and what they would cover.

Reports citing Iranian and Western officials alternated between suggesting the process had collapsed and hinting that negotiations were imminent, reflecting what one diplomat described as “negotiations about negotiations.”

In Washington, Marco Rubio sought to project readiness while acknowledging deep skepticism.

“I think in order for talks to actually lead to something meaningful, they will have to include certain things,” Rubio said, casting doubt on whether diplomacy would succeed at all.

“I’m not sure you can reach a deal with these guys,” he added. “But we’re going to try to find out.”

Rubio’s Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, said Tehran was “fully ready” for talks, but only within a narrow framework focused on Iran’s nuclear program.

As officials sparred in public, reports surfaced of intense behind-the-scenes haggling over venue and format.

Turkey was first cited as a possible location, then ruled out, before Oman re-emerged — with Araghchi posting on X that talks would be held in Muscat on Friday at 10 a.m. local time.

Hovering over the diplomatic back-and-forth were stark warnings from President Donald Trump, who adopted an increasingly explicit tone in remarks to NBC News.

Asked whether Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, should be concerned, Trump replied: “I would say he should be very worried, yeah. He should be.”

Trump also claimed that the United States had uncovered plans for a new Iranian nuclear facility and had issued a direct threat in response.

Iran was “thinking about starting a new site in a different part of the country,” he said. “We found out about it. I said, you do that, we’re gonna do really bad things to you.”