Iran exported nearly 2 billion barrels of oil under Biden administration, UANI says

The remarks were the among the clearest yet signaling that Iran, faced with a bevy of economic and military setbacks, sought to ease isolation due to intensify under a second presidency of Donald Trump through talks.

Negotiations should be aimed "at reaching an agreement," Araghchi said in an interview with China's state-run CCTV network.

“The formula we have is the same as the previous JCPOA formula, which is building trust about Iran's nuclear program in exchange for the removal of sanctions. We are ready to negotiate on this basis," he added.

The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) is the agreement signed in July 2015 between Iran, the European Union and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany---commonly known as the P5+1.

Britain, France, and Germany are set to begin a new round of talks with Iran over its nuclear program in Geneva on January 13.

The deal reached under US President Barack Obama was criticized by his successor Trump, who pulled out of the agreement, as too lenient on Tehran.

In an interview with Time magazine last month, Trump refused to rule out the possibility of war with Iran despite campaign statements opposing the use of force to overthrow Tehran's theocratic government.

When asked by a Time reporter about the likelihood of war, referencing allegations by US law enforcement that Iran had sought to assassinate him, Trump responded: "Anything can happen. Anything can happen. It's a very volatile situation."

Trump has also explored measures to stop Iran from developing nuclear weapons, including potential airstrikes, according to the Wall Street Journal.

UN nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi said in December that Iran is dramatically accelerating its enrichment of uranium to up to 60% purity, closer to the roughly 90% level needed for building a bomb.

Tehran has consistently denied pursuing nuclear weapons, saying its program is peaceful.

Majid Nili Ahmadabadi, director general for Western Europe at Iran’s foreign ministry, called the arrest illegal, saying it was carried out at the request of the US as part of its "hostile agenda" against Iran, according to state media.

Ahmadabadi warned that the detention harms bilateral relations and violates international law, urging Italy to facilitate Abedini's release. The Italian ambassador reportedly pledged to convey the message to Rome.

State media reports on the summons made no mention of Italian journalist Cecilia Sala, who has been detained in Tehran in a likely attempt to exchange her for Abedini.

"I will pray for her and for myself", Italian media quoted Mohammad Abedini Najafabadi telling his attorney during a meeting Friday at Milan's Opera prison.

Abedini, 38, was arrested by Italian authorities last month at the behest of the United States for his alleged role in providing technology used to kill three US soldiers in a drone attack in Jordan.

Three days after his arrest, Sala was arrested on unspecified charges and placed in solitary confinement in Tehran’s Evin prison despite working in the country on a valid press pass.

Tehran has informed Rome that Sala’s release is contingent on Italy freeing Abedini.

Milan’s attorney general, Francesca Nanni, denied Mohammad Abedini’s request for conditional release on Thursday, citing a high risk of flight.

An appeals court in Milan has scheduled a hearing for January 15 to consider Abedini’s attorney’s request to transfer him to house arrest instead of remaining in Milan’s Opera prison.

“The situation of our daughter, Cecilia Sala, locked in a Tehran prison for 16 days, is complicated and very worrying," Italian media quoted her parents, Elizabeth Vernoni and Renato Sala, as saying in a statement.

"To try to bring her home, our government has mobilized to the maximum, and now, in addition to the efforts of the Italian authorities, confidentiality and discretion are also necessary.”

They added that the ongoing public debate could hinder progress, saying, “The stage we have reached is, however, very delicate, and the feeling is that the great media debate on what can or should be done risks prolonging the times and making a solution more complicated and distant."

"For this reason, we have decided to abstain from comments and statements and we appeal to the media asking for a press blackout,” they added.

"Afghanistan is expected to cooperate in keeping the flow of water and removing the obstacles that have been created," spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said Thursday.

The Harirud Basin, a water basin shared by Afghanistan, Iran, and Turkmenistan, is now impacted by the construction of the Pashdan Dam on the Harirud River, which could significantly reduce water flow to Iran’s eastern province of Khorasan Razavi where over two million people depend on the river for drinking water.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran has repeatedly mentioned to Afghan parties, through appropriate means, especially through official diplomatic channels and functional (technical) mechanisms, that the use of water resources and basins cannot made without respecting Iran's rights in accordance with bilateral treaties," Baghaei added.

However, officials in Kabul say the Pashdan Dam project is necessary for agriculture. Afghanistan's ministry of energy and water says that alongside the Pashdan Dam, plans are underway for the construction of two additional dams on the Harirud River.