Trump is no maverick, Iran's Supreme Leader tells Qatari Emir

The vessel, owned by an Iranian company, was flying a Qatari flag, a common practice for commercial ships operating in territorial waters, the US Central Command said on Tuesday.

The USS Devastator and the USCGC Clarence Sutphin Jr responded to a mayday call issued by the Shayesteh, which ultimately sank.

All seven mariners were safely recovered from the abandoned vessel and are currently receiving medical care aboard the USCGC Clarence Sutphin Jr.

CENTCOM did not provide further details.

Abbas Araghchi, attending the 8th Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) meeting in Muscat, Oman, on Monday, made the remarks during a meeting with Wolfgang Amadeus Bruelhart, the Swiss special envoy for the Middle East and North Africa.

US President Donald Trump reinstated his "maximum pressure" policy on Iran earlier this month, aiming to force Tehran to abandon any pursuit of nuclear weapons.

Washington is expected to tighten enforcement of economic sanctions, further straining Iran's economy, which is already grappling with high inflation, energy shortages, and declining oil export revenues.

Araghchi also expressed Tehran’s readiness to continue diplomatic meetings with Germany, France and the United Kingdom that began late last year, aiming to find solutions for the deadlock in relations with the West.

The three European powers are original signatories of the 2015 JCPOA nuclear agreement.

The Swiss envoy underscored the importance of ongoing bilateral discussions with Iran on a range of regional and bilateral issues.

He reaffirmed his willingness and readiness to continue dialogue and consultations, including during the next round of talks in Tehran.

Iranian officials have been emphasizing that Trump should change his tone regarding Iran and not issue threats if he wants to open talks with Tehran. Araghchi on Monday repeated that position also during another meeting.

"Iran’s position is clear and explicit: We will not negotiate under pressure and threats," Araghchi told reporters in Tehran after a meeting with his Sudanese counterpart.

Although Trump reinstated his policy of strict sanctions enforcement, he also extended an offer to meet with his Iranian counterpart. However, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei rejected the possibility of negotiations earlier this month.

Peskov added that Russia is ready to assist Iran in addressing issues related to its nuclear program.

"Moscow attaches great importance to good relations with Iran and intends to develop them comprehensively, including providing assistance in solving the main problems, including the nuclear program," he said.

Last week, Russia's envoy in Tehran said that Western countries are trying to marginalize Russia and China in discussions regarding Iran's nuclear program.

"Without Russia and China, such negotiations will never achieve their goal and will not be productive," Alexey Dedov said in an interview with RIA Novosti on Tuesday.

Russia remains a critical partner in Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, spearheading projects such as the expansion of the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant.

Tehran's political establishment is divided over the country's relationships with Russia and China. While some prioritize the economic benefits of trade with both nations, others, particularly the Reformist faction, express concern about Moscow potentially exploiting US-Iranian tensions.

Reformist politician Mahmoud Mirlohi, in an interview with the Didban Iran website, argued that Iran must maintain an independent foreign policy. He emphasized leveraging ties with Russia and China as a means to improve relations with the United States, warning, "We should not allow Russia to use Iran as a pawn in its dealings with the United States."

Mirlohi also expressed concern about the repercussions of Iran's military support for Russia in the Ukraine war, calling it "a serious cause for concern" and stressing that cooperation with Russia should not jeopardize relations with other countries.

The war in Ukraine has directly impacted the stalled negotiations to revive the 2015 JCPOA nuclear agreement, of which Russia is a signatory. These talks, which had been ongoing in Vienna for 12 months under the Biden administration, were abruptly halted in March 2022 following the Russian invasion.

Iran and Russia earlier this year signed a major treaty aimed at deepening bilateral ties. However, this agreement stopped short of establishing a formal military alliance or imposing binding obligations on either side, suggesting a cautious approach to solidifying their relationship.

"Iran has always kept the door open for negotiations, but when maximum pressure [directive] is signed, talks become meaningless," Fatemeh Mohajerani told reporters.

"An interagency plan to counter maximum pressure will be announced soon, and all parties are prepared," she added.

Earlier this month, US President Donald Trump signed a directive restoring the so-called maximum pressure policy on Iran of his first term and warned of "catastrophic" consequences if Tehran does not make a deal on its nuclear program.

After signing the memorandum, he said he would prefer a deal with Tehran to an Israeli attack on their nuclear sites.

On Monday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Washington's maximum pressure campaign of sanctions and mooting of military force will not force Iran to negotiate about its nuclear program.

"Iran’s position is clear and explicit: We will not negotiate under pressure and threats," Araghchi told reporters in Tehran after a meeting with his Sudanese counterpart.

"The presidential order for maximum pressure speaks for itself. Maximum pressure and resolutions have never been effective against Iran … We will not negotiate under threat," he added.

The remarks appear to represent a hardening line by Tehran to the suggestion by US President Donald Trump that Iran come to a deal with Washington about its disputed nuclear program or potentially face military strikes.

CNN reported on Sunday that Riyadh is open to brokering discussions between the US and Iran to curb Tehran’s nuclear program.

The kingdom is concerned, the US network reported, that Iran might pursue nuclear weapons more aggressively after Israel battered regional allies which had acted as Iran's deterrent to a direct Israeli attack for decades.

Asked about the CNN report at his weekly press briefing Monday, Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei denied any knowledge and said these were only “media speculations.”

An article titled "Will Saudi Arabia Mediate Iran-US Negotiations?" published by Nour News on Monday outlined key obstacles to Saudi mediation. It highlighted Iran's deep mistrust of the US, shaped by the policies of former President Donald Trump, who withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal. The article also pointed to conflicting Iranian and Saudi interests in regional matters, including Lebanon, Iraq, and Syria, as additional challenges to mediation efforts.

Iranian authorities are “seeking strong guarantees of reduction of sanctions before entering new talks,” the media outlet close to former Iranian national security chief Ali Shamkhani, wrote.

Despite these challenges, Nour News acknowledged the potential for reduced tensions and even a new agreement if Saudi Arabia facilitates balanced, pressure-free negotiations.

Foreign affairs expert Ali Bigdeli, speaking to Nameh News on Sunday, noted that Saudi Arabia’s diplomatic influence had grown, citing an upcoming US-Russia meeting in Riyadh as evidence. He suggested Iran might view Saudi mediation positively. “Mr. Araghchi’s visit to Oman may not be unrelated to this matter,” he added.

Bigdeli also argued that Saudi mediation would differ significantly from that of Qatar, given Saudi Arabia’s dominant role in the Persian Gulf.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei repeatedly asserted in the past that the Islamic Republic would never engage in negotiations with the Trump administration. He also notably declined to respond to a message from Trump, delivered by former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in June 2019.

In a speech on February 7, after Trump issued an executive order to reinstate his “maximum pressure” sanctions on Iran, Khamenei emphatically rejected talks with the United States.

Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Riyadh on Monday ahead of planned talks between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, to be hosted by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. While Iran’s nuclear program may be discussed, no official announcements have been made.

On Sunday, US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz said President Donald Trump is willing to engage in talks with Iran only on condition that Tehran fully abandon its nuclear program.

"The President has also expressed a willingness to take whatever action is necessary. All options are on the table," Waltz told Fox News on Sunday, leaving the option of diplomatic channels open.

Oman acted as a mediator between Iran and the United States before the talks that led to the 2015 nuclear deal, and Qatar has recently offered to mediate new talks.

Speculation has risen that this topic may feature in the upcoming visit of Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to Tehran. However, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei denied these claims during his weekly briefing on Monday.

Iran and Saudi Arabia restored diplomatic ties in 2023, facilitated by Iraq and China. The Saudi Embassy in Tehran reopened in August of that year, seven years after vigilantes attacked and torched the building in protest to the execution of dissident Shia cleric Nimr Baqir al-Nimr in Saudi Arabia.