Overview

• Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi dismissed direct negotiations with the US as 'meaningless,' citing threats and inconsistent US positions.
• President Masoud Pezeshkian reiterated Iran's willingness to engage in dialogue on equal footing but questioned the sincerity of US threats.
• US President Donald Trump continues to push for a new nuclear deal, threatening bombings and sanctions if no agreement is reached by his two-month deadline.
• Both nations have escalated military readiness, with Iran arming missile launchers and the US increasing regional deployments.
• Iran maintains its nuclear program is for civilian purposes, despite Western concerns over uranium enrichment nearing weapons-grade levels.