Moscow, Russia. Russia warned on Thursday against an “unprecedented escalation of tension” around Iran and urged restraint as the United States increases its military presence in the region, a senior American official said.
Rising tension and regional military activity
U.S. threats to bomb Iran, with the sides far apart in talks on Tehran’s nuclear programme, have pushed up oil prices. A Russian corvette on Thursday joined planned Iranian naval drills in the Gulf of Oman, a vital sea route for global energy.
Nuclear talks and proposed next steps
Iranian and U.S. negotiators met on Tuesday, and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said they had agreed on “guiding principles.” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Wednesday the two sides remained apart on some issues.
A senior American official said Iran was to make a written proposal on how to address U.S. concerns.
U.S. military build-up and recent strikes
U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened to bomb Iran unless a deal is reached and has sent aircraft carriers, warships and jets to the region, raising the prospect of another attack on the Islamic Republic. The senior American official said the build-up should be complete by mid-March.
The United States and Israel bombed Iran’s nuclear facilities and some military sites last June. The senior U.S. official said U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss Iran on February 28.
U.S. demands and Iran’s position
Washington suspects Iran of seeking a nuclear bomb and wants it to entirely give up uranium enrichment, a process used to create fuel for atomic power plants but that can also provide material for a warhead. It also wants Iran to give up long-range ballistic missiles, stop supporting groups around the Middle East and stop using force to quell internal protests.
Iran denies seeking a nuclear bomb, saying its atomic programme is entirely peaceful, and says it refuses to discuss issues beyond the atomic file, calling efforts to limit its missile arsenal a red line.
Satellite imagery and preparations
Satellite pictures have tracked Iranian work to repair and fortify sites since last summer, showing activity at both nuclear and missile sites, as well as preparations at U.S. bases across the Middle East over the past month.
What developments would you watch for next in the Iran-U.S. talks and regional military posture?