Issued on: 08/02/2026 - 09:15Modified: 08/02/2026 - 22:08

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi declared Sunday that his country was not intimidated by the US naval deployment in the Gulf, two days after talks with Washington's envoy. US President Donald Trump's lead Iran negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner on Saturday visited the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier in the Arabian Sea. Read about the day’s events as they unfolded on our liveblog.

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Iran defies US threats to insist on right to enrich uranium

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi ruled out Tehran ever giving up uranium enrichment in its negotiations with Washington, insisting it will not be intimidated by the threat of war with the United States.

Araghchi told a forum in Tehran attended by AFP that Iran had little trust in Washington and doubted that the US side was taking renewed negotiations seriously.

Iranian authorities arrest three reformist figures, Fars news agency says

Iranian authorities arrested three reformist figures, including the head of Iran's Reform Front coalition, Azar Mansouri, the Fars news agency reported.

"Azar Mansouri, Ebrahim Asgharzadeh, and Mohsen Aminzadeh were arrested by security and judicial institutions," the agency said.

"The accusations against these individuals include targeting national unity, taking a stance against the constitution, coordination with enemy propaganda, promoting surrender, diverting political groups, and creating secret subversive mechanisms," it added.

Tehran sentences Nobel peace laureate Mohammadi to six years in prison, lawyer says

An Iranian court sentenced Nobel Peace Prize winner Narges Mohammadi to a six-year prison term, her lawyer told AFP on Sunday.

"She has been sentenced to six years in prison for gathering and collusion to commit crimes," lawyer Mostafa Nili said, adding that she had also received a two-year ban on leaving the country.

Exclusive: Iran, massacre under a blackout

In an exclusive documentary, FRANCE 24 retraces the chronology of events that took place in Iran from December 28, 2025, when merchants in Tehran's Grand Bazaar went on strike, to January 18, 2026, when the authorities restored internet access.

Warning: The report contains disturbing and violent images. Caution is advised for underage viewers.

Iran doubts whether US taking negotiations seriously, foreign minister says

Iran has reason to doubt the United States is serious about resolving the current crisis in relations through negotiations, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said.

Speaking to a forum in Tehran, Araghchi said Washington's continuation of sanctions on Iran and its recent military deployments "raise doubts about the other party's seriousness and readiness to engage in genuine negotiations.

"We are closely monitoring the situation, assessing all the signals, and will decide whether to continue the negotiations," he said.

US President Donald Trump signed an executive order effective from Saturday that called for the "imposition of tariffs" on countries still doing business with Iran.

The US also announced new sanctions against numerous shipping entities and vessels, aimed at curbing Iran's oil exports.

US military pressure does not scare Iran, foreign minister says

Iran's foreign minister said that his country was not intimidated by the US naval deployment in the Gulf.

"Their military deployment in the region does not scare us," Abbas Araghchi said.

US President Donald Trump's lead Iran negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner on Saturday visited the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier in the Arabian Sea.

The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier arrived in the Middle East in January as Trump ramped up threats of war against Iran over its crackdown on widespread anti-government protests.

Iran warns it will not give up nuclear enrichment capabilities despite US threats

Iran will never surrender the right to enrich uranium, even if war "is imposed on us", its foreign minister said.

"Iran has paid a very heavy price for its peaceful nuclear programme and for uranium enrichment," Abbas Araghchi told a forum in Tehran.

"Why do we insist so much on enrichment and refuse to give it up even if a war is imposed on us? Because no one has the right to dictate our behaviour," he said, two days after the latest round of indirect talks with US envoy Steve Witkoff in Oman.

Yesterday's key developments:

(FRANCE 24 with AFP, AP and Reuters)

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