Iran-US tensions highlights: Iran warns US of ‘regret-inducing’ response; rial hits fresh low

Iran-US tensions highlights: Iran’s currency reportedly slid to a fresh record low on Tuesday, with the rial weakening beyond 1.48 million to the US dollar on the unofficial market.

A person holds a placard during a demonstration in support of nationwide protests in Iran, in Dublin, Ireland, January 24, 2026. (REUTERS)

Iran-US tensions highlights: Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baqaei on Monday local time issued a clear warning that the Islamic Republic is fully prepared to deliver a “sweeping, regret‑inducing response” to any act of aggression, Tehran Times reported....Read More

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• 27 Jan 2026, 09:36:44 PM IST

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• 27 Jan 2026, 08:58:31 PM IST

  Iran-US tensions LIVE: Iran internet shutdown nears 20 days: NetBlocks

  Iran-US tensions LIVE: Iran’s internet shutdown is approaching its 20th day, internet monitoring group NetBlocks said on Tuesday, with access remaining heavily restricted under a government “whitelist” system.

  Under this model, only approved users—typically state media and select businesses—retain access, while ordinary citizens must rely on circumvention tools to get online.

• 27 Jan 2026, 08:49:03 PM IST

  Iran-US tensions LIVE: Iranian security forces shoot protesters in the head

  Iran-US tensions LIVE: Videos received by Iran International from Mashhad and Tehran show protesters shot in the head by security forces on January 8 and 9.

• 27 Jan 2026, 08:05:42 PM IST

  Iran-US tensions LIVE: EU plans sanctions against senior IRGC members over protest crackdown

  Iran-US tensions LIVE: The European Union is set to impose sanctions on senior members of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in an initial response to Tehran’s deadly crackdown on mass protests, AFP reported, citing EU diplomats.

  According to the diplomats, the EU’s 27 member states are expected to approve asset freezes and visa bans on 21 individuals and entities, including high-ranking IRGC members, ahead of a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels on Thursday. EU ambassadors are due to sign off on the measures on Wednesday.

  In addition, EU ministers are expected to agree on sanctions against 10 more individuals and entities over Iran’s supply of drones and missiles to Russia for use in the war in Ukraine, the report said.

  The move comes amid growing pressure within the EU to formally designate the IRGC as a terrorist organization, a push backed by Italy. The bloc has already sanctioned hundreds of Iranian officials and entities over previous protest crackdowns and Iran’s support for Russia’s war in Ukraine.

• 27 Jan 2026, 07:49:20 PM IST

  Iran-US tensions LIVE: Exiled Prince Pahlavi welcomes Italy push to list IRGC as terrorist group

  Iran-US tensions LIVE: Iran's exiled Prince Reza Pahlavi welcomed Italy’s move to press the EU to list Iran’s Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist organization.

  “I welcome the Italian government’s position on proscribing the IRGC and thank Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani for advancing this in Brussels,” Pahlavi wrote on X.

• 27 Jan 2026, 07:19:38 PM IST

  Iran-US tensions LIVE: Iran's currency tumbles to record low

  Iran-US tensions LIVE: Iran's currency, the rial, fell to a record low of 1.5 million to USD 1 amid the protests that started last month over economic woes. the stir soon turned into a geopolitical flashpoint with US threatening action against Iran as it cracks down on protesters.

• 27 Jan 2026, 07:16:24 PM IST

  Iran-US tensions LIVE: Iran-backed militias in Iraq, Yemen threaten new attacks

  Iran-US tensions LIVE: Amid the growing tensions in the Middle-East, two Iranian-backed militias have hinted at their willingness to launch new attacks, likely trying to back Iran, amid reports of the arrival of a US aircraft carrier to the region Monday, AP reported. Yemen's Iranian-backed Houthi rebels on Monday signalled they were ready to resume attacks on shipping in the Red Sea after Iraq's Kataib Hezbollah paramilitary group, long supported by Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, issued a direct threat on Sunday toward any attack targeting Iran, warning a “total war” in the region would be a result.

  Via AP

• 27 Jan 2026, 07:08:13 PM IST

  Iran-US tensions LIVE: Death toll in protest crackdown tops 6,000

  Iran-US tensions LIVE: Over 6,000 people have been killed in the brutal crackdown on nationwide protests in Iran that have been going on for a month now, AP reported quoting activists. In the backdrop of the crackdown, a US aircraft carrier group arrived in the Middle East to lead any American military response to the crisis, while Iran's currency, the rial, fell to a record low of 1.5 million to $1.

• 27 Jan 2026, 06:35:15 PM IST

  Iran-US tensions LIVE: Families of dead protestors turn funerals into celebrations of lives

  Iran-US tensions LIVE: Families of those killed in the Islamic Republic’s crackdown are transforming funerals into celebrations of life, honoring the dead as freedom fighters in a defiant rejection of the regime’s culture of mourning and fear, according to Iran International.

• 27 Jan 2026, 06:05:19 PM IST

  Iran-US tensions LIVE: Russia says events in Venezuela and Iran require Russia and China to constantly analyze security situation

  Iran-US tensions LIVE: Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov said after talks with his Chinese counterpart that events in Venezuela and Iran require the Russian and Chinese defence ministries to constantly analyze the security situation and act accordingly, Russian state media reported.

• 27 Jan 2026, 05:52:14 PM IST

  Iran-US tensions LIVE: Iran summons Italian envoy over 'irresponsible remarks'

  Iran-US tensions LIVE: Iran summoned Italy’s ambassador to the foreign ministry after what it termed as "irresponsible remarks by Italy’s foreign minister" about Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, Iranian state-linked media reported.

  This came as Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said Italy would seek to persuade other EU members to list the Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist organization.

  The foreign ministry’s director general for western Europe warned of what he described as damaging consequences of labeling the Revolutionary Guards and urged Italy to revise its remarks, the reports said.

• 27 Jan 2026, 05:45:39 PM IST

  Iran-US tensions LIVE: Iran will commit any crime to survive, says Canadian MP

  Iran-US tensions LIVE: Garnett Genuis, a member of Canada’s parliament, asked his country to step up its support for Iranian protesters. He also praised the fight of Iranian fighters.

  He compared Iran's government to a “cornered rat,” adding, “They will commit any crime in order to try to survive.”

• 27 Jan 2026, 05:32:29 PM IST

  Iran-US tensions LIVE: Iran detains Jewish community members over their roles in protests, says Israeli media

  Iran-US tensions LIVE: Iranian authorities have detained several members of the country’s Jewish community, in what sources cited by Israel’s Kan public broadcaster said was a pretext related to recent protests.

  According to the sources, those detained were not involved in the demonstrations.

  No details were provided on the number of people held or their identities.

  An estimated 8,000 to 10,000 Jews live in Iran, making it home to the second-largest Jewish population in the Middle East after Israel.

• 27 Jan 2026, 04:56:09 PM IST

  Iran-US tensions LIVE: Israel foreign minister calls for dismantling Iran-backed groups to ensure regional stability

  Iran-US tensions LIVE: Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar on Monday called for the dismantling of Iran’s regional allies, saying their presence undermines stability in the Middle East.

  Speaking during a visit to Kazakhstan alongside Foreign Minister Yermek Kosherbayev, Saar described Iran-aligned groups as a major obstacle to peace in the region.

  “Iran’s proxy terror states in the Middle East — Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and the Houthis in Yemen — must be dismantled,” Saar said, adding that lasting regional stability would not be possible unless these groups were eliminated.

• 27 Jan 2026, 04:33:08 PM IST

  Iran-US tensions LIVE: IndiGo cancels flights to four destinations until Feb 11 amid developments around Iran

• 27 Jan 2026, 04:05:59 PM IST

  Iran-US tensions LIVE: Germany warns exiled Iranians face intimidation and harassment by Iranian state actors

  Iran-US tensions LIVE: Germany’s federal interior ministry has warned that Iranians living in exile in the country face the risk of intimidation and harassment by Iranian state actors, including potential cyber attacks.

  Responding to a written question from Green lawmaker Marcel Emmerich, the ministry said it regularly receives reports of what it described as transnational repression, efforts by states to monitor, threaten or pressure political opponents abroad.

  The ministry said German authorities take any activities by foreign state bodies or their proxies on German soil very seriously and do not tolerate them, stressing that this is particularly important when refugees may be at risk.

• 27 Jan 2026, 04:03:48 PM IST

  Iran-US tensions LIVE: Canada’s Conservative leader criticises country's Iran approach as ‘performative’ foreign policy'

  Iran-US tensions LIVE: Canada’s Conservative Party deputy leader, Melissa Lantsman, called out the country's “performative foreign policy” toward protests in Iran.

  She praised Iranians for their bravery in the face of what she termed as “brtual dictatorship”.

  “If you can’t call evil evil, and if you can’t say the regime is murdering its own people while extinguishing their human rights for the past almost 50 years, then I think we have a very, very big problem,” she said.

• 27 Jan 2026, 03:36:00 PM IST

  Iran-US tensions LIVE: Iran denies blast near military site in Tehran

  Iran-US tensions LIVE: Iranian state media quoted officials as saying "loud noises" were heard near military center in Pakdasht, southeast of Tehran. It was caused by routine activity and testing and not a blast.

  It further revealed that follow-up checks lead to standard measures and tests carried out at the facility, the Mehr news agency reported.

  Reports about a blast were not accurate, it added.

• 27 Jan 2026, 03:24:00 PM IST

  Iran-US tensions LIVE: Iran says security bodies control internet shutdown

  Iran-US tensions LIVE: Iran’s government said on Monday that decisions to restrict or cut internet access are taken by security authorities, as a nationwide blackout stretched into its third week.

  Government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani told a news conference that following events on January 8 and 9, security policymakers determined that the national internet network “had to be cut,” and that the government did not have the authority to reverse such decisions.

  “Our approach is to support free internet,” Mohajerani said. “But on security issues, we are all subject to these decisions.”

  The internet shutdown entered its 19th day on Monday.

  Internet monitoring group NetBlocks said authorities were tightening filtering measures to curb circumvention tools, while still allowing approved accounts to operate in order to promote the Islamic Republic’s narrative.

• 27 Jan 2026, 03:15:34 PM IST

  Iran-US tensions LIVE: Iraqi armed group signals readiness for suicide attacks in support of Iran

  Iran-US tensions LIVE: An Iran-aligned Iraqi armed group has signalled its readiness to carry out suicide attacks, as regional tensions linked to Iran escalate.

  Images circulating on social media showed members of Kataib Hezbollah wearing white burial shrouds while signing what were described as volunteer forms for suicide operations.

  The group said the move was part of preparations for a broader conflict in defence of the Islamic Republic.

  The images emerged after Kataib Hezbollah issued a statement earlier this week urging its fighters and supporters to prepare for what it called a “comprehensive war” in response to threats against Iran.

  Kataib Hezbollah, which is designated a terrorist organisation by the United States, is a powerful faction within Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces and has previously carried out attacks on US and allied targets in the region.

• 27 Jan 2026, 03:10:39 PM IST

  Iran-US tensions LIVE: Iranians rally outside French embassy in Cyprus, demand democracy and freedom for Iran

  Iran-US tensions LIVE: Iranians in Cyprus gathered outside the French embassy on Monday. They held Iran’s Lion and Sun flag and pictures of exiled Prince Reza Pahlavi, and were seen “democracy for Iran” and “freedom for Iran.”

• 27 Jan 2026, 02:52:15 PM IST

  Iran-US tensions LIVE: Iran warns US any ‘limited or surprise’ strike would spiral out of control

  Iran-US tensions LIVE: A senior Iranian military official said on Monday local time reportedly that the US would be unable to carry out any surprise or decisive strike against Iran, as US aircraft carriers, warships and fighter jets arrive in the region.

  “The notion of carrying out a so-called limited, rapid and clean operation against Iran stems from incorrect assessments and an incomplete understanding of the defensive and offensive capabilities of the Islamic Republic,” the unnamed official said, as reported by Iran International citing Mehr News Agency.

  “Any scenario designed on the basis of surprise or controlling the scope of conflict will slip out of the control of its planners at the very early stages,” the official added.

• 27 Jan 2026, 02:46:41 PM IST

  Iran-US tensions LIVE: What did Trump say on ‘a big armada next to Iran’?

  Iran-US tensions LIVE: US President Donald Trump said the United States has “a big armada next to Iran” but claimed that Tehran is seeking talks with Washington. “They want to make a deal. I know so. They called on numerous occasions,” Trump told Axios in an interview on Monday.

  Separately, a senior US official said Washington remains open to engagement if Iran reaches out. “We are open for business” if the Iranians “want to contact us,” the official told reporters during a call, AFP reported.

• 27 Jan 2026, 02:27:21 PM IST

  Iran-US tensions LIVE: Iran rial hits fresh low as dollar crosses 1.48 million

  Iran-US tensions LIVE: Iran’s currency slid to a new record low on Tuesday, with the rial trading above 1.48 million to the US dollar on the unofficial market, according to traders, cited by Iran International.

  The latest fall comes after sharp swings since late December, when the currency’s weakening helped spark protests in Tehran and several other cities, adding to pressure on the Iranian economy amid heightened political and regional tensions.

• 27 Jan 2026, 02:09:23 PM IST

  Iran-US tensions LIVE: Iran tells UN Trump’s military threats are ‘neither ambiguous nor misinterpreted’

  Iran-US tensions LIVE: Iran’s UN ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani reportedly told a UN Security Council meeting late Monday that US President Donald Trump’s repeated threats to use military force against Iran “are neither ambiguous nor misinterpreted.”

  Iravani also repeated allegations that Trump had incited violence by “armed terrorist groups” allegedly supported by the United States and Israel, though he did not provide evidence to back the claims, AP reported.

• 27 Jan 2026, 01:40:46 PM IST

  Iran-US tensions LIVE: Top 5 developments

  1. US military presence near Iran has increased, with the American aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and accompanying warships reportedly deployed in the region, raising alarm in Tehran.

  2. A senior, unnamed Iranian official warned that Tehran would treat any attack “as an all-out war against us,” dismissing the idea that the US could carry out a limited or decisive strike, reported Reuters.

  3. The United Arab Emirates has distanced itself and reiterated that it will not allow its airspace, land or territorial waters to be used for any military action against Iran and will not provide logistical support, stressing dialogue, de-escalation and respect for sovereignty.

  4. Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem said the group views threats by US President Donald Trump against Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as a direct threat to Hezbollah itself, adding the group is “not neutral” and would decide later how to respond.

  5. Activists say at least 6,126 people have been killed in Iran’s nationwide protest crackdown, including protesters, children and civilians, while Iran’s government has put the toll much lower at 3,117, figures that cannot be independently verified due to communication restrictions.

• 27 Jan 2026, 11:47:41 AM IST

  Iran-US tensions LIVE: Iran protest death toll rises to over 6,100, activists say

  Iran-US tensions LIVE: Activists say at least 6,126 people have been killed in Iran’s nationwide protest crackdown, with many others still feared dead, as a US aircraft carrier group arrived in the Middle East amid rising tensions.

  The figures were released Tuesday by the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, which has verified each death through a network of contacts on the ground and has been accurate in previous rounds of unrest in Iran, reported AP.

  According to the group, those killed include 5,777 protesters, 214 government-affiliated forces, 86 children, and 49 civilians who were not participating in demonstrations, while more than 41,800 people have been arrested during the crackdown.

• 27 Jan 2026, 11:16:01 AM IST

  Iran-US tensions LIVE: Tehran issues fresh warning, says prepared to deliver ‘regret inducing’ response

  Iran-US tensions LIVE: Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baqaei on Monday local time issued a clear warning that the Islamic Republic is fully prepared to deliver a “sweeping, regret‑inducing response” to any act of aggression, reported Tehran Times.

  Addressing reporters at his weekly press briefing, Baqaei emphasized that Iran’s position has been strengthened by the “heroic battle” in June 2025, a 12‑day conflict in which Iranian forces repelled a multi‑front military incursion, and that the country is now more capable than ever of defending its sovereignty against persistent threats from the United States and Israel. the report added.

• 27 Jan 2026, 10:52:16 AM IST

  Iran-US tensions LIVE: Trump says US has ‘big armada’ near Iran, claims Tehran wants talks

  Iran-US tensions LIVE: US President Donald Trump said the United States has “a big armada next to Iran” but claimed that Tehran is seeking talks with Washington. “They want to make a deal. I know so. They called on numerous occasions,” Trump told Axios in an interview on Monday.

  Separately, a senior US official said Washington remains open to engagement if Iran reaches out. “We are open for business” if the Iranians “want to contact us,” the official told reporters during a call, AFP reported.

• 27 Jan 2026, 10:31:19 AM IST

  Iran-US tensions LIVE: What UAE said amid US attack fears

  Iran-US tensions LIVE: The United Arab Emirates has reiterated that it will not allow its airspace, land or territorial waters to be used for any military operations targeting Iran, even as US warships move into the Middle East and regional tensions rise.

  In a statement posted on X, the UAE foreign ministry said it remains committed to “not allowing its airspace, territory, or waters to be used in any hostile military actions against Iran, and to not providing any logistical support in this regard.”

  The ministry added that “dialogue, de-escalation, adherence to international law and respect for state sovereignty constitute the most effective foundations for addressing current crises.”

  The statement comes amid an expanding US military presence near Iran, including the deployment of the USS Abraham Lincoln to West Asian waters.

• 27 Jan 2026, 09:56:58 AM IST

  Iran-US tensions LIVE: US says ‘open for business’ if Iran wants to make contact

  Iran-US tensions LIVE: The United States is “open for business” if Iran chooses to reach out to Washington, a US official said on Monday local time, as the Trump administration continues to pressure Tehran over its crackdown on protesters.

  “I think they know the terms,” the official told reporters when asked about the conditions for talks with Iran. “They’re aware of the terms,” reported Reuters.

  US President Donald Trump said last Thursday that the United States had an “armada” heading toward Iran but expressed hope that it would not have to be used, as he renewed warnings against Iran killing protesters or restarting its nuclear programme.

• 27 Jan 2026, 09:30:23 AM IST

  Iran-US tensions LIVE: Iran downplays Trump threat, says incapable of surprise attack

  Iran-US tensions LIVE: A senior Iranian military official said on Monday local time reportedly that the United States would be unable to carry out any surprise or decisive strike against Iran, as US aircraft carriers, warships and fighter jets arrive in the region.

  “The notion of carrying out a so-called limited, rapid and clean operation against Iran stems from incorrect assessments and an incomplete understanding of the defensive and offensive capabilities of the Islamic Republic,” the unnamed official said, as reported by Iran International citing Mehr News Agency.

  “Any scenario designed on the basis of surprise or controlling the scope of conflict will slip out of the control of its planners at the very early stages,” the official added.

• 27 Jan 2026, 09:06:02 AM IST

  Iran-US tensions LIVE: Hezbollah says Trump’s threats against Khamenei are a direct challenge

  Iran-US tensions LIVE: Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem on Monday said the group views threats by US President Donald Trump against Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei as a threat against Hezbollah itself.

  “Hezbollah is concerned with confronting Trump’s threat against Khamenei and considers it a threat against itself, and it has full authority to take whatever it deems appropriate to confront it,” Qassem said, reported Iran International.

• 27 Jan 2026, 08:48:01 AM IST

  Iran-US tensions LIVE: ‘If you want to commit suicide, do it alone,’ Lebanese MP tells Hezbollah

  Iran-US tensions LIVE: Lebanese MP and Kataeb Party leader Samy Gemayel on Monday responded sharply to Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem’s renewed pledge of allegiance to Iran and calls for Israel’s destruction, urging the Iran-backed armed group not to drag Lebanon into any confrontation.

  “If you want to defend your master, go to him. If you want to commit suicide, do it alone, but leave Lebanon out of it,” Gemayel wrote in a post on X.

• 27 Jan 2026, 08:43:16 AM IST

  Iran-US tensions LIVE: US intel flags Iran government weakening, says report

  Iran-US tensions LIVE: US President Donald Trump has received multiple intelligence reports indicating that Iran’s government is in a weakening position, the New York Times reported citing people familiar with the information.

  “While the protests have died down, the government remains in a difficult position. Intelligence reports have repeatedly highlighted that in addition to the protests, Iran’s economy is historically weak,” the report said.

  Amid these concerns, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has reportedly moved into a special underground shelter in Tehran over fears of a potential US attack, two sources cited by Iran International said.

• 27 Jan 2026, 08:37:48 AM IST

  Iran-US tensions LIVE: Republican lawmaker warns against abandoning Iranian protesters

  Iran-US tensions LIVE: US Senator Lindsey Graham has cautioned that Washington’s approach to Iran and the wider region must protect “our people,” including Iranian protesters and the Kurds, warning that abandoning them would be a historic failure.

  “Our people have to include those who would be friends of America in the face of oppression: the protesters in Iran and the brave Kurds. These are difficult decisions. But to abandon the Iranian people and the brave Kurds would be, in my view, Benghazi times a million,” Graham wrote on X on Monday.

  He added, “I am confident that President Trump, who has done a marvelous job protecting America, will make the right call. God bless President Trump and all under his command.”

• 27 Jan 2026, 08:26:06 AM IST

  Iran-US tensions LIVE: US warships reaches Middle East amid attack fears| What we know so far

  Iran-US tensions LIVE: The USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier, accompanied by three guided missile destroyers, has arrived in the Middle East, boosting the United States’ potential to strike Iran.

  According to US Central Command, the strike group, previously in the Indian Ocean, is now deployed to promote regional security and stability, though it is not yet in the Arabian Sea bordering Iran, AP reported.

  The deployment comes as Gulf Arab states have indicated they want to stay out of any attack, despite hosting American military personnel.

  Meanwhile, two Iranian-backed militias in the region have signaled their willingness to launch new attacks, likely showing support for Tehran following President Donald Trump’s warning of military action over the crackdown on peaceful protesters or potential mass executions in Iran.

• 27 Jan 2026, 08:18:26 AM IST

  Iran-US tensions LIVE: Tehran mural warns Washington

  Iran-US tensions LIVE: Amid fears of US attack, Iranian authorities unveiled a large mural on a billboard in central Tehran, issuing a direct warning to the United States against any military action.

  The mural depicts an aircraft carrier with damaged and exploding fighter planes on its deck, strewn with bodies, with blood flowing into the sea to form the stripes of the American flag. A slogan reads: “If you sow the wind, you will reap the whirlwind.”

• 27 Jan 2026, 08:04:40 AM IST

  Iran-US tensions LIVE: Death toll in Iran protests crosses 6,100, activists say

  Iran-US tensions LIVE: Activists have put the death toll from Iran’s nationwide protest crackdown at at least 6,126, warning that many more people are still feared dead.

  The updated figures were released on Tuesday by the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, which said it had verified each death through a network of activists inside Iran, AP reported.

  According to the group, those killed include at least 5,777 protesters, 214 government-affiliated forces, 86 children and 49 civilians who were not taking part in demonstrations, while more than 41,800 people have been arrested during the crackdown.

  Iran’s government, however, has placed the death toll significantly lower at 3,117, claiming 2,427 were civilians and security personnel and describing the remaining deaths as “terrorists,” a figure activists dispute, citing a history of undercounting fatalities during unrest.

• 27 Jan 2026, 08:00:19 AM IST

  Iran-US tensions LIVE: UAE rules out support for US military action

  The United Arab Emirates has reiterated that it will not allow its airspace, land or territorial waters to be used for any military operations targeting Iran.

  In a statement posted on X, the UAE Foreign Ministry said it remains committed to “not allowing its airspace, territory, or waters to be used in any hostile military actions against Iran, and to not providing any logistical support in this regard.”

  The ministry stressed that “dialogue, de-escalation, adherence to international law and respect for state sovereignty constitute the most effective foundations for addressing current crises.”

• 27 Jan 2026, 07:46:38 AM IST

  Iran-US tensions LIVE: Iran, US exchanging ‘informal’ messages, says report

  Iran-US tensions LIVE: Amid rising tensions, Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi and US special envoy Steve Witkoff have been exchanging messages on an “informal” basis, according to the semi-official Iranian Students News Agency.

  However, Iran’s ambassador to Geneva, Ali Bahreini, said there is no “fixed channel of communication” between the two sides, adding that the contact “can hardly be called a negotiation,” Iran International reported.