Highlights: Tehran ready to scale back nuclear plan, says can dilute enriched uranium if all sanctions lifted

US Iran tensions live updates: France accused Iran on Monday of "repression and intimidation" after a court handed Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi a new six-year prison sentence on charges of harming national security.

Mohammadi, sentenced Saturday, was also handed a one-and-a-half-year prison sentence for "propaganda" against Iran's Islamic system, according to her foundation.

"With this sentence, the Iranian regime has, once again, chosen repression and intimidation," the French foreign ministry said in a statement, describing the 53-year-old as a "tireless defender" of human rights. (AFP)

US Iran tensions live updates: The arrests in Iran after recent protests continued on Monday even though the Islamic Republic appeared hopeful on further nuclear talks with the United States.

The arrests were made after officials from Iran and the US held talks in Oman, which both the sides said were positive. Among the people arrested in Iran is Javad Emam, the spokesperson for the main reformist coalition, reported news agency AFP.

US Iran tensions live updates: Oil prices rose about $1 per barrel on Monday after the U.S. Department of Transportation issued an advisory to U.S.-flagged vessels to stay as far as possible from Iranian territory while passing through the Strait of Hormuz and Gulf of Oman.

Brent crude oil futures were up $1.08, or 1.6%, at $69.13 a barrel by 1:31 p.m. EST (1831 GMT). U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude rose 95 cents, or 1.5%, to $64.50.

The U.S. DOT's Maritime Administration agency on Monday noted that vessels going through the Strait of Hormuz and Gulf of Oman have historically faced the risk of being boarded by Iranian forces, including as recently as February 3. (Reuters)

US Iran tensions live updates: US military forces boarded a sanctioned oil tanker in the Indian Ocean after tracking the ship from the Caribbean Sea, the Pentagon said Monday.

The Pentagon's statement on social media did not say whether the ship was connected to Venezuela, which faces US sanctions on its oil and relies on a shadow fleet of falsely flagged tankers to smuggle crude into global supply chains.

However, the Aquila II was one of at least 16 tankers that departed the Venezuelan coast last month after US forces captured then-President Nicolás Maduro, said Samir Madani, co-founder of TankerTrackers.com. He said his organization used satellite imagery and surface-level photos to document the ship's movements. (AP)

US Iran tensions live updates: France accused Iran on Monday of "repression and intimidation", after a court handed Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi a new six-year prison sentence on charges of harming national security.

The French foreign ministry said in a statement that Iran had “once again chosen repression and intimidation”, AFP reported.

US Iran tensions live updates: Ali Shakouri-Rad, a senior reformist politician and former lawmaker, was arrested on Monday a few days after he accused security bodies of deliberately escalating and even staging violence including alleged killings among their own ranks to legitimize the sweeping crackdown on protests, Iran International reported.

US Iran tensions live updates: The US said in an advisory that American-flagged ships to stay as far as possible from Iranian waters when navigating the Strait of Hormuz after one vessel was harassed last week, Bloomberg reported.

Iranian forces have historically utilized small boats and helicopters during boarding operations and have attempted to force commercial vessels into Iranian territorial waters, including as recently as February 3.

US Iran tensions live updates: Iran defense forces have paused public unveilings of military developments for security reasons, the spokesman for defense ministry said on Monday, citing “the element of surprise,” Iran International reported

“Due to security considerations and to preserve the principle of surprise, we have currently stopped unveiling defense achievements,” Reza Talaei-Nik said.

US Iran tensions live updates: Iran is prepared to dilute its highly enriched uranium if the United States lifts all sanctions on the country, the head of its atomic energy agency said Monday after talks resumed with Washington.

"In conclusion, in response to a question about the possibility of diluting 60 percent enriched uranium... the head of the Atomic Energy Organization said that this depends on whether all sanctions would be lifted in return," Reuters reported citing IRNA news agency.

US Iran tensions live updates: Mousa Ahmadi, head of Iran’s parliamentary energy commission, said on Monday the presence of US warships in the Persian Gulf would not stop Iran’s oil exports, Iran International reported citing state media.

Ahmadi said Iran had learned how to bypass sanctions over decades and would keep exporting oil even if all US vessels were deployed in the region. “The path we use to export our oil will continue,” he said.

US Iran tensions live updates: US Vice President JD Vance arrived in Armenia on Monday, before a scheduled trip to Azerbaijan, as Washington seeks to consolidate a peace process between the neighbours.

Vance is the most senior US official to visit Armenia, where he is also expected to advance a flagship project to improve road-and-rail infrastructure in the region.

US Iran tensions live updates: Iran is prepared to dilute its highly enriched uranium if the United States lifts all sanctions on the country, the head of its atomic energy agency said Monday after talks resumed with Washington.

"In conclusion, in response to a question about the possibility of diluting 60 percent enriched uranium... the head of the Atomic Energy Organization said that this depends on whether all sanctions would be lifted in return," he said.

US Iran tensions live updates: Oil prices were stable on Monday after the US and Iran pledged to continue indirect talks, easing oil supply fears, but India stepping away from Russian purchases gave prices a floor and global stock markets rallied.

Brent crude oil futures were up 6 cents, or 0.1%, at $68.11 a barrel by 1304 GMT, while US West Texas Intermediate crude rose 5 cents, or 0.1%, to $63.

US Iran tensions live updates: The Islamic Iran Nation's Union Party sought the release of secretary-general Azar Mansouri, after her arrest along with other members of the Reform Front, an umbrella body of Iranian reformists and moderates, Reuters reported citing the Shargh newspaper

A campaign of mass arrests and intimidation has led to the arrests of thousands as authorities seek to deter further protests after last month's crackdown on the bloodiest unrest since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

US Iran tensions live updates: Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has called on citizens to take part in rallies marking the 47th anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

In an address, Khamenei called on people to take part in rallies

“National power has less to do with missiles and aircraft than with the will of nations and their resilience. You showed resilience, and you showed your will. You must show it again in other moments as well,” he said.

US Iran tensions live updates: Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Monday said that the country still holds "deep distrust" for the United States despite agreeing to return to talks on its disputed nuclear programme.

"We are looking for serious negotiations to achieve a result, provided the other side shows the same seriousness and is also ready for constructive negotiations," the minister said.

US Iran tensions live updates: Mohammad Eslami, head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization on Monday said that Tehran could consider diluting its stockpile of uranium enriched to 60% if all sanctions were lifted in return, Iran International reported.

Eslami said the issue “depends on whether they lift all sanctions or not,” adding that any such step would be tied to guarantees on Iran’s rights.

US Iran tensions live updates: Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tehran is open to “equal and win-win” negotiations, calling the new round of nuclear talks a chance for a fair settlement if all sides avoid excessive demands, Iran International reported.

“We are seeking guarantees for our rights on lifting unjust sanctions,” Pezeshkian said, adding that Iran believes “interaction and dialogue are the only way” to address regional and global challenges.

US Iran tensions live updates: Iran’s parliament said nuclear talks must proceed from a position of strength, with the country’s nuclear industry treated as a non-negotiable red line.

Abbas Goudarzi, spokesman for the parliament’s presiding board, said the negotiating team should keep the experience of the 2015 nuclear deal firmly in mind, warning that the United States has a record of “breach of commitments and bad faith,” Iran International reported.

US Iran tensions live updates: Ali Larijani, an adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and secretary of its national security council, will visit Oman on Tuesday following indirect US Iranian talks there.

US and Iranian diplomats engaged through Omani mediation in the Gulf Arab state last week

US Iran tensions live updates: Iran extended the prison sentence of a Nobel peace laureate Narges Mohammadi and detained several prominent reformist figures, escalating a crackdown on dissents weeks after security forces killed thousands of people to quell nationwide protests.

The weekend’s arrests came days after the Islamic Republic and the US had indirect nuclear talks, the first since the 12-day war between Iran and Israel.

US Iran tensions live updates: Iran still holds "deep distrust" for the United States despite agreeing to return to talks on its disputed nuclear programme, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned on Monday, AFP reported.

"A deep mistrust persists due to the behaviour of the United States in recent years," he said, addressing ambassadors at a diplomatic gathering in Tehran.

US Iran tensions live updates: Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Monday that Tehran was seeking “real negotiations” aimed at reaching results, but said progress depended on seriousness from the other side, Iran International reported.

“We are very serious in the negotiations and are looking for real talks to reach results, provided the other side also shows seriousness and readiness for outcome-oriented negotiations,” Araghchi said.

US Iran tensions live updates: At the Oman talks, Iran acted from “a position of strength,” said the parliament’s vice speaker on Monday, citing briefing delivered by the chief of staff of the armed forces and the foreign minister.

As per local reports, Hamidreza Haji Babaei said accounts delivered behind closed doors by Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi and Abbas Araghchi demonstrated that Iran was “powerful and decisive on the field.”

On Friday, delegations from Iran and the US met in Oman to dicsuss nuclear disarmanent and other issues as tensions between both nations escalate.