US set to demand end to Iran nuclear program in talks

An Iranian lawmaker appeared to threaten the United States and its Arab allies ahead of talks between Tehran and Washington, warning any "mischievous" action would incur "a very painful price."

“America is still the same America, and Trump is still the same Trump,” Iran's parliamentary national security committee spokesman, Ebrahim Rezaei said in a post on X on Friday.

“If they seek negotiations (and not coercion or bullying), we will sit at the table. But if they act mischievously and flip the table, the price will be very painful.”

He went on to list potential targets, saying: “a) perhaps an American base, b) perhaps the glass towers of their supporters, c) perhaps an oil facility servicing them, d) perhaps all of the above."

"As the Trump Administration prepares to enter talks with Iran, it is crucial that we continue pursuing a permanent end to Iran's nuclear capabilities and malign activities throughout the region to preserve America, our ally Israel, and the world's security," Democratic congressman Steny Hoyer said on Friday.

The Trump administration's opening demand in talks with Iran in Oman on Saturday would be the dismantlement of its nuclear program, the Wall Street Journal reported Friday citing the US president's special envoy Steve Witkoff.

Witkoff at the same time acknowledged that compromises might be needed to reach a deal over the disputed nuclear program.

“I think our position begins with dismantlement of your program. That is our position today,” Witkoff was quoted, addressing Iranian officials.

“That doesn’t mean, by the way, that at the margin we’re not going to find other ways to find compromise between the two countries.”

He added that “where our red line will be, there can’t be weaponization of your nuclear capability."

"Although the American side tries to present itself as having the upper hand in this standoff, the reality so far is that, in practice, Iran holds the stronger position," an editorial in the weekly publication of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's office said.

"This active advantage is evident in three areas: the necessity of limiting the talks to the nuclear issue, the location of the negotiations, and finally, the fact that the talks are being held indirectly," the Khatte Hezbollah publication said on Friday.

The editorial also alleged Trump "has in his March letter to Iran's leader somehow backed down from his previous positions and signaled a green light to limiting the negotiations to the nuclear issue."

The editorial warned against undue optimism for the talks, saying: "The US, because of its imperialistic nature, is never ready for fair and honest negotiations. Therefore, reason and wisdom dictate that there should be no excitement or misplaced optimism among officials, media, and society. The excitement and optimism in this context would be a mistake and could result in undue pressure on the Iranian team."

Nor should the talks be viewed as an economic panacea, the editorial added: "Relying on an agreement with a deceitful US is hoping for ‘imaginary points'. Solving the country’s economic problems requires constant and deep efforts from officials, along with the cooperation of the people,” it said.

Iran must acquiesce to US President Donald Trump's demand that it not acquire a nuclear weapon or "there will be all hell to pay," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Friday.

"(Trump's) ultimate goal and the ultimate objective is to ensure that Iran can never obtain a nuclear weapon," she told reporters.

"The president believes in diplomacy, direct talks, talking directly in the same room in order to achieve that goal," she added. "But he's made it very clear to the Iranians and his national security team as well that all options are on the table and Iran has a choice to make: you can agree to President Trump's demand or there will be all hell to pay."

Donald Trump is more likely to secure a nuclear deal with Iran than his predecessor, The New York Times reported on Friday citing former US special envoy for Iran Robert Malley.

“Biden was lukewarm about a deal; Trump is eager. Biden fixates on domestic politics; Trump couldn’t care less. Biden was calculating; Trump, impulsive,” Malley was quoted as saying.

“Trump is throwing caution, prudence and logic to the wind. Which is why there is probably a greater chance of some kind of understanding now than there ever was under the prior administration.”

US Central Command has dismissed a claim by Yemen's Houthis that they targeted the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier in a missile and drone attack in the Red Sea.

"The USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) carrier strike group continues non-stop 24/7 operations against the Houthis despite the Houthis’ outlandish claims," CENTCOM said in a post on X late Friday.

Earlier, the Houthis had released a statement on their Telegram channel alleging the American carrier was among the “hostile warships” struck on Friday in the northern Red Sea in what they called a joint operation involving cruise missiles, drones and naval forces.

The US military has redeployed a Patriot missile defense battalion from the Indo-Pacific to the Middle East, a major logistical operation involving at least 73 C-17 cargo flights, Axios reported citing Indo-Pacific Command boss.

The Patriot system, capable of intercepting missiles and aircraft, arrives at a tense time in the region.

The move is part of a broader US military buildup under Central Command, which now includes two aircraft carriers—Carl Vinson and Harry S. Truman—and an unusually large group of B-2 bombers sent to Diego Garcia, the report said.

Akbar Etemad, a physicist and the first head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization—often referred to as the "father of Iran's nuclear program"—passed away in Paris on Friday at the age of 95.

The construction of Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant began during his tenure.

Etemad founded and served as the first head of the AEOI under Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi but resigned in 1978, shortly before the Islamic Revolution.

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has discreetly appointed William Ruger—a former vice president at the Charles Koch Institute and a known critic of military intervention in Iran—to a prominent role within her department, Axios reported on Friday citing congressional officials.

Ruger will serve as the deputy director of national intelligence for mission integration, a consequential job that includes a range of responsibilities, including preparing the president's intelligence briefing, the report said.