Rouhani Rules Out Changes to Nuclear Deal

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani speaks during the cabinet meeting, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues, in Tehran, Iran, April 8, 2020. Official Presidential website/Handout via REUTERS
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani speaks during the cabinet meeting, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues, in Tehran, Iran, April 8, 2020. Official Presidential website/Handout via REUTERS
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Rouhani Rules Out Changes to Nuclear Deal

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani speaks during the cabinet meeting, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues, in Tehran, Iran, April 8, 2020. Official Presidential website/Handout via REUTERS
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani speaks during the cabinet meeting, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues, in Tehran, Iran, April 8, 2020. Official Presidential website/Handout via REUTERS

President Hassan Rouhani on Wednesday ruled out changes to Iran's nuclear accord with world powers and dismissed calls to broaden the terms of the deal.

US President Joe Biden has voiced support for returning to the accord, from which Donald Trump exited, but has insisted that Tehran first resume full compliance and consider expanding the deal beyond the nuclear issue.

"No clause of the JCPOA will change. Know this. And no one will be added to the JCPOA," Rouhani said at a televised cabinet meeting, using the deal's official name, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.

"This is the agreement. If they want it, everyone come into compliance. If they don't, they can go live their lives," he said.

Trump withdrew the US from the JCPOA and imposed crippling sanctions on Iran in 2018, maintaining a policy of "maximum pressure" against Tehran.

Iran a year later responded by gradually suspending its compliance with most of its key nuclear commitments in the deal, under which it was promised economic relief for limits on its nuclear program.

Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Monday asked the European Union to coordinate a synchronized return of both Washington and Tehran to the deal, following a diplomatic standoff on who will act first.

Zarif said that EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell should play a role in his capacity of coordinator of the 2015 agreement, which also included Britain, France and Germany as well as Russia and China.

But US State Department spokesman Ned Price said it was still too early to accept such a proposal, repeating calls on Tehran to return to compliance first.



Trump Says Iran Has Agreed to Not Have a Nuclear Weapon

President Donald Trump waves after his arrival at Ocala International Airport, in Ocala, Florida on May 1, 2026. (Getty Images/AFP)
President Donald Trump waves after his arrival at Ocala International Airport, in Ocala, Florida on May 1, 2026. (Getty Images/AFP)
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Trump Says Iran Has Agreed to Not Have a Nuclear Weapon

President Donald Trump waves after his arrival at Ocala International Airport, in Ocala, Florida on May 1, 2026. (Getty Images/AFP)
President Donald Trump waves after his arrival at Ocala International Airport, in Ocala, Florida on May 1, 2026. (Getty Images/AFP)

US President ‌Donald Trump said Iran has agreed not to have a nuclear weapon and that he would probably meet with Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei at some point if things "work out".

"They've already agreed they're not going to have a nuclear weapon," Trump told "Pod Force One" in an interview broadcast on Wednesday, while speaking about Iran.

Asked about Khamenei's involvement in talks with ‌the US on ending ‌hostilities, Trump said, "He's involved, ‌absolutely. ... I ⁠think they have ⁠a lot of respect for him."

Trump said he was hearing Iran's leader was not doing too well but was giving his approval during the negotiations. He added that he had not had "the privilege of meeting" ⁠Khamenei.

"I'd like to meet him. We ‌probably will meet ‌at some point, depending on how it all ‌works out," Trump said.

The US president said ‌he viewed the Iran war as a success because the country's military had been defeated.

The conflict, which began with US-Israeli strikes on February ‌28, has upended the global energy market and has proven unpopular with Americans ⁠months ⁠before November congressional elections.

"Iran's a big success," Trump said in the interview. "We'll see what happens. We're going to, we're working on a deal, and that happens fine. If it doesn't happen, that's OK too. We'll do it the other way."

He did not specify what that might mean, but has said in the past that the US would resume strikes.


Iran Executes Man Convicted of Killing Police Officer During Protest

 People walk around Tehran's historic Grand Bazaar, Iran, Monday, June 1, 2026. (AP)
People walk around Tehran's historic Grand Bazaar, Iran, Monday, June 1, 2026. (AP)
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Iran Executes Man Convicted of Killing Police Officer During Protest

 People walk around Tehran's historic Grand Bazaar, Iran, Monday, June 1, 2026. (AP)
People walk around Tehran's historic Grand Bazaar, Iran, Monday, June 1, 2026. (AP)

Iran's judiciary on Wednesday announced the execution of a man convicted of killing a police officer during the wave of anti-government protests that swept the country earlier this year.

Iran executes more people annually than any other nation besides China, according to rights groups, and has carried out a string of executions for security-related cases since the outbreak in February of war with Israel and the United States.

"The death penalty has been carried out against Fathollah Avari, who had killed a police commander during the January protests in Hamedan" in western Iran, according to the judiciary's website, Mizan.

No date was provided for Avari's arrest, trial or execution.

On Wednesday, Iran's prosecutors accused Avari of "fatally stabbing a police officer" during a protest in Hamedan on January 8, at the height of the protests.

In late December, a protest movement sparked by economic pains quickly expanded into mass anti-government rallies and was met by a crackdown that rights groups say killed thousands.

Iranian authorities portrayed the protests as riots backed by the United States and Israel, and said the violence killed around 3,000 people.

Rights groups abroad put the toll higher and accused the security forces of firing at demonstrators.


NATO Chief Visits Kyiv After Russian Strikes

In this handout photograph taken and released by the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry on June 3, 2026, Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha (L) greets NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte (R) upon his arrival in Kyiv, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (Handout / Ukrainian Foreign Ministry / AFP)
In this handout photograph taken and released by the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry on June 3, 2026, Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha (L) greets NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte (R) upon his arrival in Kyiv, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (Handout / Ukrainian Foreign Ministry / AFP)
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NATO Chief Visits Kyiv After Russian Strikes

In this handout photograph taken and released by the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry on June 3, 2026, Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha (L) greets NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte (R) upon his arrival in Kyiv, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (Handout / Ukrainian Foreign Ministry / AFP)
In this handout photograph taken and released by the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry on June 3, 2026, Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha (L) greets NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte (R) upon his arrival in Kyiv, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (Handout / Ukrainian Foreign Ministry / AFP)

NATO chief Mark Rutte arrived in Kyiv on Wednesday for an unannounced trip, after a series of large-scale fatal Russian attacks on the Ukraine.

President Volodymyr Zelensky, who is expected to meet with Rutte, has been appealing to members of the defense bloc for help protecting Ukraine from Russian ballistic missile attacks.

A spokesman confirmed Rutte had arrived along with NATO ambassadors from alliance members after Ukraine's national railway operator posted images of his arrival in Kyiv.

"We are gladly welcoming NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte," Ukrzaliznytsia wrote on social media.

"This visit is extremely important, just like all the previous ones, because it is a gesture of solidarity and support from the Alliance for our country," Ukrzaliznytsia added. The post was later deleted.

His visit comes hours after Ukrainian drones hit energy and military sites in the northern Russian city of Saint Petersburg where officials and visiting dignitaries were gathering for a flagship economic forum.

Russian missile and drone attacks a day earlier killed 23 people in strikes on Kyiv and the eastern city of Dnipro.

Zelensky has been pushing NATO countries to up their deliveries of air defense systems -- in particular US-made Patriot batteries and ammunition, which Kyiv says it needs to shoot down Russian ballistic missiles.