Iran Issues Travel Warning for France

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani, during a press conference (Iranian Foreign Ministry)
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani, during a press conference (Iranian Foreign Ministry)
TT

Iran Issues Travel Warning for France

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani, during a press conference (Iranian Foreign Ministry)
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani, during a press conference (Iranian Foreign Ministry)

Iran advised its citizens to avoid traveling to France, whose major cities have been gripped with violent unrest for days.

Tehran also called on the French government and police to exercise self-restraint, avoid violence, and pay attention to the protesters' demands.

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman, Nasser Kanaani, advised on Sunday Iranian nationals to stay away from "unnecessary trips" to France, amid ongoing unrest there following the police shooting of a teenage boy.

"We advise the French government and police to heed the demands of the protesters while exercising restraint and avoiding violence," he said.

"The government of France is expected to stop coercive treatment of its people by respecting the principles based upon human dignity, freedom of speech, and the citizens' right to peaceful protests," the spokesman added.

France is witnessing widespread riots after a French police officer shot and killed Nael, 17, during a traffic check.

Tehran had previously harshly criticized France for the protests that erupted in Iran after the death of the young woman, Mahsa Amini, who was arrested by the morality police.

Iranian authorities blamed foreign parties for the outbreak of the latest wave of protests, describing them as "riots."

Last month, Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said in a speech marking the thirty-fourth anniversary of Khomeini's passing, that the riots last autumn were "planned comprehensively in the think tanks of Western nations and carried out with the extensive financial, military, and media backing of the Western security agencies, the traitors and mercenaries who turned against their homeland, and the agents pursuing policies hostile to Iran."

Khamenei also reviewed a long list of accusations against Western countries, saying they included "teaching how to make hand grenades through foreign media, promoting separatist slogans and armed movements, and senior politicians from some Western governments taking photos with mercenaries who claimed to be Iranian."

Hundreds of citizens and dozens of security forces were killed on the sidelines of the protests, and the authorities arrested more than 20,000. It also detained foreign tourists who were visiting the country.

In October, the Iranian Foreign Ministry condemned French President Emmanuel Macron for remarks in which he expressed solidarity with protesters, saying it was "meddlesome" and served to encourage "violent people and lawbreakers."

In May, Iran released two French detainees, and France is still seeking the return of four citizens detained in Tehran.

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian told Le Figaro newspaper that Paris had taken positive steps, and the two sides are continuing their contact to overcome misunderstandings.

The French foreign ministry described the four French citizens imprisoned by Iran as "hostages."

The detainees include Cecile Kohler and Jacques Paris, arrested on May 7, 2022, Louis Arnaud, detained since September 28, and another French citizen confirmed to be held but never named.

 



Top Trump Iran Negotiator Says Visits US Aircraft Carrier in Middle East

US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff delivers a press conference upon the signing of the declaration on deploying post-ceasefire force in Ukraine, during the so-called "Coalition of the Willing" summit, at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, January 6, 2026. (Reuters)
US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff delivers a press conference upon the signing of the declaration on deploying post-ceasefire force in Ukraine, during the so-called "Coalition of the Willing" summit, at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, January 6, 2026. (Reuters)
TT

Top Trump Iran Negotiator Says Visits US Aircraft Carrier in Middle East

US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff delivers a press conference upon the signing of the declaration on deploying post-ceasefire force in Ukraine, during the so-called "Coalition of the Willing" summit, at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, January 6, 2026. (Reuters)
US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff delivers a press conference upon the signing of the declaration on deploying post-ceasefire force in Ukraine, during the so-called "Coalition of the Willing" summit, at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, January 6, 2026. (Reuters)

US President Donald Trump's lead Iran negotiator Steve Witkoff on Saturday said he visited the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier currently in the Arabian Sea, with Washington and Tehran due to hold further talks soon.

"Today, Adm. Brad Cooper, Commander of US Naval Forces Central Command, Jared Kushner, and I met with the brave sailors and Marines aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, her strike group, and Carrier Air Wing 9 who are keeping us safe and upholding President Trump's message of peace through strength," said Witkoff in a social media post.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Saturday he hoped talks with the United States would resume soon, while reiterating Tehran's red lines and warning against any American attack.


Israel’s Netanyahu Expected to Meet Trump in US on Wednesday and Discuss Iran

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivers a speech during a special session to mark the 77th anniversary of the Knesset's establishment and the 60th anniversary of the dedication of the current building at the Knesset, the Israeli parliament, in Jerusalem, 02 February 2026. (EPA)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivers a speech during a special session to mark the 77th anniversary of the Knesset's establishment and the 60th anniversary of the dedication of the current building at the Knesset, the Israeli parliament, in Jerusalem, 02 February 2026. (EPA)
TT

Israel’s Netanyahu Expected to Meet Trump in US on Wednesday and Discuss Iran

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivers a speech during a special session to mark the 77th anniversary of the Knesset's establishment and the 60th anniversary of the dedication of the current building at the Knesset, the Israeli parliament, in Jerusalem, 02 February 2026. (EPA)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivers a speech during a special session to mark the 77th anniversary of the Knesset's establishment and the 60th anniversary of the dedication of the current building at the Knesset, the Israeli parliament, in Jerusalem, 02 February 2026. (EPA)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to meet US President Donald Trump on Wednesday in Washington, where they will discuss negotiations with Iran, Netanyahu's office said on Saturday.

Iranian and US officials held indirect nuclear ‌talks in the ‌Omani capital ‌Muscat ⁠on Friday. ‌Both sides said more talks were expected to be held again soon.

A regional diplomat briefed by Tehran on the talks told Reuters Iran insisted ⁠on its "right to enrich uranium" ‌during the negotiations with ‍the US, ‍and that Tehran's missile capabilities ‍were not raised in the discussions.

Iranian officials have ruled out putting Iran's missiles - one of the largest such arsenals in the region - up ⁠for discussion, and have said Tehran wants recognition of its right to enrich uranium.

"The Prime Minister believes that any negotiations must include limiting ballistic missiles and halting support for the Iranian axis," Netanyahu's office said in a ‌statement.


Italy FM Rules Out Joining Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’

Italy's Minister for Foreign Affairs Antonio Tajani speaks to the press during the EPP Leaders’ meeting, in Zagreb, Croatia, 30 January 2026. (EPA)
Italy's Minister for Foreign Affairs Antonio Tajani speaks to the press during the EPP Leaders’ meeting, in Zagreb, Croatia, 30 January 2026. (EPA)
TT

Italy FM Rules Out Joining Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’

Italy's Minister for Foreign Affairs Antonio Tajani speaks to the press during the EPP Leaders’ meeting, in Zagreb, Croatia, 30 January 2026. (EPA)
Italy's Minister for Foreign Affairs Antonio Tajani speaks to the press during the EPP Leaders’ meeting, in Zagreb, Croatia, 30 January 2026. (EPA)

Italy will not take part in US President Donald Trump's "Board of Peace", Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said Saturday, citing "insurmountable" constitutional issues.

Trump launched his "Board of Peace" at the World Economic Forum in Davos in January and some 19 countries have signed its founding charter.

But Italy's constitution bars the country from joining an organization led by a single foreign leader.

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, a Trump ally, last month noted "constitutional problems" with joining, but suggested Trump could perhaps reopen the framework "to meet the needs not only of Italy, but also of other European countries".

Tajani appeared Saturday to rule that out.

"We cannot participate in the Board of Peace because there is a constitutional limit," he told the ANSA news agency.

"This is insurmountable from a legal standpoint," he said, the day after meeting US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and US Vice President JD Vance at the Olympics in Milan.

Although originally meant to oversee Gaza's rebuilding, the board's charter does not limit its role to the Palestinian territory and appears to want to rival the United Nations.