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Iran’s President Insists Tehran Does Not Seek a Nuclear Bomb and Dangles US Business Opportunities 

02 February 2025, Iran, Tehran: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian visits an exhibition that showcases the defense ministry's latest advancements in defense and space in Tehran. (Iranian Presidency/dpa)
02 February 2025, Iran, Tehran: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian visits an exhibition that showcases the defense ministry's latest advancements in defense and space in Tehran. (Iranian Presidency/dpa)
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Iran’s President Insists Tehran Does Not Seek a Nuclear Bomb and Dangles US Business Opportunities 

02 February 2025, Iran, Tehran: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian visits an exhibition that showcases the defense ministry's latest advancements in defense and space in Tehran. (Iranian Presidency/dpa)
02 February 2025, Iran, Tehran: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian visits an exhibition that showcases the defense ministry's latest advancements in defense and space in Tehran. (Iranian Presidency/dpa)

Iran's president again pledged Wednesday that his nation is "not after a nuclear bomb" ahead of talks between Tehran and the United States, going as far as dangling the prospect of direct American investment in his country if the countries can reach a deal.

The comments by reformist President Masoud Pezeshkian represent a departure from Iran's stance after its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, in which Tehran sought to buy American airplanes but in effect barred US companies from coming into the country.

"His excellency has no opposition to investment by American investors in Iran," Pezeshkian said in a speech in Tehran, referring to Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. "American investors: Come and invest."

Such a business proposal could draw the interest of US President Donald Trump, who withdrew America from Iran’s nuclear deal with world powers in his first term and now seeks a new agreement with the country.

Pezeshkian, who campaigned on a platform of outreach to the West during his election last year, also added that Saturday's talks in Oman between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and US Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff would be conducted "indirectly." Trump has said the talks would be direct negotiations — something Tehran hasn't ruled out after the first round of discussions.

"We are not after a nuclear bomb," Pezeshkian added. "You (in the West) have verified it 100 times. Do it 1,000 times again."

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World

Russia Resumes Attacks on Ukraine's Kherson Region after Local Truce Ends

Women who are internally displaced persons from the Kherson region look on at the backyard of their house, which was damaged during a Russian drone strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Odesa, Ukraine November 2, 2026. REUTERS/Nina Liashonok
Women who are internally displaced persons from the Kherson region look on at the backyard of their house, which was damaged during a Russian drone strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Odesa, Ukraine November 2, 2026. REUTERS/Nina Liashonok
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Russia Resumes Attacks on Ukraine's Kherson Region after Local Truce Ends

Women who are internally displaced persons from the Kherson region look on at the backyard of their house, which was damaged during a Russian drone strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Odesa, Ukraine November 2, 2026. REUTERS/Nina Liashonok
Women who are internally displaced persons from the Kherson region look on at the backyard of their house, which was damaged during a Russian drone strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Odesa, Ukraine November 2, 2026. REUTERS/Nina Liashonok

Russia on Monday resumed attacks on Ukraine's Kherson region, after the end of a local ceasefire in the area, the longest truce in the war raging between the neighbors since 2022, Kyiv said.

A rare pause in fighting, brokered by US First Lady Melania Trump, ended on Sunday after starting on Tuesday. The ceasefire enabled a humanitarian mission to the Russian-occupied city of Oleshky and for hundreds of stranded citizens to leave, AFP said.

It was the longest pause in fighting between the neighbors in the war -- now in its fifth year -- which has killed hundreds of thousands and displaced millions.

"At around 8:00 am this morning, Russian occupiers attacked a car with a drone in the Korabelny city district" of Kherson, local authorities said in a statement, adding that a 62-year-old woman and 73-year-old man were wounded and hospitalized.

Russia refused a Ukrainian offer to extend the truce, a senior Ukrainian figure told AFP on Sunday.

Kherson's regional governor Oleksandr Prokudin had warned local people to be particularly vigilant when the ceasefire ended.

Ukraine's military alleged Russia used the pause in fighting to "fortify its positions".

Russian attacks also killed one person in Izium, a city in the country's north-eastern Kharkiv region, the local governor there said.

US-mediated talks between Russia and Ukraine are set to resume this month.

The Kremlin has repeatedly rejected calls for a wider ceasefire and said it intends to press on with its full-scale offensive to seize the rest of eastern Ukraine.

World

Iranians Have Left Doha Talks, Draft Proposal for US Deal Being Circulated, Official Says

An Iranian woman holds Iran's national flag on a street in Tehran on November 1, 2026. (AFP)
An Iranian woman holds Iran's national flag on a street in Tehran on November 1, 2026. (AFP)
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Iranians Have Left Doha Talks, Draft Proposal for US Deal Being Circulated, Official Says

An Iranian woman holds Iran's national flag on a street in Tehran on November 1, 2026. (AFP)
An Iranian woman holds Iran's national flag on a street in Tehran on November 1, 2026. (AFP)

Iranian negotiators have left talks with Qatari mediators aimed at ending the war with the United States, and a draft proposal is being circulated with a follow-up meeting possible, an official briefed on the talks said on Monday.

The negotiators departed on Sunday, though not because of difficulties in the negotiations, the official said, without providing further details on the draft proposal.

Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson said the basis of the talks is a seven-step plan ‌Iran drew up ‌in September to reopen the Strait of ‌Hormuz ⁠and end the ⁠US naval blockade on Iran, with Tehran now suggesting that proposal could be implemented on a faster timeline under a deal.

The spokesperson, Esmaeil Baghaei, said deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi had been in Doha to facilitate the exchange of messages with Washington via Qatari intermediaries.

"Our demands have been ⁠articulated very clearly and transparently. These demands are ‌reasonable and logical: no final ‌agreement can be initiated, nor can the Strait of Hormuz be ‌reopened or secured, unless the US naval blockade ‌is brought to an end, Iran's demands are respected, and Iran’s legitimate requirements are addressed,” Baghaei said.

On Saturday, Qatari broadcaster Al Jazeera quoted Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi as saying that under ‌a deal the Strait of Hormuz could be opened within a two-day timeline rather than within ⁠the seven ⁠days originally envisaged.

Iran's initial proposal was rejected by US President Donald Trump.

The latest round of diplomacy comes amid concerns that the conflict could escalate again after Tuesday's midterm elections in the United States. Asked about Tehran's view on the midterms, Baghaei said Tehran did not expect elections to "give birth to a new US."

Trump has said the United States would not launch new attacks on Iran before the vote and that talks with Tehran have been productive, though he has not ruled out further military action.

World

Iran Says Considering Two-day Plan to Reopen Hormuz

Image published by the Iranian government's media website showing Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei during a press conference
Image published by the Iranian government's media website showing Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei during a press conference
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Iran Says Considering Two-day Plan to Reopen Hormuz

Image published by the Iranian government's media website showing Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei during a press conference
Image published by the Iranian government's media website showing Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei during a press conference

Iran's foreign ministry on Monday said it was considering a two-day plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz if the US agrees to its conditions, having previously proposed a one-week timeline, AFP said.

"The possibility of implementing this plan in two days is another indication of Iran's good-faith approach. We have stated that, if Iran's demands are met, it would be possible to restore security to the Strait of Hormuz and resume the negotiating process within a short period," said foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei, adding that the "exchange of messages is still ongoing" via mediators.