Iran Says US Sanctions ‘Will Not Change’ Policy after Trump Warnings

An Iranian man rides a bicycle next to an anti-US mural near the former US embassy in Tehran, Iran, 01 May 2025. (EPA)
An Iranian man rides a bicycle next to an anti-US mural near the former US embassy in Tehran, Iran, 01 May 2025. (EPA)
TT

Iran Says US Sanctions ‘Will Not Change’ Policy after Trump Warnings

An Iranian man rides a bicycle next to an anti-US mural near the former US embassy in Tehran, Iran, 01 May 2025. (EPA)
An Iranian man rides a bicycle next to an anti-US mural near the former US embassy in Tehran, Iran, 01 May 2025. (EPA)

Iran said Friday that continued US sanctions on its trade partners will not alter its policy, after President Donald Trump threatened to penalize countries or individuals dealing in Iranian oil.

"The continuation of these illegal behaviors will not change Iran's logical, legitimate and international law-based positions," a foreign ministry statement said, condemning what it called "pressure on Iran's trade and economic partners".

It added that such sanctions have created "deep suspicion and mistrust about the seriousness of America on the path of diplomacy".

On Thursday, Trump vowed to enforce sanctions and called for a global boycott of "any amount" of Iranian oil or petrochemicals.

"All purchases of Iranian Oil, or Petrochemical products, must stop, NOW!" Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.

"Any Country or person who buys ANY AMOUNT of OIL or PETROCHEMICALS from Iran will be subject to, immediately, Secondary Sanctions," he added.

His remarks came after Iran confirmed that the next round of nuclear talks with the United States, which had been expected to be held on Saturday, has been postponed, with mediator Oman citing "logistical reasons".

Oman said the date for a new round "will be announced when mutually agreed".

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who headed the Iranian delegation in the three rounds of talks held so far, said Iran was ready for a "just and balanced deal".

"There is no change in our determination to secure a negotiated solution," Araghchi said on X, adding that any deal should guarantee "an end to sanctions."

The talks mark the highest-level contact on Iran's nuclear program since Trump abandoned a landmark accord between Tehran and major powers in 2018.

The US president had written to Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei in March urging negotiations but warning of potential military action if they failed.

Since returning to office in January, Trump has revived the "maximum pressure" policy of sanctions against Iran, with the latest announced on Wednesday and targeting seven companies accused of transporting Iranian-origin petroleum products.

Tensions over Iran's nuclear program soared after Washington withdrew from the 2015 deal with major powers which offered Tehran sanctions relief in return for restrictions on its nuclear activities.

Iran adhered to the agreement for a year afterwards before beginning to roll back its compliance.

Western governments have since accused Tehran of seeking a nuclear weapons capability, an ambition it has consistently denied, insisting that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only.



Russia Says Forces Capture Ukrainian Settlement, Strike Energy and Drone Sites

 An apartment building damaged during a Russian airstrike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine November 13, 2026. (Reuters)
An apartment building damaged during a Russian airstrike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine November 13, 2026. (Reuters)
TT

Russia Says Forces Capture Ukrainian Settlement, Strike Energy and Drone Sites

 An apartment building damaged during a Russian airstrike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine November 13, 2026. (Reuters)
An apartment building damaged during a Russian airstrike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine November 13, 2026. (Reuters)

Russia’s Defense Ministry said on Saturday that its forces had captured ‌the settlement ‌of Tersianka in ‌Ukraine’s ⁠southeastern Zaporizhzhia region, ⁠news agency Interfax reported.

The ministry also ⁠said Russian ‌forces ‌had struck ‌Ukrainian energy ‌and transport infrastructure used by the ‌military, ammunition depots, and drone ⁠production ⁠and storage sites.

Reuters could not independently verify the battlefield reports.


US Floated Idea of Ukraine Ceding Donbas for NATO Membership, Zelenskiy Says

 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy attends a bilateral press conference with Ireland's Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Micheal Martin at Government Buildings, in Dublin, Ireland, November 11, 2026. (Reuters)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy attends a bilateral press conference with Ireland's Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Micheal Martin at Government Buildings, in Dublin, Ireland, November 11, 2026. (Reuters)
TT

US Floated Idea of Ukraine Ceding Donbas for NATO Membership, Zelenskiy Says

 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy attends a bilateral press conference with Ireland's Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Micheal Martin at Government Buildings, in Dublin, Ireland, November 11, 2026. (Reuters)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy attends a bilateral press conference with Ireland's Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Micheal Martin at Government Buildings, in Dublin, Ireland, November 11, 2026. (Reuters)

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said that US negotiators had floated a question about Ukraine's potential withdrawal from its eastern region of Donbas in exchange for joining NATO, following the latest round of peace talks with Russia ‌in Abu ‌Dhabi.

Zelenskiy reiterated his ‌position ⁠that Kyiv was ⁠not willing to retreat from its territory.

He said that if Ukraine received a comprehensive security package, that includes security guarantees, ⁠a strong and well-funded ‌Ukrainian ‌army and funds to rebuild, he ‌would put the question ‌to a referendum.

"The Americans raised a question: ‘What if Ukraine joins NATO? Would Ukraine withdraw ‌from Donbas?’ This was the first time this had ⁠been ⁠raised," Zelenskiy told reporters in remarks released by his office on Saturday.

"That is why I believe NATO is back on the agenda. But you have also heard (Russian President Vladimir) Putin's signals, and this is an extremely difficult conversation."


New French Protests Focus on Children and Police

A protester waves a French flag amid tear gas smoke during a demonstration in Lyon, France. (Getty Images/AFP)
A protester waves a French flag amid tear gas smoke during a demonstration in Lyon, France. (Getty Images/AFP)
TT

New French Protests Focus on Children and Police

A protester waves a French flag amid tear gas smoke during a demonstration in Lyon, France. (Getty Images/AFP)
A protester waves a French flag amid tear gas smoke during a demonstration in Lyon, France. (Getty Images/AFP)

France faces more rallies on Saturday with demonstrators venting frustrations ranging from inflation to opposition to a new police bill at the latest protests.

The European Union's second largest economy has been gripped by high-school blockades and cost-of-living demonstrations for more than a month, ahead of presidential elections next year that the far right sees as its best chance of seizing power.

Some of the largely peaceful rallies have seen fringe violence, as well as accusations of police brutality.

People were to take to the streets for the fifth Saturday in a row, with a main rally in Paris from 1:00 pm (1200 GMT) and dozens of other gatherings across the country.

In the capital, the Yellow Vest movement would join high-school students, unions and other activists fighting for children's rights or opposed to a bill to give police more protection in their use of weapons.

"Society's in bad shape," said Claire Bourdille, from a collective battling violence against children and teenagers. "We can't focus on one cause more than another."

Activists have in recent months demanded better protection for children against sexual abuse.

Others will be protesting against a new bill in parliament to grant police who use their weapons a presumption of legitimate self-defense.

Backers, including the far-right National Rally party of presidential hopeful Marine Le Pen, say it is necessary to avoid police being automatically suspected of using disproportionate force.

- 'License to kill' -

Activists argue the bill, approved by the lower house and soon to go to the Senate, amounts to a "license to kill".

They say it would make holding security forces accountable even harder in a country where most cases of alleged police brutality rarely reach a criminal court.

Lawyers last week denounced alleged police violence at recent protests that led to "mutilations" including hand, foot and eye injuries.

Karl Ghazi, of the CGT union, said Saturday's protest in Paris might be different with "real activist fatigue" after a month and a half of protests.

"It'll essentially be child rights activists on one side and people against the 'license to kill' on the other," he said.

Around 146,000 people took part in demonstrations across France on Saturday last week, according to authorities, far lower numbers than on previous weekends.

The largest protests in recent weeks occurred during a union-led strike on Thursday last week, when more than half a million people took to the streets nationwide, according to official figures.

Unions have called for a new day of strikes on Tuesday, after rejecting a government promise to increase the minimum wage by 0.6 percent as "crumbs".