Iran sees 'good outlook' for US talks as diplomats head to Geneva

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Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned Wednesday that Iran must negotiate on its missile program, a day after President Donald Trump alleged Tehran was working on rockets that could hit the United States.

"I would say that the Iranian insistence on not discussing ballistic missiles is a big, big problem," Rubio told reporters on the eve of new talks between the United States and Iran.

Rubio, however, steered clear of describing if the talks in Geneva would be a make-or-break moment in deciding if the United States attacks Iran.

"The president wants diplomatic solutions. He prefers them greatly," Rubio said on a visit to the small Caribbean nation of Saint Kitts and Nevis.

As for the talks, "hopefully they're productive, but eventually we'll have to have conversations about more than just a nuclear programme".

New Zealand has imposed travel bans on 40 people in Iran over the violent suppression of protests, with a senior minister accusing Tehran on Thursday of murdering tens of thousands of people.

Foreign Minister Winston Peters announced the sanctions on Wednesday, saying the 40 people targeted had perpetrated human rights abuses.

They included the ministers of the interior and intelligence, the prosecutor general, and members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps.

"It has been horrifying to witness the brutal killing of thousands of protestors in Iran," Peters said.

New Zealand was joining Australia, Britain, Canada, the European Union, and the United States in imposing travel bans, he said.

The United States sees evidence that Iran is trying to rebuild its nuclear program after US-led strikes against Iranian nuclear sites in June, Vice President JD Vance said on Wednesday.

"The principle is very simple: Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon," Vance told reporters, a day ahead of talks in Geneva between US and Iranian delegations.

Iranian gas supplies have resumed to Iraq with a rate of 7 million cubic feet per day, the spokesperson for the Iraqi electricity ministry said on Wednesday.

Iraq reported the halt in Iranian gas supply in December, owing to the shutdown of some generating units and load shedding at others.

Tehran supplies between a third and 40% of Iraq's gas and power needs.

The Iraqi ministry plans to visit Tehran to discuss the required quantities of gas for the summer.

Syria confirmed on Wednesday the mass escape of relatives of suspected Islamic State group jihadists from the Al-Hol camp last month following the withdrawal of Kurdish forces who had overseen the facility.

"When our forces arrived, they found cases of collective escapes due to the camp having been opened up in a haphazard manner," interior ministry spokesman Noureddine al-Baba told a news conference.

Al-Hol, the largest camp for relatives of suspected IS jihadists in northeastern Syria, had been under the control of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

But last month, Syrian troops drove Kurdish forces from swathes of the north, sparking questions over the fate of the IS prisoners and their families.

Under pressure, the SDF withdrew from the camp on January 20, with Syrian security forces taking control a few hours later.

"The SDF withdrew suddenly, without coordination and without informing" the Syrian authorities or the international anti-jihadist coalition beforehand, al-Baba said.

There was a "chaotic situation" after the Kurdish forces pulled out, he added, and "more than 138 breaches" have been discovered in the camp's 17-kilometre (11-mile) perimeter wall that allowed mass escapes.

After the Kurdish forces withdrew, thousands of women and children fled the camp to parts unknown.

The German navy on Wednesday said it had taken delivery of an Israeli-made Blue Whale underwater drone intended for reconnaissance and detecting "hybrid threats at sea".

The autonomous underwater vehicle, developed by Israeli company IAI together with German submarine- and warship-maker TKMS, was received in the northern port of Eckernfoerde, the navy said in a statement.

The army on its website said the Blue Whale was the navy's "largest and most advanced unmanned underwater vehicle to date".

The device was tested in the Baltic Sea, a flashpoint for tensions between Russia and NATO since Moscow's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, the army said.

Military experts and European leaders say Russia has ramped up its "hybrid war" in the strategic region -- now bordered entirely by NATO members, with the exception of Russia -- through airspace incursions and suspected sabotage of undersea cables.

TKMS said the Blue Whale was capable of "conducting reconnaissance operations, detecting targets above and below the sea surface, collecting acoustic information, and locating sea mines on the seabed".

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and his negotiating team arrived in Geneva on Wednesday evening ahead of a third round of crucial talks with the US, a diplomatic source told AFP.

AFP saw the Iranian plane land at Geneva Airport shortly after 7:00 pm (1800 GMT), and a diplomatic source in the Swiss city confirmed that the foreign minister was on board. Iranian state news agency IRNA also reported his arrival. The talks are due to take place on Thursday.

The Israeli foreign ministry said on Wednesday it had approved the appointment of the first ambassador of Somaliland to Israel, months after the country officially recognised the breakaway region in the Horn of Africa.

In December, the Israeli government became the first country to recognise the independence of Somaliland since it declared its autonomy from Somalia in 1991 following a civil war.

The ministry posted on X that the government had approved "Somaliland's first ambassador to Israel, Dr Mohamed Hagi".

It said Hagi, who currently serves as an advisor to the president of Somaliland, had helped promote the establishment of relations between Israel and Somaliland throughout 2025.

The ministry also said that Israel would soon appoint its own ambassador to Somaliland.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi told lawmakers in Jerusalem on Wednesday that India stands "firmly" with Israel following Hamas's attack on October 7, 2023.

Modi also met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a two-day visit aimed at deepening trade and defence ties that has drawn criticism at home.

"I... carry with me the deepest condolences of the people of India for every life lost and for every family whose world was shattered in the barbaric terrorist attack by Hamas on October 7," Modi said in the Knesset, the Israeli parliament.

"We feel your pain, we share your grief. India stands with Israel firmly with full conviction in this moment and beyond."

In his speech, Modi did not explicitly mention the tens of thousands of Palestinians killed in Gaza during the more than two-year war waged by Israel.

But he said that India "supports all efforts that contribute to durable peace and regional stability".

US Vice President JD Vance told Iran Wednesday to take Washington's threats of military action "seriously," a day after President Donald Trump appeared to build the case for war in his State of the Union address.

As US forces mass in the Middle East, Trump claimed in his speech to Congress on Tuesday that Iran was seeking to develop missiles that can strike the United States.

Trump also accused the Islamic republic, whose negotiators will meet US officials in Geneva on Thursday, of having "sinister nuclear ambitions" and working to rebuild a nuclear program that was targeted by US strikes last year.

Vance told Fox News that while Trump was going to try to "accomplish it diplomatically," the US president also had the "right" to use military action.

"You can't let the craziest and worst regime in the world have nuclear weapons," said Vance.

Several countries have begun withdrawing dependents of diplomatic personnel and non-essential staff from some locations in the Middle East, or advising citizens to defer travel to Iran, amid rising tensions between Washington and Tehran.

Here are some of the moves:

AUSTRALIA: The government has told dependents of Australian diplomats in Israel and Lebanon to leave the two countries, citing a deteriorating security situation in the region. It also offered voluntary departures to Australian diplomats' dependents in the United Arab Emirates, Jordan and Qatar. It continues to advise citizens in Israel and Lebanon to consider leaving while commercial options remain available. (Foreign Ministry X account)

SERBIA: Serbia has told its nationals in Iran to leave as soon as possible due to increased tensions and the risk of a deterioration of the security situation. (Foreign Ministry)

POLAND: Polish citizens should leave Iran immediately. (Prime Minister Donald Tusk)

UNITED STATES: The U.S. is pulling non-essential staff and eligible family members from its embassy in Lebanon amid Iran tensions. (Senior State Department official)

SWEDEN: The Foreign Ministry advised its citizens to avoid all travel to Iran and leave the country immediately on January 12, 2026. The foreign minister said in February that people who decided to stay should not expect help from the government to be evacuated. (Foreign Ministry website)

INDIA: The Indian embassy in Iran advised citizens currently in Iran to leave by available means of transport, including commercial flights. (Post on X by Indian embassy in Iran, on February 23, 2026)

CYPRUS: Cyprus advised its citizens to avoid all travel to Iran and leave the country immediately on January 13, 2026. (Foreign Ministry)

SINGAPORE: Singapore advised citizens to continue to defer all travel to Iran. (Singapore Foreign Ministry)

GERMANY: Germany has urged its citizens to leave Iran, noting commercial flights out are still operating and departure by land is also possible (Foreign Ministry, January 20)

BRAZIL: Brazil recommended last week that its citizens leave Iran, following a similar alert to citizens in Lebanon in January. The government last year recommended that Brazilians not travel to the two countries. 

US Vice President JD Vance says that President Donald Trump still preferred a diplomatic solution with Iran and that he hoped Iranians took that seriously in their negotiations on Thursday.

"The President has been as crystal clear as he could be, Iran can't have a nuclear weapon... He's going to try to accomplish it diplomatically," Vance told Fox News in an interview on Wednesday.

The US Treasury Department on Wednesday imposed new Iran-related sanctions on four individuals, several entities and tankers, according to a notice on its website.

A Gaza firm has been contracted to build an Emirati-funded compound for tens of thousands of displaced Palestinians in a part of the territory under Israeli military control, two Israeli officials and two Palestinian businessmen told Reuters.

The plan for a Palestinian contracting firm staffed by Gaza workers to build the compound has not been previously reported.

It appears to signal an aim to begin reconstruction without waiting for Israel to withdraw from Gaza, a step that is meant to accompany the disarmament of Hamas fighters in the next phase of a ceasefire under US President Donald Trump's plan.

Employing Palestinians in construction could be a way to reduce local hostility to the project, but it remains to be seen whether large numbers of Palestinians would agree to live or work in an Israeli-held area of Gaza.

The United Arab Emirates has yet to formally announce the housing project, dubbed by some diplomats as "Emirates City". According to a planning map seen by Reuters, the compound would be built near Rafah on Gaza's southern edge, an area depopulated and demolished by Israeli forces during the war with Hamas.

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A Hezbollah official said Wednesday that the Lebanese group would not intervene militarily in the event of "limited" US strikes on its backer Iran, but would consider any attack against supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei a "red line".

Lebanese authorities fear that Hezbollah would become involved if a potential US attack on Iran triggered a regional war, but the official told AFP on condition of anonymity: "In the event of limited US strikes on Iran, Hezbollah's position will be to not intervene militarily."

Germany's foreign minister, Johann Wadephul, said on Wednesday that Iran must commit to negotiations with the United States to stop support for armed proxy groups Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen.

Speaking at a press conference with his Belgian counterpart Maxime Prévot, he added Germany has "a special responsibility for the security of the State of Israel".

Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian said Wednesday that he was hopeful ahead of the third round of talks with the United States, adding that they could help end the standoff with Washington.

"We see a favourable outlook for the negotiations," said Pezeshkian in a speech. "We are continuing the process under the guidance of the supreme leader so that we can move beyond this 'neither war nor peace' situation."

Germany is urging Iran to stop seeking nuclear weapons, to restrict its ballistic missile programme and to cease destabilising the wider region, a foreign office spokesperson said on Wednesday, ahead of fresh nuclear talks in Geneva.

"We expect Iran to seize the opportunity to engage constructively in the (Geneva) talks," the spokesperson said.

The talks are set to take place on Thursday in Geneva, a senior US official said on Monday, with US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner slated to meet with the Iranian delegation.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and his negotiating team left Tehran for Geneva on Wednesday, state TV reported ahead of a third round of talks with the US.

The Australian government has told the families of Australian diplomats in Israel and Lebanon to leave the two Middle East countries, citing a deteriorating security situation in the region, the foreign ministry said on Wednesday.

The Palestinian Authority slammed a decision by the US embassy to offer consular services in an Israeli settlement in the occupied West Bank as a "violation of international law".

The Palestinian Authority's Colonisation and Wall Resistance Commission condemned the move, saying in a statement that it "constitutes a clear violation of international law and a blatant favouring of the occupation authorities", referencing Israel.

Minister Muayyad Shubban, head of the commission, called on the US to reverse the decision, and on the international community to refrain from legitimising the settlement system.

The Palestinian group Hamas also decried the US decision, describing it in a statement as "a dangerous step that supports (Israel's) Judaisation plans".

A Turkish fighter jet crashed shortly after takeoff early Wednesday, killing the pilot, state media reported, citing the defence ministry.

Radio and tracking information with the aircraft, which took off from Balikesir at 12:56 am (2156 GMT Tuesday), was lost soon after departure, the ministry said, according to the official Anadolu Agency.

A search and rescue operation was launched, and the wreckage was located.

"Our pilot was martyred. The cause of the accident will be determined following an investigation by the crash examination team," the ministry said, offering condolences to the pilot's family.

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Israel on Wednesday for a two-day visit aimed at deepening ties with a key trade and defence partner, a trip that has drawn criticism at home.

"Our nations share a robust and multifaceted strategic partnership," Modi said in a statement before leaving New Delhi, adding that he will address the Knesset, Israel's parliament, later on Thursday.

"Ties have significantly strengthened in the last few years."

Turkey is evaluating all aspects of potential measures that may be taken in the event of a conflict between its neighbour Iran and the United States, a Turkish diplomatic source told Reuters on Wednesday.

NATO member Turkey, which shares a border with Iran to its east, has said it opposes any military intervention in Iran and does not want destabilisation in the region. Ankara has been in contact with both sides to de-escalate tensions and has called for a resolution of issues through diplomacy.

"Naturally, all aspects of the measures that could be taken in the event of a negative development are being evaluated," the source said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

"All scenarios are being considered, and steps that can be taken to ensure the safety of our citizens are being worked on," the person said, but added any steps that would "violate Iran's sovereignty" were "out of the question".

The source did not provide details on what measures Turkey was evaluating.

Iran's foreign ministry on Wednesday dismissed US claims about its missile programme as "big lies", after President Donald Trump said Tehran was developing missiles that can strike the United States.

"Whatever they're alleging in regards to Iran's nuclear programme, Iran's ballistic missiles, and the number of casualties during January's unrest, is simply the repetition of 'big lies'," ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said on X.

Baqaei did not specify exactly which claims he was responding to, but hours earlier Trump had said Iran was seeking missiles that could reach American soil.

Japan’s government said Wednesday that a Japanese national has been detained in Tehran since January and demanded that the Iranian authorities release the detainee swiftly.

Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Masanao Ozaki, asked about foreign media reports on the case, confirmed only that the Japanese citizen was taken into custody on 20 Jan but gave no further details, citing privacy issues.

Ozaki said the government is in contact with the detainee and their family members and is providing necessary support.

Foreign Ministry officials said the detainee is believed to be in good health, although Japanese officials have not been granted an in-person meeting.

The ministry declined to comment on when or on what charges the detainee was arrested.

About 200 Japanese nationals are in Iran, 150 of them in Tehran, according to the Foreign Ministry.

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday claimed Iran is seeking to develop missiles that can strike the United States and accused Tehran of working to rebuild a nuclear program that was targeted by American strikes last year.

The United States and Iran are engaged in high-stakes negotiations over Iran's atomic program and other issues, including missiles, with Trump saying he prefers diplomacy but is willing to use force if talks fail.

"They've already developed missiles that can threaten Europe and our bases overseas, and they're working to build missiles that will soon reach the United States of America," Trump said during his State of the Union address.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was expected in Israel on Wednesday for a two-day visit focused on strengthening security and economic and technological cooperation between the two countries.

Modi has said he would hold talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog, and would address the Israeli parliament on Wednesday evening.

"Our nations share a robust and multifaceted Strategic Partnership," Modi wrote on X. "Ties have significantly strengthened in the last few years."

Netanyahu referred to himself and Modi as "personal friends" when he announced the visit earlier this week.

A record 129 journalists and media workers were killed worldwide in 2025, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Wednesday, blaming Israel for two-thirds of the deaths.

It was the second consecutive annual record for press deaths and the deadliest year since the CPJ began collecting data more than three decades ago.

"Journalists are being killed in record numbers at a time when access to information is more important than ever," CEO Jodie Ginsberg said in a statement.

"We are all at risk when journalists are killed for reporting the news."

Over three-quarters of all the fatalities in 2025 were in conflict settings, the CPJ said in its report.

More than 60 percent of the 86 members of the press killed by Israeli fire in 2025 were Palestinians reporting from Gaza, it added.