Iran missile capability restoration forced US to negotiate, official says

Germany’s major energy company EnBW is investigating a senior executive - an Iranian-born woman in a key strategic role - over allegations of possible links to Iran’s government, Focus reported on Tuesday.

The executive has a brother serving in Iran’s parliament, her father is a former Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) agent, and she is allegedly involved in ongoing business ties with her family, the report said.

The probe was triggered by an anonymous email tip.

EnBW said it takes the accusations very seriously, has launched an internal review, and is cooperating with German security authorities, including the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution and the BND intelligence service.

The executive holds German citizenship, according to the report.

Senator Lindsey Graham once again voiced support for protesters in Iran on Tuesday, warning that US action could follow if the Islamic Republic resists change.

“To the brave people of Iran: President Trump has always heard your cries and demands for justice. The regime has proven yet again it’s incapable of real change,” Graham posted on X.

“If this regime continues the course they are on, then I believe President Trump’s statement that help is on the way is becoming more real by the day,” he added.

The European Union on Tuesday condemned Iran’s latest prison sentence for Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi and called for her immediate release.

In a statement issued by the EU spokesperson, the European Union said it was "appalled by the latest sentencing to yet another prison term of Iranian human rights defender and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi, a long-standing human rights defender."

Brussels described the seven-year prison term as "another example of systematic repression against human rights defenders and women’s rights activists in Iran."

“The charges against Narges Mohammadi are based solely on her peaceful advocacy for human rights. The EU urges Iranian authorities to release her immediately and unconditionally, taking also into consideration her fragile health,” the statement said.

“Iran is bound by its obligations under international human rights law, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to respect freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly,” the statement said.

"Listen to what President Trump says. He's a man who when he makes a promise he keeps it. And pay close attention to what he says, because what he says is what he will do," US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee told Iran International.

He made the remarks when asked about Trump's promise of help to Iranian protesters last month.

"We have not negotiated with the United States on any issue other than the nuclear matter," Iran's top security official Ali Larijani told Oman's state TV on Tuesday.

"The American side has also come to the conclusion that the talks must focus on the nuclear issue," he said.

"In my view, this issue is resolvable. If the Americans’ concern is that Iran should not move toward acquiring a nuclear weapon, that can be addressed. But if issues beyond this are introduced into the negotiations, the process could face difficulties."

"At present, the American side is thinking more realistically. In the past, they linked military and missile issues to the nuclear file, but now they are speaking only about the nuclear issue, which is a rational approach. Military matters are unrelated to the nuclear dossier," Larijani said.