Iran latest: US warned attack could 'trigger volcano' in region

The EU has imposed sanctions on Iran's interior minister Eskandar Momeni and prosecutor general Mohammad Movahedi Azad.

Six Iranian organisations, including bodies responsible for monitoring online content in Iran, are also included in the sanctions list, which has 15 officials.

Iranian judge Imam Afshari is another hit with "restrictive measures" that also targeted Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commanders and high-ranking officers.

"They were all involved in the violent repression of peaceful protests and the arbitrary arrest of political activists and human rights defenders," a statement on the EU website says.

It adds:

"Restrictive measures related to human rights violations in Iran now apply to a total of 247 individuals and 50 entities.

"They consist of an asset freeze, travel bans to the EU, and a prohibition to make funds or economic resources available to those listed."

Sanctions had been expected, with the EU confirming as much earlier today - see our post at 11.30.

A would-be assassin was sentenced to 15 years in prison yesterday for plotting to kill US-Iranian journalist Masih Alinejad on behalf of Tehran.

The US judge said Carlisle Rivera's written conversations, as he plotted to kill the human rights advocate in Brooklyn in 2024, were "chilling".

Alinejad told the court: "I'm just a woman... my weapon is my voice. My weapon is my social media."

She urged the judge to give Rivera the maximum sentence to send a message to people "targeting US citizens on US soil" and to "protect unarmed people like me now facing massacre in my country".

Rivera told the judge before being sentenced that he was remorseful for "my actions".

Russian President Vladimir Putin has told his UAE counterpart that he wants to discuss the situation in Iran.

He made the remark at the start of a meeting today with Mohamed bin Zayed al Nahyan, whose country recently hosted peace talks between Russia and Ukraine.

Putin also said he is following tensions in Iran closely.

Russia has already spoken out today, with Putin's mouthpiece Dmitry Peskov urging "restraint on all sides", warning an attack could create regional chaos (see our 11am post).

Turkish President Recep Erdogan has reportedly requested a high-level trilateral meeting alongside Washington and Tehran, according to Iranian state-owned Press TV.

The report suggests the meeting could be held by video conference in a bid to avoid conflict.

Turkey's Anadolu Agency has also reported Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi will visit the country tomorrow to discuss bilateral and regional issues.

The agency cited Turkish foreign ministry sources that have indicated Ankara is closely following the situation in Iran.

Iranian people going out to buy groceries have been "shot and killed", a former US senior adviser told our breakfast show Mornings with Ridge and Frost.

Negah Angha said the "massacre is unbelievable", the likes of which has not been seen for "decades". 

"What started out as citizens expressing their rights for economic reasons... they couldn't buy bread... but then you have indiscriminate killing," she added.

Watch her full remarks:

Crews on the USS Abraham Lincoln were making preparations in the Indian Ocean earlier this week.

The warship is part of the "massive armada" Donald Trump said is on its way to the region.

According to Iranian state media, several branches of the army have received 1,000 drones.

Carrying comments from top military commander Amir Hatami, Tasnim reports he said: "In accordance with the threats ahead, the ‌army maintains and ⁠enhances its strategic ‌advantages ‍for rapid combat and imposing a crushing response against any ​aggressor."

As we've been reporting, tensions between Iran and the US are high, with Donald Trump warning of an attack if Tehran refuses to agree to a nuclear deal.

We've got an update from the EU, with foreign ministers adopting new sanctions on Iran.

These target individuals and entities involved in the violent crackdown on protesters, as well as support for Russia, the EU said.

The ministers are also due to reach a political agreement to include Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) ‍on the bloc's list of terrorist organisations (see 9.28).

It would put the group in a category similar  to so-called Islamic State and al Qaeda. 

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has urged restraint between the US and Iran.

He said Moscow "urges restraint on all sides", adding any use of force against Tehran could create regional chaos and "lead to very dangerous consequences".

Earlier, a senior Lebanese Hezbollah official warned that an attack could "trigger a volcano in the region" (see 10.18). 

It is worth reminded here that Russia is at war with Ukraine after it launched a full-scale invasion in February 2022.

By John Sparks, international correspondent

In Iran, the climate of fear has been restored after the clerics who run this country successfully crushed a nationwide revolt.

Yet their determination to stay in power is matched by their efforts to conceal what has happened.

Iran's communications blackout - which began on 8 January - has eased somewhat, with sporadic internet access now possible.

But it remains difficult to communicate with people inside the country, who must find both the courage and the practical means to reach out.

Watch: Yaser Rahmani-Rad speaks to Paste BN

Dr Yaser Rahmani-Rad wants his voice to be heard. 

A specialist in internal medicine at a public hospital in Tehran, he told Paste BN what he saw as the regime launched its crackdown in the capital.

"Pressure was being put on nurses and doctors to clear out the emergency department. In other words, any patient who was there - whether they had clear medical indications or not - was told to be discharged. They wanted the emergency ward emptied for security forces who had been injured."