EconoTicker

U.S. Senator John Hoeven (R–North Dakota) told Fox News that Iran’s leadership “only understands strength,” arguing that Washington’s expanded military posture in the region is meant to make clear “this is serious” and that “change has to happen.”

In the interview, Hoeven described Iran’s ruling system as a major state sponsor of terrorism, citing support for groups including Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis, and portrayed the Iranian public as suffering under a highly repressive regime.

He also pointed to the Global Day of Action demonstrations on Saturday, saying large crowds rallied worldwide against Tehran—events that included hundreds of thousands in Munich, according to reporting and police estimates.

Hoeven additionally discussed Reza Pahlavi’s potential role, suggesting it may center on facilitating a transition—while emphasizing that Iran’s future governance must ultimately reflect what Iranians choose.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that “no one’s ever been able to do a successful deal with Iran”, but added that Washington still wants to test the negotiation track to see what comes of it—framing diplomacy as difficult but preferable to escalation.

Rubio’s remarks come as the U.S. and Iran prepare for another round of indirect nuclear talks in Geneva, with the broader backdrop still defined by sharp disputes over uranium enrichment, sanctions relief, and regional security risks.

Israel’s Shin Bet and police say prosecutors have filed an indictment against an Israeli citizen, Fares Abu al-Hija, accusing him of spying for the Islamic Republic and collecting sensitive information related to former defense minister Yoav Gallant.

According to the joint statement as reported, Abu al-Hija—described as a resident of Kaukab Abu al-Hija in northern Israel—was detected and arrested in recent weeks while allegedly conducting a field intelligence-gathering mission, and investigators say he was in contact with an Iranian intelligence operative.

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu said he “strongly condemns” violent riots in Bnei Brak directed at female IDF soldiers and police officers, calling the perpetrators an “extreme minority” that does not represent the broader Haredi community. He warned Israel “will not allow anarchy” and “will not tolerate any harm” to service members and security forces.

The statement followed an incident in which two female soldiers were surrounded/chased by a mob and rescued by police, amid tensions around ultra-Orthodox conscription and related protests; authorities reported over 20 arrests.

Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said Afghanistan would offer “all forms of support” to Iran if it comes under attack, framing it as solidarity with a neighbor while stressing the Taliban does not want war.

The statement was reported amid renewed speculation about potential U.S. military options against Iran and as Kabul and Tehran navigate a delicate relationship spanning borders, refugees, trade routes, and regional security.

In comments attributed to Iranian security chief Ali Larijani in an Al Jazeera Arabic interview, he portrayed Moscow and Beijing as the partners that “stood with” Iran—while contrasting them with Germany, the UK, and France—and claimed the West is trying to create a rift between Tehran, Russia, and China.

The remarks land as Iran and the U.S. pursue indirect nuclear talks, with Larijani insisting discussions are limited to the nuclear file and warning that Israel is trying to sabotage diplomacy and trigger a wider regional war.

Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis said Russia appears to want to “take a step toward peace” in Ukraine, following talks he held with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow earlier this month in his capacity as OSCE chair.

Cassis added he is cautiously optimistic, saying the Moscow meetings helped lay groundwork and “give hope” ahead of the next U.S.-brokered Geneva talks scheduled for February 17–18, 2026—even as core disputes, especially over territory, remain unresolved.

The U.S. and Iran are set to hold a second round of nuclear talks in Switzerland this week, after restarting negotiations earlier in February over Tehran’s nuclear programme.

The renewed dialogue is unfolding alongside heightened military signaling: Washington has deployed a second aircraft carrier to the Middle East, and markets see the U.S. preparing for a sustained military option if diplomacy fails. President Donald Trump has repeatedly warned Iran to accept a deal or face further military action.

Over the weekend, Iranian ministers said Tehran is ready to compromise on its nuclear programme in exchange for relief from U.S. sanctions, while signaling that the next move is now up to Washington.

Russia’s ambassador to Israel, Anatoly Viktorov, said Moscow held confidential diplomatic contacts last month with Jerusalem and Tehran—at both sides’ request—aimed at preventing a military confrontation.

Viktorov also said Vladimir Putin and Benjamin Netanyahu spoke by phone six times in 2025, with an additional call in January, and that other official channels—including national security-level contacts—remain active.

He referenced the “12-day war” last June, saying a missile strike shattered windows in apartments rented by the Russian embassy and that the family of one staff member narrowly reached shelter in time.

Viktorov pointed to Israel’s large Russian-speaking community—often cited as nearly two million—as a lasting societal link Moscow says cannot be severed.

President Volodymyr Zelensky signaled he could accept a ceasefire framework if Russia agrees to hold free elections, pitching it as a test of Moscow’s seriousness about a real settlement as U.S.-brokered talks head to Geneva next week.

He also reiterated that Ukraine’s own elections would only be possible after a ceasefire (he referenced roughly two months to create basic security conditions), while emphasizing that any truce would need monitoring mechanisms and progress on issues like prisoner exchanges—with Kyiv still rejecting territorial concessions as a price for peace.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer warned that Europe’s security environment is deteriorating and cited NATO assessments that Russia could be ready to use military force against the Alliance by the end of this decade—a timeline often framed as around 2030.

Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, Starmer argued Europe must rebuild credible “hard power” deterrence, reduce overdependence on the United States, and be prepared to defend itself if necessary.

China’s foreign minister Wang Yi issued a sharp warning after Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi invoked a possible “Taiwan contingency” and signaled Japan could intervene under certain scenarios. Wang accused Tokyo of crossing red lines on China’s sovereignty claims over Taiwan and invoked Japan’s wartime history, urging Japan not to “go back down that old road.”

In remarks reported from the Munich Security Conference, Wang said that if Japan “tries gambling again,” the “loss will be faster and more devastating,” framing the issue as a test of whether Japan is abandoning postwar commitments.