Iran will target US bases in region if Washington attacks, Araghchi warns | LIVE

US envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner visit USS Abraham Lincoln

President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner visited the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier this morning, the vessel recently deployed near Iran, CNN reported, citing a senior U.S. official and two regional sources familiar with the matter.

According to the official, the purpose of the trip was to express gratitude to American service members in the region.

CNN added that the visit serves as a stark reminder that although Washington and Tehran are now re-engaged in negotiations, the Trump administration continues to maintain a significant military buildup in the Middle East.

11 members of ‘terrorist group’ arrested before planned sabotage

11 people belonging to the Party for a Free Life in Kurdistan (PJAK), a group Iran considers “terrorist,” were arrested before carrying out acts of sabotage, state television reported today.

The announcement comes after a broad protest movement in Iran that left several thousand people dead in January.

Since its creation in 2004, PJAK, an offshoot of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), has been involved in operations against Iranian armed forces.

Gaza “Peace Council”: Hungarian PM announces invitation to Washington “in two weeks”

Hungary’s prime minister said an invitation had been issued for a meeting in Washington “in two weeks” for the Gaza Peace Council, AFP reported.

Army support conference on agenda in Barrot-Haykal talks

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, on an official visit to Lebanon as part of a Middle East tour, met today in Beirut with Lebanese Army commander Gen. Rodolph Haykal, the military said in a statement posted on X. French Ambassador Herve Magro attended the meeting.

According to the statement, “the discussion focused on the general situation and latest developments in Lebanon and the region, the army’s needs to strengthen its capabilities … as well as preparations for the upcoming international conference in Paris to support the Lebanese Army.”

The conference is scheduled for March 5 and is expected to bring together representatives from numerous countries.

The Lebanese Army is at the center of both domestic and international attention because of the role it is expected to play in disarming militias, particularly Hezbollah, which has been significantly weakened following its latest conflict with Israel in 2023-24. The mission is the subject of two Lebanese government decisions adopted last August.

According to the military, it has already taken control of the area south of the Litani River and is just beginning the second phase of its plan to bring all weapons under state authority.

Haykal has recently returned from an official visit to the United States.

Israeli drone drops stun grenade near farmer on outskirts of Blida

A small Israeli drone dropped a stun grenade near a farmer on the outskirts of Blida (Marjayoun), without causing injuries, our correspondent in the South reported.

Araghchi says new U.S. talks to be held “soon”

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Saturday that Tehran and Washington had agreed to hold another round of talks “soon,” adding that he was ready to reach a deal that would be “reassuring” regarding the nuclear issue.

“At this stage, no specific date has been set for a second session of negotiations, but both we and Washington believe they must take place soon,” Araghchi said in an interview with Al Jazeera, according to excerpts published on his Telegram account.

“Nuclear enrichment is our inalienable right and must continue … We are ready for a reassuring agreement regarding enrichment,” he said. He added that although Friday’s discussions in Oman were “indirect,” “an opportunity arose to shake hands with the American delegation.”

Hezbollah has accepted Wafic Safa’s resignation, sources say

Yesterday, Hezbollah accepted the resignation of the party’s senior security official Wafic Safa, a first for someone of his rank, sources close to the group told Reuters.

Contacted by L’Orient-Le Jour, a spokesperson for the party did not respond to a request for comment.

The announcement comes after the party leadership recently decided to remove Safa, a leading figure in its security wing, from his post as head of the Liaison and Coordination Unit, which handles internal coordination, relations with political forces, and communication with authorities and security agencies. According to the Al-Jadeed channel, Hussein al-Abdallah has been appointed to replace him.

White House planning first meeting of Gaza “Peace Council” leaders on Feb. 19

The White House is planning the first meeting of leaders of the Gaza “Peace Council” on Feb. 19, Axios reported Friday.

Plans for the meeting, which would also serve as a donor conference for Gaza’s reconstruction, are still in early stages and could change, the outlet added.

Iranian foreign minister criticizes a “doctrine of domination” benefiting Israel

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Saturday denounced what he described as a “doctrine of domination” that allows Israel to expand its military arsenal while limiting those of other countries in the region, a day after talks with Washington.

His remarks follow the resumption Friday of negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program with the United States, which had been frozen after Israel carried out unprecedented strikes on Iran last year, triggering a 12-day war in June.

Araghchi, who represented Iran at the talks in Oman and praised the “very positive atmosphere,” did not elaborate further at the Al Jazeera Forum in Qatar. He did, however, criticize “Israel’s expansionist project, which requires neighboring countries to be weakened: militarily, technologically, economically and socially.”

“Within this project, Israel is free to expand its military arsenal without limits … while others are ordered to disarm, others pressured to reduce their defense capabilities, others punished for their scientific progress,” he said.

Iranian foreign minister mentions a “handshake” with Americans

Abbas Araghchi reported a “handshake” with the Americans, AFP said. He nevertheless warned that Iran would target U.S. bases in the region if Washington attacks.

Trump hails “very good” discussions with Iran

U.S. President Donald Trump praised “very good” discussions with Iran after a round of talks held yesterday in Oman, saying negotiations would continue early next week.

While welcoming the talks, Trump kept up pressure on Tehran, imposing new sanctions and signing an executive order that raises the threat of additional tariffs on countries that continue trading with Iran.

“We had very good discussions on Iran; Iran seems very eager to reach an agreement,” the president told reporters aboard Air Force One yesterday. “We will meet again at the beginning of next week,” he added.

Iran also said it would continue negotiations with the United States following talks in Oman held in a “very positive atmosphere,” according to Tehran.

Israeli aircraft fly at very low altitude over the Litani River

At around 10:30 a.m., Israeli aircraft flew at very low altitude over the Litani River area (between south Lebanon and the Bekaa), above the villages of Braiqeh, Zrarieh, Sir al-Gharbieh and Zawtar Sharqieh, as well as the Litani valley, residents told our correspondent.

Israeli army fires toward outskirts of Alma al-Shaab

Israeli forces fired machine guns toward the outskirts of the village of Alma al-Shaab, in the Sour district, after 10 p.m. last night from a position they occupy inside Lebanese territory in Labbouneh, southeast of Naqoura, our correspondent in the region reports.

Alma al-Shaab was again targeted by Israeli machine-gun fire this morning around 10 a.m. The shots this time came from the Hanita and Tallet al-Raheb positions, on the outskirts of Aita al-Shaab in the Bint Jbeil district, according to the correspondent.

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of events in the Middle East.

We will be following developments in tensions between the United States and Iran, as well as the situation in south Lebanon and Gaza, which continue to be bombed by Israel despite cease-fire agreements.