Iran Official Says Authorities Will Prosecute Protesters For 'Sedition'
Judiciary spokesman Ali Asghar Jahangir says the Iranian authorities will “definitely” prosecute anyone who attended the protests that swept the country. He said this includes anyone who was “directly involved, provided assistance, supported, or participated” and thus committed "criminal acts."
Without providing details of the scope of the legal terms he used or the "criminal actions" the judicial body was considering, Jahangir called the protests "sedition" and assured that the body would not "let go" of those who played a role in it.
The statement came even as numerous reports have been published -- even by the Islamic republic's own authorities -- of arrests and killings of bystanders of the protests.
Jahangir also confirmed the filing of cases against several celebrities, adding: "Regarding how many celebrities were summoned in this regard and cases have been filed against them, we must wait until the completion of the cases and initial investigations."
“The handling of these cases has begun quickly, indictments have been issued for some figures, and the results will be made known to the nation as soon as possible," he added.
Jahangir cited the case that had been opened against Mohammad Saedinia, a well-known entrepreneur and owner of cafes and restaurants, who had been arrested for "officially supporting and accompanying rioters."
Journalist's Harsh Criticism of Officials At Government Press Conference
At a government press conference on February 27, an Iranian reporter, Parisa Hashemi, harshly criticized the performance of Islamic Republic officials before posing a question to Fatemeh Mohajerani, a spokesperson for President Masud Pezeshkian.
In her question, Hashemi listed numerous problems in the country and the suppression of protests, saying: "Up until now, there have only been apologies and sympathy. None of the officials have resigned, none. In any other country, in the end, the officials would either die of shame or commit suicide out of honor, but this constant thirst for service in our managers, which is never satisfied, has caused us to be faced with the same promises again."
Mohajerani responded by saying, "That was a statement."
UAE: Tehran Must Reach Nuclear Deal With Washington
Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to the president of the United Arab Emirates, says the Middle East cannot afford another confrontation between the United States and Iran, and Tehran must reach a nuclear agreement with Washington.
"I think the region has gone through various calamitous confrontations. I don't think we need another one, but I would like to see direct Iranian-American negotiations leading to understandings so that we don't have these issues every other day," he said on February 4 at the World Governments Summit in Dubai.
Iran and the United States will resume nuclear talks in Turkey on Friday, according to Iranian and US officials who spoke to Reuters on February 2.
A regional diplomat also told Reuters that representatives from countries such as Saudi Arabia and Egypt would participate in the negotiations.
Supreme Leader Spokesman Says Iran Has No Intention Of Transferring Uranium Abroad
Ali Shamkhani, political adviser to the leader of the Islamic Republic, said in an interview with the Al-Mayadeen TV channel that Iran has no intention of transferring its enriched uranium reserves abroad and that possible negotiations with the United States should be limited solely to the nuclear issue.
In the interview, he rejected the proposal to transfer uranium reserves outside Iran, including to Russia, saying, "There is no reason to transfer the stored materials outside Iran."
Dmitry Peskov, the Russian presidential spokesman, said on February 1 that Moscow has long offered its services to process or store Iran’s enriched uranium.
Shamkhani added that if US concerns are addressed, there is a possibility of reducing the enrichment level from 60 percent to 20 percent, but stressed that this action must be accompanied by a “price payment” from the other side.
He did not specify what he meant by “price payment.”
He also said the exact amount of enriched uranium reserves is still unknown, as some of it is “under rubble.” He said Iran is in talks with the International Atomic Energy Agency to estimate the amount of these reserves “while maintaining security.”
The political adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei made it clear that Iran will negotiate only with the United States and only on the nuclear issue.
Shamkhani, echoing the statements of other Islamic Republic officials that US threats must discontinue and the focus be on the nuclear issue, added: "If negotiations begin with these conditions, there is a possibility of direct and indirect meetings."
These comments come as President Donald Trump said that Iran is "talking seriously" with the US.
Witkoff Headed To Middle East For Talks Aimed At Making Progress On Nuclear Deal With Iran
US envoy Steve Witkoff is expected to arrive in Israel on February 3 to hold talks with Israeli officials, two days before a key meeting in Istanbul with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi in an attempt to jumpstart negotiations on Tehran’s nuclear program and tamp down fears of a new war in the Middle East.
Witkoff will reportedly meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other senior Israeli officials, who have been pushing for any deal with Iran to include removing any enriched uranium from Iran along with a halt to all enrichment processing, as well as putting an end to Iran’s financing of its regional proxies and limits to its ballistic missile program.
The United States hasn’t commented on the Iranian talks, but Iranian President Masud Pezeshkian said in post on X on February 3 that he had instructed Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi "based on the principles of dignity, wisdom, and expediency within the framework of national interests."
Intense Shuttle Diplomacy
Pezeshkian has issued warnings recently that any diplomatic success with Washington hinges on an end to threats, a reference to the current buildup of US military might in Middle East waters.
He added that progress in talks could be made “provided that there is an appropriate atmosphere free from threats and unreasonable expectations.”
The Istanbul talks follow an intense week of shuttle diplomacy: Iran's security chief Ali Larijani met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on January 30, while Araqchi traveled to Turkey to consult with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan.
At the same time, the US military has deployed a naval strike group, led by the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier, off the coast of Iran in response to Tehran’s deadly crackdown on unrest sparked by the country’s deteriorating living conditions.
Late last month, US President Donald Trump announced that a "massive armada" was moving toward Iran, warning it could act with "speed and fury" if necessary, while expressing hope for a "fair deal" that would leave Iran without nuclear weapons.
Some in Iran have suggested a potential deal would see Iran's stockpile of highly enriched uranium -- reportedly buried underground following US strikes last June -- transferred to another country.
Because of cuts to Internet service in Iran, it is difficult to assess the number of protesters who have been killed during the mass demonstrations, which appear to have eased in recent days.
The US-based rights organization HRANA, whose figures RFE/RL has been regularly citing since the violent crackdown began in Iran in December 2025, says its confirmed death toll, including security forces, is now 6,854, while the number of fatalities still under investigation is 11,280. More than 50,000 people have been arrested.
Some estimates by officials quoted off the record by various media outlets put the death toll at several times higher.
Massive Fire Rips Through Tehran Market
A massive fire broke out on February 3 in a busy market in western Tehran's Jannat Abad neighborhood, spreading thick black smoke across the capital.
The fire reportedly started around 10 a.m. local time in a commercial area packed with stalls and shops.
Tehran's fire department said the blaze spread very quickly and they deployed multiple fire-fighting teams.
The cause of the fire remains unclear and there have been no reported casualties.
Hegseth: US 'Prepared' To Take Action Against Iran
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has once again warned Tehran that the Pentagon is "more than prepared" to take action if Iran refuses to negotiate over its nuclear program.
"The President’s been clear from the beginning, as he was before Midnight Hammer. Iran will not have nuclear weapons capability. And so they can either negotiate on that front, or we have other options," Hegseth said, speaking to reporters on a trip to Florida.
Stressing that military action is not the preferred option, the defense secretary added: “[US President Donald Trump] doesn’t want to go that route, I don’t want to go that route, but our job is to be prepared, and so of course we are, we’re more than prepared."
Hegseth also said Iran “has a choice” about negotiating.
President Trump has previously warned that Iran will face serious consequences if an agreement was not reached.
Good morning, here is a brief rundown of some of the main Iran-related news stories this morning.
Iranian President Masud Pezeshkian wrote on X on February 3: "In light of requests from friendly governments in the region to respond to the proposal by the President of the United States for negotiations: I have instructed my Minister of Foreign Affairs, provided that a suitable environment exists -- one free from threats and unreasonable expectations -- to pursue fair and equitable negotiations, guided by the principles of dignity, prudence, and expediency. These negotiations shall be conducted within the framework of our national interests."
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy posting on Iran on X: "The whole world sees what has been happening in Iran -- the scale of the killings and how the Iranian regime has invested heavily in spreading war and violence across the region and the world. Ukraine will not forget a single one of the thousands of 'shaheds' that have struck our cities and villages, our people. We see that, on the issue of Iran, others in Europe have heard Ukraine, those Europeans who called for greater engagement and a more principled stance, and the Iranians themselves."
On the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), Zelenskyy wrote: "In Ukraine, we have already adopted such a decision and designated this organization as terrorist. For us, this issue is closed. All terrorists in the world deserve the same treatment and condemnation -- none should prevail."
Based on the latest aggregated data as of February 2, the total number of confirmed deaths has reached 6,854, according to the US-based rights group HRANA. According to these figures, 6,430 of those killed are registered as protesters, while 152 are categorized as children under 18.
Fifty-three days have passed since the rearrest of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi. In a post on X, the prize winner's foundation said "there is still no independent or verifiable information about her health or condition, a situation that is deeply concerning."
Iranian State TV Host Fired For Mocking Dead Protesters
An Iranian state television program sparked widespread public anger after airing a show that mocked victims killed amid a brutal crackdown on protesters. Even state-linked media and conservative voices criticized the program, which was taken off the air. The channel's director and host were dismissed as a response.
Iran Publishes Protest Death List, But Rights Groups Say Toll Is Far Higher
The government of Iran's reformist President Masud Pezeshkian has published the names and national ID numbers of 2,985 individuals killed during recent nationwide protests.
The publication of the government-sanctioned list on February 2 has transformed newsstands into grim memorials, triggering debate over whether the move represents a genuine breakthrough in transparency or a calculated attempt to sanitize a far larger tragedy.
Released by the Pezeshkian administration, the list identifies nearly 3,000 victims. State-aligned newspapers prominently displayed the names on their front pages, portraying the disclosure as evidence of the government's "courageous transparency."
To read the full news report by RFE/RL's Radio Farda, click here.