Iran, FT: secret arms deal with Moscow. New Washington-Tehran meeting on Thursday

According to the Financial Times, Iran has reached a secret $500 million deal with Russia for the purchase of thousands of advanced shoulder-fired missiles. According to sources, the deal was signed last December in Moscow and provides for Russia to deliver 500 Verba, one of the most advanced Russian air defence systems, and 2,500 '9M336' missiles.

Iran designates the 'naval and air forces' of EU member states as terrorist organisations. This is Tehran's response to the "illegal and unjustified decision" taken last Thursday by the European Council, which placed the Revolutionary Guards on the list of terrorist organisations, following the agreement of the Foreign Affairs Council on 29 January. This was stated in a statement by the Iranian Foreign Ministry.

"The EU governments' decision is contrary to the fundamental principles of the United Nations Charter," reads the statement, which cites a 2019 Iranian law, passed after the United States designated the Revolutionary Guards as terrorist organisations, which states that "all countries that in any way respect or support the US decision will be subject to reciprocal measures." On 1 February, the Iranian parliament designated the 'European armies' as terrorist organisations.

The US is ready for a new round of talks with Iran Friday in Geneva if a detailed Iranian proposal for a nuclear deal is received within the next 48 hours. Axios reports this, citing US officials, who say the current diplomatic push is probably the last chance President Trump will give Iran before launching a massive US-Israeli military operation that could directly target Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Oman's Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi confirmed that the US and Iran will hold a another round of negotiations in Geneva on Thursday. "There will be a positive push to take another step towards concluding the agreement," he wrote on X, according to Ynet reports.