Iran FM accuses West of ‘shameful hypocrisy’Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has sharply criticised France and other Western countries over their stance on human rights and Iran’s treatment of protesters. Araghchi accused Western governments of adopting double standards by condemning Tehran over its response to domestic unrest while, in his view, failing to take meaningful action over Israel’s conduct in Gaza and the wider Middle East. In a statement on X, the Iranian foreign minister said countries such as France should stop giving lectures to others on human rights and international law. He described what he called Western hypocrisy as both “clear and shameful,” arguing that their policies had undermined their claims of moral authority. Araghchi also criticised Western support for Israel, saying that backing Israel during the Gaza conflict and what he described as aggression against Iran had damaged the credibility of Western governments on human rights issues. His comments came after the European Union and 20 other countries issued a joint statement expressing concern over the deaths of protesters in Iran. The countries called on the Iranian authorities to take meaningful measures to protect human rights. They also urged Tehran to end the use of the death penalty and release people who had allegedly been detained arbitrarily. Araghchi rejected the criticism and questioned the consistency of Western governments’ positions on human rights. The dispute highlights growing tensions between Iran and Western nations over the treatment of protesters, the use of capital punishment and the broader conflict in the Middle East. Iran has repeatedly accused Western governments of interfering in its internal affairs and applying selective standards to international human rights issues. Western governments, meanwhile, have continued to raise concerns about the treatment of protesters and detainees in Iran.

US President Donald Trump has said that any future civilian nuclear agreement between the United States and Saudi Arabia will depend on the kingdom joining the Abraham Accords, the US-backed agreements aimed at normalising relations with Israel. Trump said Washington has no objection to Saudi Arabia developing civilian nuclear facilities as long as they are used only for peaceful purposes. He stressed that the proposed cooperation would focus on non-military nuclear energy, similar to civilian programmes in other countries. The proposed agreement would allow Saudi Arabia to enrich uranium and develop nuclear reactors with American technology. However, the deal reportedly does not require Riyadh to accept additional international inspections that are designed to detect undeclared nuclear activities. The absence of these extra safeguards has drawn attention because similar measures have been considered important in previous nuclear agreements. Saudi Arabia has been working for years to establish a civilian nuclear programme as part of its broader economic diversification strategy. The kingdom says nuclear energy will help reduce dependence on oil and meet future energy demand. Saudi leaders have also stated in the past that if Iran were to develop nuclear weapons, Riyadh would seek the same capability to maintain the regional balance. The latest remarks come as tensions between the United States and Iran continue to intensify. Iran’s Foreign Ministry warned American military personnel against carrying out attacks on civilian infrastructure. Tehran said targeting facilities such as bridges and power plants could amount to war crimes under international law. Iranian officials argued that following military orders would not protect individuals from legal responsibility if unlawful attacks were carried out. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington’s main objective remains preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. He accused Tehran of repeatedly violating agreements and said the Iranian government continues to support armed groups across the Middle East instead of focusing on its economy and people. Rubio also urged Yemen’s Houthi movement to avoid becoming more deeply involved in the conflict. He warned that further attacks could increase instability across the region and create additional security challenges. At the same time, Oman announced that it is working with Saudi Arabia, the United Nations and other regional partners to restart Yemen’s political peace process. Muscat called on all sides to avoid further escalation in the Red Sea and to protect international shipping routes. The Houthis claimed responsibility for missile and drone attacks on two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea. The group said the strikes were part of its maritime blockade campaign. Saudi authorities confirmed that one tanker was damaged and caught fire after the attack, while the status of the second vessel remained unclear. The attacks have raised fresh concerns about the security of one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes. Several commercial oil tankers have reportedly changed their routes to avoid the Red Sea, increasing transportation costs and raising fears of further disruption to global energy supplies. Elsewhere in the region, Bahrain activated emergency warning sirens following reports of a possible Iranian attack. Authorities urged residents to remain calm and move to safe locations while monitoring the situation. Jordan also said its air defence systems intercepted several missiles and drones approaching its airspace. The Jordanian military confirmed there were no casualties or damage and said security forces remain on high alert. Meanwhile, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard claimed it had carried out attacks on US military facilities in Jordan and Kuwait. The group alleged that it struck missile defence systems, military equipment and logistical sites. There was no immediate confirmation of those claims from either Jordan or Kuwait.