00:00Good evening. You are watching World News. Tonight, we are tracking nuclear diplomacy
00:05and military signaling in West Asia. Iran fortifies its nuclear facilities,
00:10even as talks with Washington resume in Oman. Opposition voices warn of escalating repression
00:15inside Iran. Questions emerge over possible military shipments involving Russia and China,
00:21and the United States issues fresh navigation warnings in the Strait of Hormuz.
00:27We begin with the uneasy balance between diplomacy and deterrence,
00:31negotiations on one side, strategic progressions on the other.
00:38Iran's senior security official Ali Lajani is in Muscat, Oman, as Tehran and Washington resume
00:45nuclear negotiations under Omani mediation. The visit comes amid fresh satellite imagery
00:50showing activity at Iran's key nuclear facilities in Natanz and Ishfahan.
00:56Sites previously targeted during last year's strikes by Israel and the United States.
01:02Reports now suggest Tehran is reinforcing these installations,
01:06potentially to protect critical infrastructure as diplomacy continues.
01:10Here's the report.
01:12Something is changing beneath the desert outside Isfahan, and the world is watching with growing alarm.
01:20New satellite imagery reveals that every visible tunnel entrance at Iran's key nuclear complex
01:26has been covered with tons of earth and reinforced ground layers. Analysts say the work was carried
01:32out rapidly and deliberately, not routine maintenance. The images show fresh soil, new vehicle tracks,
01:39and construction patterns consistent with emergency hardening. For intelligence officials,
01:44the message is clear. Iran is bracing for war, expecting that its most sensitive nuclear heart
01:51could soon be targeted from the sky or from the ground. Military experts warn the move is not symbolic,
01:58it is defensive engineering designed to survive an attack. By burying access points, Iran could reduce
02:06the blast effects of bunker buster bombs, complicate any special forces raid, and shield centrifuges or
02:12enriched uranium stored deep underground. Similar fortifications were spotted only days before the massive
02:19operation of Operation Midnight Hammer last year, when American forces struck Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan in a
02:26coordinated assault. That precedent now hangs over every new satellite frame. Officials say Iran appears to be
02:33planning for the worst case scenario, another wave of precision strikes. On June 22, 2025, that scenario became
02:43reality. The United States launched one of the largest air operations in modern
02:49Middle East history aimed at crippling Iran's nuclear program. 125 aircraft crossed continents,
02:56some flying as decoys over the Pacific, while stealth bombers slipped toward Iranian airspace undetected.
03:03Two dozen cruise missiles were fired from a submarine at Isfahan as B-2 bombers delivered waves of
03:10precision munitions. Washington later said the strikes had significantly set back Iran's ability to build a
03:16nuclear weapon, though Iran insisted its program would continue. The most dramatic blows fell on Fordow,
03:24the mountain-buried enrichment plant considered the crown jewel of Iran's ambitions. 14 GBU-57 massive
03:33ordinance penetrators, the heaviest conventional bombs in the American arsenal, were unleashed to punch
03:38through dozens of meters of rock and concrete. Each weapon weighs 30,000 pounds and can burrow 60 meters
03:46into Earth before exploding. Only the United States possesses them. Military planners believed they were
03:53the only tools capable of reaching the hidden chambers where advanced centrifuges spin beyond the reach of
03:59inspectors. After the attacks, President Donald Trump appeared on television with a stark ultimatum,
04:05agree to a deal or face far greater action. He said, remember, there are many targets left.
04:13Since then, the region has slid toward open confrontation as Israel and Iran trade blows and diplomacy stalls.
04:21Now, with Isfahan's tunnels disappearing under fresh layers of soil, fears are rising that Iran expects the
04:28next round at any moment. The sealed entrances are more than construction. They are a signal that Iran
04:35believes the countdown has begun and that the next strike could decide the future of the Middle East.
04:41Iranian Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi has described the regime's crackdown on protesters as a, quote,
04:49genocide in the making, unquote, alleging the use of lethal force against unarmed civilians.
04:55In an interview with the American radio host Hugh Hewitt, Pahlavi called for stronger international
05:01intervention against the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, accusing it of brutalizing Iranian citizens.
05:08Here's more in this report.
05:10President Trump must take decisive military action to stop the Iranian regime from slaughtering its own
05:18people. These are the words of Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran's last Shah and a prominent
05:25opposition figure living in the United States. His fiery appeals come as anti-government protests
05:31engulfed Iran and the Islamic Republic responds with unprecedented brutality. Pahlavi is called on the U.S.
05:39and international community to conduct surgical strikes against the Islamic Revolutionary Guard
05:46Corps, Iran's paramilitary backbone, describing it as the regime's main instrument of repression. He argues
05:54that neutralizing IRGC command structures and assets could weaken the government's deadly crackdown,
06:01save lives, and accelerate its collapse, all without a full-scale war. The unrest in Iran began in late
06:09December 2025, triggered by economic collapse, runaway inflation, and the Rial losing nearly half its value.
06:18Protests quickly spread to all 31 provinces, with citizens chanting against the regime, waving pre-1979
06:27symbols and voicing support for Pahlavi. The government's response was swift and brutal. Nationwide internet
06:34blackouts, mass arrests, executions, and lethal force reportedly killing thousands. The violence peaked
06:42after Pahlavi publicly called for coordinated nationwide demonstrations in early January 2026.
06:50Pahlavi emphasizes that the regime is on its last leg and presents the U.S. with a rare window for decisive
06:58support. On February 9, 2026, in a Hugh Hewitt radio interview, he reiterated his call for military
07:06strikes, warning that delays could lead to more bloodshed, even what he described as a genocide in the making.
07:13He framed U.S. intervention as essential to level the playing field between unarmed protesters and heavily
07:21armed state forces, tying it to Trump's earlier promise that help is on the way. President Trump has
07:28publicly threatened very strong action if killings continue, but has also expressed skepticism about
07:35Pahlavi's ability to rally support inside Iran. No direct strikes have yet been confirmed, even as U.S.
07:43fleet movements in the region and indirect nuclear talks mediated by Oman unfold in parallel.
07:50The next weeks could shape Iran's future. Targeted strikes on IRGC leadership might embolden protesters,
07:58fracture regime loyalty, and hasten a transition to democracy, potentially positioning Pahlavi
08:05as a central figure. But any military action risks retaliation against U.S. or Israeli assets,
08:13raising the specter of a wider regional conflict. Without intervention, the regime may temporarily
08:19suppress the uprising, though underlying grievances would likely resurface. Pahlavi's broader vision
08:26includes maximum economic pressure on the regime, free Internet access via tools like Starlink,
08:33the release of political prisoners, expulsion of regime diplomats, and international recognition of
08:40transitional authorities. His urgent appeals are more than rhetoric. They are a call to action,
08:46a warning, and a plea for the world to support Iran's embattled citizens. The protests may be suppressed,
08:54or they may ignite the regime's collapse. The question now looms large. Will the International
09:01Community Act, or will the bloodshed continue? Flight tracking reports indicate unusual cargo
09:08aircraft movements involving Iran, Russia, and China. One Iranian Boeing 747 cargo aircraft reportedly
09:16arrived in Tehran from Moscow, while another departed Tehran for an undisclosed destination in China. The
09:23developments come amid claims that military equipment from Russia and China has been entering Iran in
09:29recent months, a signal that regional tensions may be driving deeper strategic coordination.
09:36Just days ago, an Iranian Boeing 747 cargo plane landed in Tehran. The flight originated from Moscow and has drawn
09:51attention amid ongoing military cooperation between Russia and Iran. According to flight tracking data and
10:00social media observers, the Iranian-operated freighter arrived at Tehran, likely landing at Imam Khomeini
10:09International Airport, or Marabad. The aircraft is reported to be Iranian-registered or operated,
10:17possibly by Mahan Air or another cargo carrier, but details like flight number or exact registration have not been
10:26confirmed. Around the same time, another Iranian Boeing 747 departed Tehran, headed for an unknown
10:35destination in China. Analysts say these flights are part of a pattern of increased cargo activity,
10:43involving Russia, Iran, and China, potentially transporting large volumes of military equipment.
10:50Russia has supplied Iran with systems like attack helicopters, including the M-28 Havoc, and air
11:00defense components. Much of this hardware is transported via heavy-lift aircraft, such as IL-76s,
11:09including Russian or Belarusian-minked planes that have landed in Tehran recently. Observers suggest the
11:17Iranian-747 from Moscow may have been carrying sensitive or military cargo, although no official
11:25details on the manifest have been released. Iran and Russia maintain close defense partnerships, including
11:33arms deals and joint support in regional conflicts. No official statements from Iranian or Russian
11:41authorities have clarified the flight's purpose, passengers or cargo. Such flights often operate with limited
11:49public tracking, due to sanctions on Iranian airlines and the sensitive nature of the routes. Mainstream media
11:58coverage remains limited, with most information coming from aviation enthusiasts, defense analysts, and social media
12:06posts citing flight radar data. This recent airlift is the latest sign of growing military and logistics cooperation
12:16between Russia, Iran, and China, and it highlights how air routes remain key to moving strategic equipment in the region.
12:27The United States has issued fresh guidelines to American-flagged commercial vessels operating in
12:32the Strait of Hormuz, warning them to avoid Iranian territorial waters. The US Maritime Administration has
12:40also instructed ship crews not to resist if Iranian forces attempt to board vessels in the strategic
12:47waterway, a sign of rising operational risk in the region. Watch this report telling you the gravity of the situation.
12:55The message from Washington lands like a storm siren over the Gulf. American-flagged ships are being told to
13:02steer clear of Iranian waters and ignore any boarding commands from Tehran's forces.
13:09The warning reflects a fear inside the White House that Iran may try to seize a US vessel as leverage in
13:16the escalating standoff. The Strait of Hormuz, the narrow artery carrying a fifth of the world's oil,
13:23suddenly feels like a front line. Every radar blip, every radio call, now carries the risk of a spark
13:31that could ignite a regional war. That danger came into focus this week when the US-flagged tanker,
13:38Stena Imperative, was shadowed by three pairs of Iranian Revolutionary Guard Boats while passing north of Oman.
13:46Armed crews attempted to hail the ship over VHF radio, demanding it stop. The captain kept his course,
13:53refusing the order as a US warship moved in to escort the tanker to safety. British maritime monitors
14:00confirmed the tense encounter, and the UK maritime trade operations launched an investigation. Iranian
14:07media later claimed the vessel had strayed into their waters without permits, insisting it left
14:13without any special security event, a version Washington openly doubts. Behind the incident
14:20lies a broader game of brinksmanship. Senior commanders of the Revolutionary Guards warned
14:26only days ago that they could shut the Strait of Hormuz entirely if the United States launches strikes.
14:32Tehran sees the waterway as its ultimate pressure card. The world sees it as an economic lifeline.
14:39Tensions have soared since President Donald Trump declared Iran's supreme leader should be
14:45very worried and signaled he is ready to use force if nuclear talks fail. His envoy Steve
14:51Whitcoff and Jared Kushner visited the USS Abraham Lincoln after talks with Iran, a symbolic reminder
14:59that diplomacy is unfolding under the shadow of American firepower. That firepower is now gathering
15:06across the region. The Abraham Lincoln carrier group, backed by guided missile destroyers loaded with
15:12tomahawks, patrols the North Arabian Sea. Dozens of US aircraft, from fighters to surveillance drones and
15:19refueling planes, have surged into bases like Al-Udeed in Qatar. Defense officials say the deployments
15:26create the architecture for strikes, though no final order has been given. Protest messages from Trump to the
15:33Iranian people, satellite images of new squadrons, and the latest naval confrontation all point in
15:40one direction. The countdown may already be running. The question echoing from Washington to Tehran is
15:46stark. Is this deterrence or the final approach to war?
15:50That's all in this edition of World News. As diplomacy, military positioning and internal
15:59unrest converge around Iran, the coming weeks could prove critical for regional stability
16:04and global energy security.
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