Intelligence suggesting new nuclear cooperation between Iran and Russia adds to concerns over Tehran’s rising uranium stockpile

Iran's foreign minister said that Tehran was open to diplomacy to solve disputes but not "threats and pressure", state media reported on Saturday, after the U.S. and three European powers imposed sanctions against the country's aviation sector.

Iran has denied accusations from the U.S. and European allies that it delivered ballistic missiles to Russia for use in Ukraine. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi emphasized that these claims are based on faulty intelligence and reiterated that sanctions imposed on Iran are contributing to the issue rather than resolving it.

A senior Russian official visited Iran on Tuesday, likely to bolster missile supplies, experts said. His visit came days after a trip to North Korea.

Russia's top security official Sergei Shoigu traveled to Iran less than a week after he met with North Korea's Kim Jong Un amid U.S. concerns that Russia is expanding its nuclear ties with adversaries.