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U.S. Secret Service agents and local police shot and killed an armed man who allegedly breached a secure perimeter at Mar-a-Lago and raised a gun at law enforcement officials in the early hours of Sunday, Feb. 22.

A security detail detected the man near the north gate of PresidentDonald Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida, at about 1:30 a.m. local time. Authorities said he was carrying a shotgun and a fuel can. The president was in Washington during the incident and not at his property.

Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw told reporters that the man reached the property's inner perimeter near its entrance, prompting a sheriff's deputy and two Secret Service agents to go to the area and investigate.

"They confronted a White male that was carrying a gas can and a shotgun," Bradshaw said. "He was ordered to drop those two pieces of equipment that he had with him, at which time he put down the gas can, raised the shotgun to a shooting position. At that point in time, the deputy and the two Secret Service agents fired their weapons and neutralized the threat."

The man was pronounced dead at the scene, Bradshaw said, and no agents were injured.

Nobody who receives protection from the Secret Service was present at the time of the shooting, Secret Service communication chief Anthony Guglielmi said innews release.

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Officials have not released the man's identity, but they said he was in his early 20s. When asked if the man was already known to law enforcement, Bradshaw said "not right now." He said he could not yet confirm how many shots were fired because the incident remains under active investigation, with the FBI taking lead.

Authorities asked people who live in the area to look at any security footage they may have from around their homes and report anything suspicious to the FBI or local authorities.

In aposton social media, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the Secret Service "acted quickly and decisively to neutralize a crazy person." She also slammed Democrats for the ongoingpartial government shutdown,during which the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees the Secret Service, has faced a lapse in funding.

In September 2024, Trump was targeted in an assassination attempt while he golfed at his club in suburban West Palm Beach, a short drive from Mar-a-Lago.RyanWesley Routhwas found guilty of attempting to assassinate the then-presidential nominee. It was the second attempt on Trump's life in the run-up to the November 2024 election, preceded by the shooting in July at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.

In January 2020, a woman drove an SUV through barriers at Mar-a-Lago, prompting the Secret Service and Palm Beach County sheriff's officers to fire at her vehicle. The woman, opera singer Hannah Roemhild, was found not guilty byreason of insanity.

Kathryn Palmer is a politics reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her atkapalmer@usatoday.comand on X @KathrynPlmr. Sign up for her daily politics newsletterhere.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Man shot and killed after allegedly breaching Mar-a-Lago

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A Colombian congresswoman whose conservative party is closely aligned with the right-wing ideologies of US President Donald Trump says her son was detained last month by ICE agents amid the US crackdown on immigration.

Ángela Vergara says she decided to go public with the case last week in part because her son has not yet been allowed to return to Colombia despite having requested voluntary departure, but also to raise awareness about the harsh conditions Colombian immigrants are facing in the US.

The case has sparked a debate online, with critics questioning why Vergara, a member of a party that often backs Trump, came out in defense of immigrants only after her son's detention.

Vergara has pushed back against the criticism, insisting that she has never supported immigration policies that she says violate human rights.

"This isn't a political issue; it's really a human rights issue," she told CNN. "Being a conservative politician doesn't mean I agree with human rights violations in Colombia or anywhere else in the world."

ICE detention

Vergara says her son Rafael, 23, has been locked up for more than 20 days at the River Correctional Detention Center in Louisiana, in what she describes as "inhumane conditions." She says he is being held along with a number of Colombians waiting for a repatriation flight home.

"He told me that he was with 70 people in a cell, that they had gone 12 hours the day before without drinking water, (and) everyone was sick," Vergara recounted to CNN.

The congresswoman said Rafael had been detained by ICE agents after a routine inspection while driving a commercial cargo truck in Louisiana.

She insists Rafael has been living in the US legally with a work permit and paying into social security. She says he applied for asylum a year after arriving in 2022 and was awaiting an asylum hearing scheduled for 2028.

CNN has reached out to the US Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE, for more information.

After learning of her son's arrest, Vergara said the family requested his voluntary return to Colombia, thinking it would be the quickest way to resolve the matter. But more than 20 days after his arrest, she says her son remains in detention.

She attributes the delay to a "bottleneck" in the repatriation process that has left thousands of Colombians stranded in the US waiting for a limited number of flights.

Colombia signed an agreement earlier this month to resume repatriation flights from the US. Foreign Minister Rosa Villavicencio said that approximately one flight per week would be carried out over the next few months.

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Vergara says she has asked the Colombian government to expedite transfers and increase the frequency of humanitarian flights.

Controversy over ideology

Vergara's Conservative Party maintains many positions that are more aligned with the American right than with Colombia's left-wing government led by President Gustavo Petro and has often expressed support for the Republican Party in the US.

In 2024, the Colombian Conservatives "celebrated" the electoral victories of Trump and his fellow Republicans in the House and Senate.

Last year, when the Trump administration decertified Colombia as a partner in the fight against drug trafficking, the partycondemned,not Trump, but Colombia's president for criticizing the US leader. It issued a statement pledging to support the US drug fighting measures.

In September, after the killing of prominent US conservative activist Charlie Kirk, Vergaraexpressed condolencesand support for the activist, saying, "His departure represents a loss for those of us who firmly defend life, family, and freedom."

Still, despite sharing some views with the American right, Vergara insists she doesn't support inhumane immigration policies.

"I have always demanded due process and humane treatment for Colombians, both inside and outside the country," she recently wrote on X.

Vergara says her conversative leanings have caused people to make false assumptions about her.

This week, she denied being a member of the group "Latinas for Trump," as many people online have alleged. She also denied that she celebrated the deportations of Latinos or called for a US invasion of Colombia.

On Tuesday, social media users and some news outlets shared a video of a woman dancing in a MAGA hat, whom they incorrectly identified as Vergara.

The video was also shared by Petro, who later took down his post after Vergara denied it was her in it.

In his post, Petro had also addressed the detention of Vergara's son and asked the Colombian Embassy in Washington to provide him with consular assistance: "No matter the paradox, the Colombian embassy in the US must help … this Colombian congresswoman to recover her son."

CNN has reached out to the Colombian presidency for comment on the matter.

Vergara told CNN she thought it was positive that Petro addressed the issue but insisted that he needs to respond to her request for humanitarian flights.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account atCNN.com

VERONA, Italy, Feb 22 (Reuters) - Hundreds of people marched through the streets of Verona a few hours ‌before the Olympics closing ceremony to protest against housing ‌costs and environmental concerns linked to the Winter Games.

Demonstration under the slogan "Olympics - No Thanks" on the day of the Winter Olympics closing ceremony, in Verona

The ceremony, scheduled for ​8:30 p.m. (1930 GMT), will take place inside Verona's ancient Roman arena.

The rally, "Olympics? No thanks", was organised by university groups and associations that oppose hosting an event they say disrupts forests, ‌pours concrete onto fragile ⁠land and deepens social inequality.

"We are here to defend our territory from speculation... and from the ⁠impossible cost of attending events," said Giannina Dal Bosco, a 76‑year‑old activist, noting that tickets for a seat at the ​closing ceremony ​cost about 400 euros.

One banner ​read: "Fewer Games for the ‌few, more homes for everyone."

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Francesca, 34, who travelled from Vicenza, about 60 km away, said the landscape had been "disfigured" by new Olympic structures.

"They built concrete monstrosities like the bobsleigh track, which will serve no purpose," she said. "Public money has been ‌wasted that could have been ​used for hydrogeological safety and housing ​plans."

Several protesters wore keffiyeh ​scarves and waved Palestinian flags.

Protesters planned to march ‌for around two hours outside ​the security perimeter, ​from the 16th‑century Porta Palio to the 19th‑century Arsenal Square.

A much larger demonstration — drawing nearly 10,000 people — took ​place in Milan ‌on the first day of the Games and later ​turned violent.

(Reporting by Emilio Parodi, writing by Giselda ​Vagnoni, ediitng by Ed Osmond)

51 years ago today,David Bowiemade a move that few rock stars at the height of their fame would dare attempt.

On February 21, 1975, the released "Young Americans," a single that signaled a dramaticdeparture from the glittering glam personathat had defined his early '70ssuccess. The man who had soared into pop culture as Ziggy Stardust pivoted sharply into what he famously called "plastic soul," embracing American R&B with aconfidencethat both surprised and divided fans.

The track—later featured on theYoung Americansalbum released a month later in March 1975—wasn't just an experiment. It was a reinvention. Bowie traveled to Philadelphia to record at Sigma Sound Studios, immersing himself in the rich textures of the city's soul movement. ProducerTony Visconti, who had worked with Bowie since 1968, recalled the initial resistance they faced. "We were going to the birthplace of so many hits," Visconti toldThe Postin March 2025."But [Kenny] Gamble and [Leon] Huff, they didn't want to work with us." He added, "They actually said, 'We don't want no white boy stealing ourmusic' or something like that."

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Undeterred, Bowie built his own soul-infused band, bringing in musicians likeAndy Newmark,Willie Weeks,David Sanborn, and a risingLuther Vandrosson backing vocals. And that reinvention also led to an unexpected chart milestone later that year.

During theYoung Americanssessions in New York,John Lennonstopped by the studio—and what began as a loose jam sessionturned into something much bigger. Bowie and guitaristCarlos Alomarhad been working on a groove when Lennon started improvising over it, playfully repeating a word that caught Bowie's attention: "Fame."

The song went on to become Bowie's first No. 1 hit in the United States, topping the Billboard Hot 100, proving his reinvention paid off at the highest level.

Bowie died in 2016 at 69 from liver cancer.

This story was originally published byParadeon Feb 21, 2026, where it first appeared in theNewssection. Add Parade as aPreferred Source by clicking here.

John Parra/Getty Images for iHeartRadio

NEED TO KNOW

• The Backstreet Boys were formed in the early '90s and tell PEOPLE their pre-show ritual looks different from what it did 30 years ago

• When talking to PEOPLE, the band says that they all stretch before their shows

• "90% of the show is full-out dancing. So we gotta be as limber as we can be," McLean says

TheBackstreet Boysare back, and they're doing a few things differently than before.

The band — composed ofAJ McLean,Kevin Richardson,Howie Dorough,Nick Carter, andBrian Littrell— tells PEOPLE they've added a few things to their pre-show ritual during their residency at Las Vegas' Sphere that they didn't do when they were younger, mainly, "stretching."

"I think everybody's different. I know for me personally, I try to just have a complete quiet stretch, I do a quick little meditation and I've got some weights that I'll do a little bit of weightlifting and stretching and whatnot," McLean, 48, shares.

Scott Dudelson/Getty

"For a long stretch there, I would look at all of us in the dressing room, and maybe one of us might be stretching, but for the most part, we weren't," he adds. "Now I'm pretty sure we're all stretching before a show, before vocal warmups. About 90% of the show is full-out dancing. So we gotta be as limber as we can be."

While they've always prayed before their performances, even that looks a little different now.

"We pray that we don't fall, we pray we don't break an ankle, we get the lyrics, pray we don't pop [an] Achilles heel," Carter, 46, says.

No matter what, McLean notes that they make sure to have a moment together before stepping on stage.

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"We've always had a circle up, whether it's just us five or it's us and our crew, our management, families, our close-knit team. No matter what, us five circle up, that's something we do unified," McLean shares.

The band has changed a lot since they formed in 1993, and they are the first to admit it.

"I sounded like Mickey Mouse back then. I just had a very different voice," Carter shares. "I was younger, so all of our voices have matured. I think the 30-something years, how many shows that we've done, how many albums we've put out... I mean, it's just a natural progression of getting a little bit better. So I think maybe a better version of ourselves."

Dorough, 52, adds that they "maybe have an extra wrinkle or two as well."

"Well, a little bit more back pain, but aside from that, yes," McLean responds.

Recently, the Backstreet Boys teamed up with comedian Druski and musicianMGKfor aT-Mobile adat this year'sSuper Bowl LX, for which they reworked the lyrics to their song "I Want It That Way."

"You don't take moments like this for granted. We've been fortunate to perform all over the world, and coming together in Times Square to shoot a Super Bowl commercial with T-Mobile was a pretty surreal experience," Richardson, 54, tells PEOPLE. "Seeing the response from the fans and feeling that love year after year is a beautiful thing."

Read the original article onPeople

Everett (3)

Finding a movie that the whole family wants to watch isn't easy. Luckily, HBO Max has a treasure trove of family-friendly films to choose from, including classics likeThe Wizard of Oz(1939) andTime Bandits(1981), and modern animated favorites likeThe LEGO Batman Movie(2017) and the Oscar-winnerFlow(2024).

The streamer also carries several works from the beloved Japanese animation studio Studio Ghibli, whose films provide a refreshing alternative to Disney and DreamWorks fare. Ahead, find our guide to the 13 best family movies streaming now on HBO Max.

Blue Beetle(2023)

Warner Bros.

The first superhero movie with a Latino protagonist,Blue Beetlestars Xolo Maridueña as Jaime, a recent college grad who accidentally ends up bonding with an ancient alien relic that turns him into a high-flying vigilante. But Jaime isn't alone in fighting against evil corporate androids: When he needs help, his Mexican American family works together to rescue him.Entertainment Weekly's writer appreciates how"Blue Beetleis one of the rare opportunities to celebrate a specific part of the Latin community, and it revels in that specificity, only adding more heart to Jaime's journey to becoming a hero."—Danny Horn

Where to watchBlue Beetle: HBO Max

EW grade:B+

Director:Ángel Manuel Soto

Cast:Xolo Maridueña, Adriana Barraza, George Lopez, Susan Sarandon, Harvey Guillén

The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie(2024)

Ketchup Entertainment/Courtesy Everett Collection

This hysterical sci-fi comedy had the honor of being the first original all-animatedLooney Tunesfilm released in theaters.The Day the Earth Blew Upfinds Daffy Duck and Porky Pig trying to ward off an alien invasion. After learning of a clever chewing gum-related mind control scheme devised by the mysterious Invader (Peter MacNicol), Daffy and Porky desperately try to warn the skeptical public. Packed with meta humor (our heroes are well aware they're in a movie) and fun references to cult classic B-movies of the '50s, the film skillfully rides that classic Looney Tunes line of appealing to kids and adults alike. —Kevin Jacobsen

Where to watchThe Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie: HBO Max

Director:Pete Browngardt

Cast:Eric Bauza, Candi Milo, Peter MacNicol

Flow(2024)

Courtesy of Sideshow and Janus Films

This dialogue-free Latvian animated film speaks to the power of visuals to tell a universal story. The film centers on a cat that tries to survive a devastating flood alongside a diverse group of animals, including a capybara, a lemur, and a Labrador Retriever. With no humans in sight, the animals must rely on their own instincts to find safe ground as the water continues to rise. Even if you're not a cat person, it's nearly impossible not to be by the film's end;Flowalso made history in 2025 as the first independent film towin the Oscar for Best Animated Feature. —K.J.

Where to watchFlow: HBO Max

Director:Gints Zilbalodis

Kiki's Delivery Service(1989)

A warm-hearted anime fromStudio Ghibli,Kiki's Delivery Servicefollows the titular 13-year-old witch (Minami Takayama;Kirsten Dunstin the English dub) as she leaves home with her black cat, Jiji (Rei Sakuma; Phil Hartman in the English dub), and embarks on a year-long journey of self-discovery in another village. Using her magic broom, Kiki opens a flying courier service and begins to experience both the satisfaction and the difficulties of independence and self-reliance. Kiki's struggles with self-consciousness and doubt will be familiar to any kid who's had to adjust to a new situation, and the exquisitely rendered character animation makes the film an enchanting trip.—D.H.

Where to watchKiki's Delivery Service: HBO Max

Director:Hayao Miyazaki

Cast:Kirsten Dunst, Janeane Garofalo, Phil Hartman, Debbie Reynolds

The LEGO Batman Movie(2017)

A buzzy sugar rush of villains, explosions, and bat-guitar solos,The LEGO Batman Moviesets out to be the ultimate kid-friendly superhero comedy, deftly skewering every pretentious, bloated summer blockbuster. The Joker (Zach Galifianakis) is crushed when Batman (Will Arnett) refuses to admit that he's the hero's "greatest enemy," so the offended clown prince of crime recruits every baddie in the multiverse, including velociraptors and Voldemort.

EW's critic writes, "Seventy-five percent of the film's carpet-­bomb campaign of pop culture meta punchlines will ricochet over the target audience's head, but parents dragged along for the ride will no doubt be grateful for Arnett's rat-a-tat send-ups of Adam West and superhero clichés."—D.H.

Where to watchThe LEGO Batman Movie: HBO Max

EW grade:B+

Director:Chris McKay

Cast:Will Arnett, Zach Galifianakis, Michael Cera, Rosario Dawson, Ralph Fiennes

My Neighbor Totoro(1988)

Tokuma Enterprises/Kobal Collection

My Neighbor Totoroisn't the only Studio Ghibli film on this list, but it's arguably the sweetest. Two young girls move with their father to a house in the country while their mother is recovering in the hospital, and they discover a giant, furry wood spirit in the nearby forest. Totoro doesn't speak, but he's a gentle and reassuring presence who creates magical, dream-like experiences for the girls. It's not a fast-moving film, but the whimsical and even sometimes scary elements make for a fun, imagination-inspiring watch.—D.H.

Where to watchMy Neighbor Totoro: HBO Max

Director:Hayao Miyazaki

Cast:Tim Daly, Dakota Fanning, Elle Fanning, Lea Salonga

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Ponyo(2008)

In another stunning Studio Ghibli anime, a little boy and a magical goldfish princess form an unlikely friendship. Ponyo's desire to become a human girl and join Sosuke on land is so strong that it overpowers her wizard father's enchantments, leading to an explosion of aquatic energy that endangers Sosuke's seaside village. As the waters rise, the two children set out on a quest to save the town and restore the balance of nature. DirectorHayao Miyazaki's lush, colorful backgrounds give the film a hand-crafted feel, blurring the distinction between land and sea.—D.H.

Where to watchPonyo: HBO Max

Director:Hayao Miyazaki

Cast:Cate Blanchett, Noah Cyrus, Matt Damon, Tina Fey, Frankie Jonas

Porco Rosso(1992)

Porco Rosso has all the markings of a cynical World War I veteran...except for the fact that he's been mysteriously cursed with a pig's head. As such, the Italian fighter pilot now spends most of his time as a bounty hunter hired to attack air pirates. He eventually meets his match when the pirates hire an American pilot, Donald Curtis, to take him down. Animation legend Hayao Miyazaki crafts a clever historical fiction story that appeals to both kids and adults, with eye-popping aerial battles and potent themes of war and political resistance. And let's never forget Porco Rosso's timeless words: "I'd rather be a pig than a fascist." —K.J.

Where to watchPorco Rosso: HBO Max

Director:Hayao Miyazaki

Cast:Michael Keaton, Cary Elwes, Kimberly Williams-Paisley, Susan Egan, David Ogden Stiers

Shaun the Sheep Movie(2015)

Alamy Stock Photo

This delightful stop-motion comedy from the world ofWallace & Gromitbrilliantly tells its story without a word of dialogue. The film centers on the titular farm sheep as he devises a plan to make the farmer fall asleep so he and his flock can finally have a day off from work, though the scheme quickly goes awry. When the farmer is accidentally driven away in a van and bumps his head, he loses his memory, prompting his flock to try to find him and make him remember who he is. Packed with cleverly devised gags that entertain audiences of all ages,EW's critic callsShaun the Sheep Movie"contagiously cute." —K.J.

Where to watchShaun the Sheep Movie: HBO Max

Directors:Mark Burton, Richard Starzak

Cast:Justin Fletcher, John Sparkes, Omid Djalili

Spirited Away(2001)

Walt Disney Pictures/Everett Collection

If you've ever wondered why it's a bad idea to visit an abandoned roadside amusement park, Studio Ghibli has the answer: Your parents will turn into giant pigs, and you'll be left on your own to deal with the resident ghosts, witches, and river sprites.Spirited Awaycreates a new, fascinating mythology with its own mysterious rules and customs, pitting 10-year-old Chihiro against dragons and demons with only her strength of will to guide her. The film can get a little scary at times for younger viewers, but both parents and kids will be captivated by its haunting beauty.—D.H.

Where to watchSpirited Away: HBO Max

Director:Hayao Miyazaki

Cast:Daveigh Chase, Jason Marsden, Suzanne Pleshette, Michael Chiklis

Time Bandits(1981)

Twentieth Century Fox/Everett Collection

A young boy is swept into a wild adventure when six squabbling dwarves appear, looking for a magical portal on the other side of his bedroom wall. The intruders have swiped a map from the Supreme Being, which they're using to travel through space and time, stealing the treasures of history. Together, Kevin and the Bandits meet Napoleon Bonaparte and Robin Hood, and visit ancient Greece and the sinking of the Titanic. Directed byMonty PythonalumTerry Gilliam,Time Banditsincludes cameos from fellow Pythons John Cleese and Michael Palin, as well asSean Conneryas King Agamemnon.—D.H.

Where to watchTime Bandits: HBO Max

Director:Terry Gilliam

Cast:Craig Warnock, John Cleese, Sean Connery, Shelley Duvall, Katherine Helmond

The Wizard of Oz(1939)

One of the most beloved films of all time,The Wizard of Ozdelivers visual spectacle, winning characters, and an emotional sincerity that still retains its charm decades later.Judy Garlandsparkles as a girl from Kansas who drops out of the sky into the magical land of Oz, where she teams up with a scarecrow, a tin man, and a cowardly lion to fight a witch and find her way home. With unforgettable songs like "Over the Rainbow" and "If I Only Had a Brain," the film has delighted generations with its imagination and wit.—D.H.

Where to watchThe Wizard of Oz: HBO Max

EW grade:B+

Director:Victor Fleming

Cast:Judy Garland, Frank Morgan, Ray Bolger, Bert Lahr, Margaret Hamilton, Jack Haley

Wonka(2023)

Warner Bros./Everett

A sparklingTimothée Chalametheadlines this prequel toWilly Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, embodying the whimsical candy maker at the start of his ambitious (and delicious) career. He's opposed by the establishment Chocolate Cartel and tricked by his devious landlady into indentured servitude, but you can't keep a born dreamer down. "In many ways,Wonkais far more delightful than it has any right to be,"EW's critic writeswhile also praising Chalamet: "He's a warm and winning Wonka, infusing the character with a fanciful sense of humor and a guileless enthusiasm."—D.H.

Where to watchWonka: HBO Max

Director:Paul King

Cast:Timothée Chalamet, Calah Lane, Hugh Grant, Olivia Colman, Keegan-Michael Key

Read the original article onEntertainment Weekly

By Parisa Hafezi

DUBAI, Feb 22 (Reuters) - Iran has indicated it is prepared to make concessions on its nuclear programme in talks with the U.S. in return for the lifting of sanctions and recognition of its right to enrich uranium, as it seeks to avert a U.S. attack.

Both sides remain sharply divided -- even over the scope and sequencing of relief from crippling U.S. sanctions -- following ‌two rounds of talks, a senior Iranian official told Reuters.

However, Reuters is reporting for the first time that Iran is offering fresh concessions since their talks ended last week, when the sides appeared far ‌apart and heading closer to military conflict. Analysts say the move suggests Tehran is trying to keep diplomacy alive and stave off a major U.S. strike.

The official said Tehran would seriously consider a combination of sending half of its most highly enriched uranium abroad, diluting the rest ​and taking part in creating a regional enrichment consortium - an idea periodically raised in years of Iran-linked diplomacy.

Iran would do this in return for U.S. recognition of Iran's right to "peaceful nuclear enrichment" under a deal that would also include lifting economic sanctions, the official said.

In addition, Iran has offered openings for U.S. companies to participate as contractors in Iran's large oil and gas industries, the official said, in negotiations to resolve decades of dispute over Tehran's nuclear activities.

"Within the economic package under negotiation, the United States has also been offered opportunities for serious investment and tangible economic interests in Iran's oil industry," the official said.

The White House did not respond immediately to queries on the issue.

Washington views enrichment inside Iran as a potential ‌pathway to nuclear weapons. Iran denies seeking nuclear weapons and wants its right to ⁠enrich uranium to be recognised.

Iran and the United States resumed negotiations earlier this month as the U.S. builds up its military capability in the Middle East. Iran has threatened to strike U.S. bases in the region if it is attacked.

The Iranian official said the most recent discussions underscored the gap between the two sides, but stressed that "the possibility of reaching ⁠an interim agreement exists" as negotiations continue.

IRAN SEEKS 'LOGICAL TIMETABLE' FOR LIFTING SANCTIONS

"The last round of talks showed that U.S. ideas regarding the scope and mechanism of sanctions relief differ from Iran's demands. Both sides need to reach a logical timetable for lifting sanctions," the official said.

"This roadmap must be reasonable and based on mutual interests."

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on Sunday he expects to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff in Geneva on Thursday, adding there is still "a good chance" of ​a ​diplomatic solution.

Araqchi said on Friday that he expected to have a draft counterproposal ready within days, while Trump said he was considering ​limited military strikes.

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Citing officials on both sides and diplomats across the Gulf and Europe, ‌Reuters reported on Friday that Tehran and Washington are sliding rapidly towards military conflict as hopes fade for a diplomatic settlement.

On Sunday, Witkoff said the president was curious as to why Iran has not yet "capitulated" and agreed to curb its nuclear programme.

"Why, under this pressure, with the amount of seapower and naval power over there, why haven't they come to us and said, 'We profess we don't want a weapon, so here's what we're prepared to do'? And yet it's sort of hard to get them to that place," Witkoff said on Fox News.

READINESS TO COMPROMISE ON NUCLEAR WORK

Behnam Ben Taleblu, senior director of the Iran program at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, said Iran's leadership is seeking to buy time via the talks.

"Iran will use that time for various reasons, including to avoid a strike and to harden nuclear, missile, and military facilities," he said.

While rejecting a U.S. demand for "zero enrichment" - a major sticking point in ‌past negotiations - Tehran has signalled its readiness to compromise on its nuclear work.

Washington has also demanded that Iran relinquish its stockpile ​of highly enriched uranium (HEU). The International Atomic Energy Agency last year estimated that stockpile at more than 440 kg of uranium enriched to ​up to 60% fissile purity, a small step away from the 90% that is considered weapons grade.

Ali Larijani, ​a close adviser to Iran's supreme leader, told Al Jazeera TV that Iran was ready to allow extensive IAEA monitoring to prove it is not seeking nuclear weapons.

The agency has ‌been calling on Iran for months to allow for inspection of three nuclear sites that ​were struck by the U.S. in June last year at ​the close of a 12-day Israeli bombing campaign. Since then, Tehran has said its uranium enrichment work has stopped.

Satellite images show that Iran has advanced work at a location reportedly bombed by Israel last year, recently building a concrete shield over a new facility at a sensitive military site and covering it in soil, experts say.

BENEFITS FOR BOTH SIDES

Among U.S. demands are restrictions on Tehran's long-range ballistic missiles and an end ​to its support for regional proxy groups.

Iran has flatly rejected discussing its missiles, while ‌sources have told Reuters, without elaborating, that "the issue of regional proxies is not a red line for Tehran".

Iranian authorities have said that a diplomatic solution would provide economic benefits for both Tehran ​and Washington.

The Iranian official said Tehran would not hand over control of its oil and mineral resources.

"Ultimately, the U.S. can be an economic partner for Iran, nothing more. American companies can always participate ​as contractors in Iran's oil and gas fields."

(Writing by Parisa Hafezi, Editing by Alex Richardson, Ros Russell, William Maclean)