Iran live updates: Trump says US 'open' to 'concept' of negotiating deal with Iran

Key Points:

• The U.S. Treasury Department imposed new sanctions on Russia's VTB Bank, accusing it of attempting to move frozen Iranian assets to benefit Tehran and expand ties with sanctioned Iranian financial institutions.
• VTB Bank, already sanctioned since 2014 and cut off from SWIFT in 2022, has continued to grow and report record profits in 2024 despite restrictions.
• Treasury officials believe the new sanctions linked to Iran and global terrorism concerns may be more effective in pressuring foreign banks to sever ties with VTB, and plan to meet with global financial institutions to share information on cutting off Iranian regime funding.
• Former President Donald Trump expressed openness to negotiating a deal with Iran, despite previously doubting Iran's trustworthiness and the value of such agreements.
• Iran denied involvement in Yemen's conflict, despite longstanding accusations of supporting the Houthi rebels, as fighting continues near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait between Houthis and Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces.