Report: US & Iran Negotiations This Week in Ankara + IDF Chief of Staff Visits Washington D.C. to Discuss Iran + Gaza's Rafah Border Crossing to Open Monday

For review:

1. According to an Axios report, Turkey, Egypt and Qatar are working to organize a meeting this week between White House special envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian officials in Ankara, Turkey’s capital.

2. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Sunday that if the US attacks Iran, the hostilities will broaden into a regional conflict.

3. An Iranian official on Sunday denied that the country had any plans to carry out live-fire exercises in the Strait of Hormuz this week, amid sky-high tensions in the region.

On Friday, the US military issued a statement warning Iran against carrying out such exercises and urging it to avoid “unnecessary risk.”

4. IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir was in Washington, DC, over the weekend for a series of discussions with American defense officials regarding Iran.

5. The Rafah Border Crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt opened Sunday for a day of systems checks and tests ahead of its expected opening for pedestrians Monday.

6.  The Israel Defense Forces launched wave of airstrikes in southern Lebanon Friday evening that it said destroyed Hezbollah infrastructure and heavy machinery.

7. Ukraine President: Tr-Lateral Meeting in U.A.E. from 4-5 Feb. 

Neither the Kremlin nor the United States has confirmed the new dates.

8.  Russia will unveil its newest multiple launch rocket system, the Sarma, at the World Defense Show 2026 in Riyadh next month.

The 300mm Sarma MLRS, mounted on a 8x8 armored chassis, represents Russia’s attempt to field a lighter, more mobile alternative to its existing heavy rocket artillery systems.

9. Beijing’s newest class of surface combatant achieved operational capability, Chinese military media reported last week.

The milestone was unveiled Jan. 22 during a state media report covering the first Type 054B guided-missile stealth frigate Luohe (545).

10. Japan and South Korea agreed Friday to resume a joint naval search and rescue exercise that was discontinued in 2017.