Iran has confirmed it will pursue negotiations with the United States, signalling a cautious opening for diplomacy as military threats and regional tensions continue to loom.
Masoud Pezeshkian, Iran’s president, said he had instructed Abbas Araghchi, Iran’s foreign minister, to engage with Washington after appeals from what he described as friendly governments in the region to respond to a US proposal for talks.
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In a statement posted on X, Pezeshkian said the talks would go ahead only under strict conditions. “I have asked the foreign minister to pursue negotiations, provided that a suitable environment exists, one free from threats and unreasonable expectations,” he said. He added that “these negotiations shall be conducted within the framework of our national interests”.
The announcement comes against a backdrop of sharp rhetoric and military posturing. Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader, has warned that any attack on Iran would trigger a wider regional conflict. At the same time, Donald Trump, the United States president, has threatened action over Iran’s nuclear ambitions and its deadly crackdown on protesters, while ordering a significant build-up of US forces near the region.
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US media reported that the talks are expected to take place in Istanbul on Friday, though neither Tehran nor Washington has formally confirmed the venue.
Pezeshkian’s remarks follow an interview by Araghchi with CNN in which the foreign minister expressed optimism about the diplomatic path ahead. “I am confident that we can achieve a deal,” Araghchi said.
Trump struck a more guarded tone on Monday while speaking to reporters at the White House. “If we can work something out, that would be great,” he said, before warning that “bad things would happen” if diplomacy fails.
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Tensions remain high following last year’s US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities in an operation known as Operation Midnight Hammer, which came after a large-scale Israeli campaign targeting Iran’s nuclear sites and scientists. Trump has since underlined US readiness to use force again, saying a “tremendous force” including the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and its air wing of around 70 aircraft has been deployed.
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