A significant diplomatic development is being recorded in relations between Iran and the United States, as Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has given the order to begin talks with Washington over the country’s nuclear programme, according to Iranian media.
The information was reported on Monday by the Fars news agency, citing an anonymous government source, while the report was also reproduced by the state newspaper Iran and the reformist daily Shargh. According to these reports, “Iran and the United States will hold talks on the nuclear file”, although no timetable has been specified.
In the same context, a diplomatic source told Tasnim that the possibility of talks between Iran and the United States in the coming days has been confirmed, with the participation of senior officials from both sides. According to the same source, the time and place of the talks have not yet been determined, while it is estimated that they will involve Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and the US special envoy Steve Witkoff.
Pressure and threats from Washington
This development comes at a time of intense escalation, following the deadly crackdown on anti-government protests in Iran last month. US President Donald Trump has openly threatened military action, while also ordering the deployment of an aircraft carrier strike group to the Middle East.
Despite the harsh rhetoric, Trump has publicly maintained that he hopes for an agreement that would avert military conflict, while stressing that “time is running out” for Tehran.
“Diplomacy, but without ultimatums”
From Iran’s side, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei stated that work is under way to draw up a framework and methodology for the negotiations, which is expected to be finalised in the coming days. As he noted, messages between Tehran and Washington are being conveyed through regional intermediaries.
“Several issues have already been raised, and we are examining and finalising the details of each stage of the diplomatic process, which we hope to complete soon,” he said, without revealing the content of the potential talks.
At the same time, Baqaei made it clear that Iran “never accepts ultimatums”, avoiding confirmation of whether any official message with a time limit has been received from the American side.
Nuclear programme and international concerns
For years, the West has expressed concern that Iran’s nuclear programme ultimately aims at the construction of a nuclear weapon – a claim that Tehran rejects, insisting that its activities are exclusively peaceful.
At the same time, Iranian authorities state that they are pursuing diplomacy, while warning that there would be an “uncontrollable response” to any attack.
