Iran has said talks with the United States on a new nuclear deal could begin in the coming days as diplomatic efforts intensify to avert a potential military conflict between the two sides.
President Masoud Pezeshkian has ordered the opening of talks with Washington “within the framework of the nuclear issue,” Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency reported on Monday, February 2, citing a government source, according to Bloomberg.
Senior officials from both countries, including US envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, could be involved in the talks, the Tasnim news agency said, citing an unidentified source.
“We are ready for diplomacy, but they must understand that diplomacy is not compatible with threats, intimidation or coercion,” Araghchi said on Iranian state television. “We will remain steadfast on this journey and hope to see its results soon.”
Regional intermediaries are coming
According to Esmail Baghaei, a spokesman for Iran’s foreign ministry, several Middle Eastern countries are acting as intermediaries between Tehran and Washington.
“The Islamic Republic is pursuing diplomatic channels through several regional partners,” Baghaei said, without naming the countries involved.
Araghchi has held talks with counterparts in Egypt, Turkey, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates since Friday, underscoring the breadth of regional diplomatic pressure.
Trump is increasing the pressure
The development comes as US President Donald Trump has warned of military action if Iran fails to reach a deal to curb its nuclear program.
US naval assets have been sent to Iran and Trump said on Sunday they were “a few days” away, even as Gulf allies continued to try to “make a deal”.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei warned on Sunday (1 February) that any attack on Iran could trigger a “regional war”, with Tehran previously threatening retaliation against Israel and US bases in the region.
The nuclear program remains controversial
Trump has repeatedly claimed that Iran’s nuclear program was “wiped out” after airstrikes by Israel, which the US later joined in June.
However, Tehran restricted international inspectors’ access to some nuclear sites after the conflict, raising uncertainty about its stockpile of near-weapons-grade uranium.
Interviews not yet completed: Tasnim
Iran and the United States have yet to finalize the details of potential talks on a nuclear deal, although reports suggest talks could begin in the coming days, Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News Agency reported.
Subsequent inquiries, according to Tasnim, indicate that any negotiations remain at a preliminary stage, with neither the framework nor the structure of the talks yet agreed upon.
“Once the overall framework and structure of the talks is established, the next stages and other details will be finalized,” Tasnim said, citing informed sources.
Negotiations are still at an early stage
The report said discussions on negotiations were ongoing, but no specific timetable was set for them to begin.
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Sanction relief is a key priority
Tasnim also cited comments from Esmaeil Baqaei, a spokesman for Iran’s foreign ministry, who said Tehran was carefully examining the structure of any talks with Washington.
Baqaei said the focus of Iran’s approach is on lifting sanctions and protecting national interests.
“Sanctions relief is a top priority,” Baqaei said, according to Tasnim.
Nuclear issue ‘used as a pretext’
Referring to recent remarks by Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, Baqaei said the nuclear issue has long been used as a justification to impose pressure and conflict on Iran.
He said Tehran was willing to offer confidence-building measures about the peaceful nature of its nuclear program but expected the removal of what he called “unjust sanctions” in return.
Baqaei reportedly said that in exchange for building confidence about the peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear program, the country’s primary demand is for the removal of unfair sanctions.
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