TEHRAN: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has formally directed authorities to begin negotiations with the United States on the long-standing nuclear issue. The decision comes shortly after President Trump issued a deadline to Tehran, warning of major military action if a new nuclear agreement is not reached.
Iranian state media reported that President Pezeshkian instructed relevant institutions to initiate talks specifically focused on the nuclear file between Iran and the United States. The report was first published by Iran’s official Fars News Agency and later confirmed by the state-run newspaper Iran as well as a leading reformist daily, signaling rare alignment across Iranian media outlets.
In this sense, no official date, location, or timeline for the proposed negotiations has been made public so far, adding to speculation surrounding the seriousness and scope of the talks. Furthermore, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei stated that Tehran is currently preparing the framework and procedural mechanism for negotiations.
He noted that several aspects are under review and expressed hope that the next phases of diplomacy would be finalized soon. However, he refrained from sharing specifics about the content or conditions of the talks.
On the same day, a senior U.S. official, speaking to an international news agency on condition of anonymity, revealed that negotiations between Iran and the United States are expected to begin later this week. The official added that Qatar, Türkiye, and Egypt are finalizing arrangements to host or facilitate meetings between the negotiating teams.
This suggests that these three countries may play a mediating role in what could become one of the most consequential diplomatic efforts in recent years. Meanwhile, the latest developments come at a time when President Trump has publicly expressed hope for a deal, focusing on that a diplomatic solution could prevent military escalation in the region.
He has repeatedly warned, however, that time is running out for Iran if no agreement is reached on its nuclear program.
