Iran, US at it again
Nuclear talks to restart soon amid heightened tensions: Report
Iran and the United States are likely to recommence nuclear negotiations in the coming days, semi-official news agency ISNA reported on Monday, as tensions are running high in West Asia amid a US military buildup in the Persian Gulf.
ISNA said the negotiating delegations would be led by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and US Special Envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff.
Turkey is expected to host the talks, the agency added, after Araghchi traveled to the neighboring country on Friday at the invitation of Turkish officials who have offered to mediate between Tehran and Washington.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan is also expected to take part in the talks, ISNA said.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said earlier in the day that Tehran was “reviewing and deciding” on the details of a diplomatic process including “a manner and a framework” for the upcoming talks.
Foreign Minister Araghchi also said on Monday that Iran was ready for dialogue provided it took place on an “equal footing, respect and mutual interests,” but maintained that “diplomacy is not compatible with intimidation and threats”.
He expressed hope to “see the results of diplomacy soon.”
US President Donald Trump claimed on Saturday that Tehran was “seriously talking” with Washington.
“We could make a negotiated deal that would be satisfactory, with no nuclear weapons,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One.
Trump has threatened military action against Iran and ordered the dispatch of an aircraft carrier group to the Middle East following nationwide deadly rioting last month, which the Iranian government says has been orchestrated from overseas.
Iran’s Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei warned on Sunday that any US aggression would set off a “regional war.”
Washington has said any deal with Iran must include a ban on uranium enrichment, the removal of already enriched uranium, limits on long-range missiles and a rollback of support for regional resistance groups, conditions that Tehran has rejected.