Iran has indicated that progress may soon be made toward reviving nuclear negotiations with the United States, as regional diplomatic efforts intensify and both sides appear to be stepping back from the brink of military confrontation.
Tehran said on Monday that it is reviewing several mediation proposals put forward by countries in the region aimed at easing tensions with Washington. Iranian officials said they expect a framework for restarting talks to take shape in the coming days.
The comments come amid signs of de-escalation between Iran and the US, following weeks of heightened military and political pressure.
According to Reuters, citing unnamed Iranian and US officials, talks could take place as early as Friday in Istanbul. The report said the discussions would involve US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
A separate report by AFP, citing a regional source, said a “potential meeting” in Turkiye was being facilitated through diplomacy involving Qatar, Turkiye, Egypt and Oman.
Shift From Military Threats to Diplomacy
US President Donald Trump had previously ordered warships to the Middle East following Iran’s violent crackdown on mass protests in January. However, Washington later shifted its tone, calling on Tehran to strike a deal to resume nuclear talks that were halted in June after Israeli and US strikes on Iranian targets.
On Sunday, Trump said the US was in contact with Iran. Tehran later confirmed that indirect discussions were underway.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said regional countries were acting as intermediaries in the exchange of messages between Tehran and Washington.
“Several issues have been addressed,” Baghaei said, adding that Iran was reviewing and finalising the details of each stage of the diplomatic process. He said Tehran hopes to conclude the framework in the coming days.
Regional Mediation and Internal Signals
Iran’s state news agency IRNA reported that Araghchi held phone calls with his counterparts in Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Turkiye to discuss the latest diplomatic developments.
Meanwhile, Fars News Agency cited an unnamed source as saying President Masoud Pezeshkian had ordered the resumption of nuclear negotiations. The report did not specify a timeline and has not been officially confirmed by Tehran.
Iranian outlet Tasnim News Agency also reported that Araghchi was expected to meet Witkoff, although neither government has publicly verified that a meeting has been finalised.
A White House official told Reuters that Witkoff is scheduled to arrive in Israel on Tuesday for talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Push for a Nuclear Deal Amid Rising Pressure
The reports of renewed talks come as Iran has been preparing for the possibility of a US military strike, with American aircraft carriers and fighter jets positioned in the Indian Ocean.
Trump had issued threats against Tehran following January’s protests, which erupted amid economic hardship, currency collapse and sanctions pressure. While the demonstrations were driven by economic grievances, they evolved into a direct challenge to Iran’s leadership.
In recent weeks, however, US rhetoric has shifted toward securing a nuclear agreement, as Washington and the European Union remain concerned that Iran could be seeking to develop nuclear weapons — a claim Tehran continues to deny, insisting its nuclear programme is purely civilian.
Key Sticking Points Remain
Despite Tehran’s indication that talks may resume, Iranian sources told Reuters that the US has outlined several conditions for negotiations to move forward. These include demands that Iran halt uranium enrichment, scale back its missile programme, and end support for allied armed groups across the region.
While Iran has previously shown some willingness to negotiate over its nuclear activities, its missile programme and regional alliances have long been treated as non-negotiable.
Analysts say it remains unclear whether Tehran will soften its stance, even as the country seeks sanctions relief to stabilise its economy and prevent further unrest.
Earlier talks held in Oman in June collapsed after Israel carried out strikes on Iran, followed by US attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities.
On Sunday, Trump said Iran was “seriously talking” with the US, but warned that Washington had “very big, powerful ships heading in that direction”.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei responded with a warning of his own, saying any attack on Iran would trigger a “regional war”.