Iran’s Fars news agency quoted a government source confirming Pezeshkian’s order to open talks with the US, though no date has been set.
Paris, France: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has instructed officials to begin nuclear negotiations with the United States, local media reported on Monday, shortly after US President Donald Trump expressed optimism about reaching a deal to avert military action.
Turkey has been trying to arrange a meeting between US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian officials, in a bid to revive dialogue and reduce the risk of American military action against the Islamic Republic.
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Iran’s Fars news agency quoted a government source confirming Pezeshkian’s order to open talks, though no date has been set. The report was echoed by state and reformist newspapers. Earlier on Monday, the foreign ministry said it was finalising a framework for negotiations, with messages exchanged through regional intermediaries.
Foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said several points had been addressed and details of each stage were being examined. He stressed that Tehran “never accepts ultimatums” but insisted diplomacy remained the preferred path.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who recently visited Turkey and held talks with Egyptian, Saudi and Turkish counterparts, told CNN that Tehran agreed with Trump’s call for “no nuclear weapons” but expected sanctions relief in return. “That deal is possible,” he said.
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned on Sunday that any US attack would trigger a “regional war,” while Baqaei said neighbouring states were rallying around diplomacy out of fear of wider conflict.
The announcement comes against the backdrop of heightened tensions following Iran’s deadly crackdown on anti-government protests last month. In response, Trump warned that “time is running out” for Tehran to reach an agreement on its nuclear programme, which Western governments suspect is aimed at developing atomic weapons. He has also ordered an aircraft carrier group to the Middle East.
Fallout from protests
The protests, which erupted in early January amid economic hardship, were described by authorities as “riots” fuelled by the United States and Israel. Tehran has acknowledged thousands of deaths, publishing the names of 2,986 people out of 3,117 it said were killed. Officials claim most were security personnel or bystanders.
Rights groups dispute those figures. The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency has confirmed 6,842 deaths, mostly protesters shot by security forces, warning the toll is likely higher. At least 40,000 people have been detained, according to activists.
Iran summons EU envoys over Revolutionary Guard blacklisting
The crackdown prompted the European Union to designate Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organisation. Iranian lawmakers retaliated by labelling European armies in the same way. Further, on Monday, Iran announced that it had summoned all European Union ambassadors in protest against the bloc’s decision to designate the Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organisation.
State television also reported the arrest of four foreigners accused of participating in the unrest, though their nationalities were not disclosed.
AFP
Published: 02 Feb 2026, 07:07 pm IST
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