(Replace) February 2, 2026, 3:29 PM GMT: Article up to date with with extra on the talks in fifth paragraph.
Iran stated talks with the US over a brand new nuclear deal may get underway within the coming days, constructing on a flurry of diplomatic exercise geared toward averting battle between the 2 sides.
President Masoud Pezeshkian ordered the beginning of negotiations with Washington “throughout the framework of the nuclear difficulty,” Iran’s semi-official Fars information service reported Monday, citing a authorities supply. Talks may embody senior officers from each international locations resembling US envoy Steve Witkoff and Iran’s International Minister Abbas Araghchi, the Tasnim information service stated, citing a supply it didn’t establish.
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“We’re prepared for diplomacy, however they have to perceive that diplomacy just isn’t suitable with threats, intimidation or strain,” Araghchi stated on state TV. “We are going to stay steadfast on this path and hope to see its outcomes quickly.”
A number of international locations within the Center East have been performing as intermediaries between Tehran and Washington, in response to Esmail Baghaei, a spokesman for Iran’s international ministry. No time or location for an preliminary assembly have been set, Tasnim stated, whereas particulars of what can be mentioned stay unclear, resembling whether or not the US would push for the Islamic Republic to finish uranium enrichment.
Iran’s precedence in new talks can be sanctions aid and Tehran is “sensible” in its method, Baghaei stated.
The developments underline the worldwide effort to ease Center East tensions as US President Donald Trump threatens Iran with navy motion if it doesn’t attain an settlement to curb its nuclear program. American naval belongings have been dispatched towards the area and Trump stated Sunday they have been “a few days” away, even whereas unspecified Gulf allies negotiate to “make a deal.”
Oil costs fell sharply on Monday, partly due to the heightened diplomatic maneuvers, with Brent dropping round 4% to $66.50 a barrel. Costs are nonetheless up roughly 8.5% this 12 months due to the still-high possibilities of a battle within the oil-rich area.
Iranian Supreme Chief Ali Khamenei warned Sunday of a “regional battle” if his nation is attacked. Tehran has beforehand threatened to retaliate with strikes on Israel and US bases within the area, because it has in response to earlier assaults.
Diplomatic Push
Trump final month threatened to strike Iran over the authorities’ lethal crackdown on protests in opposition to poor dwelling requirements, which later unfold into an rebellion in opposition to Khamenei’s regime. Greater than 6,800 folks have been killed within the unrest, the US-based Human Rights Activists Information Company has reported, with many 1000’s extra circumstances below assessment.
Trump ultimately backed down, earlier than pivoting to the dearth of a nuclear deal as a cause to assault. Washington and Tehran held a number of rounds of talks on an settlement to curb Iran’s atomic actions in change for sanctions aid final 12 months, earlier than Israel — later joined by the US — started airstrikes in June.
Trump has stated repeatedly that Iran’s nuclear program was obliterated because of these assaults. Nonetheless, Tehran stopped permitting worldwide inspectors entry to some websites after the battle ended, clouding data of the nation’s nuclear program and its stockpile of close to weapons-grade uranium.
Iran has no intention of transferring enriched nuclear materials to every other nation, stated Ali Bagheri Kani, the deputy for international coverage on the Supreme Nationwide Safety Council, in response to Tasnim. The nation has at all times denied it’s fascinated with constructing nuclear weapons.
Araghchi has held talks with counterparts in Egypt, Turkey, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates since Friday.
UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed canceled a state go to to Japan that was deliberate for later this week because of the Iran tensions, Japan’s public broadcaster NHK reported, citing unidentified state officers.
The UAE authorities didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark from Bloomberg.
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