Overview
- The White House has conveyed through intermediaries that it is open to negotiations, and President Trump said Iran is “seriously talking,” according to U.S. officials and his public remarks.
- Turkey, Egypt and Qatar are working to arrange a meeting in Turkey this week between U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and senior Iranian officials, with reports pointing to a possible Friday session that neither side has confirmed.
- Iranian media reported that President Masoud Pezeshkian ordered the start of talks on the nuclear file, while Iran’s foreign minister said “friendly countries” are facilitating confidence-building; Tehran’s spokesman said a negotiation framework is being finalized.
- Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned a U.S. attack would trigger a “regional war,” and Trump responded by citing the U.S. naval buildup and saying that without a deal “we’ll find out” whether the warning proves true.
- U.S. forces, including the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier group, are positioned near Iran as rights group HRANA reports more than 6,800 confirmed deaths from the recent crackdown and regional mediators intensify shuttle diplomacy.