Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian has ordered the start of talks on Tehran's nuclear program with the US, the Iranian news agency Fars reported today, quoted by Agence France-Presse, BTA reported.
AFP notes that this comes amid tensions with Washington, which do not rule out the use of military force. "President Massoud Pezeshkian has ordered the start of talks with the US", Fars wrote, citing a government source.
"Talks will be held between Iran and the US on the nuclear issue", Fars added, without specifying a specific date. The information was confirmed by the pro-government newspaper "Iran" and the reformist daily "Sharq".
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is expected to meet with US special envoy Steve Witkoff, Iran's Tasnim news agency reported, quoted by DPA.
Araghchi spoke by phone with his counterparts from Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Turkey to discuss "current events in the region and around the world", the state-run IRNA news agency reported today.
The Iranian foreign minister left for Turkey on Friday for talks amid military tensions with the US. In early January, US President Donald Trump threatened military intervention after Iranian authorities brutally suppressed mass protests.
Negotiations between Washington and Tehran over Iran's nuclear program last year stalled. Israel subsequently launched an attack on the Islamic Republic, followed by bombings of key nuclear facilities by the United States.
Tehran hopes the talks will end the severe international sanctions imposed on Iran and lead to a much-needed economic boost. A series of demonstrations in Iran in late December were sparked by a severe economic crisis before morphing into anti-government riots.
Amid the protests, Trump pledged his support for the demonstrators.
In mid-January, the Republican spoke out in favor of a change of government in Iran. Many protesters in Iran who took to the streets against the theocratic authorities criticized Trump's willingness to make a deal, feeling betrayed.
For years, Western countries have tried to limit Iran's ability to produce nuclear weapons, while Tehran insists its nuclear program is entirely for peaceful purposes, DPA reported.