Tehran Links Nuclear Flexibility to Halt in Israeli Strikes

News Desk

Geneva/Washington: Amid rising hostilities in the Middle East, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and US special envoy Steve Witkoff have held a series of direct phone conversations over the past week, diplomatic sources told Reuters. 

The rare engagement comes in response to Israel’s ongoing military strikes on Iranian targets, which have intensified the regional crisis.

According to three diplomats with knowledge of the matter, the talks — initiated by Washington — represent the most significant direct contact between the two sides since indirect nuclear negotiations resumed in April. The discussions underscore a renewed US effort to de-escalate the situation through diplomatic means.

Tehran has reportedly made it clear that it will not resume formal negotiations unless Israel halts its military campaign, which began on June 13. In conversations with Witkoff, Araqchi signaled that Iran “could show flexibility on the nuclear issue” if Washington exerts pressure on Israel to cease its operations, sources said.

A regional diplomat close to Tehran confirmed that Iran’s willingness to engage diplomatically is contingent on an immediate end to Israeli strikes. The talks also addressed a US proposal floated in late May, suggesting the formation of a regional uranium enrichment consortium operating outside Iranian territory — a plan Iran has thus far rejected.

Neither US nor Iranian officials have issued formal comments on the ongoing discussions.

Prospects for Nuclear Dialogue

The timing of the talks suggests Washington is probing Tehran’s readiness to return to the negotiating table. However, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei remains firm in asserting that uranium enrichment on Iranian soil is a non-negotiable national right — a stance that continues to clash with US demands.

Former President Donald Trump, still active in foreign policy circles, has not ruled out potential US military involvement in the region. However, he has hinted at diplomatic possibilities, claiming that Iranian officials have expressed interest in visiting Washington for talks.

The situation grew more complex earlier this week when French President Emmanuel Macron claimed during the G7 summit in Canada that the US had proposed a ceasefire to Iran — a statement that Trump publicly denied.

European Mediation Intensifies

Amid the stalemate, European nations have stepped up their mediation efforts. The E3 — Britain, France, and Germany — held a ministerial-level call with Araqchi on Sunday to explore options for de-escalation. EU officials have confirmed that further talks with Iran are scheduled to take place in Geneva this Friday.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei confirmed Araqchi’s attendance at the Geneva meeting, which aims to explore diplomatic pathways toward ending hostilities and possibly reviving the 2015 nuclear deal.

European diplomats indicated that both Araqchi and Witkoff had shown interest in pursuing a broader diplomatic initiative earlier this week. A senior EU official noted that Trump appears keen to end the standoff swiftly, though largely on terms favorable to Washington.

Despite these developments, analysts remain cautious. They believe Tehran is unlikely to enter formal negotiations with the US while Israeli airstrikes continue.

“For now, the Iranians view a quiet channel through Europe as the most viable route,” a senior European diplomat told Reuters. “Public diplomacy with the US would be too costly politically, especially under ongoing airstrikes.”