Cautious optimism ahead of US-Iran talks
The upcoming talks between the United States and Iran are being monitored globally following the signaling by President Donald Trump and President Masoud Pezeshkian.
On Tuesday, Pezeshkian announced he had instructed top diplomat Abbas Araghchi to “prepare for equitable and fair negotiations” devoid of “threats and unreasonable expectations.”
The directive came on the heels of Trump’s comment that he was hopeful of making a deal as tension heightens over fears of American strikes amid a significant military buildup.
The U.S. has stationed warships and thousands of troops near Iran, drawing denunciation and a warning of a regional war from Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Although Washington and Tehran have now agreed to sort out contentious issues, rhetoric from certain officials suggests that a truce may not be reached at the first one-on-one meeting.
The United States, which is believed to be tactically supporting regime change, wants Iran to denuclearize and stop funding for the Houthis, Hamas, and Hezbollah.
Representatives of the U.S. and 40 other countries recently met in Prague to push for the implementation of the six United Nations Security Council resolutions reimposed on Iran last September.
The resolutions prohibit Iran’s uranium enrichment, ballistic missile technology, arms imports and exports, and reimpose travel bans, global asset freezes, and seizure of prohibited cargo.
But the Islamic Republic insists it has the right to arm itself to deter external aggression. It also opposes regime change, accusing the West of attempting to dictate its affairs.
Minister Abbas Araghchi and Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff are expected to lead their respective negotiating team on Friday in Istanbul, though a location outside Turkey is in the cards.
Araghchi has communicated with his Omani and Turkish counterparts, Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi and Hakan Fidani, and the Qatari Prime Minister, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.
Turkish President Recep Erdogan is in Saudi Arabia for talks on Middle East developments, including the US-Iran dispute. He met with Prince Mohammed bin Salman at Al-Yamamah Palace in Riyadh,
On Tuesday, France again deplored the brutal crackdown on protesters in Iran and the death of thousands of civilians, advising the leadership to address the wishes of the people.
“Iran’s responsibility is to respect its people in the face of the revolution that has taken place and the terrible repression we have seen,” President Emmanuel Macron said.
The French leader urged Tehran to “free political prisoners” and reopen the discussions on nuclear enrichment, the ballistic issue, and on regional stability.
Cautious optimism ahead of US-Iran talks
