Middle East Conflict: Report: Iran confirms potential assembly with US | EUROtoday

According to media reviews from each nations, the USA and Iran need to begin new negotiations. A gathering between Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and US particular envoy Steve Witkoff is anticipated to happen within the coming days, reported the Tasnim information company, which is near Iran’s highly effective Revolutionary Guards.

The precise place and time of the assembly are subsequently not but recognized. According to media reviews, it might happen in Turkey. Tasnim modified the information report within the afternoon (native time) and clarified that each one particulars for a gathering have been nonetheless unclear. Confirmation from the USA was initially pending.

The US information portal Axios reviews, citing two knowledgeable sources, that Witkoff and Araghchi are anticipated to fulfill in Istanbul on Friday to debate a potential settlement on Iran’s nuclear program. A 3rd supply accustomed to the planning additionally informed the portal that this was one of the best state of affairs, however that nothing was remaining till it truly occurred.

Foreign Minister calls for respect

Iran’s Foreign Minister Araghchi mentioned his nation had by no means given up diplomacy however was additionally prepared for army escalation. “While we have always been men of war, we have also always been men of diplomacy,” the Isna information company quoted him as saying.

The Iranian folks have to be spoken to respectfully, he demanded. “Anyone who wants to speak with compulsion will also receive an answer with compulsion.” He had beforehand spoken on the telephone together with his counterparts in Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Turkey, because the state information company Irna reported.

Concerns a few new warfare had just lately grown once more. US President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened the federal government in Tehran with army strikes, together with due to the brutal crackdown by state repressive forces towards demonstrators throughout the current mass protests. Thousands, if not tens of hundreds of persons are mentioned to have been killed. The US army has considerably expanded its presence within the area because the starting of January, for instance with the plane provider “USS Abraham Lincoln” and its accompanying ships.

Iranian nuclear program nonetheless in focus

Washington and Tehran had already been negotiating Iran’s controversial nuclear program final 12 months, however the talks had stalled on key points. For instance, the USA is demanding that Iran’s management fully cease enriching uranium. Tehran is ready to restrict its nuclear program, however sees the utmost demand as a crimson line.

Just at some point earlier than the deliberate sixth spherical of negotiations started in June 2025, Israel attacked Iran. The Islamic Republic’s armed forces responded with rocket fireplace. Less than every week later, the US army joined the warfare and bombed key nuclear amenities. Trump mentioned on the time that Iran’s nuclear amenities had been fully destroyed.

Other factors of competition embody Iran’s missile program, help for militant teams within the Middle East and the whereabouts of 400 kilograms of extremely enriched uranium. Before the talks, Iran’s authorities had emphasised that it initially solely needed to barter concerning the nuclear program.

Trump between risk and outstretched hand

Iran’s authorities hopes that negotiations will consequence within the lifting of harsh worldwide sanctions and financial restoration. The most up-to-date demonstrations on the finish of December have been triggered by the extreme financial disaster, earlier than the protests expanded right into a political rebellion.

Trump pledged his help to the demonstrators on the peak of the protests. In mid-January, the Republican spoke out in favor of a change of energy within the Islamic Republic. Many Iranians are crucial of the truth that he’s now contemplating a cope with the federal government.

Iran responds to EU sanctions towards Revolutionary Guards

Meanwhile, Iran says it has summoned all ambassadors from European nations in response to the EU resolution to categorise the Iranian Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist group. “Yesterday and today, all European countries and EU member states with embassies in Tehran were summoned to the Foreign Ministry,” mentioned Foreign Office spokesman Ismail Baghai at a press convention. It was the “minimum” and additional reactions would observe. The Foreign Office in Berlin confirmed that the German ambassador had been summoned once more.

Parliament reacts with symbolic motion

Parliament President Mohammed Bagher Ghalibaf had already declared on Sunday that the European armies would henceforth be considered as terrorist organizations. He cited a legislation from 2019. From an Iranian perspective, the Bundeswehr can also be a terrorist group. In parliament, MPs wore Revolutionary Guard uniforms in solidarity. Some politicians shouted “Death to America” ​​and “Death to Israel” with their fists raised, as seen in movies from Iranian media.

The European Union selected Thursday to categorise the Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist group due to their bloody crackdown on current mass protests. The resolution is seen as a symbolic step that’s more likely to have little sensible significance on account of present sanctions. Listing the Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist group has been mentioned within the EU for years.