Recently, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff have started communicating again, according to reports from U.S. officials. This comes as the conflict enters its third week.
Araghchi is said to have kicked off this dialogue by sending text messages to Witkoff about possibly ending the war.
However, Araghchi disputed claims about the communications, stating that his last contact with Witkoff was before U.S. actions escalated with a military strike against Iran. He suggested that contrary claims seem directed at confusing the public and oil traders.
U.S. officials contend that Araghchi is not being truthful and assert that he was not the one who reached out to Witkoff.
The nature and details of the messages exchanged remain unclear. It’s important to note that, if true, this marks the first direct communication between the two nations since military actions began on February 28.
President Trump indicated that Iranian officials are indeed reaching out, showing a desire to discuss a resolution. “They want a deal. They’re talking to the people,” he mentioned during an event at the White House.
Nonetheless, he expressed uncertainty about Iran’s readiness, pointing out that leadership there is complicated due to recent upheavals.
Some reports suggest that while Araghchi isn’t viewed as a major decision-maker in Iran’s regime, he remains a “reliable interlocutor” thanks to his relationship with the current U.S. administration and his association with Iran’s civilian leadership.
In comments over the weekend, Trump implied that Iran isn’t yet ready to engage seriously in negotiations. He stressed that any deal would necessitate Iran completely retracting its nuclear pursuits.
Additionally, a spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces stated plans for ongoing military operations against Iran, indicating they might continue for at least three more weeks, with preparations for further action if needed. This timeline extends beyond the initial four-week estimate provided by Trump earlier this month.
