Iran signals diplomatic movement toward possible talks with US
Cautious diplomatic moves emerge between Tehran and Washington despite escalation risks and persistent military tensions; naval presence rises in Gulf while Tehran hints at talks, Washington keeps military option in view
A senior Iranian official has indicated that progress is being made toward potential negotiations with the United States, even as Washington increases its military presence near Iran.
Ali Larijani, head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said on Saturday that “structural arrangements for negotiations are progressing,” downplaying what he described as media escalation.
His remarks came during a meeting in Tehran with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, where both sides reviewed efforts to reduce regional tensions, according to a Qatari statement.
Qatar, a key US ally that maintains working relations with Tehran, is seen as a possible mediator between the two countries, dw.com reports.
The diplomatic signals come as US President Donald Trump said there had been contact between Washington and Tehran.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said Iran was talking “seriously” with the US and expressed hope for an “acceptable” deal, adding that any agreement should ensure Iran does not obtain nuclear weapons.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian also stressed that conflict would be harmful to all sides. In a phone call with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi, he said Iran “has never sought, and in no way seeks, war,” and argued that military confrontation would not serve the interests of Iran, the United States or the wider region.
Tensions have remained high, with the US deploying additional naval assets to the region and warning of possible military action if diplomacy fails.
Iranian officials, meanwhile, have previously warned that US military bases and assets in the Middle East could be targeted in the event of an attack on Iranian territory.
The latest diplomatic messaging unfolds against the backdrop of ongoing unrest inside Iran, where protests driven by economic pressures and political grievances have been met with a sustained security crackdown, drawing international concern over casualties and mass detentions.
