Contacts have been established between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff regarding the possible resumption of nuclear negotiations between the two countries.
An informed source in the Iranian Foreign Ministry said the talks — suspended after Israel’s surprise attack on Iran last June, which triggered the 12-day war — have gained new momentum following a series of communications aimed at restoring dialogue. The United States had participated in that conflict by targeting Iranian nuclear facilities, before a fragile ceasefire was reached, reports Al-Jarida daily quoting Iranian sources.
The latest conversation between Araghchi and Witkoff reportedly occurred last Saturday evening, during which both sides reportedly agreed on the need to return to the negotiating table. The source added that secret preparatory meetings could be held next week in Oman or Qatar to coordinate before officially resuming talks.
The source indicated that before the most recent call, Witkoff had reached out to Araghchi to urge Iran’s support for President Donald Trump’s plan to end the Gaza war — a proposal that has received initial approval from both Israel and Hamas, alongside broad regional and international backing.
Araghchi reiterated Iran’s alignment with Hamas’s political leadership, affirming support for any initiative that would end the bloodshed in Gaza.
However, Witkoff pressed for a formal Iranian declaration of support for the plan, extending also to Tehran’s allies, notably Hezbollah in Lebanon. Iran responded with caution to this request.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry, in a statement issued the day before yesterday, affirmed that Tehran supports any Palestinian-led decision that ensures an end to the genocide, withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, respect for Palestinian self-determination, and unhindered humanitarian aid and reconstruction efforts.
The statement also warned of Israel’s record of non-compliance and obstruction in peace efforts.
Meanwhile, Hezbollah reversed earlier comments by its Deputy Secretary-General Naim Qassem, who had criticized the Trump plan, later confirming that the group supports any decision adopted by Hamas, which has agreed in principle to the proposal. Lebanese sources told Al-Jarida that the shift followed communications from Iran and Hamas urging alignment.
On the diplomatic front, the source noted that Witkoff sought to link the revival of US–Iran nuclear talks with progress toward a ceasefire in Gaza, in an effort to encourage Tehran to use its influence on allied groups to facilitate the plan.
In response, Araghchi reiterated Iran’s conditions for resuming nuclear dialogue — including US recognition of Iran’s right to enrich uranium, rejection of any negotiations on its missile program, and non-linkage of the nuclear file to regional issues.
The source concluded that Witkoff informed Araghchi of Washington’s readiness to work within the UN Security Council to lift sanctions reimposed on Iran under the “snapback” mechanism of the 2015 nuclear agreement, should progress be made on both fronts.
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