Tehran (Web Desk/Agencies): Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian has instructed officials to begin nuclear negotiations with the United States, Iranian media reported Monday, after US President Donald Trump voiced optimism about reaching an agreement that could prevent military confrontation with Tehran.
Tensions have been high following Iran’s handling of anti-government demonstrations that surged last month. In response, Trump has issued warnings about possible military action and deployed an aircraft carrier strike group to the Middle East. Despite the pressure campaign, the U.S. president has repeatedly said he prefers a negotiated settlement, while Iran has also signaled readiness for diplomacy, even as it promises a forceful reaction to any attack.
According to the Fars news agency, which cited an unnamed government source, Pezeshkian has formally directed that talks with Washington move forward. The outlet said discussions would center on Iran’s nuclear program but did not provide a timetable. The report was echoed by the state-run newspaper Iran as well as the reformist publication Shargh.
Earlier in the day, Tehran indicated it was developing a structure and mechanism for negotiations that could be finalized soon, with communication between the two sides being passed indirectly through regional intermediaries. Foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said several issues had already been considered and that the details of each phase of the diplomatic process were under review, though he declined to elaborate on the substance of any potential deal.
Trump recently cautioned that the window for reaching an understanding on Iran’s nuclear activities was narrowing, reiterating Western claims that Tehran ultimately seeks nuclear weapons. Baqaei dismissed the notion of ultimatums, saying Iran does not accept such pressure and that he could not confirm receiving any specific warning from Washington.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has been active on the diplomatic front, traveling to Turkey last week and holding phone conversations with his counterparts in Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Turkey, according to a message he shared on Telegram.
In an interview with CNN on Sunday, Araghchi said both sides could agree on preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear arms. He suggested that such an understanding could form the basis of a strong deal, provided that sanctions relief is part of the outcome, urging a focus on realistic goals.
Baqaei added that the involvement of neighboring countries in pushing for a diplomatic path reflected widespread concern that any American strike on Iran could ignite a broader regional conflict. His remarks echoed those of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who warned Sunday that U.S. military action would lead to a “regional war.” Khamenei also described the recent wave of unrest as resembling an attempted coup.
Iranian officials have portrayed the protests, which were driven by economic hardship and escalated rapidly over several days in early January, as riots fueled by foreign adversaries, particularly the United States and Israel.
Tehran has acknowledged that thousands of people died during the turmoil and on Sunday released the names of 2,986 of the 3,117 individuals it says were killed. Authorities maintain that many of the victims were security personnel or uninvolved civilians and blame much of the violence on what they describe as terrorist acts.
The crackdown drew international condemnation, and the European Union recently designated Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization. Iranian lawmakers responded in kind on Sunday by labeling European armed forces as terrorist entities. Baqaei said the foreign ministry had summoned ambassadors from all EU member states in Tehran to protest the move and indicated further countermeasures were being prepared.
State television also reported the arrest of four foreign nationals in Tehran for alleged involvement in the unrest, without disclosing their citizenship. Arrests related to the protests have continued, and human rights organizations estimate that at least 40,000 people have been detained since the demonstrations began.