(Feb 3): Türkiye plans to host high-level talks between the US and Iran on Friday aimed at de-escalating tensions between the two countries.
The summit in Istanbul is expected to be attended by US envoy Steve Witkoff, President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, according to people with direct knowledge of the matter. Türkiye’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan expects some regional powers to join, the people said, asking not to be identified because of the sensitivity of the subject.
The talks would mark the first public meeting between Iranian and US officials since a recent surge in tensions, with Trump threatening Tehran with military action if it fails to reach an agreement to curb its nuclear programme.
It is unclear whether issues beyond Iran’s nuclear programme — such as its support for proxy militias in the Middle East and its ballistic missiles — will be on the agenda. Iran has signalled it’s only willing to discuss nuclear issues, while the US has indicated other topics must also be part of any deal.
Saudi Arabia, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Pakistan and Oman are also involved in the diplomatic push to avert a war in the oil-rich region.
The US has dispatched naval assets to the Middle East, raising the specter of another conflict after it and Israel bombed Iran during a 12-day war in June.
See also: Tankers speed through Hormuz chokepoint on US-Iran tensions
Trump has regularly threatened to strike Iran since Tehran’s deadly crackdown on mass protests last month. Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei warned on Sunday of a “regional war” if his country is attacked.
The New York Times earlier reported that a meeting between US and Iranian officials would be held in Istanbul later this week with the participation of some Middle Eastern countries.
Witkoff was due in Israel on Tuesday for talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Israeli Energy Minister Eli Cohen warned against easing US pressure on Iran.
“In our eyes there’s no merit to these negotiations,” Cohen said to Army Radio on Tuesday. “Iran has a proven history of never fulfilling any undertaking, whether oral or written. What Iran will try to do is buy time.”
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