US President Donald Trump has made a spectacular turnaround, going from threatening to escalate the war with Iran to announcing “very good” talks to end it, however denied by the Islamic Republic. Here are the facts, speculation and what to expect.
Are there any talks underway?
Yes, according to President Trump, though Iranian officials deny direct negotiations. The nature of these interactions appears to be indirect, relying on intermediaries.
Mr. Trump claimed Monday that the United States had been in contact with an Iranian leader he did not name and whom he described as “the man who I believe is the most respected and the leader.” He added that it was not, however, the new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei. CNN identifies this mysterious interlocutor as Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the speaker of the Iranian Parliament.
However, Mr. Ghalibaf denied any negotiations were taking place in a message published on X, adding that the announcement was “fake news” intended “to manipulate the financial and oil markets and to allow the United States and Israel to escape the quagmire in which they are entangled”.
The New York Times, citing unnamed officials, similarly reported “direct communication” between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, “in recent days,” though neither side has confirmed this. AP News reports that Trump stated the U.S. Was talking with a “respected” Iranian leader.
Ross Harrison, an Iran expert at the Middle East Institute, suggests that any communication is likely happening through mediation.
Through which intermediaries?
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei confirmed that messages were received over the weekend from “some friendly countries expressing a US request for negotiations to end the war.” Pakistan, for example, has offered to host negotiations to end the conflict.
The Trump administration has held previous rounds of talks with Iran since 2025, each followed by U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran – in June of last year and on February 28th. These negotiations were indirect, with Oman previously acting as a mediator.
Other countries maintaining friendly relations with both Tehran and Washington appear to have taken over as intermediaries, including Egypt, Pakistan and potentially Turkey. Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty spoke with both Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi and envoy Witkoff on Sunday and Monday.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stated he had spoken with Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian, while army chief Asim Munir was in contact with Mr. Trump on Sunday, according to the Financial Times. Pakistan has expressed its determination to play “a constructive role in promoting peace in the region”.
Qatar has ruled out playing a mediating role.
What will the negotiations cover?
The primary focus of negotiations is expected to be the Iranian nuclear program, a subject of ongoing dispute since 2003.
“We don’t seek any enrichment, but we also want enriched uranium,” Donald Trump declared on Monday, referring to Iran’s stockpile of 440 kilos of uranium enriched to 60%, close to the 90% needed for a nuclear weapon. Yahoo News reports this statement.
Tehran previously proposed recovering the stockpile from its nuclear facilities and diluting it to lower enrichment levels, according to Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi. Tehran maintains it does not seek nuclear weapons and had also offered to authorize the return of inspectors from the UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Mr. Trump indicated there were “major areas of agreement” with Iranian negotiators. However, following previous attacks, Iran will likely seek guarantees of non-aggression, financial compensation for damages, and a lifting of sanctions.
Iran’s control over the Strait of Hormuz, currently de facto closed, provides it with significant leverage.
David Khalfa, Middle East specialist at the Jean-Jaurès Foundation, expressed skepticism, citing reduced trust due to U.S.-Israeli intervention and diverging positions. He believes the room for maneuver is limited on both sides.
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