Informed Iranian sources have confirmed that unofficial talks have already begun in a European country between Tehran and Washington, under international mediation, paving the way for a possible dialogue between White House envoy Steve Whitcoff and Iran’s senior diplomat Abbas Araghchi, according to Kuwait’s Al-Jarida newspaper.
Iran Demands an End to U.S. Strikes Before Any Formal Talks
Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi told the BBC that Tehran is setting clear conditions: the United States must refrain from launching further military strikes on Iran before any diplomatic negotiations can resume. He emphasised that no date or framework for talks has been agreed yet.
“We hear that Washington wants to talk with us,” Takht-Ravanchi said. “But we have not agreed on a specific date, nor on the mechanisms.” He added pointedly, “We want an answer to this question: will we see a repeat of hostile action while we are engaged in dialogue?” So far, he stressed, the United States “has not clarified its position.”
The deputy minister also revealed that Tehran has been told Washington does not seek “regime change in Iran” through targeting Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei — a point that remains under close scrutiny inside Iran.
Contradictory Signals from Washington
Meanwhile, White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt stated that “Washington remains engaged in direct and indirect contacts with the Iranians.” She noted that Whitcoff is continuing his diplomatic efforts with multiple stakeholders, including Iranian back channels — a position that appears to contradict former President Trump’s claim that no talks have taken place with Iran since the U.S. military bombed three Iranian nuclear facilities in Natanz, Isfahan, and Fordow.
No Restart Without Security Guarantees
Previously, Iran’s official news agency IRNA quoted Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirming that “the time is not yet right to resume negotiations,” citing the lack of reliable American security guarantees — especially in light of the airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear sites during the recent conflict.
“We cannot negotiate under bombardment,” Araghchi stated in an interview with CBS. Yet he stressed that the door to diplomacy remains ajar, hinting that Iran could return to the table if the political and security conditions align — including a firm U.S. guarantee that no further attacks will occur.
Iran’s Nuclear Capabilities Remain Intact
Addressing the damage to the nuclear facilities, Araghchi underlined that the strikes did not eliminate Iran’s enrichment capabilities: “Technology cannot be bombed.” He asserted that Iran retains the capacity to swiftly restart its affected installations, saying they could be brought back online in a very short time.
