The New York Times revealed that Iran has put forward a proposal during talks conducted by diplomats from Turkey, Egypt, Oman, and Iraq in recent weeks. The exchanges involved the passing of messages in the hope of preventing a further escalation of the crisis.
According to two Iranian officials, Abbas Araghchi and Steve Witkoff have been communicating directly through text messages. The Qatari prime minister has also recently visited Iran as part of ongoing diplomatic efforts.
To defuse tensions, the officials said Iran is prepared to shut down or suspend its nuclear programme, a step described as a major concession. However, Tehran prefers a proposal previously put forward by the United States to establish a regional consortium for nuclear energy production, according to the newspaper.
The officials added that Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, met in recent days with Russian President Vladimir Putin, carrying a message from Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. The message indicated that Iran could agree to ship enriched uranium to Russia, as it did under the 2015 agreement.
When asked about this possibility, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Monday that the matter “has been on the agenda for a long time”, adding that “Russia continues its efforts and contacts with all concerned parties”.
Iran insists that its nuclear programme is intended for energy production, not weapons. Araghchi has confirmed that Tehran remains open to negotiations.
One regional official who confirmed the planned meeting in Istanbul said participation by the United Arab Emirates, Oman, and Pakistan is also possible, signalling broader regional momentum. Officials from those countries have not confirmed whether they received invitations or intend to attend.
Senior American and Iranian officials are expected to meet in Istanbul on Friday for talks aimed at reducing tensions between the two countries, according to three current regional officials and a former official familiar with the arrangements.
Those officials said the talks are expected to bring together Steve Witkoff, President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy; Jared Kushner, Trump’s son in law; and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
Senior officials from Turkey, Qatar, and Egypt are also expected to attend.
If held, these talks would mark a rare direct meeting between American and Iranian officials at a moment when Trump’s military threats, and Iranian leaders’ refusal to accept his demands, have pushed both sides to the brink of war. According to the newspaper, this has spread fear across the region.
In recent weeks, Trump has threatened to bomb Iran if its embattled leaders fail to comply with his demands. Those leaders had suppressed protests last month using lethal force. Trump’s demands include ending Iran’s nuclear programme, accepting restrictions on its ballistic missiles, and halting support for proxy militias across the Arab world.
Iranian leaders have so far insisted they will not negotiate under threat, warning of a harsh response to any American attack.
As anti government protests intensified across Iran last month, Trump threatened military intervention if Iranian security forces used violence against demonstrators. According to human rights groups, thousands were killed before authorities announced they had crushed the unrest.
When Trump announced his demands last month, he pledged to use force if Iran rejected them and raised the prospect of regime change. He said time was running out without setting a clear deadline.
He also announced that a United States “war fleet” was heading toward the region “with great strength, enthusiasm, and a clear purpose”. Flight tracking data and satellite imagery have confirmed that the United States has already expanded its military presence in the area.
Ali Vaez, Iran project director at the International Crisis Group, said: “The coordinated and unprecedented regional response does not reflect support for Iran as much as it reflects collective panic that an American intervention could unleash chaos that would not stop at national borders”.
