US and Iran hold direct talks amid escalation with Israel, Reuters reports
Photo: Steve Witkoff, US president’s special envoy (Getty Images)
The US president’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi held several calls. They discussed a diplomatic resolution to the conflict between Iran and Israel, Reuters reports.
Unnamed diplomats told the outlet that during the talks, Araqchi warned Witkoff that Tehran would not return to negotiations until Israel stops the attacks that began on June 13.
According to Reuters sources, the talks briefly touched on a US proposal to create a regional consortium to enrich uranium outside Iran, but Tehran has so far rejected this offer.
An unnamed regional diplomat close to Tehran said Araqchi told Witkoff that Tehran "could show flexibility in the nuclear issue" if Washington pressures Israel to end the war.
"Araqchi told Witkoff Iran was ready to come back to nuclear talks, but it could not if Israel continued its bombing," a European diplomat told the outlet.
According to one source, the first call was initiated by Washington.
Israel-Iran war
Last week, Israel began missile strikes on Iran after Tehran refused to sign a nuclear deal with the US within 60 days.
With these attacks, Israel aims to destroy Iran’s nuclear program to prevent the country from developing its own nuclear weapons.
As Zion Alon, leader of the A-Hazon Israeli political party, stated in a comment to RBC-Ukraine’s YouTube channel, Israel will continue the operation even if the US provides it with direct support.
