Iran, US to begin direct talks in Istanbul, as Israel pushes for comprehensive deal

Iran’s president confirms that the US and Iran will launch direct talks in Turkey this Friday, as Israel urges Trump envoy Steve Witkoff to demand Iran agree to comprehensive concessions.

By World Israel News Staff

The United States and Iran will begin direct negotiations on Friday aimed at reaching a new nuclear deal and de-escalating tensions between the two countries, according to multiple reports published Monday night.

The talks will be launched in Istanbul, with President Donald Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, leading the American delegation.

On Tuesday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian confirmed that Tehran has agreed to enter into talks with the Trump administration, writing in a series of posts to his X account that he has instructed Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi to move forward with negotiations.

“In light of requests from friendly governments in the region to respond to the proposal by the President of the United States for negotiations,” Pezeshkian wrote, “I have instructed my Minister of Foreign Affairs, provided that a suitable environment exists—one free from threats and unreasonable expectations—to pursue fair and equitable negotiations, guided by the principles of dignity, prudence, and expediency.”

“These negotiations shall be conducted within the framework of our national interests.”

The confirmation comes a day after an adviser to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei appeared to dispute the reports of planned talks.

According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, the talks will not be limited to the US and Iran, with the foreign ministers of multiple countries invited to participate, including Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Pakistan, and the United Arab Emirates.

One source cited in the report said that the talks will likely be divided into two tracks, one focused exclusively on Iran’s nuclear program, with all other contested issues pursued in the second track.

Ahead of the Istanbul talks, Witkoff is slated to arrive in Israel on Tuesday for meetings with senior Israeli officials including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, and Mossad Director David Barnea.

According to multiple Israeli media outlets, Netanyahu is expected to press Witkoff to seek major concessions from Iran in four separate areas, laying out Israel’s red lines regarding both nuclear and non-nuclear threats from the Islamic Republic.

The four red lines include a total cessation of all uranium enrichment efforts by Iran, the removal of existing enriched uranium from Iran’s territory, strict limits on the range and quantity of Iran’s ballistic missiles, and a prohibition on Iran funding and army terrorist proxies across the Middle East.