Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has ordered the opening of nuclear talks with the United States, Iranian media reported on Monday, as US President Donald Trump said he remains hopeful of reaching a deal to avoid military action against Tehran.
The Fars news agency, citing an unnamed government source, said Pezeshkian had instructed officials to begin negotiations with Washington on Iran’s nuclear programme. It did not provide a timeline, but the report was also carried by the government daily Iran and the reformist newspaper Shargh. Iran said earlier in the day it was working on a framework for talks, with messages exchanged through regional intermediaries.
The move comes amid heightened tensions following Iran’s deadly crackdown on anti-government protests that peaked last month. In response, Trump has threatened military action and ordered an aircraft carrier group to be dispatched to the Middle East, while warning that time was running out for Iran to reach a nuclear deal.
Foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said several elements of a diplomatic process were being finalised and could be concluded in the coming days. He stressed that Tehran would not accept ultimatums and said he could not confirm receiving any deadline from the United States.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran agreed with Trump’s stated position that Iran should not have nuclear weapons, calling it the basis for a possible deal. He added that any agreement would require the lifting of sanctions.
Regional countries have urged diplomacy, fearing a wider conflict. Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned that a US attack would trigger a regional war, as tensions remain high following mass arrests and thousands of deaths linked to the protests.