Khaberni - The administration of US President Donald Trump has informed Iran, through multiple channels, that it is open to holding a meeting to negotiate an agreement with Iran, according to a senior US official.
This diplomatic move comes at a time when Trump has ordered a significant military buildup in the Middle East, raising the stakes on whether the talks can avoid striking Iran and sparking a wider regional war.
Regional sources said that Turkey, Egypt, and Qatar are working to organize a meeting between White House envoy Steve Whitkov and senior Iranian officials in Ankara this week, indicating that a meeting between the United States and Iran could be held during this week.
An official from one of these countries said that "things are moving, and we are doing our best," while US sources confirmed that the three countries, which worked with the Trump administration on a ceasefire agreement in Gaza, are seeking to advance US-Iranian negotiations to prevent a regional war.
Officials at the White House clarified that Trump has not made a final decision on ordering a strike against Iran, and remains open to a diplomatic solution, asserting that his recent statements about the negotiations are not just a maneuver, at a time when Washington does not know if the Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei will give his diplomats permission to reach an agreement that may be acceptable to the United States.
In this context, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told CNN on Sunday that "friendly countries" are trying to build trust between the United States and Iran, describing these efforts as "productive," adding that he sees "a possibility for further talks if the American negotiating team adheres to what President Trump said, to reach a fair and equitable agreement that ensures there are no nuclear weapons."
Trump said in statements to reporters aboard the US presidential plane on Saturday that he hopes to reach an acceptable agreement, adding that it could be negotiated for a "satisfactory" agreement that prevents the possession of nuclear weapons, pointing out that "the Iranians are talking to us seriously."
On the other hand, the Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei took a hard stance in a speech he delivered on Sunday in Tehran, stating that the United States wants to "devour" Iran and take control of its oil, gas, and minerals, warning that any war would turn into a "regional war," without addressing the issue of negotiations.
Trump, on Sunday, commented on Khamenei's statements by saying that the United States has "the biggest and strongest ships in the world there," adding: "We hope to make a deal, and if we don't make a deal, we will then find out whether he is right or not."
In a related context, the chief of staff of the Israeli army, Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, visited Washington on Friday and Saturday to hold talks with the chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dan Ken, about the possibility of a US strike on Iran.
US and Israeli officials said the low-key visit aimed to brief both sides on defensive and offensive plans in case of a war with Iran.
