Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Tuesday that he has instructed the country’s foreign minister to pursue what he described as “fair and equitable negotiations” with the United States, marking the first explicit indication from Tehran that it is willing to re-enter diplomatic talks with Washington following weeks of heightened tensions.
The statement represents a notable shift for the reform-minded president, who in recent weeks had warned that internal unrest and regional pressures were straining his government’s control. Analysts view the move as a sign that Pezeshkian has secured at least tacit backing from Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who had previously rejected the prospect of renewed negotiations with the U.S.
In a message published on the social platform X in both English and Farsi, Pezeshkian said the decision came after “requests from friendly governments in the region” to respond to a proposal by U.S. President Donald Trump for negotiations. He added that discussions would only proceed in “a suitable environment free from threats and unreasonable expectations,” emphasizing principles of dignity and prudence.
Behind the scenes, regional diplomatic efforts have reportedly intensified, with Turkey working to facilitate potential talks later this week. According to regional officials, foreign ministers from Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have been invited to attend if discussions materialize. The United States has not officially confirmed its participation.
Any potential negotiations are expected to face significant hurdles, particularly after President Trump included Iran’s nuclear program among key conditions for dialogue. The issue remains sensitive following U.S. airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities during the 12-day conflict triggered by Israel’s military campaign against Iran in June.
Further insight into Tehran’s position emerged through remarks by Ali Shamkhani, a senior security adviser to the Supreme Leader and member of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council. In an interview broadcast by the pan-Arab channel Al Mayadeen, Shamkhani suggested that talks could begin indirectly before transitioning into direct engagement if progress appears achievable — a politically charged step within Iran’s leadership circles.
Shamkhani stressed that any discussions would focus exclusively on nuclear matters and reiterated Tehran’s longstanding assertion that it does not seek nuclear weapons. He also dismissed proposals that Russia could store Iran’s enriched uranium abroad, arguing there was “no reason” for such an arrangement despite Moscow previously offering that option.
Iran has enriched uranium to levels of up to 60 percent purity, a technical threshold close to weapons-grade material, according to international monitoring agencies. The International Atomic Energy Agency has noted that Iran is the only country without a declared nuclear weapons program to reach that level of enrichment. Tehran has also declined recent IAEA requests to inspect facilities damaged during the June conflict, with officials saying parts of the enriched stockpile remain buried under debris and are too dangerous to retrieve.
While the signals from Tehran suggest a possible diplomatic opening, the path toward a comprehensive agreement remains uncertain amid deep mistrust, unresolved nuclear concerns and ongoing regional instability.
