U.S. tells Iran it is ready to meet and negotiate a deal
Sunday, February 1, 2026
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The Trump administration is secretly negotiating with Iran through multiple channels, with White House envoy Steve Witkoff set to meet senior Iranian officials in Ankara, according to a senior U.S. official.
Turkey, Egypt, and Qatar are brokering the talks, aiming to prevent a regional war, with Qatar's Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani meeting with Iran's Supreme National Security Council secretary Ali Larijani on Saturday.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi expressed optimism about the talks, stating that "friendly countries" are building confidence between the U.S. and Iran, and that he sees the possibility of another talk if the U.S. comes to a "fair and equitable deal".
Trump claimed that his comments about negotiations are not a bluff, but the U.S. is uncertain if Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei will authorize a deal, with Khamenei striking a hard line in a speech, claiming the U.S. wants to "devour" Iran.
The U.S. has ordered a massive military buildup in the Gulf, raising the stakes of a potential war, with IDF chief of staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir visiting Washington to discuss defensive and offensive plans with U.S. officials.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan are also involved in the diplomatic push, with al-Sisi urging Iran to agree to a meeting with Trump officials, and Fidan discussing the possible venue and agenda for a potential meeting.
Trump told reporters that he hopes Iran will negotiate a deal that is "satisfactory" and includes "no nuclear weapons", but Khamenei's hardline stance suggests that a deal may be difficult to reach.
