In a high-security Istanbul venue, US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi are set to meet on Friday, marking the first high-level contact between Washington and Tehran since a 12-day war in June 2025. The talks aim to find a de-escalation path after precision airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites and domestic unrest. The summit follows mediation by Turkey, Egypt, and Qatar, amid US demands on uranium enrichment and missiles.
Preparations are underway in Istanbul for a pivotal diplomatic summit on Friday, where US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff will meet Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. This marks the first such high-level engagement since the brief June 2025 war, which featured precision strikes on nuclear facilities in Isfahan and Natanz, causing significant damage.
The summit comes after a year of tensions, including widespread anti-government protests in Iran in January 2026. Mediation efforts by Turkey, Egypt, and Qatar facilitated the arrangements, with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian holding a call with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Saturday to give the final go-ahead. Witkoff is also scheduled to visit Israel on Tuesday to consult with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and military chief Eyal Zamir, aligning defensive plans with US diplomacy.
Talks will center on President Donald Trump's three conditions: zero uranium enrichment, curbs on ballistic missiles, and halting regional proxy support. Iranian sources indicate readiness to transfer 400kg of highly enriched uranium as a goodwill gesture, though the missile program remains a red line. A US official told Reuters: “The president has been calling for them to make a deal.” Araghchi stated: “We are ready for the diplomacy.”
The Istanbul meeting offers a fragile chance for rapprochement, as repairs continue at Natanz, but failure risks renewed escalation in the region.
