A US think tank flags a shift within Iran’s leadership, with hardliners gaining influence just as diplomatic engagement with Washington gathers pace through mediated talks in Islamabad.
US signals fresh diplomatic push with Iran after stalled talks, as mistrust lingers but backchannel engagement continues and a second round of negotiations remains under consideration.
A proposed US roadmap to de-escalate tensions with Iran includes nuclear rollbacks, sanctions relief and a temporary ceasefire, but Israel remains uneasy about the direction of talks.
Tehran’s preference for JD Vance highlights shifting dynamics within US diplomacy, even as Washington insists multiple officials remain involved in efforts to revive stalled negotiations.
Iran's foreign ministry had publicly denied any negotiations over 24 days of conflict, making the reported Araghchi-Witkoff conversation, approved at Tehran's highest level, a direct contradiction of its own official position.
Mediators from multiple countries remain sceptical of a quick deal, with the United States and Iran still far apart on Tehran's nuclear programme and security guarantees, and no venue for direct talks yet confirmed despite early discussions about neutral meetings in Pakistan or Turkey.
Qatar reached out to US officials after Iran’s retaliation, while a new report claims prior coordination between Washington and Israel in the South Pars gas field strike.
US Special Envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, has said that the US will seek "alternative options" for a ceasefire in Gaza.
