Iran Agrees To Meet U.S. Envoys In Istanbul For 'Fair' Direct Talks

Iran’s new president, Masoud Pezeshkian, has instructed the foreign minister to pursue fair and equitable negotiations with the United States.

“Thousands were killed in mass protests in Iran in January after economic distress and the collapse of the currency under international sanctions; the unrest evolved from economic grievances into a direct challenge to the government”

Al Jazeera

Multiple outlets report preparations for talks in Istanbul between Iranian and U.S. envoys.

Al Jazeera

Anadolu Ajansı said Pezeshkian stressed negotiations should be based on dignity, prudence and expediency and held in a suitable environment.

PressTV reported that Iran’s Foreign Ministry said preparations are complete for talks in the coming days, with Istanbul suggested as a possible venue.

Haaretz described the instruction as the first clear sign Tehran wants to engage after a violent domestic crackdown.

The Independent noted that Washington had not confirmed the reports and that a semiofficial Iranian agency briefly posted and then deleted a similar claim.

Iran’s public conditions for any meeting are repeatedly described as cautious and conditional.

Pezeshkian and other Iranian officials insist talks must occur in a suitable environment, without threats or unreasonable expectations, and must protect national interests.

Amu TV

Multiple reports indicate any talks would be limited in scope to the nuclear program rather than missiles or broader regional issues.

Yeni Safak and Anadolu quoted the president’s requirement for dignity and no unrealistic demands.

HUM News said Tehran framed the move as responding to regional governments and explicitly stated talks would be confined to the nuclear program.

DT Next noted senior advisers signaled negotiations would likely be indirect and limited to nuclear issues.

Reports identify key interlocutors and U.S. diplomatic activity in the region, but they underline that Washington’s official confirmation was lacking.

“Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said he has directed the foreign minister to pursue “fair and equitable” talks based on “dignity, prudence and expediency,” following requests from regional governments urging a response to a U”

Anadolu Ajansı

PressTV and the San Juan Daily Star name Iran’s deputy foreign minister Abbas Araghchi and U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff, with the San Juan piece also mentioning Jared Kushner as an expected participant.

Devdiscourse and other outlets describe Witkoff’s regional tour and the U.S. insistence on stringent conditions.

Al Jazeera summarizes U.S. and EU concern about Iran’s nuclear advances and lists U.S. preconditions.

The Independent cautions that many of the initial media reports were tentative or were later deleted.

Internal Iranian politics and recent domestic unrest frame the diplomatic opening and are reported differently across outlets.

Haaretz and the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal call the instruction a notable softening by Pezeshkian and say it may have Khamenei's backing after the government's violent crackdown on nationwide protests.

Awaz The Voice

DT Next and PressTV emphasize uncertainty within Iran about the talks and note that semiofficial reports were deleted or remain unconfirmed.

Some outlets portray the step as cautious leverage rather than capitulation, with regional reports highlighting preconditions and an insistence on national interests.

The regional and security backdrop is central, with outlets reporting U.S. military deployments, Iranian warnings, and broader diplomatic fallout that complicate any talks.

“President Masoud Pezeshkian has said Iran is ready to negotiate with the US after requests from "friendly governments in the region" to respond to a proposal for talks”

BBC

West Asian sources such as خبرگزاری برنا report U.S. carrier strike groups and fighter squadrons were sent to the region and say both sides prefer dialogue but remain ready for force.

BBC

Tempo.co and Mehr quoted warnings from Supreme Leader Khamenei, and Iran condemned EU steps such as blacklisting the IRGC.

Multiple sources caution that despite diplomatic signals, mistrust, recent attacks, and sanctions mean talks—if they happen—will be tightly constrained and provisional.