The website Axios reported that negotiations between Iran and the United States will begin on February 7 in Istanbul, where Steve Witkoff from the White House will meet with Abbas Araghchi to discuss a nuclear agreement. Iran opposes U.S. demands that include its missile program and its regional proxies, insisting that only the nuclear issue is on the table. The meeting comes amid diplomatic and military tensions in the region.

This will be the first meeting between American and Iranian officials since negotiations collapsed and the 12‑day war in the middle of last year. It also comes as the United States maintains a large military buildup in the Gulf, with President Donald Trump insisting that the only way to avoid military conflict is to reach a swift agreement.