A highly anticipated diplomatic meeting between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and US negotiators Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff faces uncertainty as Turkish officials indicate the venue may relocate from Istanbul. While initially planned for Friday in the Turkish metropolis, Ankara government sources now suggest alternative locations are under consideration.
The potential shift follows cautious statements from Iranian officials who maintain a guarded stance toward the prospective negotiations. An Iranian diplomatic source characterized Tehran’s position as “neither optimistic nor pessimistic,” emphasizing that the meeting would demonstrate whether Washington intends to engage in “serious and result-orientated” discussions.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian confirmed his authorization for negotiations via social media, but established clear preconditions requiring “a suitable environment free from threats and unreasonable expectations.” The president emphasized that any talks must operate within Iran’s national interests framework, following requests from regional allies.
The diplomatic engagement occurs against a backdrop of heightened military tensions. US President Donald Trump recently referenced a “massive armada” deployed toward Iran, warning of potential military action unless Tehran agrees to nuclear negotiations. Iranian officials responded by placing forces at “maximum defensive readiness” while Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei cautioned that any US strike would trigger regional conflict.
Regional mediators including Qatar, Turkey, and Egypt have facilitated the diplomatic efforts to prevent open warfare between the US and Iran. The United Arab Emirates’ diplomatic adviser Anwar Gargash echoed the regional consensus that “the region does not need an Iran-US war,” while simultaneously urging Iran to pursue a negotiated settlement.
The prospective talks would represent the first direct engagement since US airstrikes targeted Iranian nuclear facilities last summer, following Israel’s surprise attack on Iran in June 2025. Previous indirect nuclear negotiations between the parties occurred in April and May of 2025 before the military escalation.