US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi have spoken by phone several times since Israel began its strikes on Iran last week, in a bid to find a diplomatic end to the crisis, three diplomats tell Reuters.
According to the diplomats, who asked not to be identified due to the sensitivity of the matter, Araghchi said Tehran would not return to negotiations unless Israel stopped the attacks, which began on June 13.
They said the talks included a brief discussion of a US proposal given to Iran at the end of May that aims to create a regional consortium that would enrich uranium outside of Iran, an offer Tehran has so far rejected.
US and Iranian officials did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment on the matter.
A regional diplomat close to Tehran says Araghchi told Witkoff that Tehran “could show flexibility in the nuclear issue” if Washington pressured Israel to end the war.
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From the Liveblog of
Thursday, June 19, 2025
