Turkey to Host High-Stakes US-Iran Talks
James RileyTurkey hosts critical US-Iran talks aimed at de-escalating heightened tensions amid military threats and war warnings.
Turkey is set to host high-level talks between the United States and Iran on Friday, a diplomatic effort aimed at de-escalating rising tensions between the two nations.
The summit in Istanbul will reportedly be attended by senior officials from both sides. Sources familiar with the plans said the US delegation includes envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner. Iran is expected to be represented by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
According to the sources, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the discussions, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan anticipates that other regional powers may also participate.
A Critical Meeting Amid Heightened Tensions
This meeting would mark the first public engagement between American and Iranian officials since a recent spike in hostilities. The talks come as President Trump has threatened Tehran with military action if a new agreement to curb its nuclear program is not reached.
The geopolitical climate is tense, with the US having already dispatched naval assets to the region. This move has raised concerns about a potential conflict, echoing previous US-Israeli attacks on Iran's nuclear facilities last year.
President Trump’s recent threats followed a deadly crackdown by Iranian authorities on mass protests last month. In response, Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei issued a stark warning on Sunday, stating that any attack on his country could trigger a "regional war."
Diplomatic Preliminaries
Ahead of the Istanbul summit, US envoy Steve Witkoff is scheduled to travel to Israel on Tuesday. An official with knowledge of the trip confirmed that Witkoff will meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his senior security team.
The possibility of a US-Iran meeting was also reported earlier by The New York Times, which noted that discussions would take place in Istanbul with the participation of some Middle Eastern countries.
