U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi have held multiple phone calls since Israel launched strikes on Iran last week, according to three diplomats familiar, reported by Reuters.
One of the diplomats said the first call was initiated by Washington, which presented a new proposal in hopes of breaking the diplomatic deadlock. Araqchi reportedly told Witkoff that Iran would not return to negotiations unless Israel halts its military campaign, which began on June 13.
The talks touched on a previously undisclosed U.S. proposal, first presented to Iran at the end of May, that would establish a regional uranium enrichment consortium operating outside Iranian territory. Iran has thus far rejected the plan.
During Thursday’s press briefing, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that President Trump has offered a new deal through Witkoff, outlining two key conditions: a full halt to Iranian uranium enrichment and a ban on any pursuit of nuclear weapons.
