Iran reaches out to US envoy as Trump signals possible military action

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi contacted White House envoy Steve Witkoff over the weekend, sources with knowledge told reporters, amid US President Donald Trump’s threats of military action against the Iranian regime in response to ongoing domestic protests, Axios reports.

The outreach appears to have been an effort by Tehran to deescalate tensions with Washington or, at minimum, buy time before any potential US action aimed at further weakening the regime. Sources said it marks the first public indication that direct communication channels between Washington and Tehran remain open, despite the stalemate in nuclear negotiations and repeated exchanges of threats.

According to one source, Araghchi and Witkoff discussed the possibility of holding a meeting in the coming days. It was unclear whether the conversation took place by phone or text. The White House and State Department declined to comment.

Trump confirmed on January 11 that Iran had reached out the previous day, proposing to negotiate a nuclear deal. “We may meet with them. A meeting is being set up, but we may have to act because of what’s happening, before the meeting… but a meeting is being set up,” he told reporters aboard Air Force One.

Witkoff and Araghchi first began exchanging text messages during last year’s US-Iran nuclear talks, US officials said. The communications continued even after the US conducted airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities in June and were maintained regarding potential nuclear negotiations as recently as October, according to US officials and sources familiar with the exchanges.

“The communication channel between our Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and the US special envoy is open and messages are exchanged whenever necessary,” Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei told reporters on January 12. He added that Iran and the US are also communicating via the Swiss mediation channel, but described US messages as “contradictory.”

Trump is expected to meet with his national security team on January 13 to discuss options for supporting the protests and undermining the Iranian regime. “We are looking at it very seriously,” Trump said on January 11. “The military is looking at it. We are looking at very strong options. We will make a determination.”

By Vafa Guliyeva