Iran Signals Openness to U.S. Talks, Draws Red Line on Missile Program
By Jonathan Spicer and Parisa Hafezi
ISTANBUL, Jan 30 (Reuters) — Iran declared on Friday it is prepared to resume dialogue with the United States, provided talks are conducted on "fair and equitable" terms. Crucially, Tehran issued a firm rebuff to any discussion of its missile and defense programs, a core U.S. demand, setting a stark precondition as diplomatic efforts to ease soaring tensions intensify across the Middle East.
The statement from Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi follows U.S. President Donald Trump's Thursday remarks that he planned to speak with Iran, even as his administration bolstered military assets in the region. The Pentagon confirmed readiness to execute presidential orders, highlighting the volatile backdrop against which any potential diplomacy would unfold.
Recent weeks have seen U.S.-Iranian relations deteriorate sharply, fueled by Washington's condemnation of Tehran's handling of domestic protests. A senior Iranian official told Reuters last week that curbing Iran's missile program remains a primary U.S. condition for talks—a demand Tehran flatly rejects.
"Negotiations cannot take place under the shadow of threats," Araqchi said at a press conference in Istanbul after meeting Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan. "Iran's defensive and missile capabilities will never be the subject of any negotiations. We will preserve and expand these capabilities to whatever extent is necessary."
He emphasized that while Iran is open to talks, no meetings with U.S. officials are currently scheduled. The minister framed Tehran's stance as one of principled readiness: "We are prepared for either negotiations or warfare."
Regional Diplomacy in Overdrive
The impasse has triggered a flurry of diplomatic activity among regional powers anxious to prevent an open conflict. Turkey, which shares a border with Iran and opposes foreign intervention, has positioned itself as a potential mediator. President Tayyip Erdogan told Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in a call that Ankara is ready to play a "facilitator" role.
Foreign Minister Fidan disclosed he held lengthy discussions on the crisis with U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff on Thursday, pledging to keep communication channels with Washington open to "avoid conflict and the isolation of Iran." He urged a restart of nuclear negotiations, stating it would pave the way for lifting sanctions.
Other regional actors, including the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, are also understood to be engaged in behind-the-scenes efforts to lower temperatures. The diplomatic push coincides with continued U.S. military movements, including the docking of a Navy destroyer at Israel's port of Eilat, as reported by Israeli media.
Analyst & Public Reaction
Reuters gathered immediate reactions to the developments:
• Dr. Anahita Rostami, a regional security analyst at the Middle East Institute: "Araqchi's statement is a classic diplomatic maneuver—offering an opening while firmly guarding sovereign red lines. The real question is whether the U.S. administration can accept a negotiation framework that explicitly excludes missiles, which it views as a primary threat."
• Markus Jensen, a former EU diplomat based in Brussels: "This is a fragile but crucial window. Turkey's active facilitation, given its unique relations with both sides, could provide the face-saving mechanism needed for initial, low-level contacts. The alternative—miscalculation—remains dangerously likely."
• Sarah Chen, advocacy director at the International Crisis Watchdog: "It's outrageous. Tehran is offering 'talks' with one hand while solidifying the very capabilities that destabilize the region with the other. This isn't diplomacy; it's a stalling tactic. The U.S. must not legitimize this by agreeing to talks without concrete, verifiable concessions on missiles first."
• Ali Farzad, a political commentator in Istanbul: "The public in Iran sees defense sovereignty as non-negotiable. Any government seen as bargaining it away would face immense domestic backlash. The ministers' tough talk is as much for the home audience as it is for Washington."
The path forward remains fraught. While both sides express a nominal openness to dialogue, the fundamental mismatch in preconditions—Iran's missile program—suggests a breakthrough is distant. The coming days will test whether regional mediation can forge a middle ground or if the cycle of threats and posturing will continue.
(Reporting by Parisa Hafezi, Jonathan Spicer, Tuvan Gumrukcu and Huseyin Hayatsever; Writing by Tala Ramadan and Nayera Abdallah; Editing by Alison Williams and Aidan Lewis)