Iran seeks emergency talks with the United States — media

Iran’s Foreign Ministry has requested emergency talks with the United States amid escalating tensions, media reported.

According to Axios, U.S. President’s special envoy Steven Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi discussed nationwide protests in the Islamic Republic and the possibility of holding a meeting over the weekend.

The report says Araghchi contacted Witkoff following statements by U.S. President Donald Trump threatening the possible use of military force against Iran. The sides discussed the prospect of a meeting in the coming days, including a face-to-face format, although sources did not specify whether the talks took place by phone or via text messages.

Axios sources suggested Tehran is seeking to de-escalate tensions with Washington amid Trump’s readiness to support Iranian protesters by force.

Unnamed U.S. officials said Witkoff and Araghchi had begun exchanging messages during earlier U.S.–Iran talks on the nuclear deal and maintained contact even after U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.

Iran has been gripped by its largest protests since 2022, triggered by a sharp fall in the rial and surging inflation. Despite the resignation of the central bank chief, demonstrators are demanding a change of government and the return of the monarchy. Earlier, The New York Times reported that Washington was weighing options to support the protesters.