Reuters has learned about direct talks between Iran and the United States amid Israeli strikes

US President Donald Trump's Special Envoy to the Middle East, Steven Witkoff, and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi have spoken by phone several times since the Israeli attack on the Islamic Republic. This was reported on June 19 by the Reuters news agency, citing three diplomats.

"According to them, the talks included a brief discussion of a U.S. proposal submitted to Iran in late May that aims to establish a regional uranium enrichment consortium outside Iran, a proposal that Tehran has so far rejected," the agency said in a statement.

According to one of the diplomats, Araqchi told Witkoff that the Islamic Republic could "show flexibility on the nuclear issue" in the event of United States pressure on Israel to end the conflict. In addition, the parties discussed ways to resolve the escalation in the Middle East, but Araqchi stressed that Iran would not return to negotiations if Israel did not stop the attacks."Газета.Ru ".

It is specified that the first telephone conversation took place at the initiative of Washington, which put forward a new proposal to resolve the conflict. The dialogue between Witkoff and Araqchi has become one of the most substantive since the start of negotiations on Iran's nuclear program in April. They had no direct contact before.

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At the same time, prolonging the fighting increases Tehran's chances, experts say.

On June 18, Trump announced that the United States remains ready to hold talks with the Iranian side. He clarified that the United States has not yet closed the door to negotiations with Iran, adding that it has not yet made a final decision on this issue.

Israel struck Iran on June 13 and declared a state of emergency. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the purpose of the military operation is to strike at Iran's nuclear infrastructure. In response, the Islamic Republic launched several waves of missile attacks.