Iran offers nuclear talks to US after Donald Trump's 'time is running out' ultimatum

In a potential opening for diplomacy, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has authorised the launch of nuclear negotiations with the United States, AFP reported citing Iranian media on Monday. This comes after US President Donald Trump warned "time is running out" for Iran to reach a deal on its nuclear programme.

"President Pezeshkian has ordered the opening of talks with the United States," AFP quoted local media reports as saying. "Iran and the United States will hold talks on the nuclear file."




Earlier, the foreign ministry also confirmed that the details of the deal were being examined and finalised.

"Several points have been addressed and we are examining and finalising the details of each stage in the diplomatic process, which we hope to conclude in the coming days," foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said.

Trump said on Friday that Iran was willing to negotiate an agreement to avert US military action, though Tehran had then maintained that negotiations cannot take place under pressure or threats.

“They do want to make a deal,” Trump had said, adding, that he had given Iran a deadline to come to the negotiating table, without disclosing details. “Hopefully we’ll make a deal. If we don’t make a deal, we’ll see what happens,” he said, alluding to the deployment of a US aircraft carrier group in the region.

The move comes amid sharply heightened tensions following Iran’s violent crackdown on nationwide anti-government protests last month. In response, Trump warned of possible military action and ordered the deployment of a US aircraft carrier group to the Middle East.