Already a subscriber? Make sure to log into your account before viewing this content. You can access your account by hitting the “login” button on the top right corner. Still unable to see the content after signing in? Make sure your card on file is up-to-date.
Amid Israel and Iran intensifying their attacks on each other, the United States and Iranian officials are holding backdoor negotiations aimed at defusing the crisis and exploring a potential diplomatic breakthrough on Iran’s nuclear program.
Some shit you should know before you read: If you haven’t been following along, the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran is escalating day by day, with increasingly deadly and destructive attacks on both sides. Since day one, Israel has carried out repeated strikes on Iranian military and nuclear infrastructure, which led Iran to answer with waves of missiles targeting Israeli cities. With each passing day, the strikes have notably increased, resulting in significant casualties on both sides. As of today, Israel is reporting at least 24 deaths from Iranian strikes and over 500 injured. According to the Human Rights Activists News Agency, Israeli strikes on Iran have killed 639 people and injured thousands. Amid rising instability, the United States has started moving more troops and assets into the region (a move widely seen as preparing for potential escalation).
What’s going on now: First reported by Reuters and confirmed by multiple other news outlets, direct talks between the United States and Iran have quietly resumed amid the escalating conflict. US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi have spoken several times by phone since Israel’s campaign started on June 13, aiming to carve out a possible path for de-escalation.
These discussions come on the heels of renewed European diplomatic outreach, with foreign ministers from Germany, France, and the UK (collectively known as the E3) meeting with Araqchi in Geneva. In a readout provided by French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, “The Iranian Foreign Minister has expressed his willingness to continue discussions on the nuclear programme and more broadly on all issues.”
At the core of the negotiations are competing red lines. Iran has made it clear that any return to comprehensive nuclear talks is off the table unless Israel brings its offensive to a halt, maintaining that it has a sovereign right to pursue peaceful nuclear technology, including uranium enrichment within its borders. On the other hand, the United States has drawn a firm line in the sand against any enrichment activities occurring inside Iran.
