Iran and the US are holding quiet contacts mediated by Oman, Qatar and apparently also Turkey, aimed at reaching a diplomatic solution to the nuclear issue and other matters on the agenda.
According to Gulf diplomatic sources, the talks on Iran's behalf are being led by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, while on the American side they are being handled by the US special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, along with a team specializing in the Iranian issue.
The sources say Iran is showing flexibility on the nuclear issue to an extent not seen in the past, a development they say points to intense pressure on the regime. According to them, the US is also demanding discussions on curbing Iran's ballistic missile program and addressing the brutal suppression of protests. Iran, they say, is not agreeing to those American demands at this stage.
Iran's response was that its ballistic missiles are a response to Israeli and other forms of aggression, and that the protests are an internal matter. At the same time, the sources reported that the protests have largely subsided and that demonstrators who took part will be prosecuted in accordance with the law.
The sources said they could not assess the chances that these contacts would succeed.
Israel Hayom reported that before President Donald Trump decided last week to delay an attack, he received a promise from Iran's leadership that there would be no executions. However, subsequent intelligence indicated that the promise was not kept and that executions have taken place in recent days as well.
