Tehran – Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian confirmed on Tuesday that he had ordered the start of nuclear talks with the United States, after his counterpart Donald Trump threatened “bad things” if no deal was reached.
A message from Lorestan Province, Iran, to the United States:
“If you stand with us now, if you help the people of Iran win back our freedom, we will never forget it…and we will never stop trying to return that kindness until the end of our days.” pic.twitter.com/4MuyP9MxD3
— National Union for Democracy in Iran (@NUFDIran) February 2, 2026
US President Trump has said he remains hopeful that Washington will “work something out” with Iran, but warned on Monday that “bad things would happen” if no deal is reached.
Tehran has insisted it wants diplomacy while vowing an unbridled response to any aggression.
It has repeatedly stressed that talks should remain focused solely on the nuclear issue, rejecting negotiations over its missile programme or defence capabilities.
In an interview with CNN broadcast on Monday, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said a nuclear deal with the US was achievable.
“So I see the possibility of another talk if the US negotiation team follows what President Trump said: to come to a fair and equitable deal to ensure that there is no nuclear weapons,” he said.
“So if that is the case, I am confident that we can achieve a deal,” he added.
Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has warned of a “regional war” if the US attacked his country.
Imam Khamenei:
The problem between the USA and Iran that has existed for more than 40 years and has made us enemies for decades — can be summed up in 2 sentences:
America wants to swallow Iran.
But the wise Iranian people and the Islamic Republic stand in the way.It is like… pic.twitter.com/sDxQ3V4KLj
— Sprinter Press (@SprinterPress) February 1, 2026
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Source: AFP
