A recent phone call between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and U.S. Envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, is being described by officials as a potential turning point in ongoing conflict negotiations, opening a new channel for dialogue that could lead to an agreement. The development underscores growing regional tensions and the complex diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the situation.
According to a report published Tuesday by the Israeli news site “Ynet,” which is affiliated with the newspaper “Yedioth Ahronoth,” Araqchi told Witkoff during the call: “I am here after we obtained the approval and blessing of the Supreme Leader (Mojtaba Khamenei) to close this matter as soon as possible, as long as our conditions are met.”
The phone call, which could later be viewed as a turning point in the conflict, also symbolizes the successes and failures of each side in this battle, the report stated.
American and Israeli officials, who were not involved in the talks, confirmed the call took place, during which Araqchi sought to convey a clear message that “there is a functioning system and a legitimate heir in Iran who approves the agreement and closes the file,” while Israel was excluded from the negotiations and learned of them through a third party.
“It was important for Araqchi to show the United States that there is a functioning system in Iran, which is the opposite of what Washington and Tel Aviv had expected,” a senior Israeli official said. He added, “Conversely, it was important for the Americans to know that he came with a formal mandate from those in power.”
A Dramatic Moment
The moment was described as particularly dramatic for both sides, with the United States effectively recognizing the rule of Khamenei’s son after having previously bet on the overthrow of the regime or a radical change in its leadership. The U.S. Now finds itself negotiating with the same foreign minister with whom previous talks had stalled, but this time with a direct mandate from the Supreme Leader.
Witkoff, who does not work as a full-time government employee, was in a public place during the call, and at one point stood alongside Jared Kushner, a close advisor to President Trump, for an extended period, speaking loudly and occasionally raising his voice, allowing those around him to overhear parts of the conversation.
Details that later evolved into mutual drafts between the two sides indicate that the Iranians are prepared to offer what they agreed to in Geneva during the last round of negotiations before the war, as well as their willingness to discuss transferring highly enriched uranium to Russia, but they refuse to abandon their ballistic missile program or halt enrichment within Iranian territory.
During the call, Witkoff reportedly became agitated, despite being in a public place, and informed Araqchi that President Trump had rejected any enrichment on Iranian soil, calling the matter “non-negotiable.”
The dialogue, which continued for some time, created momentum that persisted even after it was revealed, with drafts and ideas being exchanged to conclude the war, raising concerns in Israel, a partner in the military campaign but excluded from the negotiations to end it, regarding the potential outcome of any agreement.
A Communication Channel
This shift came despite the existence of a communication channel since the fourth day of the war, involving Ali Larijani on the Iranian side, who did not speak directly with the Americans but oversaw the transmission of messages, while Witkoff and Kushner represented the American side. However, this channel remained frozen for days due to a lack of discussion topics, before Israel reportedly authorized the assassination of Larijani, a move seen as evidence of a desire to continue the war without a clear horizon.
The United States did not initially invest in this channel, as some believed the war would take a different course leading to the rapid collapse of the regime. According to American sources, Trump was the last to abandon this view.
Trump based his assessment on Israeli estimates that predicted widespread protests after the war that would lead to the overthrow of the regime, but many in Israel and the United States misinterpreted the plans of “Mossad,” as inciting protests was not planned during the war, but only afterward, according to sources close to the agency.
Over time, it became clear that Trump’s bet on replicating the “Venezuelan model” in Iran did not materialize, and the war did not achieve decisive goals, whether by seizing the uranium, imposing American-Israeli conditions, or overthrowing the regime.
Isolating Israel
Meanwhile, Iran blockaded the Strait of Hormuz, a step that many observers had anticipated but surprised the United States, particularly its Central Command, which was not fully prepared for this scenario.
Current American-Iranian efforts are focused on holding a negotiating meeting this week, and possibly two, with Iran expected to focus its attacks on Israel, aiming to deepen the rift between Washington and Tel Aviv and isolate the latter. The announcement could influence future diplomatic talks.
Has the matter been settled? Has an agreement been reached? The answer is no. It’s difficult to envision three parties as winners simultaneously, which is what everyone is striving for.
The tactic previously used to announce a “complete victory” is no longer repeatable, given the lack of decisive results, the report concluded. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has begun to adjust the war’s objectives, paving the way for the possibility of holding the Iranian people responsible for the plan’s failure.
