Despite recent diplomatic momentum, U.S.-Iran negotiations remain likely to stall or collapse over irreconcilable demands, sustaining the risk of U.S. (and likely Israeli) military action in the coming weeks. In recent days, the United States has signalled that it is open to meeting with Iran to negotiate a deal that would avert military escalation in the region. Iranian officials, including President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, have also repeatedly declared that Iran is willing to negotiate a "fair" deal with Washington. Axios reported on Feb. 2 that Araghchi and U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff may meet in the Turkish city of Istanbul on Feb. 6. Against this backdrop, countries including Turkey, Egypt and Qatar have intensified their diplomatic efforts toward organizing a meeting between Iran and the United States, in a bid to prevent military escalation. Meanwhile, media reports suggest that U.S. President Donald Trump still has not...
