Khamenei Appears to Yield to Trump: Iran Signals Readiness to Suspend Nuclear Program

Tehran/Ankara: In a dramatic development ahead of talks in Istanbul, Turkey, Iran has indicated a willingness to suspend its nuclear program, signaling a possible breakthrough in its standoff with the United States. The announcement comes amid heightened U.S. military presence in the Middle East and mounting diplomatic pressure.

President Donald Trump confirmed on Monday that major U.S. naval assets are en route to the region, while negotiations with Tehran are ongoing. Speaking publicly, Trump said,
“Iran appears ready for dialogue. We have set a deadline to discuss nuclear weapons, though I am not disclosing the exact timeframe yet.”

Potential Suspension of Nuclear Activities
According to reports, Iran may agree to halt its nuclear weapons program to avoid U.S. military action. Tehran has proposed suspending the enrichment of uranium, potentially reducing the concentration of enriched uranium from 60 percent to 20 percent, while seeking reciprocal benefits. Iran has also hinted it could transfer its stockpiled enriched uranium to Russia, as was done under the 2015 nuclear agreement.

Ali Larijani, Secretary of Iran’s National Security Council, recently met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow and conveyed a message from Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, signaling Tehran’s willingness to explore diplomatic solutions. Senior advisor Ali Shamkhani noted that while Iran will not remove its nuclear material, it is ready to negotiate reductions in enrichment under favorable conditions.

Diplomatic Talks in Turkey
The Istanbul talks, expected to involve officials from Turkey, Qatar, and Egypt, aim to establish a framework for negotiations. U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are slated to meet Iranian officials, exploring possible compromises to curb Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Tehran has indicated that it is reviewing multiple diplomatic options to reduce regional tensions and hopes to finalize a framework in the coming days.

Significance of the Development
This move marks a notable shift from Iran’s earlier stance, where Supreme Leader Khamenei had vowed never to yield to U.S. pressure and had warned that any attack would trigger a regional conflict. The apparent willingness to suspend nuclear activities signals a potential de-escalation in a long-standing confrontation and could pave the way for renewed diplomatic engagement.