"Serious Talks" Underway: Trump Confirms Diplomatic Progress with Iran as Larijani Reveals a New Framework for Dialogue

On Sunday, February 1, 2026, President Donald Trump stated that Iran is engaged in "serious negotiations" with the United States. Speaking to reporters on Air Force One and in a Fox News interview, Trump expressed hope for an "acceptable deal" that ensures Iran never obtains nuclear weapons. He cautioned that while he prefers "the art of the deal," a massive U.S. armada—described as larger than the one sent to Venezuela—continues its transit toward the Gulf as a backup for "what happens next."

In Tehran, Ali Larijani, head of the Supreme National Security Council, confirmed that "structural arrangements for negotiations are progressing," dismissing current media narratives as "artificial war hype." This cautious rapprochement follows reports of a U.S. deadline and hardline conditions, including a total ban on uranium enrichment and an end to domestic crackdowns. Both sides now seem to be testing a "framework for dialogue" amidst the highest regional military deployment in decades.