Peace Path Opens, But Iran-US Tensions Remain Unabated
Iran has signaled its intention to close the door on war with the United States through diplomacy. On Monday (February 2), the Iranian Foreign Ministry stated that it hoped ongoing negotiations would yield progress "in the coming days," amid rising tensions following Washington's threat of military action.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said several Middle Eastern countries were now acting as intermediaries for exchanging messages with the US. He also emphasized that if a military conflict were to break out, the impact would not be confined to Iran—a message the market interpreted as a warning that escalation could spread regionally.
The statement comes as pressure from Washington has again increased. Donald Trump has threatened military action if Iran does not agree to a deal to curb its nuclear program. On Sunday, Trump said US naval assets were "days away" from arriving near Iran, while Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned of the potential for a "regional war" if Iran is attacked. Tehran has previously threatened retaliation, including targeting Israel and US bases in the region.
Meanwhile, Trump also mentioned Gulf allies (without naming them) who were assisting in negotiations to de-escalate tensions, and he hoped "there will be a deal." Baghaei emphasized that Iran's priority in the talks is the lifting of sanctions and considered Iran's approach "realistic" in establishing a diplomatic path that is currently being evaluated.
Diplomatic activity has increased since the weekend. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reportedly held communications and discussions with several countries, including Egypt, Turkey, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. Internally, Iranian security chief Ali Larijani also stated that "structural arrangements for negotiations are underway," reinforcing the signal that a dialogue channel is indeed being prepared.
The impact of these tensions is beginning to be felt on the regional agenda. Japanese media reported that UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed canceled a state visit to Japan originally scheduled for this weekend due to the escalating situation. Several of Japan's largest LNG buyers also reportedly chose to skip a key conference in Qatar this week, citing security concerns—indicating that geopolitical risks are now beginning to influence business decisions and official agendas.
Source: Newsmaker.id
