Supreme Leader Does Not Rule Out Engagement w/US

Comments from Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei directed towards President Masoud Pezeshkian have garnered notable international attention, being seen as a potential signal that talks on Iran's nuclear programme and sanctions relief may not be out of the question. Khamenei said in a televised address “We do not have to pin our hope to the enemy. For our plans, we should not wait for approval by the enemies. It is not contradictory to engage the same enemy in some places, there’s no barrier.”

• The return of former Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif to gov't in the role of Vice President for Strategic Affairs is seen as a sign that sanctions relief is a strong priority for the regime. Zarif had previously resigned the office, claiming disappointment with cabinet appointments. As foreign minister from 2013 to 2021, Zarif was a key figure in the formulation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPoA), the 2015 nuclear deal.
• Indirect talks between Washington, D.C., and Tehran have been taking place for some time, with Oman acting as a mediator. On 26 Aug, Amwaj Media reported that “The JCPOA is not good enough for us anymore,” a high-ranking political source in Tehran told Amwaj.media, indicating ambitions by the Iranian government to end the nuclear crisis by going beyond the framework of what has been on the table. Pressed on whether the Masoud Pezeshkian administration is ready to directly engage with the US, the high-ranking source suggested that the preference is to pursue indirect talks."