Axios: US proposes meeting between Whitkoff and Araqchi this week

Afghan Voice Agency (AVA): As Washington has threatened the Islamic Republic of Iran with bunker-busting bombs, the Axios website reported, citing four sources, that the White House is in talks with Iran about the possibility of holding a meeting this week between Steve Whitkoff and Abbas Araqchi.

Axios reported that the purpose of the meeting is to review a diplomatic initiative that includes a nuclear agreement and ending the war between the Zionist regime and Iran.

According to the report, the meeting has not yet been finalized, but is part of President Trump’s final effort to avoid war and return to the path of negotiations.

A US official confirmed that “a meeting with the Iranians is being considered this week.”

This news comes as Trump threatens Iran with U.S. involvement in the Israeli invasion of Iranian territory and offers negotiations.

Axios continued that this meeting could be a turning point in answering the question of whether the United States will enter the war to militarily stop Iran’s nuclear program.

A senior American official told Axios that Trump sees U.S. bunker-busting bombs, which the Israeli regime does not currently possess, as a key lever to force Iran to agree.

The American official described the decision to use these bombs as a “turning point,” saying: “Trump thinks in terms of deals and leverage, and this is leverage.”

He continued: “They (the Iranians) want to negotiate, but the question is, are they under enough pressure to understand that they have to come to the negotiating table to save their country? And if so, to what extent will they be allowed to enrich?

Although Trump claims to have so far refrained from directly participating in Israeli attacks on Iran, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is trying to convince Trump to enter the war and bomb the Fordow facility.

Last night (Monday) night, Trump posted on the social network Social Truth, urging the Iranian people to leave Tehran immediately.

Immediately after that, he cut short his trip to the G7 summit in Canada and returned to Washington to focus on the war crisis.

These two actions, along with reports of an explosion in Tehran, led Israeli media and social media to report that the United States had entered the war.

However, White House spokesman Alex Pfeiffer denied these claims, writing: “American forces remain on the defensive and that has not changed. We will defend American interests.”

Defense Secretary Pete Hexath also reiterated this message in an interview with Fox News, saying Trump is still seeking a deal: “President Trump hopes peace will be made.”

According to Axios’ sources, the Trump administration discussed the offer of talks between Witkoff and Araqchi with Iran on Monday.

“We’ll talk on the phone, but it’s better to talk in person,” Trump said at the G7 summit.

He expressed hope that Iran would agree to the deal: “I think there will be a deal. I think Iran would be foolish not to sign.”

Trump discussed the need for a ceasefire between Iran and Israel with other leaders during the G7 summit, amid the Israeli incursion into Iranian territory during the Iran-US talks.

French President Emmanuel Macron told reporters: “The Americans have made an offer to meet with the Iranians. We’ll see what happens.”