Iran and the United States are heading toward the first round of negotiations scheduled for Friday 6/2, in a combustible confrontation setting that resembles anything but peace.
Tehran insists on conducting naval exercises in the Strait of Hormuz, while the Americans are intensifying their naval and air presence in the Middle East.
At the same time, in a forceful intervention via Twitter, the religious political leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, openly placed responsibility on the intelligence services CIA and Mossad for the recent social unrest in the country, which resulted in the deaths of thousands of people.
“When we say that the insurrection was orchestrated by the United States, this is not a simple claim, what makes it clear that this move was incited by the United States are the statements of the U.S. President himself. He explicitly addressed these agitators and told them, ‘Go on, go on. I am coming to help,’” Khamenei emphasized characteristically via Twitter.
Meanwhile, geopolitical tension in the Middle East appears to be taking on international dimensions, as according to information Chinese intelligence vessels approached the American aircraft carrier USS Lincoln in the Indian Ocean.
China's "Da Yang Yi Hao" scientific research ship is located in the Arabian Sea, near USS Abraham Lincoln, for .. scientific research activities. https://t.co/uMuDK9RQEl pic.twitter.com/J9eNHP9gs3
— MenchOsint (@MenchOsint) February 2, 2026
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei: CIA and Mossad did everything to destabilize our country and were defeated
“The recent insurrection was orchestrated by the Zionists and the United States. I was informed through a specific channel that the CIA and the Mossad threw all their resources into the field. Nevertheless, they were defeated. The plan of the insurrection was developed abroad and its management was carried out from abroad.
When we say that the insurrection was orchestrated by the United States, this is not a simple claim, what makes it clear that this move was incited by the United States are the statements of the U.S. President himself. He explicitly addressed these agitators and told them, ‘Go on, go on. I am coming to help,’” Khamenei stressed via Twitter.
The recent sedition was orchestrated by Zionists & the US. I was informed through a certain channel that the CIA & Mossad deployed all of their resources into the field! Nevertheless, they were defeated. The sedition's plan was developed abroad, and it was managed from abroad.
— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) February 2, 2026
“The recent insurrection was neither the first nor will it be the last. After all, we are a country in friction with the interests of global aggressors. How long will this continue. Until the Iranian nation reaches a point where the enemy is left without hope. And we will reach that point.
The law enforcement forces, the Basij and the IRGC carried out their duty to the fullest. But it was the people themselves who stepped on the fire of the insurrection and turned it to ashes.
Shopkeepers had complaints and their demands were reasonable and justified, but the agitators hid behind their peaceful protests. However, the shopkeepers understood what was happening. As soon as they saw that this was leading to riots, they withdrew,” he added.
“This insurrection resembled an attempted coup that was suppressed. But why call it an attempted coup. Because the goal was to destroy the centers that are effective in governing the country. They attacked the police, IRGC bases, government institutions and banks,” the Shiite religious political leader pointed out characteristically.
This sedition resembled a coup attempt which was suppressed. But why call it a coup attempt? Because the goal was to destroy the centers effective in the country's governance. They attacked the police, IRGC bases, government institutions, and banks.
— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) February 2, 2026
“Another feature of this insurrection was that those instigators who were trained by the United States and the Zionists were assigned the task of premeditated assassinations. They even attacked their own ordinary ‘soldiers’ whom they themselves had lured into the field with their propaganda, striking them from behind.
The aim of the recent insurrection was to disrupt the security of the country. When security is lost, nothing remains. When there is no security, there is no production, no schools, no research, no scientific knowledge and no progress.
A defining characteristic of this insurrection was its violence. It was similar to that of ISIS. Who created Daesh. The current U.S. President Donald Trump explicitly stated, ‘We created ISIS.’
Like Daesh, the insurgents in Iran burned people alive. They beheaded people. They committed the exact same atrocities committed by ISIS,” the Iranian leader concluded.
On Friday 6/2 the critical U.S. Iranian negotiations with the participation of Witkoff and Araghchi
Within this explosive geostrategic framework, the special envoy of U.S. President Donald Trump, Steve Witkoff, is expected to meet on Friday 6/2 with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, in order to discuss a possible agreement on Tehran’s nuclear program.
This meeting will take place in Istanbul, according to the agency Axios, which cites two sources with knowledge of the matter.
The Iranian agency Tasnim had reported in the morning that the meeting was to take place today 2/2, something that was not confirmed by Washington.
Iran expects that “in the coming days” a “framework” for negotiations with the United States will be finalized in order to deescalate bilateral tension, stated today 2/2 the spokesperson of the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Esmaeil Baghaei, at a time when U.S. President Donald Trump is threatening military intervention in the country.
“Negotiations, not ultimatums”
Iran assured today that it has not received an “ultimatum” from the United States to accept an agreement on its nuclear program, at a time when U.S. President Donald Trump is threatening military intervention in the country.
Iran “always acts with sincerity and seriousness in diplomatic processes, but our country never accepts ultimatums.
Consequently this claim cannot be confirmed,” stated today 2/2 the spokesperson of the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Esmaeil Baghaei during a press conference.
Amid the strengthening of the American military presence near Iran, Donald Trump told reporters last week that Tehran “is having serious talks” with Washington, a few hours after the senior Iranian official responsible for security Ali Larijani pointed out on X that arrangements for negotiations are being made.
At the same time on Friday, the American president stressed that he had set a deadline for Tehran, without providing further clarifications, and added that Iran wants “to reach an agreement”.
The framework of the critical Iran U.S. meeting in Istanbul on Friday (6/2) is being finalized
Earlier today 2/2, Esmaeil Baghaei had noted that Iran expects that “in the coming days” a “framework” for negotiations with the United States will be finalized in order to deescalate bilateral tension.
“The countries of the region are acting as intermediaries for the exchange of messages,” Esmaeil Baghaei noted.
“We have referred to various issues and we are examining and finalizing the details of each stage of the diplomatic process, which we hope to complete in the coming days. This concerns the method and the working framework,” he added.
Meanwhile, Tehran summoned the European ambassadors following the decision of the EU to designate the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a “terrorist organization”.
“Yesterday (Sunday) and today the representatives of all EU member states that have an embassy in Tehran were summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,” explained Esmaeil Baghaei.
“This is the minimum measure” before the announcement next week of other retaliatory steps, he added.
Unthinkable audacity as Israel sets red lines for Steve Witkoff
However, a decisive blow to any notion of diplomatic flexibility is being attempted by Israel, by setting “red lines” for the United States that smell of gunpowder, just before the critical contacts of Steve Witkoff with Tehran.
In a move that demonstrates the extreme seriousness of the situation, Steve Witkoff is expected to carry out a cycle of fiery contacts with the top of the Israeli leadership.
Before sitting at the negotiating table with the Iranian Foreign Minister, Witkoff will meet successively with Benjamin Netanyahu, the Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the Director of the Mossad.
Israel’s non negotiable terms to the United States for talks with Iran
The message that Steve Witkoff will convey to Tehran is clear and leaves no room for misinterpretation.
Israel demands:
1) Zero uranium enrichment. No concession will be accepted on the issue of the nuclear program. Israel makes it clear that any quantity of enriched uranium constitutes an immediate existential threat.
2) Full control of missiles. The Israeli side warns that any agreement that ignores Iran’s ballistic program is “dead letter”.
3) An end to proxy armies in the Middle East. Israel will accept no ceasefire unless the funding and support of organizations that act as arms of Tehran in the region are stopped.
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