CAIRO, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- As the United States and Iran have announced the start of dialogue, there appears to be a glimmer of hope for easing the tensions that have gripped the Middle East for weeks.
However, with Washington continuing to bolster its military presence and the prospects for negotiations remaining uncertain, the shadow of conflict still looms over the region.
MIXED SIGNALS
On Saturday night, Iran and the United States confirmed they had initiated dialogue, offering a sigh of relief to many who had been suffocating under the tension of a weeks-long standoff between the two nations.
"The formation of a structure for negotiations is progressing," Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani wrote on social media platform X.
Later in the day, U.S. President Donald Trump said in an interview with reporters aboard Air Force One that Iran was "seriously talking" with the United States.
"I hope they negotiate something that's acceptable," Trump said, adding, "We could make a negotiated deal that would be satisfactory, with no nuclear weapons, and they should do that, but I don't know if they will."
In an interview with CNN on Sunday, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said that a "just, fair, and equitable" nuclear agreement with the United States remains achievable in the short term, provided Washington abandons its policy of coercion.
Although both sides have confirmed they are in contact, neither has taken concrete steps to de-escalate the situation, sending mixed signals -- expressing openness to talks while remaining prepared for conflict.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei warned on Sunday that if the United States starts a war against Iran, it would become a regional war.
Khamenei said Iran would not start a war and does not seek to attack any country, but that "the Iranian people will deliver a hard punch to those seeking to attack and harass them."
"The Americans should know that if a war is launched this time, it will be a regional war," he emphasized.
Trump has also been blunt in expressing his military posture toward Iran. When asked by reporters whether he had made a final decision on Iran, Trump responded, "Certainly, I can't tell you that, but we do have very big, powerful ships heading in that direction."
UNCERTAIN OUTLOOK
While the two countries have initiated talks, analysts caution that this does not signal a quick de-escalation of tensions, either bilaterally or across the broader region. The future is still up in the air, with the specter of conflict continuing to loom.
On Sunday, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz met with military chief Eyal Zamir to assess the military's "operational readiness for any possible scenario" amid rising regional tensions, the Israeli Defense Ministry said in a statement.
The meeting came after Zamir concluded a weekend visit to the United States, which was reportedly focused on preparations for potential U.S. military action against Iran.
In June last year, the United States launched a sudden airstrike on Iran shortly after concluding negotiations with Tehran, a move that has fueled skepticism about the prospects of the current talks.
Washington has said any deal with Iran must include a ban on uranium enrichment, the removal of already enriched material, limits on long-range missiles, and a rollback of support for regional proxies - conditions Tehran has rejected.
As for the current round of talks, Iran has shown no willingness so far to compromise on issues it considers core interests.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Friday that while Tehran has pursued engagement and dialogue to resolve disputes, its approach is based on "dignity-based diplomacy," engagement within the framework of international law, mutual respect, and refraining from threats or coercion.
"Any aggression against the country and its people will be responded to immediately and decisively," he added.
Washington's goal for Tehran is "a total shift in strategic behavior," Qatari political analyst Faleh Al Hajri told Xinhua. He said this includes Iran's regional influence, missile programs, and proxy networks, adding that it would be "very difficult" for Iran to concede to such sweeping demands. ■
