World · 2026-10-21 · Afternoon briefing
Iran says indirect U.S. talks on ceasefire proposal continue
Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, confirmed on Wednesday that indirect negotiations with the U.S. are ongoing over a seven-day ceasefire proposal. The talks persist despite President Trump having rejected the initial plan last month; the U.S. is now seeking to add new clauses to the agreement.
The diplomatic channel remains open amid continued belligerence. A senior official in Iran's Revolutionary Guard threatened this week to target undersea internet cables in the Strait of Hormuz if the U.S. launches new strikes. For his part, President Trump insisted on Tuesday that he had yet to decide whether to win the war “the nice way or the not nice way.”
Iran has also solidified its military leadership. On Sunday, Iranian parliamentarians approved Mehrdad Akhlaghi Ketabchi, a 68-year-old missile industry veteran, as the new defense chief. His predecessor was killed on February 28th, the first day of U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran.
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- Live Updates: Iran says indirect talks with U.S. on ceasefire proposal continue
- Trump: Indirect ceasefire talks between US, Iran to continue this week
- Iran Calls U.S. Reply Insufficient, Then Says Talks Continue
- Trump says he rejected Iran’s latest proposal from indirect talks in New York
- ‘Iran will have nothing left to trade’: Bessent warns as Tehran says no US talks planned
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