The Iranian Foreign Ministry announced that channels of communication with an American envoy remain "open." Overnight, Donald Trump stated that Tehran had requested negotiations and that a meeting was currently being prepared . "This channel of communication between our Foreign Minister (Abbas Araghchi) and the US President's special envoy is open," ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said in comments broadcast on state television. Trump's special envoy is Steve Witkoff, Iran International reports, as Witkoff has kept the channels open in the past. Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei added that Iran has maintained its diplomatic commitment: "We have always adhered to the principle of diplomacy and negotiation, obviously a bilateral negotiation," he said.
And while China expresses its full "opposition to foreign interference," Tehran assures that the "situation is under control" and that the internet blackout is about to end. Minister Araghchi claims that the nationwide protests "have become violent and bloody to provide an excuse" for Trump to intervene.
Araghchi stated that internet service will soon be restored in Iran, adding that the government is coordinating with security authorities to make progress. Connectivity, he said, will also be restored to embassies and ministries. The minister, according to SkyNews, stated that internet services in the country, which have been interrupted for approximately 86 hours, will be restored, but that this will be done "in coordination with security authorities." He did not provide a timeline for the restoration, which, the outlet writes, could provide a much clearer picture of what has happened in Iran over the past two weeks. Al-Jazeera also reported another statement from Araghchi: Iran, the minister said, has video footage showing weapons being distributed to protesters, adding that the authorities will soon publish the confessions of detainees. He stated that the authorities are "closely following" the events unfolding in the streets. Araghchi claimed that the demonstrations were "fueled and incited" by foreign elements. Security forces will "hunt down" those responsible, he added.
(Unioneonline)