() White House envoy Steve Witkoff will meet Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Norway’s capital next week to restart nuclear talks, Axios reported, citing two sources familiar with the situation.
There is no official date set for the Oslo meeting, according to Axios.
It would be the first direct talks since Trump embroiled the U.S. in the Israel-Iran conflict by ordering strikes on three Iranian nuclear sites. The Islamic Republic retaliated with an attack on America’s largest installation in the Middle East, Al Udeid Air Base.
Days later, Trump helped broker a ceasefire between Iran and Israel which has sparked hope for an end to violence in Gaza.
Hamas suggested Wednesday that it was open to a ceasefire agreement with Israel, but stopped short of accepting a U.S.-backed proposal for a 60-day pause in fighting. Israel said it has already accepted the deal.
On Thursday, Trump met with Edan Alexander, a former American-Israeli hostage, at the White House.
“I told the most powerful man in the world what I went through, what my friends there are going through, and asked him to continue doing everything in his power. … I hope he can achieve another historic breakthrough a comprehensive deal to free them all, all 50 hostages,” Alexander said in a statement following the meeting.
Pressure is mounting as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu prepares to travel to Washington on Monday for his own meeting with Trump.
Before his departure, 35 hostage families signed a letter to the Netanyahu instructing what they want from the conversation.
“Prime minister, you must reach a comprehensive agreement that guarantees the return of every last hostage and brings an end to the fighting,” they wrote.
