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Saturday, Nov 22, 2025
Outside the box.
Iran Appeals to Saudi Arabia to Mediate Restart of U.S. Nuclear Talks
Tehran sends letter to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman requesting assistance in reviving stalled negotiations with Washington
Iran has asked Saudi Arabia to urge the United States to resume nuclear negotiations, marking a significant diplomatic manoeuvre by Tehran amid mounting economic pressure and security concerns.
President Masoud Pezeshkian reportedly addressed the request in a letter to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, delivered just days ahead of the prince’s Washington visit.
The letter states that Iran “does not seek confrontation” and is “open to resolving the nuclear dispute through diplomacy, provided its rights are guaranteed.”
The overture follows a period of stalled talks between Iran and the United States, which have been deadlocked since the June 2025 Israeli-linked air strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.
Iran has shifted its mediation channel from smaller Gulf states to Saudi Arabia, recognising Riyadh’s greater influence with Washington and its evolving regional role following the 2023 Saudi-Iran rapprochement.
Saudi Arabia has not officially responded to the letter, though a Saudi Gulf source indicated that the crown prince conveyed a message to U.S. President Donald Trump during his Washington counterpart meeting that he is ready to help bring the parties together.
The request places Riyadh in a potentially pivotal mediating position between Tehran and Washington, at a time when regional security tensions are intensifying.
Analysts caution that the Iranian request does not mean immediate progress.
Iran remains firm on key demands, including lifting sanctions and preserving its enrichment rights, while the United States and its allies still insist on curbs to Tehran’s programme.
The letter reflects Iran’s calculation that Saudi mediation may increase pressure on Washington but does not yet signal a shift in its negotiating posture.
On the U.S. side, Washington appears cautious, with senior U.S. observers noting that “all the letters in the world will not change the fact that the Iranian regime’s maximum offer does not meet the U.S. minimum demands.”
The development illustrates Saudi Arabia’s rising significance as a regional broker and adds fresh dimension to the trilateral diplomacy among Riyadh, Tehran and Washington.
As the crown prince prepares follow-up meetings in Washington, Riyadh’s response may shape whether a breakthrough occurs in the deeply stalled nuclear file or whether the region slips further into uncertainty.
President Masoud Pezeshkian reportedly addressed the request in a letter to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, delivered just days ahead of the prince’s Washington visit.
The letter states that Iran “does not seek confrontation” and is “open to resolving the nuclear dispute through diplomacy, provided its rights are guaranteed.”
The overture follows a period of stalled talks between Iran and the United States, which have been deadlocked since the June 2025 Israeli-linked air strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.
Iran has shifted its mediation channel from smaller Gulf states to Saudi Arabia, recognising Riyadh’s greater influence with Washington and its evolving regional role following the 2023 Saudi-Iran rapprochement.
Saudi Arabia has not officially responded to the letter, though a Saudi Gulf source indicated that the crown prince conveyed a message to U.S. President Donald Trump during his Washington counterpart meeting that he is ready to help bring the parties together.
The request places Riyadh in a potentially pivotal mediating position between Tehran and Washington, at a time when regional security tensions are intensifying.
Analysts caution that the Iranian request does not mean immediate progress.
Iran remains firm on key demands, including lifting sanctions and preserving its enrichment rights, while the United States and its allies still insist on curbs to Tehran’s programme.
The letter reflects Iran’s calculation that Saudi mediation may increase pressure on Washington but does not yet signal a shift in its negotiating posture.
On the U.S. side, Washington appears cautious, with senior U.S. observers noting that “all the letters in the world will not change the fact that the Iranian regime’s maximum offer does not meet the U.S. minimum demands.”
The development illustrates Saudi Arabia’s rising significance as a regional broker and adds fresh dimension to the trilateral diplomacy among Riyadh, Tehran and Washington.
As the crown prince prepares follow-up meetings in Washington, Riyadh’s response may shape whether a breakthrough occurs in the deeply stalled nuclear file or whether the region slips further into uncertainty.
