Khamenei greenlights nuclear talks, Iranian hackers use American AI—and more
The Iranist for the week of January 31, 2025
THE هفت/SEVEN THINGS TO KNOW THIS WEEK:
۱/1 Khamenei appears to green light nuclear talks
TEHRAN WANTS TO TALK—BADLY For years, there was a US flag painted on the floor of Iran’s presidential compound, forcing visitors to step on it as a symbolic gesture of disrespect. However, shortly before Donald Trump’s inauguration, it was removed. As the Financial Times reports, “The move captured a quiet shift in Tehran’s thinking…” This week’s comments from the upper echelons of the clerical establishment seem to also suggest that.
On January 27, Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Majid Takht-Ravanchi said that Iran would not engage in negotiations on issues beyond its nuclear program (Iran International).
In an interview with Sky News on January 28, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that when it comes to talks with Washington:
“The situation is different and much more difficult than the previous time. Lots of things should be done by the other side to buy our confidence… We haven’t heard anything but the ‘nice’ word, and this is obviously not enough.”
He added, “I’m not denying the possibility of a new deal,” noting that there is “much more mistrust compared to the previous time.”
This was followed by the deputy speaker of parliament Hamid-Reza Haji Babaee saying that Tehran has no hostility toward the United States and is willing to negotiate with Washington (X).
On the same day, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei appeared to give a green light to talks with the United States. During a gathering of top military and political figures, he said:
“Behind diplomatic smiles, there are always hidden and malicious enmities and grudges. We must open our eyes and be wary of who we are facing, dealing with, and talking to. When one has knowledge of the other side, one may make a deal—knowing what needs to be done. We need to understand and know [the other side and what is necessary].” (Amwaj.media)
Khamenei rarely weighs in directly on political matters, preferring to stay above the fray. Despite widespread readings of the supreme leader approving talks with Washington, IRGC-affiliated Fars and Tasnim News Agency reportedly said the comments opposed such talks (Amwaj.media).
On January 30, the Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said, “We have said several times that we are ready for discussions [on the country’s nuclear program], but only if the other side is serious about this.” (AFP) Asked about the possibility of renewing multilateral sanctions on Tehran, Baqaei warned that Iran would no longer adhere to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) if that happened.

WHAT’S WASHINGTON SAYING? Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Araghchi said they hadn’t received any messages from President Donald Trump (Iran International/IRNA). Earlier this month, before Trump returned to the White House, Iranian officials held nuclear talks with the E3 (Britain, France, and Germany).
In a January 30 interview with Axios, Steve Witkoff, who reportedly has the Iran file, said that the Trump administration is “trying to get a deal with Iran on its nuclear program.”
۲/2 Iranian foreign minister met Taliban in first visit to Kabul in 8 years
On January 30, Foreign Minister Araghchi also met with Hamas leadership in Qatar (Times of Israel).
۳/3 Big blow to Iran human rights
On January 25, President Trump’s Executive Order Reevaluating And Realigning United States Foreign Aid froze the work of numerous Iran-oriented human rights and Internet freedom organizations for ninety days until the administration reviews each grant individually (Iran International). It’s important to note that much of the State Department-funded grants focused on Iran have been supported across both Democratic and Republican administrations.
Some of these organizations have provided vital documentation and on-the-ground reporting, advocated in multilateral settings, offered support and security to high-risk individuals on the ground, and provided circumvention tools like Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) in a country where 35 percent of the world’s most popular websites—including Facebook, Snapchat, TikTok, X, and YouTube—are blocked.
Should a major event occur during the ninety-day freeze—whether it be another wave of mass protests, the supreme leader passing away, or an attack on the country’s nuclear facilities—the freeze would impact the ability for a rapid response. These entities would be limited in their ability to document gross rights violations, and it would be a big block to circumvention tools for Iranians to get online (30 million Iranian users use State Department-funded VPNs). Beyond the immediate ninety-day pause, the freeze can cause prolonged disruption, as restarting programs takes significant time and resources.
A US-based Iranian researcher for a rights organization told me that “efforts financially supported by the US government not only have assisted me in my endeavors but have also kept me alive and out of jail” when he was living in Iran. While the researcher worries that he only has two months’ worth of savings, he said,
“The thing that scares me is living in a world where those fighting against tyrants would no longer be able to count on US assistance in their uphill battles.”
۴/4 IRGC commander says Iran purchased Russian-made Sukhoi 35 fighter jets
۵/5 Nasrin Sotoudeh's son briefly detained and beaten
۶/6 Iranian hackers use American AI products in cyberattacks
۷/7 Iran reportedly giving tens of millions of dollars in cash to Hezbollah
OTHER اخبار/NEWS THAT MADE HEADLINES:
Human rights
۰ Five men executed in Iran, including two brothers (IranWire)
۰ Baluch man fatally shot by security forces in southeastern Iran (IranWire)
۰ 17-year-old mother fatally shot by family (IranWire)
۰ Court summons Mahsa Jina Amini’s father who condemned death penalties (Rudaw)
۰ Iranian-American journalist Reza Valizadeh’s 10-year sentence upheld on appeal (IranWire)
۰ Women’s rights activist Parvin Advaei detained in Marivan (IranWire)
۰ IRGC arrests 13 Baha’i members in Isfahan for promoting faith online (IranWire)
۰ Kurdish man detained in Mahabad; charges and location unknown (IranWire)
۰ Magazine editor receives one-year prison sentence and social media ban (IranWire)
۰ Exclusive: Female inmate sexually assaulted under warden’s watch (IranWire)
۰ Campaign of terror against minorities surges across country (CHRI)
۰ Farmers stage sit-in After violent clashes over water rights (IranWire)
۰ In a letter from Evin, Varisheh Moradi frames her death sentence as fight against oppression (IranWire)
۰ Nobel laureate calls anti-execution campaign in Iran a growing civil movement (Iran International)
Domestic issues
۰ Iran launches probe into rising suicides among medical students (IranWire)
۰ Three in ten Iranians forego medication as prices soar (Iran International)
۰ Tehran files charges against prominent critic after his comments on Palestinians (Iran International)
۰ Iranian president heckled in poor oil-rich province (Iran International)
۰ Exclusive: Iranian Olympic medalist faces removal over photo with defector (IranWire)
Foreign policy + security
۰ Republican concerned for Pompeo after Trump pulls security detail amid Iran threats (The Guardian)
۰ Trump allies urge president to block Starmer’s Chagos deal over Iran spying fears (Telegraph)
۰ As Trump returns, Iran’s IRGC steps up Hormuz military drills: What to know (Al-Monitor)
۰ 2 IDF reservists arrested on suspicion of spying for Iran (Times of Israel)
۰ State media journalist detained in Israel, says IRIB chief (Iran International)
۰ France cancels Tehran-Paris flight without explanation (Iran Front Page)
۰ How significant is Russia-Iran gas pipeline deal via Azerbaijan? (Al-Monitor)
۰ Iran’s IRGC tests new loitering drone during wargames (Iran International)
۰ Iran’s weakening will not harm Iraq, deputy parliament speaker says (Reuters)
Iran deal + sanctions
۰ Iranian money-laundering tycoon back in headlines with crypto plans (Iran International)
۰ South Africa’s MTN rises after world powers clinch deal with Iran (Reuters)
Economy
۰ Oil leak from Iran’s Sabiti tanker under control (Reuters)