Iran and US have spoken directly since Israel started its bombing campaign

US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi have spoken on the phone several times since Israel began unprovoked strikes on Iran on 13 June, in order to find a diplomatic end to the crisis, three diplomats told Reuters on Thursday.

According to the diplomats, who asked not to be identified due to the sensitivity of the matter, Aragchi said Tehran would not return to negotiations unless Israel stopped the attacks.

They said the talks included a brief discussion of a US proposal given to Iran at the end of May that aims to create a regional consortium that would enrich uranium outside of Iran, an offer Tehran has so far rejected.

A regional diplomat close to Tehran said Aragchi had told Witkoff that Tehran "could show flexibility in the nuclear issue" if Washington pressured Israel to end the war.

A European diplomat said: "Aragchi told Witkoff Iran was ready to come back to nuclear talks, but it could not if Israel continued its bombing."