US Mideast envoy says peace negotiations with Iran 'promising'

By Serdar Dincel

ISTANBUL (AA) - US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff said on late Tuesday that talks between the US and Iran were "promising," stating that Washington is "hopeful" for a long-term peace deal.

"We are already talking to each other, not just directly but also through interlocutors. I think that the conversations are promising.

"We are hopeful that we can have a long-term peace agreement that resurrects Iran," Witkoff told Fox News in an interview.

"I think now it's time for us to sit down with the Iranians and get to a comprehensive peace agreement," he further stated, expressing confidence that they are going to accomplish that.

Witkoff's remarks came as the US-proposed ceasefire took effect early Tuesday after 12 days of aerial combat between Israel and Iran that started on June 13.