A direct communications channel between U.S. Envoy Steve ⁠Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has been reactivated ‌in recent days, Axios reported on Monday (March 16, 2026), ‌citing a U.S. ‌official ⁠and a source with ⁠knowledge of the matter.

Axios said it was not clear how substantive ‌the messages passed between Mr. Araghchi and Mr. Witkoff had been, adding it was the first ‌known direct communication between the parties since the United States ⁠and Israel launched their war on Iran.