Washington, 17 March (H.S.): A clandestine direct communications channel between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and US envoy Steve Witkoff has flickered back to life through text messages, signaling a potential diplomatic lifeline in the shadows of the escalating Iran conflict.

Sources indicate Araghchi initiated the contact, marking the first known high-level exchange since the United States and Israel launched military operations against Iran. While the depth of these messages remains opaque, a US official emphasized that Washington is not talking to Tehran, underscoring the tentative nature of this outreach.

This development reverses earlier reports of Araghchi ignoring Witkoff's prior attempts at contact. The reactivation highlights fragile efforts to manage tensions as the war inflicts heavy casualties, including over 200 US troops injured across seven nations.

The exchanges unfold against a volatile regional canvas, with unverified strikes and leadership rumors compounding instability.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar