Top Iranian official says progress made towards launching negotiations with the U.S.

A top Iranian security official close to the country's leader said on Saturday that there is progress in efforts to launch negotiations between the U.S. and Iran.

Why it matters: President Trump has ordered a massive U.S. military buildup in the Gulf ahead of a possible strike against Iran. White House officials say Trump hasn't made a final decision and is still willing to explore a diplomatic solution.

What they are saying: "Contrary to the artificially manufactured media war narrative, the formation of a framework for negotiations is progressing," the secretary of the Supreme National Security Council of Iran Ali Larijani wrote on X.

The latest: On Saturday, Larijani met in Tehran with the Prime Minister of Qatar Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani who has been trying to mediate between the U.S. and Iran.

• The President of Egypt, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, spoke on the phone on Saturday with his Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian and discussed the crisis.
• The Egyptian presidency said in a statement that al-Sisi stressed the need to get Iran and the U.S. back to the negotiation table.

Between the lines: Larijani, a close confidant of Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei, visited Moscow earlier this week and met Russian President Putin.

• The Russians are one of several channels used by Iran and the U.S. to pass messages in recent days.

The other side: President Trump told Fox News on Saturday that Iran is negotiating. "The last time they negotiated, we had to take out their nuclear, didn't work, you know. Then we took it out a different way, and we'll see what happens", the President said.

State of play: Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said at a press conference Friday that Iran is ready to resume nuclear talks with the U.S. but stressed the Trump administration needs to stop threatening an attack against Iran.

• Araghchi stressed Turkey and other countries are working on a "framework" for potential talks between Iran and the Trump administration.
• He said he discussed with his Turkish counterpart the possible venue and agenda for such talks. "I hope we can soon reach a clear framework that can guarantee dignified negotiations," Araghchi said.

Yes, but: U.S. officials downplay the prospect of a diplomatic solution and say the Iranians haven't shown real willingness to accept the U.S. terms for a deal.

Editor's note: This story has been updated with additional context.