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In a significant development, Iran and the United States have initiated comprehensive discussions in Oman regarding Tehran’s swiftly advancing nuclear ambitions. These negotiations, which commenced on Saturday, are expected to focus primarily on the enrichment of uranium by the Islamic Republic.
According to Iranian state media, the dialogue is taking place in Muscat, the capital of Oman. A source familiar with the discussions, who preferred to remain anonymous, confirmed the start of the meeting involving U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff.
Despite the ongoing talks, neither Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi nor Witkoff provided detailed insights into the discussions they are leading.
Araghchi arrived in Oman on Friday and met with Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi, who has facilitated previous rounds of negotiations in Muscat and Rome. He later visited the Muscat International Book Fair, where he was greeted by media representatives. Footage later showed Araghchi heading to the venue for the talks.
Witkoff had been in Moscow on Friday for discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin before arriving in Oman on Saturday, with the meetings anticipated to commence shortly thereafter.
The objective of these discussions is to curtail Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for the alleviation of longstanding economic sanctions imposed by the United States, which have been in place for nearly fifty years amid ongoing tensions.
Former President Trump has persistently warned of potential military action against Iran’s nuclear initiatives if an agreement is not reached. Iranian officials have increasingly hinted at their capability to pursue a nuclear weapon, particularly with uranium enriched to near weapons-grade standards.
The 2015 nuclear agreement with global powers had placed limits on Tehran’s nuclear activities. However, Trump’s unilateral withdrawal from the deal in 2018 escalated regional tensions and drew widespread condemnation. The current backdrop also includes heightened anxiety across the Middle East due to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. Compounding these tensions, a substantial explosion occurred at a southern Iranian port on Saturday, resulting in over 400 injuries as conversations were underway.
During a trip to Rome for the funeral of Pope Francis, Trump expressed hope that the negotiations would lead to a renewed nuclear agreement. Nonetheless, he did not eliminate the possibility of military action should negotiations falter.
“The situation with Iran is progressing positively,” Trump remarked while addressing reporters aboard Air Force One. “We’ve engaged in multiple discussions, and I believe a deal is forthcoming. Of course, I prefer an agreement over an alternative, as it would be beneficial for humanity.”
He also mentioned, “Some individuals desire a much harsher approach, and I wish to avoid that for Iran if at all possible.”
As Araghchi and Witkoff are expected to communicate primarily through intermediaries from Oman, experts from both sides will begin addressing the intricacies of a potential agreement.
Iran’s delegation will be spearheaded by Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-e Ravanchi, who also participated in the 2015 nuclear negotiations. Meanwhile, the U.S. team, arriving in Oman on Friday, will be led by Michael Anton, the director of policy planning for U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio—albeit with less experience in nuclear policy than those involved in the earlier talks.
Iran has maintained that continuing its uranium enrichment is essential. However, Witkoff has complicated matters by first indicating that Iran’s enrichment could be limited to 3.67%, only to later assert that all enrichment activities must cease. This unwavering stance has also been echoed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Despite the challenges, some Iranians express optimism about the potential outcomes of the discussions, particularly as the national currency, the rial, has recovered from historic lows, where it reached over 1 million rial for a single U.S. dollar.
Tehran resident Farzin Keivan commented, “Engaging in negotiations to adjust the nuclear program is acceptable. However, we must not concede everything, as we’ve endured considerable hardship for this initiative.”
The Standoff with Iran
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