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Iran Prepares for Indirect Nuclear Talks with the U.S.
A striking mural on the former US embassy in Tehran captures the Iranian government’s perspective on its negotiations with the United States.
Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, announced that the country is poised to engage in discussions with the US concerning its nuclear program on Saturday. He emphasized Iran’s readiness to negotiate “with a view to seal a deal.”
However, Araghchi clarified that for these talks to progress, US President Donald Trump must acknowledge that there is no “military option” and reiterated that Iran will not tolerate coercive measures.
The negotiations, occurring in Oman, are expected to be indirect, countering Trump’s unexpected claim earlier in the week regarding “direct talks.”
Trump has previously expressed his intent to withdraw the US from the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran and other world powers, highlighting that Iran would face “great danger” should the talks fail.
With no formal diplomatic relations between the two nations, a letter sent by Trump to Iran’s supreme leader through the United Arab Emirates last month conveyed his desire to reach an agreement aimed at preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons and mitigating potential military action from the US and Israel.
During a White House event with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump announced the upcoming talks and stressed that both leaders agree on preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, introducing the possibility of military action should negotiations stall.
Despite international concerns, Iran maintains that its nuclear endeavors are purely peaceful, asserting it will never pursue nuclear weapons development.
Nevertheless, Iran has progressively violated the terms of the existing nuclear agreement, which followed severe US sanctions reinstated seven years ago. The country has accumulated significant reserves of highly-enriched uranium, potentially enough to produce multiple nuclear weapons.
In stating the importance of the Oman meeting, Trump characterized it as a “very big” event. He conveyed to the press the general consensus that reaching a deal is preferable over alternative outcomes, but reiterated that failure to secure an agreement would lead to dire consequences for Iran.
In a statement published in the Washington Post, Araghchi reiterated Iran’s readiness to engage sincerely in negotiations, framing the upcoming discussions as both a valuable opportunity and a critical test in US-Iran relations. He indicated “serious doubts” regarding the US’s commitment to diplomatic efforts, referring to the harsh sanctions imposed under Trump’s second term.
“For progress to be made, we must first agree that military options are off the table,” Araghchi remarked, emphasizing Iran’s refusal to yield to pressure.
He added that while assertions exist regarding Iran’s nuclear intentions, the country is willing to demonstrate its peaceful objectives and alleviate concerns through transparent dialogue. “The ball is now in America’s court,” he stated.
Reports indicate that Araghchi will lead the Iranian delegation at the Oman meetings, underlining their significance. In contrast, US representatives will be led by Trump’s Middle East special envoy, Steve Witkoff, as the administration aims for direct engagement.
The preliminary discussions are likely to involve US demands for Iran to completely dismantle its nuclear program, followed by technical discussions among experts if the negotiations advance positively. Presently, details regarding Trump’s specific demands remain limited.
National Security Adviser Mike Waltz clarified after Witkoff’s earlier statements that the goal laid out by the US is “full dismantlement” of Iran’s nuclear capabilities. Netanyahu also expressed a desire for a “Libyan-style” agreement, referencing Libya’s past decision to dismantle its nuclear program under US oversight.
Israel continues to view a nuclear-capable Iran as an existential threat, having recently conducted strikes on Iranian nuclear sites in response to missile attacks.
An Iranian foreign ministry official firmly rejected any notion of implementing a “Libya model” in negotiations, asserting that dismantling Iran’s nuclear program is not on the table.
The 2015 nuclear agreement, which involved the US under Obama alongside other nations, allowed Iran to limit its nuclear activities while agreeing to inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in exchange for eased sanctions. However, the accord has been in disarray since Trump opted out in 2018, citing its inadequacies in preventing Iran’s potential nuclear advancements.
Since then, Iran has progressively increased its breaches of the agreement, with recent IAEA reports indicating Iran has amassed nearly 275 kg of uranium enriched to 60% purity—dangerously close to weapons-grade material, theoretically sufficient for six nuclear bombs if enriched to 90%.
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