In a major diplomatic achievement, Iran and the US have re-commenced high-level indirect talks to curb Iran’s nuclear ambitions. The negotiations commenced on Saturday in Muscat, Oman. US President Donald Trump said he was confident of reaching an agreement to stop Iran from making nuclear weapons.
This session follows a productive session in Rome last week. Even with the current tensions between Iran and the West, these negotiations are a critical point in the quest for nuclear diplomacy.
⚡️BREAKING
Oman, the mediator in the negotiations between Iran and the United States, issued an important statement:
Iran and the United States have agreed to start a new phase of negotiations
The aim is to lift all sanctions and ensure that Iran does not go nuclear, but Iran… pic.twitter.com/IpWAzi9hZz
— Iran Observer (@IranObserver0) April 19, 2025
Iran’s Search for Relief from Sanctions
Sanctions have severely hurt Iran’s economy. The nation is experiencing economic hardship and a year of military defeats, including regional wars with Israel. Tehran is more and more desperate for sanctions relief. Iranian officials have indicated that sanctions relief is at the top of their agenda.
But Tehran maintains that it will hold on to some “red lines,” like maintaining uranium enrichment and its enriched uranium stockpile. For Iran, these are non-negotiable for national security.
US Expectations and Demands
The demands of the Trump administration are not negotiable. The US requires Iran to completely suspend its whole program of enriching uranium. Iran should not only suspend enrichment, according to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, but also must import any uranium for its nuclear power requirements.
The Trump administration has since 2025 employed a “maximum pressure” strategy by re-imposing harsh sanctions after withdrawing from the 2015 nuclear accord.
Iran’s Red Lines and Missile Program
The largest hurdle in the talks is Iran’s missile program. Tehran considers its missile program as non-negotiable. U.S. and European negotiators have suggested limiting Iran’s capability to build nuclear warheads for missiles.
Iran, however, maintains that its missile program does not pose any threat to neighboring nations, thus a central concern in the negotiations.
European Influence on Negotiations
European nations have taken a leading role in framing the negotiations. They offer a package that not only restricts Iran’s nuclear program but also its missile program. This is in line with European fears of Iran’s increasing regional power and military capabilities.
Finding a balance between Iran’s defense sovereignty and the necessity to restrict its nuclear and missile programs is a sensitive task in the negotiations.
Can Diplomacy Succeed?
Despite some progress in the negotiations, the gaps are large. Iran’s refusal to end its nuclear program is at odds with U.S. calls to cease uranium enrichment. Iran’s missile program also remains a point of contention.
Yet both countries appear to be dedicated to talks. As the negotiations continue, the result is far from certain, but they represent a pivotal moment in US-Iran relations.
