Iran and the United States started indirect, high-level talks in Oman on Saturday to revive negotiations over Tehran’s fast-growing nuclear program. The negotiations are taking place against a background of growing regional tensions and overt military threats by US President Donald Trump, in case diplomacy does not work.
Facilitated by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, the negotiations are being brokered by Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi. Both delegations are still in different rooms, sending messages via the Omani minister, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said. The arrangement is a nod to Iran’s insistence on indirect talks, even as Trump insisted on direct talks.
Both sides are skeptical, especially Tehran, which doubts the intentions of Washington and continues to be suspicious of Trump’s bombastic language. Tehran has also continued to enrich uranium at rates that scare Western powers and continuously threatened that military action would incite harsh regional repercussions.
Before the meeting, Araqchi had explained Iran’s position to Omani authorities, setting out main demands to be transmitted to the US. He afterward informed Iranian TV that the first meeting would indicate whether or not both parties have the political will for additional discussion. Plans on a possible timetable for negotiation would come after such initial interactions.
The result of the negotiations could either de-escalate or intensify current tensions in the Middle East, which has been shaken by wars in Gaza and Lebanon, conflict between Iran and Israel, and attacks on Red Sea shipping lanes. Iran has indicated it will not put its ballistic missile program on the table in any future talks.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been reportedly giving Araqchi complete liberty to head the negotiations, underlining the strong backing and the high stakes that go into this new diplomatic attempt.
