The Iranian Foreign Ministry has announced that indirect negotiations with the United States regarding its nuclear program have come to a close in Oman. The ministry characterized the discussions as “constructive.”
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“The indirect talks between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States concerning sanctions relief and nuclear matters have concluded,” the ministry shared in a statement, noting that discussions were held in a “constructive and mutually respectful atmosphere.”
High-level discussions commenced today between Iran and the United States with the aim of revitalizing negotiations on Tehran’s rapidly advancing nuclear program. This comes at a time when U.S. President Donald Trump has voiced threats of military action should an agreement not be reached.
Leading Iran’s delegation was Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, while Mr. Trump’s envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, handled the discussions on the U.S. side.
Iran approached the talks with caution, harboring skepticism about the possibility of reaching an agreement and expressing mistrust toward President Trump, who has persistently threatened military action if Iran does not slow its uranium enrichment activities. As Araqchi stated, “There is a chance for initial understanding on further negotiations if the other party (U.S.) enters the talks with an equal stance.”
Both sides have expressed hope for progress; however, they remain divided on critical issues that have persisted for over two decades. They have yet to agree on whether the negotiations will be direct, as Mr. Trump demands, or indirect, as preferred by Iran.
In a recent update, Iranian state television shared a video of Araqchi meeting with Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi in Muscat. As part of the indirect discussions, Araqchi communicated Tehran’s key perspectives and positions to be conveyed to the U.S. side.
Progress in these discussions could potentially ease tensions in a region that has experienced significant unrest since 2023, marked by conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon, missile exchanges between Iran and Israel, Houthi attacks on shipping in the Red Sea, and the destabilization of the Syrian government.
However, a failure to reach an understanding could exacerbate fears of broader conflict in a region crucial to global oil supplies. Tehran has also cautioned neighboring nations hosting U.S. military bases about “severe consequences” should they be involved in any U.S. military actions against Iran.
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has granted Araqchi “full authority” to engage in these talks. An Iranian official remarked, “The duration of the talks, which will solely focus on the nuclear issue, will depend on the U.S. side’s seriousness and goodwill.”
Importantly, Iran has firmly ruled out negotiations concerning its defense capabilities, including its ballistic missile program. The longstanding dispute over Iran’s nuclear ambitions continues, with the country consistently denying any intention to develop nuclear weapons. However, Western nations and Israel remain skeptical, alleging that Iran is covertly pursuing the means to build an atomic bomb. They argue that Iran’s uranium enrichment activities have significantly surpassed levels deemed necessary for a civilian energy program, reaching near-weapon-grade purity.
Since withdrawing from the 2015 nuclear agreement and reinstating stringent sanctions under the “maximum pressure” campaign earlier this year, President Trump has witnessed Iran’s nuclear advancements, which now include the enrichment of uranium up to 60% fissile purity—a mere step away from the levels required for weapons-grade material.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed hopes for peace stemming from the negotiations, stating, “We’ve been very clear: Iran is never going to have a nuclear weapon, and I think that’s what led to this meeting.”
In response, Tehran communicated that it was offering the United States a “genuine chance,” despite what they termed Washington’s “prevailing confrontational hoopla.”
Israel, America’s closest ally in the Middle East and a nation that perceives Iran’s nuclear undertakings as an existential threat, has long maintained that it would consider military action if diplomatic efforts fail to halt Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Over the last 18 months, Tehran’s influence in the region has significantly diminished, particularly against the backdrop of the ongoing Hamas-Israel conflict and the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria.
In conclusion, the path forward will depend critically on the willingness of both sides to engage sincerely in dialogue while addressing the core issues at hand.
Edited by Ali Musa
Axadle Times International – Monitoring
