TEHRAN – Iran and the US will meet each other for the first time in months on Saturday afternoon after the two countries are held in indirect nuclear negotiations via Oman’s Persian Gulf state.
Since 2021, Tehran and Washington have recently held at least four rounds of indirect consultations in May 2024. The debate via Oman has fostered regional tensions driven by unprecedented Israeli invasions in Western Asia.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araguchi and Stephen Witkov, the US Special Envoy to West Asia, represent both. The US was about to tap the UAE as the mediator for this latest round, Iran refused. Washington also proposed a direct meeting, with another request being reduced by Tehran.
The Tehran Times learns that negotiations will proceed in written form, and the Omani Foreign Minister acts as the intermediary himself. This format reflects Iran’s distrust of the United States since its withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA) in 2015 under President Donald Trump. It was then unclear that Trump was reimposed under the agreement, intensifying the strengthened sanctions, and that Tehran accelerated its nuclear program in 2020, and that the rest of the signatures were revived for us.
Future Saturday talks arise amidst the backdrop of growing tensions, threats and diplomatic setbacks. Since taking office, Trump has repeatedly threatened military action against Iran if he refuses to sign a new nuclear deal. The directive, issued shortly after returning to the White House, outlined the demands to dismantle nuclear programs for Iran, curb missile and drone capabilities, and cut ties with Western Asian resistance groups. These demands prompted a firm response from the leaders of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah seized Ali Khamenei and said Iran had not discussed with us with “bullying”.
Despite portrayals in Western media, despite comments like U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the Iranian agreement stemmed from an agreement on indirect talks with the deployment of Washington’s B2 bombers to Diego Garcia – a shift that Trump has not taken, which is primarily scheduled to be scheduled to speak.
Trump has repeatedly argued that his only concern is Iran’s nuclear program, but his executive orders and private messages often address a wider range of issues. However, in a letter delivered to Ayatollah Khamenei through diplomat Emirati in March, Trump said he was willing to negotiate solely on a nuclear program and rule out Iran’s military and foreign policy debates. Iranian officials have consistently argued in recent years that only the nuclear program has been open for negotiations.
Sources familiar with the issue told the Tehran Times that Iran is serious about reaching a nuclear deal, but that remains skeptical of the US commitment. “This is a test to see if Trump is authentic about what he wrote in his letter,” the source said. “We don’t tolerate any further demands. Even on nuclear issues, Americans need to be realistic. If they want to limit our programs, but don’t want to make meaningful concessions, then it never happens.”
Sources emphasized that if a win-win contract is not reached, Iran is always ready to protect its interests. “They need to understand that we are not seeking war, but we are not afraid of that either,” the source said. “Iran’s position is clear. It is the United States that must decide whether or not they want to resolve the issue.”