TEHRAN – Iran and the US spoke indirectly in Oman on Saturday. Tensions were smoldering between the two countries, and Iran came to talks and to deep distrust. The Tehran Times got new information on what happened that day and whether concrete results can be expected from the first major encounters of the two states within months.
The meeting began at the residence of Omani Foreign Minister Bador bin Hamad Albusadi around 3pm local time. From Iranian side, Seyed Abba Aragut and from the American side, Special President’s envoy Steve Witkov was at the top diplomat’s house. Araghchi delivered the first message and less than 10 written messages were exchanged.
Two officials accompanying the delegation stayed at the hotel. Witkov arrived in Oman, and two accompanied him, one of whom was a nuclear expert. He greeted Araguchi as the two had left another room at the end of the session.
What I was told
In his message, Araguchi declared that Iran was not engaged in indirect talks on the show, and that, according to information obtained by the Tehran Times, he was not about to play the chicken game. Tehran’s main purpose is to assess the integrity of the US and determine the likelihood of reaching an agreement, he told Witkov.
Aragut stressed that Iran wanted an agreement that is beneficial to both sides. Under no circumstances will we agree to dismantle the nuclear program. However, he said he was willing to take steps to provide assurances for the militarization of nuclear activities. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is the only external entity permitted to access Iran’s nuclear sites.
What Tehran hopes for in return is to remove sanctions in several sectors. Once these sanctions are removed, the US will not be able to regain them under other pretexts.
Araguchi also provided that a general framework agreement is required to continue consultations. If the US opposes the framework proposed by Iran during its first session, it should present its own alternative to consider.
The Tehran Times learned that Witkov on his side recognized Washington needed to make concessions. He did not mention the potential dismantling of Iran’s nuclear program, nor did he refer to the JCPOA, the original agreement that former US president Donald Trump retreated in 2018.
What’s going on onlookers?
The key developments revealed in the Tehran Times suggest that European states may be trying to hamper consultations as they believe they must be part of them.
Germany, the UK and the UK claim that they are the only parties (which are set to expire by mid-October and designed to revive pre-JCPOA sanctions against Iran) as the only parties with the ability or willing to trigger snapback mechanisms. As a result, they are trying to make Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu somewhat involved in the negotiations, which can affect the process.
But Iran told the US on Saturday that Washington would be able to ensure that snapbacks aren’t activated.
Europeans are also considering additional measures to put pressure on Iran, such as designating the Islamic Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) as a terrorist entity. The Tehran Times understands that they are currently seeking the support of individual member states before bringing the proposal to the European Parliament.
Furthermore, E3 plans to launch a propaganda campaign to bring out a rift between Iran, Russia and China, and believes that the country has more hurdles in attacking contracts with the US, thanks to the potential responsiveness of Iran’s two biggest allies.
What to expect
The indirect Omani lecture has given new life to diplomacy, but the future is still uncertain. In particular, Iran finds it difficult to trust the US again after Washington abandons the JCPOA.