US-Iran Begin ‘Indirect’ Talks In Oman Over Nuclear Program After Trump’s Airstrikes Threat

<p>The envoys from Iran and the United States began negotiations in Oman on Saturday over Tehran’s rapidly advancing nuclear program since US President Donald Trump returned to the White House. According to AP, no overall agreement is immediately likely, but the stakes of negotiations could not be higher for these two nations closing in on half a century of enmity.</p>
<p>According to AP, no overall agreement is immediately likely, but the stakes of negotiations couldn’t be higher for these two nations closing in on half a century of enmity.</p>
<p>US President Trump threatened to unleash airstrikes targeting Iran’s nuclear program if a deal isn’t reached. According to AP, Iranian officials have increasingly warned that they could pursue a nuclear weapon with the stockpile of uranium enriched to near weapons-grade levels.</p>
<p>Iran’s Foreign Ministry, meanwhile, has released footage of Tehran’s top diplomat, Abbas Araghchi, meeting with Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi. According to AP, IRNA, Iran’s state-run news agency, reported that Araghchi provided Iran&rsquo;s &ldquo;stance and key points for the talks to be conveyed to the U.S. side.&rdquo; The report suggested that the meeting would be held later Saturday.</p>
<p>According to news agency AP, a convoy believed to be carrying Witkoff left the Omani Foreign Ministry on Saturday afternoon and then sped off into the outskirts of Muscat.</p>
<p>Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei wrote on the social platform X that the indirect talks had begun.</p>
<p>&ldquo;These talks will be held at a location planned by the Omani host, with representatives of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States seated in the halls and sides, conveying their points of view and positions to each other through the Omani Foreign Minister,&rdquo; Baghaei wrote.</p>
<p>Later, Baghei appeared on Iranian state television and acknowledged that the talks had been going on all that time.</p>
<p>&ldquo;The objective of the Islamic Republic of Iran is very clear &mdash; we have only one goal, and that is to safeguard Iran&rsquo;s national interests,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;We are giving a genuine and honest opportunity to diplomacy, so that through dialogue, we can move forward on the nuclear issue on one hand, and more importantly for us, the lifting of sanctions.&rdquo;</p>
<p>Baghaei added: &ldquo;Look, this is just a beginning. So it is natural that, at this stage, both sides will present their foundational positions through the Omani mediator. Therefore, we do not expect this round of negotiations to be lengthy.&rdquo;</p>