MUSCAT, Oman — Iran and the United States commenced detailed discussions in Oman on Saturday concerning Iran’s rapidly advancing nuclear program, with a focus on the Islamic Republic’s uranium enrichment activities.
The negotiations began in Muscat, the capital of Oman, noted for its mountainous landscape.
While specific details about the talks remain undisclosed, both Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and U.S. Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff have kept discussions under wraps.
Araghchi arrived in Oman on Friday, where he engaged with Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi, a mediator in previous discussions held in Muscat and Rome.
Following this meeting, Araghchi visited the Muscat International Book Fair, where he was met by media coverage.
Reports indicated that Araghchi was later seen en route to the negotiation venue.
Steve Witkoff, who was attending meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, arrived in Oman shortly before the discussions were set to commence, according to an anonymous source familiar with his schedule.
The core aim of the negotiations is to curb Iran’s nuclear ambitions in exchange for the lifting of extensive economic sanctions that have plagued the Islamic Republic for nearly fifty years.
U.S. President Donald Trump has issued repeated warnings regarding potential airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear program should a deal fail to materialize.
Iranian officials have increasingly stated that they might pursue the development of a nuclear weapon, with their enriched uranium stockpile approaching weapons-grade levels.
The prior nuclear agreement with world powers in 2015 did succeed in placing restrictions on Iran’s nuclear activities.
However, following Trump’s unilateral withdrawal from the pact in 2018, tensions and hostilities sharply escalated.
Additionally, the current instability in the Middle East, exacerbated by the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza, casts a long shadow over these negotiations.
During a trip to Rome for Pope Francis’s funeral, Trump reiterated his hope for a successful outcome from the negotiations, while not completely ruling out military action.
In a statement aboard Air Force One, Trump commented, “The Iran situation is coming out very well. We’ve had a lot of talks with them, and I think we’re going to have a deal. I’d much rather have a deal than the other alternative. That would be good for humanity.”
He further expressed concern about alternatives to diplomacy, stating, “There are some people that want to make a different kind of a deal — a much nastier deal — and I don’t want that to happen to Iran if we can avoid it.”
Negotiations are expected to involve direct discussions between Araghchi and Witkoff through Omani mediators, while experts from both sides will focus on the specifics of a potential agreement.
Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-e Ravanchi, who was also part of the 2015 nuclear negotiations, will lead Tehran’s expert team, as confirmed by Iranian official Mohammad Golzari.
Meanwhile, the U.S. technical team will be led by Michael Anton, who is currently directing Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s policy planning unit.
Although Anton lacks experience specifically related to nuclear policy, he is expected to play a crucial role in the talks.
Iran has made it clear that maintaining some level of uranium enrichment is vital for them.
However, Witkoff’s statements regarding the enrichment issue have been inconsistent; at times suggesting an allowance for 3.67% enrichment, only to later assert that all enrichment must cease—an assertion also echoed by Secretary of State Rubio.
Despite these diplomatic hurdles, there remains a glimmer of optimism from the Iranian side as their currency, the rial, showed signs of recovery from record lows, where over 1 million rials were needed to purchase $1.
Tehran resident Farzin Keivan remarked, “It’s OK to negotiate, to make the nuclear program smaller or bigger, and reach a deal. Of course we shouldn’t give them everything. After all, we’ve suffered a lot for this program.”
This ongoing dialogue signifies crucial steps toward addressing one of the most contentious issues in international relations today.
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