File image.
Both the United States and Iran appeared to be optimistic after holding the first round of nuclear talks in Oman on April 12.
The talks, which were mediated by its Foreign Minister Badr Al Busaidi, were largely indirect, with the Omani minister relaying messages between the delegations of the two countries that were seated in separate rooms, according to Iranian media reports.
The American side was represented by the Trump administration’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, while Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi represented Iran.
Ahead of the talks, Witkoff told the Wall Street Journal that “our position today” starts with demanding that Iran completely dismantle its nuclear program.
“That doesn’t mean, by the way, that at the margin we’re not going to find other ways to find compromise between the two countries,” Witkoff said.
“Where our red line will be, there can’t be weaponization of your nuclear capability,” he added.
From his side, Araghchi said that Iran was seeking an “initial understanding” with the U.S. that could lead to a negotiations process.
Iran’s Islamic Republic News Agency later reported that the talks were held “in a constructive atmosphere based on mutual respect.”
“After more than two and a half hours of indirect negotiations, the heads of the Iranian and American delegations spoke for a few minutes in the presence of the Omani foreign minister as they left the talks,” the state-run news agency said.
Witkoff met briefly with Araghchi shortly after the meeting. The first known meeting between American and Iranian officials in years appeared to be a way for both sides to save face after U.S. President Donald Trump announced at the beginning of the week that the talks would be direct, while Iran insisted that they would be indirect.
Speaking to state media after the meeting, Araghchi said the next round of talks will be held in Oman on April 19, adding that the first round “got very close” to reaching a framework for negotiations. Both sides said they are seeking an agreement in the shortest time possible, he said.
Meanwhile, Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi said on the X social network that the talks were held in a “friendly atmosphere” and launched a quest for a “fair and binding agreement.”
Iran denies seeking a nuclear weapon. However , it has ramped up its enrichment of uranium up to 60 percent purity. It is the only country in the world without a nuclear weapons program to do so.
Trump gave Tehran a two-month deadline to accept a deal that would lead to Iran shrinking its nuclear footprint or eliminating its program altogether.
“I want them not to have a nuclear weapon. I want Iran to be a wonderful, great, happy country, but they can’t have a nuclear weapon,” Trump said aboard Air Force One on his way to Florida on April 11.
Earlier in the week, Trump warned Iran that the U.S. was ready for a military option, noting that “Israel will obviously be very much involved in that. They’ll be the leader of that.”
Over the last year, Iran’s influence in the Middle East was seriously weakened by the U.S. and Israel. Tehran’s allies took several blows, from the Hamas Movement in the Gaza Strip, to Hezbollah Lebanon and the Assad regime in Syria, which completely collapsed.
Iran is now seeking de-escalation to avoid a dangerous confrontation with the Trump administration, which appears to be willing to end the Iranian nuclear program in any way. While Tehran seems ready to make concessions, an agreement with Washington is not guaranteed.
Trump has vowed to secure a “stronger” agreement than the 2015 nuclear deal brokered by the Obama administration, which put many restrictions on Iranian nuclear activities. Trump withdrew from the deal in 2018, calling it a “disastrous” agreement that gave money to a country that “sponsored terrorism.”
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence
NOW hosted at southfront.press
Previously, SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence was at southfront.org.
The .org domain name had been blocked by the US (NATO) (https://southfront.press/southfront-org-blocked-by-u-s-controlled-global-internet-supervisor/) globally, outlawed and without any explanation
Back before that, from 2013 to 2015, SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence was at southfront.com
the iran nuclear talks are pro war propaganda to benefit the greater israel project warmongers . the cia verified that iran does not have these weapons . iran is a sovereign nation and should have no need for any discussions . they can do as the wish . many believe they need nukes for self defence .
that’s right as for self defence. but not yet. or! maybe they just already having it, a bomb.
iran must be putting some strong stuff in their hookah pipes if they put trust into anything the americans have to say.
may all the angels in heaven watch over donny chumpo and keep him safe. he is doing a superlative job of collapsing the us empire, more than all the foreign armies and intelligence services in the world could ever accomplish. maybe he is putin’s kgb agent after all. during ww2, there was an allied proposal to assassinate hitler. this was rejected, on the grounds that whoever took over from him would probably do a better job of leading the german war effort.
why is trump not pushing france,britain and israel for nuclear disarmament s their threaten russia and the distraction of humanity.
with the dismantling of iran’s nuclear program the zionists and it’s anglo american allies will feel a little more confident and safe in attacking iran. can’t really trust these american diplomats.