US-Iran Nuclear Talks: United States Special Envoy Steven Witkoff held talks with Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Muscat on Saturday. Their meeting came after United States President Donald Trump made a surprise announcement on Monday that Washington and Tehran would begin talks in Oman. During the conversation, Witkoff conveyed US President Donald Trump's resolve for settling the differences between the two countries through "dialogue and diplomacy.” The White House in a press release, stated that discussions were very “positive and constructive”. The US thanked the Sultanate of Oman for its support of this initiative. Trump had written to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, requesting that negotiations be opened into a deal between Tehran and Washington.
US Emphasises On Dialogue And Diplomacy
“Special Envoy Witkoff underscored to Dr. Araghchi that he had instructions from President Trump to resolve our two nations’ differences through dialogue and diplomacy, if that is possible,” White House stated. It further informed that Witkoff’s direct communication today was a step forward in achieving a mutually beneficial outcome. Both the sides are scheduled to meet again next Saturday and likely to address Tehran's escalating nuclear programme.
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“These issues are very complicated, and Special Envoy Witkoff’s direct communication today was a step forward in achieving a mutually beneficial outcome. The sides agreed to meet again next Saturday,” added the official release. Steve Witkoff was accompanied by America's Ambassador to Oman, Ana Escrogima.
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The two parties were in "separate halls" and "conveying their views and positions to each other through the Omani foreign minister", Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei posted on X.
Iran Says 'Very Close To A Basis For Negotiation'
Meanwhile, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told local television that both the countries are very close to a basis for negotiation. "I think we are very close to a basis for negotiations and if we can conclude this basis next week, we’ll have gone a long way and will be able to start real discussions based on that,” said Araghchi. He emphasised that there is a chance for initial understanding on further negotiation if US enters the talks with equal stance.
He added that the first between Iran and a Trump administration, including his 2017-2021 first term took place in a "productive, calm and positive atmosphere.” The minister reiterated that they do not want talks for the sake of talks, and stated that Iran and the US side want an agreement in the short term.
A New Path To Diplomacy Or Just Another Stalemate?
Notably, the exchanges on Saturday between the US and Iran were indirect and mediated by Oman. This is how the Iran had wanted the meeting to be despite Trump’s face-to-face demand.
It is important to note that Trump, who withdrew the US from the 2015 nuclear deal with Tehran during his first term, has once again adopted a hardline stance toward the Middle Eastern power. The nuclear program of Tehran is viewed as an existential threat, by the good friend of US, Israel also.
The Islamic Republic News Agency, citing Foreign Ministry stated that Iran was giving diplomacy a "genuine chance" if the American side demonstrates resolve and goodwill. Furthermore, it viewed the preliminary talks on Saturday as an opportunity to ascertain whether the US was serious about diplomacy. On the other hand, Witkoff told WSJ, "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.”
What Lies Ahead?
Amid all these developments, it becomes important to see how both the countries navigate to reach a meaningful conclusion. Will this ‘indirect talks’ strengthen diplomacy or prove to be a stalemate, is a thing to watch. We already know that President Trump has restored his "maximum pressure" campaign on Iran after he took charge. This includes efforts to reduce Iran’s oil exports to zero in a bid to prevent Tehran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.
Similarly, Iran has ruled out negotiating its defence capabilities such as its ballistic missile programme. Iran, who is weakened by Israel's strikes on its allies Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza, is trying to seek relief from sanctions staggering its economy. Meanwhile, the US is hell-bent on stopping Iran from developing a nuclear bomb. Trump was earlier quoted saying: “I want Iran to be a wonderful, great, happy country. But they can't have a nuclear weapon.”
While the world awaits to know what the US and Iran are ‘exactly’ discussing, what we do know is that the talks are set to take place again.