Iran’s foreign minister has announced upcoming indirect talks with the United States in Oman concerning Tehran’s rapidly advancing nuclear program, amid ongoing regional tensions. Abbas Araghchi shared on Iranian state television that these negotiations would be mediated by Oman, countering U.S. President Donald Trump’s previous remarks describing the discussions as direct.
The diplomatic landscape shifted after years of unsuccessful dialogues under the Biden administration, with Iran now enriching uranium up to 60% purity, a level close to weapons-grade. Both the U.S. and Israel have threatened military intervention over Iran’s nuclear pursuits, while Tehran suggests a potential nuclear weapon ambition. Araghchi emphasized the restoration of Iranian rights and the lifting of sanctions, underscoring a preference for indirect over direct negotiations for the moment. His comments imply an openness to future direct talks with the U.S., breaking a hiatus since the Obama era.
U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff will participate in these discussions, although more details remain sparse. In an opinion piece for The Washington Post, Araghchi expressed Iran’s readiness to reach an agreement, advocating for a diplomatic solution over military options.
Following Trump’s announcement, Iran’s struggling economy saw a positive response, with the rial strengthening and the Tehran Stock Exchange rising by 2%. This economic lift provides a brief respite in the wake of crippling sanctions re-imposed after the U.S. exited the 2015 nuclear deal. The termination of that deal, aimed at limiting Iran’s nuclear activities, severely devalued the Iranian currency and led to widespread financial instability.
Ahead of the impending negotiations, a letter from Trump to Iran’s Supreme Leader sought to facilitate direct discussions, despite previous stern rebukes against the idea. Trump’s ongoing military actions against Iranian-backed forces in Yemen add complexity to regional power dynamics. Simultaneously, tensions linger from past events such as the 2020 assassination of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani via U.S. drone strike, which stirred outrage within Iran’s leadership.
Within Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated his stance on Iran’s nuclear capabilities, advocating for a deal akin to Libya’s past disarmament. Netanyahu emphasized the eradication of nuclear weapons potential through aggressive diplomacy or military action, should talks falter.
In a broader international response, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov voiced support for diplomatic solutions to Iran’s nuclear issues, endorsing the planned talks in Oman. These talks are seen as potential means to reduce hostilities. Concurrently, Russia is engaging in separate discussions with both Iran and China, aiming to address nuclear concerns while navigating the complex geopolitical landscape, including ongoing talks related to the Russia-Ukraine conflict.