MUSCAT, Oman — Diplomatic talks between Iran and the United States are set to continue on Saturday in Oman, marking the third round of negotiations concerning Iran’s advancing nuclear program. Initially, the discussions commenced in Muscat, Oman, where representatives from both nations engaged directly. Following this, a second meeting occurred in Rome last weekend, leading to the upcoming session back in Muscat.
The negotiations come amid heightened tensions, largely attributed to President Trump’s “maximum pressure” campaign, which includes imposing new sanctions on Iran. Trump has not ruled out the possibility of military intervention, though he remains optimistic about reaching a new agreement. An effort to rekindle dialogue included a letter sent by Trump to Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, suggesting potential negotiations.
Ayatollah Khamenei has countered with a warning that Iran would retaliate if attacked.
Regarding Trump’s letter, it was sent to Khamenei on March 5, accompanied by a public acknowledgment in a televised interview. Trump emphasized his hope for negotiations, contrasting it with the repercussions of potential military action. His administration has continuously sought discussions, while simultaneously amplifying sanctions and hinting at possible military actions targeting Iranian nuclear facilities.
Previously, during Trump’s first term, a similar letter received a dismissive response from Khamenei. However, Trump’s correspondence with North Korea’s Kim Jong Un resulted in direct meetings, though no agreements materialized to curb North Korea’s nuclear ambitions.
During the inaugural negotiation round, representatives met in Oman, with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and U.S. Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff convening in person after preliminary indirect talks. This meeting led to an agreement on subsequent discussions in Rome. Witkoff’s remarks on Iran’s uranium enrichment levels, proposed at 3.67%, hinted at a potential consensus mirroring the 2015 nuclear deal conditions, which Trump had withdrawn from.
Witkoff later clarified that any agreement should bear the mark of a “Trump deal.” Iranian officials subsequently seized on this statement, interpreting it as providing conflicting signals from the U.S. Yet, the progression to expert-level meetings suggested the talks seemed to be moving toward a constructive phase.
The West’s ongoing concern with Iran’s nuclear program stems from Tehran’s past insistence on the program’s peaceful intentions, juxtaposed against recent threats to develop a nuclear weapon. Currently, Iran enriches uranium up to nearly weapons-grade levels of 60%, distinguishing it as the sole nation without an explicit nuclear arms program doing so.
According to the 2015 deal, uranium enrichment was capped at 3.67%, with a maximum allowable stockpile of 300 kilograms. However, Iran’s stockpile now surpasses those limits significantly, while U.S. intelligence maintains that Iran has not yet started a weapons program, despite preparing the groundwork for such development.
Ali Larijani, an adviser to Khamenei, stated on television that Iran could develop nuclear weapons if provoked by an attack. This possibility raises concerns, suggesting any military action by the U.S. or Israel could compel Iran towards weaponization.
Historically fraught relations between Iran and the U.S. trace back to a once close alliance under Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, whose authoritarian rule was backed by a coup orchestrated by the CIA. The shah’s eventual ousting in 1979 led to the Islamic Revolution and subsequent severance of diplomatic ties following the 444-day American hostage crisis. Subsequent conflicts, including the Iran-Iraq war, exacerbated tensions, with mutual hostilities and occasional diplomatic engagements ensued.
The signing of the 2015 nuclear accord under Obama’s presidency marked a high point in U.S.-Iranian relations. However, Trump’s withdrawal from the deal in 2018 has reignited regional and bilateral tensions, perpetuating an uneasy atmosphere in the Middle East today.