American and Iranian officials engaged in their first direct talks on Saturday in Oman, marking a significant milestone after years of escalating tensions and stalled diplomacy. The discussions will continue with further meetings scheduled for next weekend, as per a statement from the White House. The meeting, held between U.S. Special Envoy Steven Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, represented the first in-person exchange since President Donald Trump returned to office amidst Iran’s ongoing expansion of its nuclear program. The White House characterized the talks as “very positive and constructive,” expressing gratitude towards the Sultanate of Oman for their support in facilitating the dialogue. Witkoff, accompanied by U.S. Ambassador to Oman Ana Escrogima, relayed Trump’s personal directive to seek diplomatic resolutions to differences wherever feasible. Taking place on the outskirts of Muscat, Oman’s capital, the talks lasted over two hours and were hosted by Omani Foreign Minister Said Badr. Later reports confirmed that the American and Iranian delegations exchanged messages and engaged in a brief direct conversation. The discussions were influenced by heightened military presence in the region, which expert Rebecca Grant attributed to signaling U.S. resolve. Grant emphasized that Iran is now confronted with a choice between engaging in dialogue or facing potential military action targeting its nuclear facilities. Tensions between the two nations have remained strained since the U.S. withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear agreement, leading to Iran’s increased uranium enrichment levels. While U.S. intelligence agencies have not observed nuclear weapon development by Iran, concerns persist over its progress towards that capability. Military analyst Gen. Jack Keane highlighted Iran’s perception of U.S. readiness for military intervention in response to a failure in diplomatic efforts. Grant underscored the preparedness of U.S. and allied forces for a potential strike against Iran should negotiations falter, citing past actions to neutralize Iranian air defenses and the strategic deployment of military assets in the region.
“It is now possible to purchase nuclear fuel from the open market,” she suggested. “I believe that, perhaps, as a result of our military pressure and Trump’s determination, they are starting to acknowledge this.” President of Iran, Masoud Pezeshkian, has stated that he is not willing to engage in direct negotiations regarding the nuclear program, while also holding the United States accountable for previous broken promises. “They must demonstrate their ability to establish trust,” Pezeshkian expressed during a recent Cabinet meeting. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei cautioned about potential repercussions if threats persist. “Violence begets violence, while peace fosters peace,” he shared on social media. “The US has the option to choose its path… and accept the consequences.” On May 7, 2023, Iran launched a medium-range ballistic missile named Hayber (Hurremshahr-4). Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo emphasized on Fox News that no agreement can be reached unless Iran relinquishes its nuclear weapons ambitions. “Their nuclear weapons program must be completely and verifiably dismantled for any deal to take place,” he stressed. “We simply request that they adhere to the standards of a responsible nation.” Grant insisted that any future agreement will need to have stringent conditions. “Effective inspections will be imperative,” she pointed out. “They must also be willing to scale back their enriched uranium production. Restrictions on their ballistic missile program will also be essential.” The two countries are set to reconvene on April 19 in Oman, as per the White House announcement. This report includes contributions from Fox News Digital’s Bradford Betz and The Associated Press. [Original article source: Trump team holds ‘constructive’ face-to-face nuclear talks with Iran, will meet again next weekend]
