The United States and Iran have reinitiated indirect negotiations concerning Tehran’s nuclear program, marking the first such engagement since President Donald Trump’s return to office.
Held in Muscat, Oman, the talks were facilitated by Omani officials, with U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi leading their respective delegations.
While officially indirect, the two representatives reportedly had a brief face-to-face interaction, signaling a potential thaw in relations.
The discussions, lasting over two hours, focused on Iran’s nuclear activities and the possibility of easing U.S. sanctions. Iran expressed willingness to return to uranium enrichment levels stipulated in the 2015 nuclear agreement, from which the U.S. withdrew in 2018.
However, Tehran remains firm on maintaining its nuclear program for what it asserts are peaceful purposes, while the U.S. emphasizes preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons.
Both parties have agreed to continue negotiations in the coming week, though significant differences persist. Iran insists that topics like its missile program and regional activities remain off the table, focusing solely on nuclear issues.
The outcome of these talks could have profound implications for regional stability and global non-proliferation efforts.
Stay tuned for further developments as these high-stakes discussions unfold.