Online Reporter
Senior US and Iranian officials are in Oman for talks amid a crisis that has raised fears of a military confrontation between the two countries.
The discussions come after a US military build-up in the Middle East reportedly in response to Iran’s violent repression of nationwide anti-government protests last month.
But the scope of the talks, which are believed to be indirect, remained unclear, with both countries far apart in their positions amid mutual mistrust. The hope was that, if successful, the discussions could lead to a framework for negotiations.
The US, which is demanding Iran freezes its nuclear programme and discards its stockpile of enriched uranium, had said the talks in Oman should also involve Iran’s ballistic missiles, the country’s support for regional armed groups and its treatment of its citizens.
Iran, however, has said the discussions will be limited to its nuclear programme, and it is unclear if these differences have been resolved.
Oman said its foreign minister had held separate discussions with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and US special envoy Steve Witkoff and President Trump’s son-in-law and emissary Jared Kushner on Friday morning.
It said the “consultations focused on preparing the appropriate conditions for resuming diplomatic and technical negotiations”.
The last round of talks between the US and Iran, over its nuclear programme, had been scheduled for June 2025 but collapsed after Israel’s surprise attack on Iran. — BBC
