Muscat (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – On Saturday, senior negotiators from Iran and the U.S. initiated another session of indirect discussions aimed at finalizing an agreement to restrain Tehran’s nuclear ambitions. Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump expressed optimism about securing a new accord that would prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon.
As reported by Reuters, experts convened prior to the upcoming indirect negotiations between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, in Muscat on Saturday, facilitated by Omani mediators. This follows a second round of discussions in Rome, which both parties regarded as constructive.
Will new U.S.-Iran talks lead to a breakthrough?
The Islamic Republic has indicated a desire for relief from sanctions as its economy struggles and it faces over a year of military losses against its regional adversary, Israel.
On Saturday, Iranian state media announced that discussions were underway. The news agency IRNA stated,
“A third round of negotiations between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America started in Muscat,”
but did not provide further details.
An insider from the Iranian negotiating team reported that specialists from both parties convened on Saturday. Initial discussions will occur at the expert level, focusing on establishing a framework for a potential nuclear agreement prior to an indirect meeting with the chief negotiators.
Can Trump’s diplomacy succeed after the maximum pressure strategy?
A day prior, Trump stated in an interview with Time magazine, released on Friday, “I think we’re going to make a deal with Iran,” yet he reiterated a military threat against Iran if diplomacy does not succeed. Although Tehran and Washington have expressed their commitment to diplomacy, they still stand significantly apart in a dispute that has persisted for over twenty years.
Since February, Trump has revived a maximum pressure strategy against Tehran, having abandoned the 2015 nuclear agreement with Iran and six global powers in 2018 during his first term, subsequently reimposing severe sanctions on Iran.
Will sanctions relief persuade Tehran to curb its program?
Since 2019, Iran has violated the nuclear restrictions of the pact, with the U.N. nuclear watchdog reporting a “dramatic” increase in uranium enrichment, reaching up to 60% purity, which is close to the approximately 90% level considered weapons grade.
According to Iranian officials, Tehran is open to discussing limitations on its nuclear activities in exchange for the lifting of sanctions. However, Iran considers ending its enrichment program or giving up its stockpile of enriched uranium as “red lines that could not be compromised” during negotiations. Additionally, several European diplomats revealed that European nations had advised U.S. negotiators to include provisions in any comprehensive agreement that would restrict Iran from developing or acquiring the ability to mount a nuclear warhead on a ballistic missile.
