Muscat (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – On Sunday, high-ranking negotiators from Iran and the U.S. restarted discussions regarding disagreements related to Tehran’s nuclear program, according to Iranian state media. This initiative aims to achieve progress as the U.S. takes a tougher position ahead of President Donald Trump’s visit to the Middle East.
While both Tehran and Washington claim a preference for diplomacy to settle their long-standing dispute, they still stand on opposing sides of several critical issues that negotiators must navigate to achieve a new nuclear agreement and prevent future military conflict. Moreover, On May 13-16, Trump is set to visit Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.
Can U.S. and Iran overcome deep nuclear rifts?
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff are set to engage in the fourth round of discussions in Muscat, facilitated by Omani mediators. This comes even as Washington adopts a firm public stance that Iranian officials claim could hinder the negotiations.
Prior to his departure for Muscat, Araqchi stated to Iranian state TV that
“Iran has well-known positions based on clear principles… We hope to reach a decisive stance in Sunday’s meeting”.
He added that Iran’s expert team was in Oman and “will be consulted if necessary”.
Witkoff stated Washington’s position is clear:
“No enrichment. That entails dismantlement, no weaponization,”
which necessitates the total dismantling of Iran’s nuclear facilities located in Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan. He also remarked,
“If they are not productive on Sunday, then they won’t continue, and we’ll need to pursue alternative options”
concerning the discussions.
Will Iran abandon enrichment under U.S. pressure?
In response to Witkoff’s remarks, Araqchi stated on Saturday that Iran would not relent on its nuclear rights, particularly regarding uranium enrichment.
Tehran is willing to negotiate some curbs on its nuclear work in return for the lifting of sanctions, according to Iranian officials, but ending its enrichment programme or surrendering its enriched uranium stockpile are among “Iran’s red lines that could not be compromised” in the talks.
As reported by Reuters, a high-ranking Iranian official associated with the negotiating team stated that U.S. demands for “zero enrichment and dismantling Iran’s nuclear sites would not help in progressing the negotiations”. “What the U.S. says publicly differs from what is said in negotiations,” according to an official who requested anonymity.
He stated that things would be clearer during the discussions on Sunday, which were originally scheduled for May 3 in Rome but were delayed, according to Oman as “logistical reasons”. Furthermore, Iran has unequivocally rejected any negotiations regarding its ballistic missile program, and the clerical establishment insists on solid guarantees that Trump would not abandon a nuclear agreement again.
