U.S.-Iran Talks Begin in Oman Over Uranium Enrichment/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Iran and the United States launched indirect nuclear negotiations Saturday in Oman, mediated by Omani officials. Talks come as Tehran’s uranium enrichment nears weapons-grade and President Trump warns of potential U.S. airstrikes. Both sides appear far from agreement but stress the urgency of halting further escalation.
U.S.-Iran Nuclear Talks Resume: Quick Looks
- Indirect negotiations between Iran and the U.S. started Saturday in Muscat, Oman.
- The talks are the first since President Trump returned to office, reviving a standoff over Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
- Iran’s Abbas Araghchi and U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff are exchanging positions through Omani mediation.
- Iran insists the discussions focus only on its nuclear program, while Trump demands total dismantlement.
- Iranian uranium enrichment has reached 60%, dangerously close to weapons-grade.
- Flight tracking data confirmed Witkoff’s arrival from Russia after a meeting with President Putin.
- Trump has threatened airstrikes if diplomacy fails, while Iran warns of retaliation.
- Iran’s Ayatollah Khamenei has cited Libya’s downfall as a cautionary tale against trusting the U.S.
- Iran may request to continue enriching uranium up to 20%, far above the 2015 deal’s 3.67% cap.
- No immediate deal is expected, but both sides signal urgency amid global concern.
U.S.-Iran Talks Begin in Oman Over Uranium Enrichment
Deep Look
MUSCAT, Oman — Iran and the United States have resumed nuclear discussions through indirect negotiations in Oman, the latest high-stakes effort to address Tehran’s advancing uranium enrichment and avoid military conflict.
The talks — mediated by Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi — come at a moment of mounting pressure, with Iran stockpiling enriched uranium and President Donald Trump vowing airstrikes if diplomacy fails.
On Saturday, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei confirmed on X that negotiations had begun, emphasizing they were “indirect,” with both sides seated separately and communicating via the Omani delegation.
Witkoff and Araghchi Deliver Opening Messages
A convoy believed to be carrying U.S. Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff was seen leaving Oman’s Foreign Ministry shortly before Iranian diplomat Abbas Araghchi also arrived. Iran’s state-run IRNA reported Araghchi had already delivered “key points” of Iran’s position to Oman’s top diplomat.
“What is clear now is that the negotiations are indirect,” Araghchi told reporters, “and in our view only on the nuclear issue, and will be conducted with the necessary will to reach an agreement.”
Trump Demands Dismantlement, Iran Draws Red Lines
“Our position begins with dismantlement of your program,” Witkoff told The Wall Street Journal prior to his trip. “Where our red line will be, there can’t be weaponization of your nuclear capability.”
Despite Trump’s hardline stance, Iran is unlikely to consider a full rollback. Since Trump withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal in 2018, Iran has stepped up enrichment to 60%, just below the 90% threshold for weapons-grade uranium.
Oman: The Quiet Mediator
Oman’s role as a neutral diplomatic conduit is critical. With a long history of quiet regional mediation, the Gulf nation has hosted several past rounds of nuclear negotiations, including the secret Obama-era talks that led to the original Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
Oman’s discretion and geographic proximity to both Iran and the Arabian Sea shipping lanes make it ideal for backchannel diplomacy, even as talks remain tense and tentative.
History, Warnings, and Realpolitik
Iran’s leadership continues to reference the downfall of Libya’s Moammar Gadhafi — who relinquished his weapons program only to be overthrown and killed — as a reason not to fully disarm.
This historical trauma, coupled with decades of distrust, limits how far Iran is willing to go. Any new deal will likely require sanctions relief, particularly as Iran’s economy struggles under mounting U.S. restrictions.
Still, Baghaei’s statement and Araghchi’s cautious optimism suggest Iran sees value in re-engaging.
“If there is sufficient will on both sides,” Araghchi said, “we will decide on a timetable.”
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