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US-Iran talks live: Critical talks to begin in Oman in push to prevent war
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Gazetteer News
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US and Iranian officials are set to hold talks in Oman amid weeks of escalating tensions and fears of a military confrontation between the two countries.Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has travelled to the Omani capital Muscat for the discussions, while United States President Donald Trump’s advisers Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are also set to take part.An Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson says the goal of the meeting is to reach “a fair, mutually satisfactory, and honourable agreement regarding the nuclear issue”.The exact topics of discussion remain unclear as the Trump administration has been pushing for issues beyond Iran’s nuclear programme to be on the table, despite clear opposition from Tehran.
China ‘supports’ Iran safeguarding its interests and sovereignty
China has affirmed its support for Iran defending its interests and opposes “unilateral bullying”, a statement by China’s foreign ministry read.It added that China “supports Iran in safeguarding its sovereignty, security, national dignity, and legitimate rights and interests”.
CENTCOM chief appears to join US team in Muscat
The most senior US military commander in the region has reportedly joined the indirect talks in Oman.Flight tracking data showed a US Air Force aircraft used to carry high-ranking commanders touching down in Muscat this morning.Earlier, citing an unnamed senior US official, the Wall Street Journal also reported that the US delegation will include Central Command chief, Admiral Brad Cooper.
China says is ‘supports’ Iran safeguarding its interests and sovereignty
In April last year, the US and Iran held talks aimed at reaching a nuclear peace agreement.The talks took place in Oman on April 12 and then in Italy on April 19. A third round took place in Oman a week later.In May, President Trump said the sides were “very close to a deal” but a day before the next round of talks, Israel launched attacks on Iran.This caused a 12-day war between the two, with the US joining in to conduct strikes on three of Iran’s nuclear sites in an attack it called Midnight Hammer.
What happened the last time Iran and the US held talks?
In April last year, the US and Iran held talks aimed at reaching a nuclear peace agreement.The talks took place in Oman on April 12 and then in Italy on April 19. A third round took place in Oman a week later.In May, President Trump said the sides were “very close to a deal” but a day before the next round of talks, Israel launched attacks on Iran.This caused a 12-day war between the two, with the US joining in to conduct strikes on three of Iran’s nuclear sites in an attack it called Midnight Hammer.
Talks have started:
Indirect talks between US and Iranian officials have begun in Oman.The teams are being led by Iran’s FM Araghchi and Trump’s special envoy Witkoff.
What is the mood in Iran ahead of the talks?
People as well as the media in Iran are closely following the talks but there is little sign of the cautious optimism seen during previous rounds of negotiations last year.Some are hoping another devastating war can be avoided, while others believe their living conditions are already horrible due to widespread corruption and mismanagement, rampant inflation and multiple other ongoing crises.“Whatever happens in these talks, it will not be to the benefit of the people of Iran since they have no representation and their interests are never prioritised,” said internationally acclaimed dissident filmmaker Jafar Panahi, pointing out that thousands were killed by the state during protests last month.On Saturday, the reformist Etemad newspaper led its front page with “Diplomacy breathes”, while most other morning dailies covered officials’ lines ahead of the talks, including on preparedness to attack US and Israeli interests across the region.The ultraconservative Keyhan, which has in recent days renewed its longstanding call for the IRGC to shut down the strategic Strait of Hormuz in Iran’s southern shores, dedicated its headline to once again refuting any talks with Washington.“The answer to the enemy’s threat is threats, not negotiations,” said the headline of the newspaper, whose editor-in-chief is directly appointed by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Iran, Oman FMs meet in Muscat ahead of talks
Iran’s FM Araghchi has met his Omani counterpart Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi in Muscat ahead of indirect talks between the US and Iran.According to the Iranian state news agency, IRNA, Araghchi and his team are now heading to the venue for the talks.
What is the nuclear deal that Trump pulled out of?
While US and Iranian officials meet in Oman for talks over Iran’s nuclear programme, it is not the first time that a deal is being discussed.In 2015, under Barack Obama, the US, alongside European powers, Russia, and China, signed the first Iran nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), after nearly two years of talks.As part of the agreement, it set out restrictions on Iran’s nuclear enrichment programmes to ensure that it was exclusively peaceful in exchange for sanctions relief.In 2018, under President Donald Trump’s first term, the US pulled out of the agreement.At the time, Trump slammed the agreement and called it “one of the worst and most one-sided transactions the United States has ever entered into”, adding that the deal gave Iran “too much in exchange for too little”.
Iran showcases advanced ballistic missile ahead of talks
The IRGC has shared video of the test launch of a Khorramshahr-4 ballistic missile said to be deployed from an underground base.Yadollah Javani, the political deputy for the IRGC, told state media that “unveiling the missile means that although we have sat down at the negotiating table, we will not give up our military power”.
Egypt, IAEA discuss US-Iran tensions ahead of Oman meeting
Egypt’s FM Badr Abdelatty and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi discussed efforts to de-escalate tensions over Iran’s nuclear programme .In a press release by the Egyptian government on Thursday, Abdelatty reviewed the intense communications he has been involved in over recent weeks for today’s US-Iran talks in Oman and to achieve regional security and stability during his call with Grossi.According to the readout, Abdelatty hoped for the US and Iran to reach a mutually acceptable settlement to avoid regional tension and stressed the need for continued regional and global efforts to continue to reduce escalating tensions.
Iran and the US taking symbolic steps in parallel with diplomatic ones
Last year, just a day before the Israeli strikes on Iran, there was a round of talks in Muscat. Then, the war happened.The Iranians are taking this into consideration; they know this is not a continuation of last year’s talks, it’s a different status quo, a different arena, where Iran’s nuclear programme isn’t the same as it used to be.So whatever concessions are asked with respect to the nuclear file, some of them are de facto, such as the Iranian enrichment. The Iranians are in Muscat to try state their own rights as per the officials.There’s something very significant here with respect to the posture of both sides. FM Araghchi’s plane took off from an area called Tabas. This area is in the desert, where a group of American soldiers were trying to do special ops and were killed there, at the beginning of the revolution, which was 47 years ago. And the Americans, on their side, issued a warning for every American in Iran to leave the country, so we’re seeing a lot of symbolic steps in parallel with the diplomatic steps.
US calls on its nationals to leave Iran
The US Virtual Embassy in Iran has published an announcement urging US citizens to leave the country.In a post on its website this morning, the embassy told citizens to have a plan for leaving Iran that did not rely on the US government. If they could not leave, they were told to go to a “secure location” or a safe building.It also advised nationals to have a supply of food, water and medications, and to monitor local media for breaking news.
Iran will engage in diplomacy in ‘good faith’, says Iranian FM
Iran’s FM Araghchi says his country is entering diplomacy with open eyes and a “steady memory of the past year” ahead of talks with the US in Oman later today.“We engage in good faith and stand firm on our rights. Commitments need to be honoured,” he wrote on X.“Equal standing, mutual respect and mutual interest are not rhetoric – they are a must and the pillars of a durable agreement.”
