Iran, US hold ‘indirect’ talks on nukes; de-escalation, sanctions also on table

Iran and the US began talks in Oman on Saturday aimed at jump-starting negotiations over Tehran’s fast-advancing nuclear programme, with US President Donald Trump threatening military action if there is no deal.

Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi was leading Iran’s delegation while Trump’s West Asia envoy Steve Witkoff was heading the US side.

Each delegation had its separate room and exchanged messages via Oman’s foreign minister. “The current focus of the talks will be de-escalating regional tensions, prisoner exchanges and limited agreements to ease sanctions (against Iran) in exchange for controlling Iran’s nuclear programme,” an Omani source said.

Iran has long denied seeking nuclear weapons, but the West and Israel believe it is covertly trying to develop the means to build an atomic bomb.

After two-and-half hours of talks, Araqchi and Witkoff met each other for some minutes. “Both sides have agreed to continue the talks on April 19,” Araqchi said.

Araqchi described the meeting as constructive.

Both sides have said their goal is also to reach an agreement in the shortest possible time. However, that will certainly not be an easy task.

Witkoff said,“Our red line is, there can’t be weaponisation of your nuclear capability.”

Sanctions relief and enrichment remain top issues. While the US side can offer sanctions relief for Iran's beleaguered economy, it remains unclear just how much Iran will be willing to concede.

Judging from negotiations since 2018, Iran will likely ask to keep enriching uranium up to at least 20 per cent. One thing it won't do is give up its programme entirely.

Tehran has ruled out dismantling of N-apparatus

• Iran has ruled out negotiating the dismantling of its nuclear apparatus and its defence capabilities such as its ballistic missile programme.
• Its nuclear programme has leaped forward by enriching uranium to 60% fissile purity, a technical step from the levels needed for a bomb.
• Israel, Washington’s closest West Asian ally, regards Iran’s nuclear programme as an existential threat and has long threatened to attack Iran if diplomacy fails to curb its nuclear ambitions.
• Tehran’s influence throughout the region has been severely weakened over the past 18 months, with its allies — known as the Axis of Resistance — either dismantled or badly damaged since the start of the Hamas-Israel war in Gaza and the fall of Bashar al-Assad in Syria in December.