Iran and the United States Set for Diplomatic Showdown in Oman

Iran’s Position on the Nuclear Programme

Iran is seeking a "real and fair" agreement with the United States on its nuclear programme, a senior aide to supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Friday, setting the stage for a diplomatic showdown this weekend in Oman.

The statement was made by Khamenei’s adviser Ali Shamkhani, who said that Tehran is seeking a "real and fair agreement, important and implementable proposals are ready". He confirmed that Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was heading to Oman "with full authority for indirect negotiations with America", adding that if Washington showed goodwill, the path forward would be "smooth".

The Lead-up to the Talks

In the lead-up to the talks, US President Donald Trump reiterated his warning that military action was "absolutely" possible if talks failed. Iran responded by saying it could expel UN nuclear inspectors, prompting another US warning that such action would be an "escalation".

Iran has consistently denied seeking to acquire nuclear weapons. On Friday, foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said Iran was "giving diplomacy a genuine chance in good faith and full vigilance." "America should appreciate this decision, which was made despite their hostile rhetoric," he said.

Previous Announcements and Talks

The talks were first announced by Trump during Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Washington. While he said they would be high-level and "direct", Iran has insisted they would be "indirect". Araghchi and US special envoy Steve Witkoff are due to lead the talks in Oman, which has played a mediating role on the Iran nuclear file. Witkoff visited Russia on Friday for talks on Ukraine with Russian President Vladimir Putin, an ally of Iran.

Regional Alliances and Implications

Iran has come into the spotlight since Trump returned to office, and its regional allies have in recent months suffered major setbacks. Among them are Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, hit by staggering losses in conflicts with Israel sparked by the October 7, 2023 attack. Since the start of the Gaza war, Iran and Israel have engaged in direct attacks for the first time in history. Warning of military action against Iran should the talks fail, Trump said US ally Israel would "obviously be very much involved in that, be the leader of that".

Iran’s Nuclear Programme

While the West wants to include Iran’s ballistic missile programme and its regional influence in negotiations, Tehran has maintained it will only talk about its nuclear programme. "If the American side does not raise irrelevant issues and demands and puts aside threats and intimidation, there is a good possibility of reaching an agreement," Iran’s deputy foreign minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi said.

International Reactions

Ahead of the talks, the United States imposed additional sanctions on the Islamic republic targeting its oil network and nuclear programme. Iran’s nuclear agency chief Mohammad Eslami downplayed their impact, saying: "They applied maximum pressure with various sanctions, but they were unable to prevent the country from progressing." "They still think that they can stop this nation and country with threats and intimidation, psychological operations, or stupid actions," he added.

Germany urged the two sides to reach a "diplomatic solution", adding that it is a "positive development that there is a channel for dialogue between Iran and the United States".

Hardline Media Skepticism

Hardline media in Iran voiced scepticism on the talks. The Kayhan newspaper ran editorials warning the new sanctions showed the United States was "an enemy of Iran and its people" and dismissed negotiations to lift sanctions as a "failed strategy." Reformist media outlets struck a more optimistic tone, emphasising the potential economic and investment opportunities talks could create.

Conclusion

The diplomatic showdown in Oman marks a crucial moment in the ongoing standoff between Iran and the United States. With both sides making conflicting demands and threats, the outcome of the talks remains uncertain. One thing is clear, however, is that the fate of Iran’s nuclear programme hangs in the balance.

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