U.S. officials and Iranian diplomats convened on Saturday in Oman to initiate discussions regarding a potential new nuclear agreement, as reported by the Iranian state news outlet IRIB. This meeting marks the first direct engagement between representatives of the Trump administration and the Iranian government since the former's withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal.
According to IRIB, the atmosphere during the talks was described as “constructive” and based on mutual respect. The discussions, which lasted over two and a half hours, featured a brief exchange between the heads of the delegations, facilitated by the Omani foreign minister. The White House confirmed the meeting, noting that Special Envoy Steve Witkoff emphasized President Trump’s commitment to resolving differences through dialogue.
The talks follow Trump's calls for a new nuclear deal and for Iran to curtail its regional activities, with the President asserting that failure to reach an agreement would put Iran “in great danger.” He stressed the importance of preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, a sentiment echoed by State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce, who indicated that the outcome of the meeting would reveal Iran's seriousness about a deal.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi expressed a willingness to negotiate, claiming that the Iranian regime has upheld its commitment not to pursue nuclear weapons. However, he warned that any progress would require an agreement that dismisses military options. A recent report from the International Atomic Energy Agency noted that Iran's uranium enrichment levels have exceeded the limits established in the previous deal, complicating the discussions.
Officials from both nations plan to reconvene next Saturday to further explore the possibility of a new agreement.