Iran and the United States have concluded a fourth round of negotiations concerning the contentious issue surrounding Tehran’s nuclear program. The discussions, facilitated by Oman, took place in the capital city of Muscat and spanned three hours.
Details of the negotiations
Similar to the preceding rounds, the talks were led by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Steve Witkoff, a special envoy from the Trump administration. A US official, who requested anonymity when speaking to the press, indicated that the negotiations included both direct and indirect dialogues. The official expressed optimism, stating, “We are encouraged by today’s outcome and look forward to our next meeting, which will happen in the near future.”
However, Iran maintained that the discussions were conducted solely on an indirect basis, likely due to internal political dynamics within the Islamic Republic. Araghchi described the negotiations as “difficult” but noted that there is now “a better understanding” between the parties involved. He commented on state media, “We’ve, to a large extent, moved away from general discussions and gotten into more detailed matters. Naturally, this makes the negotiations even more difficult.”
Nuclear activities and international concerns
The objective of the ongoing discussions is to curtail Iran’s nuclear activities in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions imposed by the US. Notably, in March, a United Nations nuclear watchdog reported that Iran had intensified its production of uranium nearing weapons-grade levels. Experts believe Tehran possesses sufficient enriched uranium to potentially develop a nuclear weapon.
The United States aims to prevent Iran from expanding its uranium stockpile. Nonetheless, Foreign Minister Araghchi asserted that Iran would persist in its uranium enrichment efforts, stating, “From our perspective, (uranium) enrichment is something that absolutely must continue, and there’s no room for compromise about that.” He elaborated, “We may consider limitations on its dimensions, scope, level, and amount for a certain period to build confidence, as we did in the agreement, but the principle of enrichment itself is not even negotiable.”
These negotiations come at a crucial time, as US President Donald Trump is anticipated to visit the Middle East this week. The American leader has consistently suggested that military action may be a viable option if an agreement is not reached. Following the recent talks, Araghchi confirmed that another round of negotiations is planned, although the specific timing and location of these discussions have yet to be determined.