US and Iran Hold Talks in Oman Amid Regional Tensions

Iranian and US Delegations Meet in Oman for Indirect Talks

A meeting between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and a US delegation led by special envoy Steve Witkoff took place in Muscat, Oman on Friday. The indirect talks were described as “positive” by Iranian authorities.

The negotiations, which were mediated by Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi, did not result in any concrete agreements or a roadmap for addressing growing tensions between the two countries. Araghchi stated that a decision on how to proceed with future rounds of talks would be made after consulting with capitals.

A climate of mistrust has been reported since the US military attacked Iran’s nuclear sites in June. The Iranian delegation expressed concerns about the lack of trust, citing past incidents such as the brief US involvement in Israel’s 12-day war against Iran.

The talks focused on creating conditions for the resumption of diplomatic and technical negotiations, according to a statement from Oman’s Foreign Ministry. The meeting was seen as an attempt to clarify both Iranian and American thinking and identify areas for possible progress.

US President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened to attack Iran if it does not reach a new agreement with the US on several issues. The US wants Iran to fully abandon enriching uranium, limit the range of its ballistic missiles, and ensure that Tehran’s aligned armed groups in Iraq, Lebanon, Yemen, and Syria do not receive military or financial support.

Iran has emphasized that it will only negotiate on nuclear issues to lift sanctions and de-escalate tensions. The Iranian government has also expressed a desire for an end to US threats of war.

Source: Al Jazeera