Iran’s talks with the United States in Oman have been suspended “for the time being,” according to information provided by Iran’s Foreign Ministry to Al Jazeera. However, Iranian state television reported that the talks could be extended for several days. In the same vein, an Axios report said that a new round of negotiations is expected to take place in the near future.
According to the same sources, the negotiations are described as “serious” and as “moving at a faster pace than the previous five rounds,” with messages and proposals being exchanged between the two sides through Omani mediation.
Despite the generally positive atmosphere, the Wall Street Journal, citing Iranian state television, reported that Abbas Araghchi—the head of Iran’s negotiating team and Tehran’s foreign minister—made it clear to his American counterparts that Iran does not intend to stop uranium enrichment, rejecting Washington’s key demand. At the same time, he reportedly assured them that Tehran seeks a diplomatic solution that would prevent a U.S. military intervention in Iran.
According to Iranian television, the talks are focusing on ways to enhance transparency and cooperation in order to ease U.S. concerns about Iran’s nuclear program. In this context, the possibility of technical flexibility regarding uranium stockpiling and enrichment levels is being discussed.
Iran’s Tasnim news agency reported that the talks “concern exclusively the nuclear issue.” The United States, however, insists that other matters should also be on the negotiating table, including Iran’s missile program, Tehran’s support for regional allies and organizations, and the handling of domestic protests.
According to Tasnim, Iran “will never accept a halt to uranium enrichment,” although, as noted, there is discussion and speculation regarding acceptable enrichment levels.
Trump’s intentions remain unclear
Meanwhile, two U.S. officials said on Friday that senior members of President Donald Trump’s administration still do not have a clear picture of what exactly the White House would seek in the event of military action against Iran, even as diplomatic contacts continue in Oman. The officials told NBC News that Trump, while leaving open the possibility of even pursuing regime change in Tehran, has not decided on the specific objectives of any potential military operation.
They emphasized that there is no clear roadmap or internal consensus within the U.S. government regarding the role the United States would play following any such action. In an interview with the same network on Wednesday, Trump said that Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, “should be very worried.”
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