Iran’s top diplomat said on Friday that U.S.-Iran nuclear talks brokered by Oman had started “well” and would continue, comments that may help ease fears that failure to reach a deal could push the Middle East closer to conflict, Reuters reported.
But Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said after talks in Muscat, the capital of Oman, attended by US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, son-in-law of US President Donald Trump, that “any dialogue requires refraining from threats and coercion. (Tehran) is only discussing its nuclear issue… We are not discussing any other issue with the US.”
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Although both sides have signaled a willingness to resume diplomacy over Iran’s long-running nuclear dispute with the West, Washington is seeking to broaden negotiations to include Iran’s ballistic missile program, its support for armed groups across the region and its “treatment of its own people,” US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Wednesday.
A regional diplomat briefed on the talks by Tehran told Reuters that Iran insisted on its “right to enrich uranium” during talks with the US, adding that Tehran’s missile capabilities were not mentioned in the discussions.
Iranian officials have consistently rejected any discussion of the country’s missile program – one of the largest arsenals in the Middle East – and have said Tehran is seeking recognition of its right to enrich uranium.
Trump stepped up pressure on Iran on Friday when he signed an executive order imposing a 25% tariff on imports from any country that “directly or indirectly” buys goods from Iran, carrying out a threat he made last month.
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The White House said the measure was intended to discourage third countries from maintaining trade relations with Iran, particularly in energy, metals and petrochemicals, sectors that remain key sources of revenue for the Iranian government, Reuters reported.
“I think Iran looks like it wants to make a deal very badly,” Trump told reporters on Friday night, adding that his team would meet with the Iranians again early next week, Reuters reported.
Trump remarked: “No nukes for Iran and said we will meet again next week on Iran, Reuters reported.
Asked how long he was willing to wait for an Iran deal, Trump said: “Well, you’ve got to get in position. We’ve got plenty of time.”
Tehran open to discussion on enrichment level
While Iran ruled out Washington’s demand for no enrichment on its soil, the diplomat, who did not want to be named, said Tehran was open to discussing the “level and purity” of enrichment or alternative arrangements, including a potential regional consortium, according to a Reuters report.
In return, Iran had several demands, such as “effective and immediate relief of sanctions, including on banking and oil, and the removal of US military assets from Iran.”
For Washington, enrichment – a possible path to nuclear bombs – is a red line inside Iran. Tehran has long denied any intention to weaponize nuclear fuel production, Reuters reported.
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But the diplomat said Tehran believed US negotiators “seem to understand Iran’s position on enrichment”.
Araqchi earlier told Iranian state television that “it was a good start to negotiations.”
“And there is an agreement to continue the talks. Coordination of progress will be decided in the capitals,” Araqchi said. “If this process continues, I think we will reach a good framework for understanding.”
The talks were “very serious”, Oman says
Oman’s foreign minister and mediator, Badr al-Busaidi, described the talks as “very serious” and noted that the results would be carefully scrutinized in both Tehran and Washington, with plans to reconvene in the future.
Despite ongoing discussions, the United States on Friday imposed sanctions on 15 entities and 14 shadow fleet vessels involved in the illicit trade in Iranian oil, petroleum products and petrochemicals, marking the latest round of US economic measures against Tehran and its business activities.
Iran’s leadership remains very concerned that Trump might follow through on his threats to strike the country, especially after the US naval build-up in regional waters.
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In June last year, the US targeted Iran’s nuclear facilities during the final phase of Israel’s 12-day bombing campaign. Since then, Tehran has announced that it has suspended uranium enrichment activities.
The naval buildup, which Trump called a massive “army,” followed a bloody government crackdown on nationwide protests in Iran last month, raising tensions between Washington and Tehran, Reuters reported.
Trump said “bad things” were likely to happen if no deal could be reached, increasing pressure on the Islamic Republic in a standoff that has led to mutual threats of airstrikes.
FEAR OF CONFLICTS
Global and regional powers fear a breakdown in the talks could spark a new conflict between the US and Iran that could spill over into the wider oil-producing region.
Iran has vowed a tough response to any attack and has warned neighboring Gulf Arab states, where US bases are located, that they could be targeted if they take part in any strike.
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In a show of defiance, Iranian state television said hours before the meeting that “one of the country’s most advanced long-range ballistic missiles, the Khorramshahr-4,” was stationed in one of the Revolutionary Guards’ underground “missile cities.”
(With inputs from Reuters)
