Iran confirms ‘indirect’ talks with US in Oman
Araghchi: Deal can be reached if US shows goodwill
Iran’s foreign minister said on Tuesday that Tehran and Washington would hold “indirect” nuclear talks in Oman on Saturday, confirming an earlier announcement by the US President Donald Trump.
Abbas Araghchi, who was on a state visit to Algeria, said he believes a new nuclear deal could be agreed with the US provided it shows sufficient goodwill.
Araghchi said Iran’s principal aim remained the lifting of sweeping US sanctions reimposed on Iran after its unilateral pullout of the 2015 nuclear agreement in 2018.
Trump made the surprise announcement that his administration would open talks with Iran during a White House meeting on Monday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Trump said the talks would be “direct” but Araghchi insisted his negotiations with US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff on Saturday would be “indirect.”
‘Format of talks not important’
“We will not accept any other form of negotiation,” Araghchi told official media. “The format of the negotiations... is not the most important thing in my view. What really counts is the effectiveness or otherwise of the talks. If the other side shows enough of the necessary willingness, a deal can be found... The ball is in America’s court.”
Iran’s government spokeswoman Fatemeh Mohajerani said on Tuesday that Iran seeks to preserve its national interests in the negotiations. She stressed that the details of the negotiations are not yet clear, but wise negotiations are on the agenda.
President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Sunday that Iran is seeking negotiations to resolve the nuclear dispute but “not with ignominy.”
Pezeshkian said that the other side should also prove that is seeking negotiation.
‘Great danger’
Speaking Monday in the Oval Office, Trump said he was hopeful of reaching a deal with Tehran, but warned that the Islamic republic would be in “great danger” if the talks failed.
“We’re dealing with the Iranians, we have a very big meeting on Saturday and we’re dealing with them directly,” Trump told reporters.
Trump’s announcement came after Iran dismissed direct negotiations on a new deal to curb the country’s nuclear activities, calling the idea pointless.
“I think if the talks aren’t successful with Iran, I think Iran’s going to be in great danger, and I hate to say it, great danger, because they can’t have a nuclear weapon,” Trump said.
In an interview with US network NBC late last month. Trump went further. “If they don’t make a deal, there will be bombing,” he said.
Russia, China welcome talks
Russia welcomed the prospect of negotiations for a new nuclear accord to replace the deal with major powers that was unilaterally abandoned by Trump in 2018.
“We know that certain contacts – direct and indirect – are planned in Oman. And, of course, this can only be welcomed because it can lead to de-escalation of tensions around Iran,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, adding that Moscow “absolutely” supported the initiative.
China called on the United States to “stop its wrong practice of using force to exert extreme pressure” after Trump threatened Iran with bombing if it fails to agree a deal.
“As the country that unilaterally withdrew from the comprehensive agreement on the Iran nuclear issue and caused the current situation, the United States should demonstrate political sincerity (and)... mutual respect,” its Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said.
Washington should “participate in dialogue and consultation, and at the same time stop its wrong practice of using force to exert extreme pressure”, Lin added.