As tensions escalate between the United States and Iran, both countries are set to hold negotiations on the Tehran nuclear agreement in the capital of Oman, Muscat, on Friday. Meanwhile, the US virtual embassy in Iran has issued a security alert urging American citizens to leave Iran immediately.
Despite expressing willingness to restart diplomatic dialogues on the Tehran nuclear agreement, the US and Iran still have deep disagreements on negotiation topics.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo stated on Wednesday (4th) that “to make the talks fruitful, they must cover specific content, including Iran’s ballistic missile range, its support for terrorist organizations in the region, its nuclear program, and its treatment of its own people.”
Iran, on the other hand, hopes that the US-Iran talks will only address the issue of Tehran’s nuclear program.
As negotiations loom, Zarif wrote on X platform on Friday, “Iran is entering diplomacy with clarity, with memories of the past year still fresh.”
Last June, the US joined forces with Israel to carry out the “Midnight Hammer” operation targeting key Iranian nuclear facilities. Subsequently, Tehran claimed that its uranium enrichment program had been halted.
However, there are no signs of easing tensions between the US and Iran. As the Iranian Islamic regime intensifies bloody crackdowns on nationwide protests, President Trump has repeatedly warned Iranian authorities against killing Iranian protesters, or else face fierce US military strikes.
Simultaneously, the US has increased its military deployments in the Middle East, including deploying a carrier strike group centered around the “Lincoln” in the Arabian Sea and dispatching a powerful destroyer fleet to the Eastern Mediterranean and Red Sea regions.
According to Fox News, images from the satellite company Planet Labs show that by the end of January this year, US military aircraft, navy ships, and logistical platforms have been deployed in the Middle East.
On Thursday (5th), White House spokesperson Levitt told reporters at a briefing that Trump is evaluating whether an agreement can be reached with Iran, while issuing warnings once again.
Levitt added, “During the negotiations, I want to remind the Iranian regime that as the supreme commander of the world’s most powerful military in history, (Trump) the president has various options besides diplomatic means.”
Previously, Trump had warned Iran that if the negotiations fail, “bad things” will happen.
Iran has threatened to take retaliatory measures against any military strikes and attack US military bases in the region. If US allies participate in American attack operations, they could also become targets of Iranian attacks.
Just hours before the negotiations, Iran’s state-run television claimed that one of the country’s most advanced long-range ballistic missiles, the Khorramshahr 4, had been deployed at a massive underground missile base of the Revolutionary Guards.
Senior researcher Edmund Fitton-Brown of the Washington think tank Foundation for Defence of Democracies (FDD) stated on Thursday, “It’s hard to imagine that Iran will make enough concessions in tomorrow’s talks to allow the US to credibly announce a breakthrough. Therefore, I believe the likelihood of a military conflict breaking out is greater.”
On Friday, the US virtual embassy in Iran issued a security alert, urging American citizens in Iran to leave immediately.
The alert stated, “Due to escalating nationwide security measures in Iran, road closures, interruptions in public transportation, and ongoing network blocks; Iranian authorities continue to restrict mobile phone, landline communication, and domestic internet while airlines continue to limit or cancel flights to and from Iran,” American citizens should develop departure plans not relying on assistance from the US government.
The notice also urged American citizens to consider leaving Iran by land to Armenia or Turkey, stating, “If unable to leave, please seek shelter in your residence or a secure building. Stock up on food, water, medications, and other necessities.”
(This article is based on reports from Reuters)