On Saturday (April 12), the United States and Iran held high-level talks in the Gulf state of Oman to resume long-stalled nuclear negotiations for the first time in a decade. The aim is to curb Iran’s rapid expansion of its nuclear program and prevent escalation of tensions in the Middle East. President Trump has issued a final ultimatum to Iran, demanding a new agreement within two months, or military action cannot be ruled out.
Amid the volatile situation in the Middle East and strained US-Iran relations, the talks took place in the capital of Oman, Muscat. The Iranian delegation was led by Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, while the Trump administration was represented by Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff.
There are still disagreements between the two sides on the format of the negotiations: Iran insists on “indirect talks,” while the US hopes for “direct dialogue.”
President Trump has issued a final ultimatum to Iran, demanding acceptance of an agreement within two months to either reduce or completely end its nuclear program.
“I do not want them to have nuclear weapons. I want Iran to be a great, prosperous, happy country, but they cannot have nuclear weapons,” Trump expressed while en route to Florida on Friday night.
Trump warned on Wednesday that if a new nuclear agreement cannot be reached soon, military action against Iran may be taken, with Israel being spearheaded into action.
An unnamed Iranian official told Reuters that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has granted full authority to Araqchi to handle negotiations on behalf of Iran.
“This meeting will be limited to the nuclear issue, and its duration will depend on the sincerity and goodwill of the US side,” the official stated.
Iran has explicitly stated that it will not negotiate on its defense capabilities, including its missile program.
Despite the US re-imposing the “maximum pressure” policy, Iran’s nuclear program continues to develop, with uranium enrichment reaching 60%, just a step away from military-grade levels.
Iran has maintained that its nuclear program is solely for civilian purposes, while Western countries believe Iran intends to develop nuclear weapons.
In 2015, the former Obama administration reached the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), known as the Iran nuclear deal, with Iran to restrict its nuclear program in exchange for partial lifting of international sanctions.
During his first term, Trump criticized the nuclear deal as too lenient and incapable of effectively constraining Iran’s military expansion and nuclear weapon development. In 2018, he unilaterally withdrew from the agreement and re-imposed harsh sanctions on Iran.
In February this year, Trump restarted the “maximum pressure” policy on Iran. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated on Thursday that he hopes the talks will lead to peaceful progress and reiterated, “Our position is very clear – Iran can never have nuclear weapons, which is why this meeting is taking place.”
Regional security situations are also a key driver behind the negotiations. Since 2023, the Middle East has been plagued by conflicts and upheavals, including the Gaza war, Lebanon conflicts, Houthi attacks on Red Sea vessels, and the collapse of the Syrian regime. During this time, Iran’s influence in the region has significantly declined. Majority of the forces from the so-called “Axis of Resistance,” including Hamas, Hezbollah, Houthi militants, and Iraqi Shia militias, have suffered major setbacks.
Trump administration officials credited Israel for Iran’s current predicament. Witkoff pointed out that Israel’s strikes have “destroyed” Iran’s defense capabilities.
However, despite the US government publicly aligning with Israel, Israel seemed surprised by Trump’s announcement of talks this week.
Two Israeli sources told CNN that the announcement was apparently not in line with Israel’s expectations. Netanyahu stated that if the nuclear negotiations drag on, Israel may still launch attacks on Iran.
Currently, the Trump administration emphasizes that diplomatic solutions can still be achieved. Witkoff recently mentioned in an interview that while the US is militarily strong, their current advocacy is for peace rather than threats.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Araqchi also warned recently that if the US initiates war, it will only lead to a repetition of past mistakes, dragging the entire region into a costly conflict.
In an op-ed for The Washington Post this week, he stated that waging war on Iran will involve America and the entire Middle East in a high-risk conflict, a political risk that the Trump administration may find difficult to bear.
“We cannot imagine President Trump willing to become another American president ensnared in a disastrous Middle East war,” he wrote.
While achieving tangible results in the short term may be challenging, the signals of restarting dialogue from both sides may be a crucial step towards peace and reducing the risk of conflicts in the Middle East for global stability.