MUSCAT, Oman (AP) — Envoys from Iran and nan United States began negotiations Saturday successful Oman complete Tehran’s quickly advancing atomic program since President Donald Trump returned to nan White House.
No wide statement is instantly likely, but nan stakes of nan negotiations couldn’t beryllium higher for these 2 nations closing successful connected half a period of enmity. Trump many times has threatened to unleash airstrikes targeting Iran’s atomic programme if a woody isn’t reached. Iranian officials progressively pass that they could prosecute a atomic limb pinch their stockpile of uranium enriched to adjacent weapons-grade levels.
Flight-tracking information analyzed by The Associated Press showed a backstage pitchy from Pulkovo Airport successful St. Petersburg, Russia, arrived successful Oman connected Saturday morning. U.S. Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff had conscionable met Russian President Vladimir Putin connected Friday there.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Foreign Ministry released footage of Tehran’s apical diplomat, Abbas Araghchi, gathering pinch Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi. Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency reported that Araghchi provided Iran’s “stance and cardinal points for nan talks to beryllium conveyed to nan U.S. side.”
IRNA’s study suggested nan gathering would beryllium held later Saturday.

via Associated Press
Associated Press journalists saw a convoy believed to beryllium carrying Witkoff leaving nan Omani Foreign Ministry and past velocity disconnected into nan outskirts of Muscat. The convoy went into a compound and a fewer minutes later, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei wrote connected nan societal level X that nan “indirect talks” had begun.
“These talks will beryllium held astatine a location planned by nan Omani host, pinch representatives of nan Islamic Republic of Iran and nan United States seated successful nan halls and sides, conveying their points of position and positions to each different done nan Omani Foreign Minister,” Baghaei wrote.
Araghchi earlier said to Iranian journalists.
“If location is capable will connected some sides, we will determine connected a timetable. But it is still excessively early to talk astir that,” Araghchi said, successful an audio clip published by IRNA. “What is clear now is that nan negotiations are indirect, and successful our position only connected nan atomic issue, and will beryllium conducted pinch nan basal will to scope an statement that is connected an adjacent footing and leads to securing nan nationalist interests of nan Iranian people.”
Trump and Witkoff some person described nan talks arsenic being “direct.”
“I deliberation our position originates pinch dismantlement of your program. That is our position today,” Witkoff told The Wall Street Journal earlier his trip. “That doesn’t mean, by nan way, that astatine nan separator we’re not going to find different ways to find discuss betwixt nan 2 countries.”
He added: “Where our reddish statement will be, location can’t beryllium weaponization of your atomic capability,”
While nan U.S. broadside tin connection sanctions alleviation for Iran’s beleaguered economy, it remains unclear conscionable really overmuch Iran will beryllium consenting to concede. Under nan 2015 atomic deal, Iran could only support a mini stockpile of uranium enriched to 3.67%. Today, Tehran’s stockpile could let it to build aggregate atomic weapons if it truthful chooses and it has immoderate worldly enriched up to 60%, a short, method measurement distant from weapons-grade levels. Judging from negotiations since Trump unilaterally withdrew America from nan woody successful 2018, Iran will apt inquire to support enriching uranium up to astatine slightest 20%.
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One point it won’t do is springiness up its programme entirely. That makes nan connection of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of a alleged Libyan solution — “you spell in, rustle up nan facilities, dismantle each nan equipment, nether American supervision, American execution” — unworkable.
Iranians including Ayatollah Ali Khamenei person held up what yet happened to nan precocious Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi, who was killed pinch his ain weapon by rebels successful nan country’s 2011 Arab Spring uprising, arsenic a informing astir what tin hap erstwhile you spot nan United States. ___
Associated Press writer Amir Vahdat successful Tehran, Iran, contributed to this report.