Media: Iran's supreme leader pushes into permitting nuclear negotiations with US

The hand of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has apparently been forced to enter into negotiations with the United States, indicating a major break in long-held policy for Tehran with a meeting between the two countries scheduled for this weekend in Oman.

This unforeseen development follows from an article by the New York Times, which reports that Iran had been deliberating how to respond to a letter sent by US President Donald Trump earlier in March, requesting nuclear talks. In response, Iran’s president, along with the heads of the judiciary and parliament, has reportedly met with Khamenei last month.

Anonymous sources told the outlet that although Khamenei has publicly and repeatedly forbidden talks with Washington—calling them foolish and idiotic—senior Iranian officials launched an unusually coordinated effort to persuade him to reconsider.

These top officials reportedly urged Khamenei to allow Tehran to engage in negotiations with Washington, even directly if necessary, warning that failure to do so could lead to the collapse of the Islamic Republic's regime.

The sources also indicated that officials warned Khamenei that if Iran refuses to negotiate—or if talks break down—military strikes on its key nuclear facilities at Natanz and Fordow would likely follow.

Ultimately, after hours of discussion, Khamenei seemingly relented and granted his permission for talks, first indirect, through an intermediary, and then, if things proceeded well, for direct talks between US and Iranian negotiators, the two officials told the NYT.

According to the article, Iran and the United States are to hold the first round of talks in Oman on April 12. If this progresses to face-to-face meetings, it would be a sign of a major concession by Iran, which has insisted it does not want to meet Americans directly. Iran still maintains the negotiations will be indirect — meaning each side will sit in separate rooms and Omani diplomats will carry messages back and forth — while the United States has said the two sides plan to meet directly.

While this is a positive development, Trump only recently sounded his previous warning, vowing to take military action against Iran “if necessary” if Tehran failed to negotiate.

 By Nazrin Sadigova