Media: Iran sees indirect talks with US as diplomatic test Signals openness to direct negotiations

Iran has confirmed it will participate in indirect nuclear talks with the United States on April 12 in Oman, describing the talks as both an opportunity and a test for American diplomacy.

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced the development on social media, stressing that intermediaries would conduct the discussions and that the “ball is in America’s court,” Caliber.Az reports via The New York Times.

The indirect format follows orders from Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who had previously barred direct negotiations with U.S. officials after US President Donald Trump withdrew from the 2015 nuclear agreement. However, three Iranian officials have told local media that Khamenei may be softening his stance. If the initial talks are respectful and yield progress, direct talks could be considered.

Iranian officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, framed the potential talks as a strategic calculation. “Iran’s offer for indirect negotiations was a generous and wise offer,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmeil Bagheri told Iranian outlets, suggesting Tehran is aiming to control the narrative ahead of any major diplomatic shifts.

The latest overture from Tehran comes amid growing domestic pressure and military vulnerabilities. Iran’s air defences and missile facilities have suffered serious damage from recent Israeli strikes, and its ability to replenish rocket fuel has been temporarily constrained. Meanwhile, the country’s nuclear infrastructure — long a sticking point in negotiations — remains a red line. Tehran is unlikely to fully dismantle its programme, which has positioned it within weeks of producing weapons-grade material.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, currently visiting the U.S., reiterated his call for a “Libya model” of complete dismantlement — a demand Iran is expected to resist. Netanyahu appeared unusually subdued during a joint appearance with Trump, failing to secure the removal of tariffs on Israeli exports or additional U.S. military support.

Despite the tensions, Tehran has cautiously welcomed Trump’s recent remarks favouring diplomacy over conflict. “Trump’s comments were a strong signal to both Israel and Iran,” said Mehdi Rahmati, a conservative political analyst in Tehran. “He is putting the brakes on Israel’s military plans and signalling to us that he wants a diplomatic solution.”

Araghchi is expected to lead the Iranian delegation, with Steven Witkoff, Trump’s Middle East envoy, representing the U.S. The decision to attend the talks at all appears to reflect Iran’s recognition of its weakened strategic position and growing international isolation.

President Joe Biden, whose administration concluded its term with a warning about Iran’s nuclear progress, remains a relevant figure in the background of these developments. U.S. intelligence findings gathered during his final months in office indicated that Iranian scientists were exploring accelerated — albeit less sophisticated — paths to a nuclear weapon. These revelations have added pressure on the Trump administration to secure swift and substantive results in the renewed diplomatic effort.

Still, analysts warn that Iran is unlikely to offer the level of nuclear rollback demanded by U.S. national security adviser Michael Waltz, including the dismantlement of deeply embedded sites like Natanz and Fordow. The coming days could determine whether diplomacy gains momentum — or if both sides retreat to hardened positions.

By Aghakazim Guliyev