Media: New round of US-Iran nuclear talks kicks off in Oman

A new round of negotiations between Washington and Tehran aimed at resolving the crisis surrounding Iran's nuclear program has begun in the capital of Oman, Muscat, Caliber.Az reports, citing Iranian media outlet ISNA.

The two sides are aiming to overcome divisions that could scupper the tentative negotiations.

The talks, held indirectly and mediated by the Omani Foreign Minister, are aimed at addressing Tehran’s nuclear program and lifting sanctions.

That they are happening at all is something of a breakthrough - the talks are the highest-level in years - but signs of firm progress are slim.

Both countries have expressed a willingness to resolve their disputes through diplomacy. A central issue remains Iran’s demand to continue enriching uranium for its nuclear program, which is insists is peaceful, something the US calls a “red line.”

US President Donald Trump, who is headed to the Middle East next week, has threatened that the US would resort to military strikes against Iranian nuclear sites, with Israel’s help, should Tehran fail to reach a deal with its interlocutors.

Iranian state media confirmed that the talks, again hosted by mediator Oman, are underway, although there has been no comment from the US.

The Iranian delegation is led by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, while the American - Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff.

Iranian officials told CNN on May 10 that recent talks with the US were “not genuine” from the American side. The Iranian source also reiterated that allowing uranium enrichment on Iranian soil is Iran’s “definite red line” in the negotiations.

Witkoff, who has been heading the American side, warned that if this session of talks were not productive, “then they won’t continue and we’ll have to take a different route.”

Speaking to Breitbart, Witkoff outlined the US’s expectations for the talks, including on the country’s uranium enrichment program. “An enrichment program can never exist in the state of Iran ever again. That’s our red line. No enrichment,” he said.

Iran has said it will not surrender its capability to enrich uranium. The country has long insisted it does not want a nuclear weapon and that its program is for energy purposes.

The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grossi, warned last month that Iran was “not far” from possessing a nuclear bomb.

“It’s like a puzzle. They have the pieces, and one day they could eventually put them together,” Grossi told French newspaper Le Monde.

The U.S. and Iran have held three rounds of talks mediated by Oman. The first round took place on April 12 in Muscat, the second on April 19 in Rome, and the third on April 26 again in Muscat. The Iranian delegation is headed by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, while the U.S. delegation is led by President Trump’s Special Envoy, Steve Wittkoff.

An official spokesperson for Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Esmail Baghaei, previously stated that the fourth round of high-level negotiations will be held alongside technical consultations, during which the delegations of both countries will discuss the details of a potential agreement. The third round of talks was held in a similar format.

By Khagan Isayev