Muscat: Iran and the United States began high-stakes negotiations in Oman on Friday aimed at resolving long-standing disputes over Tehran’s nuclear programme, but sharp disagreements over the scope of the talks threaten to derail diplomacy and raise the risk of renewed conflict in the Middle East.
While both sides have signalled willingness to revive diplomacy, Washington has pushed to expand the agenda beyond Iran’s nuclear activities. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said earlier this week that the talks should also address Iran’s ballistic missile programme, support for armed groups in the region, and human rights concerns.
Iran, however, has made clear that discussions in Muscat should focus exclusively on the nuclear issue. Tehran has said that Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi will engage with US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff solely on nuclear-related matters. US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, who previously played a role in Gaza ceasefire mediation, is also expected to participate.
“Iran enters diplomacy with open eyes and a steady memory of the past year. We engage in good faith and stand firm on our rights. Commitments need to be honoured,” Araqchi said in a post on X on Friday.
Despite the talks, Iran’s leadership remains wary that the United States could still resort to military action. Tensions have been high since June, when the US struck Iranian nuclear targets during the final stages of a 12-day Israeli bombing campaign, after which Tehran said its uranium enrichment activities were halted.
The situation has been further strained by a significant US naval buildup near Iran, described by Trump as a massive “armada,” following a bloody crackdown on nationwide protests in Iran last month.
President Trump has warned that “bad things” could happen if negotiations fail, escalating pressure on Tehran. Echoing that stance, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Thursday that the president had “many options at his disposal, aside from diplomacy,” as commander-in-chief of the world’s most powerful military.
Iran has warned that it would respond forcefully to any military strike and cautioned neighboring Gulf Arab states hosting US military bases that they could be targeted if involved in an attack. Tehran possesses one of the largest ballistic missile stockpiles in the Middle East.
Missile Programme Remains a Red Line
Iran has firmly ruled out any negotiations on its missile capabilities, calling them a non-negotiable part of its national defence. Iranian state television said hours before the talks that the Khorramshahr-4, one of Iran’s most advanced long-range ballistic missiles, had been deployed at an underground Revolutionary Guards missile facility.
However, Iranian officials have indicated potential flexibility on nuclear issues. Tehran is reportedly willing to consider handing over 400 kilograms of highly enriched uranium and even accepting zero enrichment under a consortium-based arrangement, according to officials familiar with the talks.
Iran insists its right to uranium enrichment is non-negotiable and has again demanded the lifting of US sanctions, reimposed in 2018 after Trump withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal.
The United States, its European allies, and Israel accuse Iran of using its nuclear programme as a cover to develop nuclear weapons capability. Tehran has consistently denied the allegation, maintaining that its nuclear programme is strictly for peaceful purposes.