Talks between the United States and Iran, hosted by the Sultanate of Oman, began on Friday following days of military tension and conflicting reports regarding the timing and location of the meetings. The discussions take place amid disagreements over negotiation issues and growing concerns over a “regional war” in the Middle East.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Muscat on Thursday evening to participate in the talks with the American delegation. He is accompanied by Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Majid Takht-Ravanchi, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei, and Deputy Foreign Minister for Economic Affairs Hamid Ghanbari. The American side is represented by U.S. Presidential Special Envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, according to a White House statement.
While the Iranian side has not confirmed the possibility of face-to-face talks between officials from the two countries in Muscat, the New York Times quoted three senior Iranian officials stating that Araghchi and his team are expected to hold a direct meeting with Witkoff and Kushner. Omani Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad Al-Busaidi is also expected to attend as a representative of the host nation.
Friday’s meeting marks the first direct talks between Tehran and Washington since the war last June with Israel, which concluded with U.S. strikes on three major nuclear sites in Iran.
Before the start of negotiations on Friday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi indicated that Iran is approaching the diplomatic path in “good faith” but remains “steadfast in its rights.” He emphasized that “mutual respect and common interests are not just slogans, but an indispensable necessity.”
Writing on the “X” platform, Araghchi stated that Iran enters any diplomatic process with “eyes wide open” and a “firm memory of what happened last year,” in reference to the war last June.
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