U.S. officials and Iranian diplomats met in Oman on Saturday to kick off discussions aimed at creating a new nuclear deal. This meeting, reported by Iranian state media, marks the first direct contact between the Trump administration and Iran’s leadership. Both sides described the atmosphere as constructive and based on mutual respect. They plan to meet again next week.
The talks lasted over two and a half hours, with the heads of the delegations briefly speaking in front of the Omani foreign minister as they concluded. The White House confirmed the meeting, highlighting that Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff represented the U.S., while Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi led the Iranian side.
Witkoff conveyed President Trump’s desire to resolve differences through dialogue and diplomacy, emphasizing the complexity of the issues at hand. The two sides agreed to reconvene next Saturday, indicating a willingness to continue the conversation.
These discussions follow Trump’s calls for a new nuclear deal and for Iran to stop its destabilizing activities in the region. Trump warned that failure to reach an agreement could put Iran "in great danger." He reiterated that Iran should not possess nuclear weapons and expressed hope that a deal could help avoid conflict, which he believes both the U.S. and Israel want to sidestep.
State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce noted that the outcome of the talks would reveal Iran’s seriousness about reaching an agreement. She emphasized that this meeting was not part of a larger plan but a chance to assess the Iranians’ intentions.
In a recent op-ed, Araghchi stated that Iran is ready to negotiate with the U.S. He mentioned ongoing communications with the Trump administration, describing them as a genuine effort to clarify positions and foster diplomacy. In response to Trump’s threats of military action if talks fail, Araghchi insisted that any progress requires an understanding that there is no military solution.
He also highlighted Iran’s commitment to not pursue nuclear weapons, despite concerns raised by the International Atomic Energy Agency about Iran’s uranium enrichment levels, which have exceeded the limits set by the previous nuclear deal.
Trump had previously withdrawn the U.S. from the 2015 agreement, criticizing it as one-sided. As the situation unfolds, both nations are at a critical juncture, with the potential for significant diplomatic progress or escalating tensions.