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Iran says it will give US talks about nuclear plans a 'genuine chance'
Iran has expressed its willingness to give high-level nuclear talks with the United States a "genuine chance" after President Donald Trump's threat of bombing if negotiations fail. The announcement of these talks came unexpectedly on Monday, with the two countries set to engage in discussions in Oman, a Gulf state that has previously acted as a mediator between the West and Iran.
Since Trump's return to the White House in January, his administration has taken a more assertive stance toward Iran, especially following the U.S.'s withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal during his first term. This agreement, which aimed to limit Iran’s nuclear activities, was strongly opposed by Israel, which views Iran's nuclear program as a significant threat.
In the midst of Israel's military actions, including airstrikes on Iran and its allies in the region, the Iranian foreign ministry stressed that the U.S. should appreciate Iran's decision to engage in dialogue despite the "confrontational hoopla" from Washington. The ministry expressed its intention to assess the sincerity of the U.S. in these talks.
Iran had previously rejected direct negotiations but agreed to indirect talks under the mediation of Oman. Ali Shamkhani, an advisor to Iran’s Supreme Leader, said Iran had prepared "important and practical" proposals for a fair agreement. He emphasized that if the U.S. came with genuine intentions, the path to a deal would be straightforward.
This shift in Iran's position comes after the U.S. withdrew from the nuclear deal, allowing Tehran to accumulate enriched uranium, bringing it closer to developing nuclear bomb fuel. The U.S. insists Iran’s nuclear program exceeds peaceful purposes and could potentially lead to nuclear weapon development.
While there has been confusion over whether the talks will be direct or indirect, Iran maintains that they will be mediated by Oman, with both nations sending their foreign ministers and representatives. The last direct negotiations between the two countries occurred during Obama’s presidency.
