Negotiations between top Iranian and American diplomats reconvened Sunday to tackle ongoing disputes regarding Tehran's nuclear activities, creating fresh momentum for potential progress while Washington adopts an increasingly firm position ahead of US President Donald Trump's upcoming Middle East visit.
Despite declarations from both Tehran and Washington favoring diplomatic solutions to the decades-old nuclear standoff, Reuters reports the two nations remain fundamentally divided on several non-negotiable conditions that diplomats must navigate to forge a renewed nuclear agreement and prevent possible military confrontation.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and United States Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff will conduct the fourth round of discussions in Muscat through Omani intermediaries, according to Reuters, even as Washington publicly maintains a hardline stance that Iranian officials have suggested could undermine negotiation efforts.
Before departing for the Omani capital, Araqchi informed Iranian state TV that "Iran has well-known positions based on clear principles... We hope to reach a decisive stance in Sunday's meeting." He further noted that Iran's technical team was already positioned in Oman and "will be consulted if necessary," Reuters reported.
Witkoff articulated Washington's position to Breitbart News on Thursday, establishing a clear boundary: "No enrichment. That means dismantlement, no weaponization," which would necessitate completely dismantling Iran's nuclear installations at Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan, as detailed by Reuters.
"If they are not productive on Sunday, then they won't continue and we'll have to take a different route," Witkoff stated regarding the negotiations.
Trump, who has previously threatened military action against Iran should diplomatic channels fail, will embark on a regional tour including Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates from May 13-16. Responding to Witkoff's statements, Araqchi declared Saturday that Iran would not surrender its nuclear rights, including uranium enrichment capabilities.
The Islamic Republic remains open to discussing certain limitations on its nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief, Reuters reported citing Iranian officials, but eliminating its enrichment program or relinquishing its stockpile of enriched uranium represents "Iran's red lines that could not be compromised" during negotiations.
A high-ranking Iranian official with close ties to the negotiating team told Reuters that American demands for "zero enrichment and dismantling Iran's nuclear sites would not help in progressing the negotiations," speaking on condition of anonymity.
"What the US says publicly differs from what is said in negotiations," the official remarked to Reuters, adding that the situation would become clearer following Sunday's talks, originally scheduled for May 3 in Rome but postponed due to what Oman described as "logistical reasons."
Additionally, Iran has categorically rejected discussing its ballistic missile program, while its religious leadership insists on ironclad guarantees that Trump would not abandon a nuclear agreement again, Reuters reported.
Trump, who reinstated a "maximum pressure" campaign against Tehran since February, withdrew from Iran's 2015 nuclear agreement with six world powers during his first term in 2018 and reimposed severe sanctions that have devastated Iran's economy, according to Reuters.
Iran, consistently maintaining its nuclear program serves peaceful purposes, has violated the 2015 agreement's nuclear restrictions since 2019, including "dramatically" accelerating uranium enrichment to levels reaching 60% purity, approaching the approximately 90% threshold considered weapons-grade, according to the UN nuclear watchdog, Reuters reported.
