Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht Ravanchi said in an interview that “the ball is in America’s court to prove that it seeks an agreement,” and while confirming that another round of talks will take place and describing the discussions as positive, he added: “If we feel it is an existential threat, we will respond accordingly.”
Iran’s National Security Council Secretary Ali Larijani is set to meet Omani officials on Tuesday following US-Iran talks that ended without major breakthroughs. Meanwhile, Mohammad Eslami, head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, said Tehran might be willing to dilute its stockpile of highly enriched uranium in return for the full removal of sanctions.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reiterated that his country would under no circumstances agree to stop uranium enrichment, stressing that talks with the US are focused solely on the nuclear issue. “Our atomic bomb is the ability to say no,” he said.
There is a significant gap between statements in Iran claiming that only the nuclear issue is on the table in talks with the Americans. Diplomatic sources familiar with the discussions who say that talk of a “positive atmosphere” is merely diplomatic wording for the absence of any real agreements.
Behind the impression of firm American resolve, it is becoming clear that in the secret talks held in Oman, Iran initially managed to bend the agenda to its advantage. What concessions are being weighed behind the scenes, who actually defused the crisis, and is the regime heading toward a dangerous internal confrontation?
According to the New York Times, ballistic missiles and support for terrorist organizations will also be on the table in Oman. Tehran presented its own demand, fearing Trump would stage a “show.”
President Donald Trump said in an interview with NBC that talks between Washington and Tehran are set to take place in Oman on Friday, despite earlier reports that the talks had collapsed.
Several allies pushed to keep the talks going after the US demanded discussions on Iran’s ballistic missile program, a demand Tehran rejected.
The talks scheduled for Friday were postponed, after Tehran firmly rejected a US demand to discuss Iran’s ballistic missile program.
A senior American diplomatic source says Washington is demanding guarantees from Tehran on uranium enrichment, the transfer of existing stockpiles and Iran’s ballistic missile program. According to the source, without agreements on these issues, no meeting between the sides will take place.
