US and Iran hold indirect talks in Oman as fears of conflict continue
MUSCAT — Senior US and Iranian officials held two rounds of indirect talks in Oman on Friday amid fears of a military confrontation between the two countries.
Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi held two rounds of separate talks with Iranian and US officials as part of indirect negotiations in Muscat between Tehran and Washington to defuse ongoing tension, Iranian media said..
According to the US officials, President Donald Trump's Mideast special envoy Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law and assistant, are representing the United States.
Iran is represented by a delegation headed by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. He is accompanied by Majid Takht-Ravanchi, Deputy for Political Affairs; Esmaeil Baghaei, Foreign Ministry spokesperson; Hamid Ghanbari, Deputy for Economic Affairs; and other Iranian diplomats.
Iran’s state news agency IRNA said Araghchi presented his country's views to his Omani counterpart during the second round of talks.
Earlier, IRNA said that during the first round of talks with Al Busaidi, Araghchi presented his country's proposed plan to the Omani side, which then shared it with Witkoff.
"In the second round of negotiations, the American delegation’s response will be conveyed to the Iranian side," it stated, adding that the US delegation also shared its viewpoints with the Omani mediators during the first round of consultations.
There was a brief pause in the talks as both sides consulted with their respective capital, the Iranian media stated.
The negotiations come amid rising tensions between Washington and Tehran, fueled by an American military buildup in the Gulf and repeated threats of military action by Trump.
Uncertainty over the location and scope had threatened to derail the talks, which are part of a diplomatic effort by regional mediators to de-escalate tensions.
Both countries remain far apart in their positions. The hope is that, if successful, the discussions could lead to a framework for negotiations.
The US, which is demanding Iran freezes its nuclear program and discards its stockpile of enriched uranium, had said the talks should also involve Iran's ballistic missiles, the country's support for regional armed groups and its treatment of its citizens.
Iran, however, has said the discussions will be limited to its nuclear program, and it is unclear if these differences have been resolved.
In recent weeks, PresidentTrump has threatened to bomb Iran if it does not reach a deal. The US has sent thousands of troops and what Trump has described as an "armada" to the region, including an aircraft carrier along with other warships as well as fighter jets.
Iran has vowed to respond to an attack with force, threatening to strike American military assets in the Middle East and Israel.
The talks, initially planned to be held in Istanbul, are an effort led by Egypt, Turkey and Qatar to defuse tensions.
Iran, however, asked at the last minute for the location of the meeting to be changed to Oman, which hosted discussions last year, and for it to be limited to Iranian and American officials. — Agencies
