Middle East crisis Nuclear deal with Iran

Talks underway – US opens up for compromise

Iran and the US have begun talks in Oman to try to reach a new nuclear energy agreement. It is the first time in several years that the countries have held talks at such a high level.

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is Iran's highest representative in Oman, while the US delegation is led by Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, who met with Russian President Vladimir Putin as recently as yesterday.

In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Witkoff says that the US has an absolute demand that Iran's nuclear energy program be dismantled.

- But that does not mean that we cannot find other ways to compromise between the countries.

Talks over – Iran and US sat in separate rooms

The US wanted to meet face to face, but instead there were "indirect talks" with Iran in the Omani capital of Muscat, AFP reports.

Donald Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff and his delegation sat in one room and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and his delegation sat in another, Iran announced.

Oman's foreign minister then walked between the rooms and exchanged messages.

- So, this is just the beginning. So it is natural, in this situation, that both sides state their basic positions through Oman's mediator, Iranian spokesman Esmail Baghaei told state television while the talks were underway.

After the meeting ended, Iran then announced that the mediators of both sides met and spoke to each other "for a few minutes," writes AFP.

Sources: Ayatollah turned to save Iranian regime

Both the United States and Iran have now described today's talks in Oman as "constructive" and both sides have agreed to meet again next Saturday, several media outlets report. The talks were positive and a step forward towards reaching a deal that benefits both sides, the White House said, according to Reuters.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei has previously banned talks with the United States. But in a conversation with officials, he was told that military strikes on the country's nuclear facilities would be inevitable if Iran refused negotiations, informed sources told the New York Times.

Iran would be forced to respond and the regime could then fall into internal turmoil due to the economic crisis that would follow, the officials continued. After an hour of persuasion, Khamenei is said to have given in and agreed to talks.

- Khamenei's turn shows how his long-standing core value is that "preserving the regime is the most necessary of all necessary things," former Iranian diplomat Hossein Mousavian told the newspaper.