Iran and the United States have made significant advancements in discussions held in Switzerland on Thursday, according to mediators. These talks are aimed at preventing a potential conflict between the two longstanding adversaries. Both parties have agreed to continue discussions next week in Austria.
The negotiations, facilitated by Oman, come in the wake of repeated threats from former US President Donald Trump to take military action against Iran. Last week, Trump gave Tehran a 15-day ultimatum to reach a resolution.
While Iran has emphasized that the talks should focus solely on its nuclear program, the US is pushing for limitations on Iran’s missile program and its support for militant groups in the region.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that the talks have made substantial progress, particularly in the nuclear and sanctions domains. He mentioned that the next round of discussions could happen in less than a week, with technical dialogues scheduled to commence at the UN’s nuclear agency in Vienna on Monday.
Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi confirmed that technical discussions are set to take place in Vienna next week. He expressed satisfaction with the progress made in the negotiations between the US and Iran.
The negotiations occurred amid the US’s heightened military presence in the Middle East, marked by its largest buildup in decades. The US and Iranian delegations met at the Omani ambassador’s residence under tight security before pausing to consult with their respective capitals.
Araghchi described the latest talks as the most intense thus far, indicating a mutual agreement to delve into crucial aspects of any potential deal, including the termination of sanctions and nuclear-related actions.
UN nuclear chief Rafael Grossi also participated in the negotiations, as reported by a source close to the discussions.
In a separate development, it was reported that Trump’s negotiating team would demand Iran to dismantle its key nuclear facilities and transfer all remaining enriched uranium to the US. President of Iran, Masoud Pezeshkian, asserted that Iran has no intention of pursuing nuclear weapons.
As part of the escalating US military buildup, the USS Gerald R. Ford, the world’s largest aircraft carrier, deployed to the Mediterranean this week, departed a naval base in Crete on Thursday.
Trump, in his recent State of the Union address, accused Iran of harboring “sinister nuclear ambitions”, a claim that has been consistently refuted by Tehran. He also raised concerns about Iran’s missile capabilities, alleging a threat to Europe and US bases abroad, which Iran dismissed as baseless allegations.
The US and Iran have been engaged in talks in Oman and Geneva recently, with a previous round of negotiations disrupted by unexpected Israeli strikes on Iran last June, leading to a brief conflict that involved US airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.
In January, Iran witnessed widespread protests prompting a severe crackdown, challenging the stability of the Islamic republic. Subsequent protests around Iranian universities have reignited concerns about the domestic situation.
Opinions among Tehran residents are divided on the potential consequences of renewed conflict, with some fearing increased suffering and uncertainty, while others believe it could bring clarity to their situation.
