US & Iran Begin Nuclear Talks Days After Donald Trump Threatened Bombing
In a significant development, Iran and the United States have begun indirect talks in Oman, with Iran confirming the development. This comes just days after US President Donald Trump threatened to bomb Iran if it didn’t agree to a deal on its nuclear program. The talks are being facilitated by Oman, a Gulf Arab state known for its diplomatic efforts to resolve regional conflicts.
According to reports, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, are representing both sides in the talks. However, they are being kept in separate rooms and will exchange messages via an Omani minister. This unusual format is aimed at reducing tensions and avoiding direct confrontation between the two sides.
The talks are believed to focus on Iran’s nuclear program, which has been a major point of contention between the two countries. The US has long accused Iran of pursuing nuclear weapons, while Iran has maintained that its program is peaceful and designed solely for energy production and medical research.
The development comes after a heated exchange between Trump and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani last week. Trump threatened to bomb Iran if it didn’t agree to a deal on its nuclear program, while Rouhani responded by warning that any attack would have “grave consequences” for the region.
The tensions between the two countries have been escalating in recent months, with the US imposing harsh economic sanctions on Iran and Iran responding by stepping up its missile tests. The situation has also been complicated by the presence of US troops in the region, which Iran has accused of being a threat to its national security.
The indirect talks being held in Oman are seen as a major breakthrough in the ongoing crisis. Oman has a history of playing a key role in mediating conflicts in the region, and its efforts have been instrumental in resolving several disputes between Arab states.
The talks are also being facilitated by the European Union, which has been working to find a diplomatic solution to the crisis. The EU has been critical of the US sanctions on Iran, which it believes are causing widespread suffering among ordinary Iranians. The EU has also been trying to persuade Iran to return to compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal, which the US withdrew from in 2018.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry confirmed the start of the talks in a statement, saying that Araghchi had arrived in Oman for the negotiations. The ministry also expressed hope that the talks would lead to a “constructive and result-oriented” outcome.
The US State Department has also confirmed the talks, saying that Witkoff had arrived in Oman to represent the US in the negotiations. A statement from the department said that the US was committed to finding a diplomatic solution to the crisis and was engaged in talks with Iran to achieve that goal.
The start of the talks is seen as a major breakthrough in the ongoing crisis, and it remains to be seen whether they will be successful in resolving the issue. However, the fact that the two sides have agreed to talk is a significant step forward, and it could potentially pave the way for a more lasting resolution to the crisis.
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