Tehran, Iran – Delegates from the US and Iran are set to start nuclear negotiations within the Omani capital, Muscat, as US President Donald Trump once more warned Tehran of army motion if a deal just isn’t reached.
“I would like them to not have a nuclear weapon. I would like Iran to be a beautiful, nice, glad nation, however they’ll’t have a nuclear weapon,” Trump informed reporters on board Air Power One on his option to Florida on Friday night time.
White Home press secretary Karoline Leavitt additionally reiterated a chorus favoured by the Trump administration, saying “there might be all hell to pay” if the president’s calls for will not be met.
“We’ve been very clear what Iran isn’t going to have a nuclear weapon, and I feel that’s what led to this assembly,” US Secretary of State Marco Rubio mentioned on Thursday.
US Particular Envoy Steve Witkoff is heading the US delegation, whereas the Iranians are led by Overseas Minister Abbas Araghchi, who arrived in Oman on Saturday morning. He’s accompanied by his deputy for political affairs Majid Takht-Ravanchi, deputy for worldwide affairs Kazem Gharibabadi, and Ministry for Overseas Affairs spokesman Esmail Baghaei.
After assembly with the Omani Overseas Minister Minister Badr bin Hamad al-Busaidi in Muscat, Araghchi mentioned Iran is seeking to attain a “truthful and dignified settlement” with the US.
“If there may be sufficient will, we’ll decide in regards to the timetable of the negotiations,” he mentioned.
Whereas Trump and his officers have insisted the talks might be “direct” and “in the identical room”, Tehran has insisted the negotiations might be oblique.
Iran’s state tv reported that Araghchi won’t be taking any photograph alternatives with Trump’s envoy Witkoff in the course of the talks.
Oman’s Overseas Minister Badr Al Busaidi will act as chief mediator within the talks.
“Observers warning to not count on an excessive amount of from this primary assembly in Oman,” mentioned James Bays, Al Jazeera’s diplomatic editor. “The essential factor is that the talks don’t fully collapse and {that a} course of will be began.”
‘Actual and truthful’ deal
Iran and its supreme chief, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, have emphasised that the US can’t be trusted and Iran gained’t sit down with US officers instantly as a result of Trump unilaterally withdrew from Iran’s 2015 nuclear cope with world powers in 2018 throughout his first time period as president.
Forward of the talks, a senior aide to Supreme Chief Khamenei mentioned that Tehran is in search of a “actual and truthful” settlement with Washington.
“Removed from placing up a present and merely speaking in entrance of the cameras, Tehran is in search of an actual and truthful settlement, essential and implementable proposals are prepared,” Ali Shamkhani posted on X on Friday.
The 2015 accord put stringent limits on Iran’s enrichment of uranium, stockpiles of nuclear materials, and analysis and growth in trade for lifting United Nations sanctions.
The US had imposed its harshest sanctions but within the aftermath of reneging on the deal in 2018. These sanctions have been solely exacerbated by Trump’s successor Joe Biden, dealing heavy blows to the financial system and 90 million Iranians.
Iran’s forex continues to hover round all-time low charges because of exterior stress and native mismanagement, nevertheless it briefly regained some misplaced floor final week after information of the Iran-US talks in Oman got here out, exhibiting market eagerness for a deal.
The European powers celebration to the 2015 accord, specifically France, United Kingdom and Germany, have additionally been imposing sanctions on Iran, each as a result of its nuclear advances within the aftermath of Trump’s withdrawal and due to tensions over the Russia-Ukraine battle.
The European Union on Friday mentioned that there was “no various to diplomacy” whereas Germany urged each side to achieve a “diplomatic answer”.
China and Russia, the opposite signatories of the deal, have opposed Western efforts to stress Iran by passing censure resolutions on the Worldwide Atomic Vitality Company (IAEA). They’ve solid nearer political and army ties with Tehran.
Iran has warned it can abandon the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and expel all remaining IAEA nuclear inspectors if the Western powers make good on their threats.
Trump and his officers, together with high Israeli leaders, have repeatedly warned Iran might be extensively bombed if it fails to conform to their calls for over its nuclear programme.
They’ve urged important nuclear amenities, refineries and civilian infrastructure like energy vegetation might be attacked in case negotiations fail.
On Thursday, Washington imposed further sanctions on Iran, concentrating on its oil community and nuclear programme.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has mentioned with Trump the so-called “Libyan mannequin” to cope with Iran’s nuclear programme, that means he’s in search of a full dismantlement and give up of all nuclear capabilities.
However Tehran has remained defiant, arguing nuclear data and growth gained over many years can’t be bombed or destroyed.
It has maintained that its nuclear programme is strictly peaceable and for civilian use, like for energy technology and manufacturing of radiopharmaceuticals, however senior officers have signalled the Iranian institution may go for a bomb if going through an “existential menace”.
Iran’s military and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) have additionally been holding large-scale workout routines and testing a wide range of defensive and offensive weapons in an try to sign energy and readiness for a protracted battle if needed.
