Tehran: Iran said on Friday that it gave diplomacy an “authentic” chance in surprised nuclear talks with the United States in Oman, despite Washington’s growing pressure.
Longtime opponents of Iran and the United States are expected to hold talks on Saturday in Muscat, aimed at reaching a potential nuclear agreement. President Donald Trump announced on Monday a shock that his administration would open up negotiations with Iran.
“We give diplomacy a real chance in good faith and complete vigilance. America should appreciate this decision, which has been taken despite their hostile rhetoric,” said the spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Esmaeil Baqaei, in a post on X.
The Directorate of the talks will be the American special envoy Steve Witkoff and the Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs Abbas Araghchi.
Trump said the talks would be “direct” but Araghchi insisted that they would be “indirect”.
Before the planned meeting, Washington continued its policy of “maximum pressure” sanctions against Iran, more recently targeting its oil network and its nuclear program.
Trump said on Wednesday that military action against Iran was “absolutely” possible if the talks had not produced an agreement.
Ali Shamkhani, Supreme Iranian chief of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Thursday, warned that such threats could cause measures, including the expulsion of Iran’s UN nuclear custody inspectors.
Washington replied by saying that such a decision would be “an escalation and a calculation error on the part of Iran”.
The talks on Saturday intervene after Trump sent a letter last month to Khamenei, urging negotiations and warning a possible military action if Tehran refuses.
Tehran replied weeks later, saying that it was open to indirect negotiations and rejected the possibility of direct talks until the United States maintains its “maximum pressure” policy.
Baqaei said that Iran “will not prejudge or predict” before talks.
“We intend to assess the intentions and severity on the other side on Saturday and to adjust our next movements accordingly,” said Baqaei.
