Iran and U.S. began high-stakes negotiations on Friday aimed at bridging sharp differences over Tehran’s nuclear programme. Oman is mediating between the two sides, but disagreements over expanding the scope of talks risk derailing diplomacy and potentially sparking another Middle East conflict.
Agenda Dispute Threatens Progress
While both sides have signaled readiness to revive diplomacy over Tehran’s long-running nuclear row with the West, Washington wants to expand the talks to also cover Iran’s ballistic missiles, support for armed groups around the region and “treatment of their own people”, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Wednesday.
Iran has said it wants Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff to discuss only the nuclear issue in Muscat. U.S. President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, who helped mediate in Gaza ceasefire talks, is also due to take part in the discussions.
An Iranian official told Reuters the talks have not officially started, although Iran’s demands have been conveyed to the United States via Oman. The official said indirect negotiations “possibly” would begin after a meeting between Witkoff and Oman’s foreign minister. Previous Iran‑U.S. talks adopted a shuttle diplomacy approach.
Military Buildup and Escalation Risks
Tehran’s clerical leadership remains deeply worried that Trump may still carry out his threats to strike Iran after a military buildup by the U.S. Navy near Iran.
In June, the U.S. struck Iranian nuclear targets, joining in the final stages of a 12-day Israeli bombing campaign. Tehran has since said its uranium enrichment work has stopped.
The U.S. naval buildup, which Trump has called a massive “armada”, has followed a bloody government crackdown on nationwide protests in Iran last month, heightening tensions between Washington and Tehran.
Trump has warned that “bad things” would probably happen if a deal could not be reached, ratcheting up pressure on the Islamic Republic in a standoff that has led to mutual threats of air strikes.
Iran has vowed a harsh response to any military strike and has cautioned neighbouring Gulf Arab countries hosting U.S. bases in the oil-rich region that they could be in the firing line if they were involved in an attack. Iran has one of the Middle East’s biggest stockpiles of ballistic missiles.
(With inputs from Reuters)
