Will Talks Between Iran and the U.S. Remain in Oman?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Tehran, Feb 11 (NationPress) Iran's Foreign Ministry has dismissed claims that indirect discussions between Tehran and Washington would occur outside of Oman, asserting that Muscat has always been the designated location, as reported by the state-run IRNA news agency.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei informed reporters that Iran is open to diplomatic initiatives from regional and neighboring nations that have expressed willingness to help mitigate tensions and promote dialogue, according to Xinhua news agency.
Baqaei highlighted that Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi has been in communication with counterparts in regional countries as well as other stakeholders concerned with regional peace and security. He noted that these discussions were conducted "at the highest levels," including with Iran's president and foreign minister, and aimed at lowering tensions and facilitating a diplomatic process.
However, Baqaei emphasized that there had never been any intention to conduct the talks anywhere besides Oman.
In a separate development, Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, arrived in Muscat on Tuesday, where he met with Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi, as reported by Oman's official news agency. The two addressed regional and international matters, underscoring the significance of dialogue and cooperation in bolstering regional security and stability.
Additionally, Larijani issued a caution on social media platform X in advance of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's anticipated meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington on Wednesday, where Iran is expected to be a key topic. Larijani warned that the United States should not allow Netanyahu to dictate the framework of nuclear negotiations through mere posturing.
Israel has contended that Iran "cannot be trusted" regarding the nuclear issue and has threatened unilateral actions if U.S.-Iran negotiations fail to meet its expectations. Before heading to Washington, Netanyahu stated that Iran would be the "first and foremost" item on the agenda in his discussion with Trump.