Daijiworld Media Network - Muscat

Muscat, Apr 26: The United States and Iran commenced crucial negotiations on Saturday in Oman, focusing on Tehran’s rapidly advancing nuclear program, with discussions likely to center around the enrichment of uranium. The talks, held in Muscat, are seen as a pivotal step toward curbing Iran’s nuclear ambitions in exchange for the lifting of some US-imposed economic sanctions.

Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Oman on Friday and met with Omani foreign minister Badr al-Busaidi, who has mediated previous rounds of talks between the two countries. US Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff, who had been in Moscow, arrived in Oman on Saturday. While specific details of the talks were not disclosed, they are expected to continue in the coming hours.

These negotiations come after years of tensions, particularly since the US withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal under President Donald Trump. Iran has since accelerated its uranium enrichment, inching closer to weapons-grade levels. US President Trump has repeatedly threatened military action against Iran if a deal isn’t reached.

The goal of the negotiations is to limit Iran's nuclear programme in exchange for economic relief. However, Iran remains firm that maintaining its enrichment capability is a crucial aspect of any deal. The technical teams from both sides are expected to discuss the specifics of the deal, with Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-e Ravanchi and US official Michael Anton leading their respective teams.

Despite the ongoing challenges, there remains hope on the Iranian side for a successful outcome, with many seeing the negotiations as an opportunity to ease economic pressures and ensure national security. "It’s OK to negotiate and reach a deal," said Tehran resident Farzin Keivan. "We shouldn’t give everything, but we hope for progress."