US Officials Lead Nuclear Talks with Iran in Oman Amid Tensions
In a bid to ease escalating tensions with Iran, American officials met in Oman on Friday to lead talks on the country's nuclear program. The high-stakes negotiations come days after a US fighter pilot shot down an Iranian drone in an "aggressive" approach towards a Navy aircraft carrier.
The talks are being led by special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump's son-in-law. While Kushner has been critical of the Iranian regime in the past, the meeting focuses primarily on negotiations regarding Iran's nuclear program. This shift in emphasis is seen as an attempt to steer clear of other regional issues that have sparked tensions between the two nations.
The US decision to move the talks from Turkey to Oman was reportedly made at the request of Iranian delegates. The venue change appears aimed at keeping the focus on the nuclear program, rather than discussing Iran's ballistic missile stockpile or proxy conflicts in the region.
A senior Middle East diplomat has revealed that after agreeing to hold the talks in Oman, Iran agreed to discuss topics beyond its nuclear program. However, with tensions between Washington and Tehran running high, it remains uncertain whether a deal will be reached.
The animosity between the two countries intensified amid widespread protests against Iran's economic crisis and authoritarian leadership. The US government issued a security alert advising Americans to leave Iran immediately, while the British embassy in Tehran has been temporarily closed since March.
Human Rights Activists News Agency reported that over 2,400 protesters in Iran died during the demonstrations, including a dozen children, with more than 18,000 people arrested. While these figures have not been verified, they underscore the dire situation facing Iranian citizens under the regime.
The negotiations come as President Trump has publicly threatened Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, and vice versa. The US deployment of the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier group to the Arabian Sea has also heightened tensions in the region.
In a bid to ease escalating tensions with Iran, American officials met in Oman on Friday to lead talks on the country's nuclear program. The high-stakes negotiations come days after a US fighter pilot shot down an Iranian drone in an "aggressive" approach towards a Navy aircraft carrier.
The talks are being led by special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump's son-in-law. While Kushner has been critical of the Iranian regime in the past, the meeting focuses primarily on negotiations regarding Iran's nuclear program. This shift in emphasis is seen as an attempt to steer clear of other regional issues that have sparked tensions between the two nations.
The US decision to move the talks from Turkey to Oman was reportedly made at the request of Iranian delegates. The venue change appears aimed at keeping the focus on the nuclear program, rather than discussing Iran's ballistic missile stockpile or proxy conflicts in the region.
A senior Middle East diplomat has revealed that after agreeing to hold the talks in Oman, Iran agreed to discuss topics beyond its nuclear program. However, with tensions between Washington and Tehran running high, it remains uncertain whether a deal will be reached.
The animosity between the two countries intensified amid widespread protests against Iran's economic crisis and authoritarian leadership. The US government issued a security alert advising Americans to leave Iran immediately, while the British embassy in Tehran has been temporarily closed since March.
Human Rights Activists News Agency reported that over 2,400 protesters in Iran died during the demonstrations, including a dozen children, with more than 18,000 people arrested. While these figures have not been verified, they underscore the dire situation facing Iranian citizens under the regime.
The negotiations come as President Trump has publicly threatened Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, and vice versa. The US deployment of the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier group to the Arabian Sea has also heightened tensions in the region.