Iranian Overseas Minister Abbas Araghchi says he hopes talks with the USA will resume quickly, whereas US President Donald Trump pledged one other spherical of negotiations subsequent week following mediated discussions in Oman.
Araghchi advised Al Jazeera on Saturday that Iran’s missile programme was “by no means negotiable” in Friday’s talks, and warned Tehran would goal US army bases within the Center East if the US assaults Iranian territory.
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He added that regardless of the negotiations in Muscat being oblique, “a chance arose to shake arms with the American delegation”. The talks have been “a very good begin“, however he insisted “there’s a lengthy strategy to go to construct belief”.
Iranians within the capital, Tehran, nevertheless, appeared much less constructive.
“In my view, like earlier instances, negotiations will finish with out outcomes as a result of each side are sticking to their very own positions and never prepared to again down,” a lady who requested to stay nameless advised Al Jazeera.
Abdullah al-Shayji, a US overseas coverage knowledgeable at Kuwait College, stated he hopes for a brand new deal between the 2 foes however shouldn’t be feeling optimistic.
“There’s a sturdy place” from the US and “being provoked by” Israel to “clamp down on the Iranians as a result of they really feel that Iran is at its weakest level” in order that it will likely be simple to extract concessions from it, particularly after final month’s antigovernment demonstrations, al-Shayji stated from the Al Jazeera Discussion board in Qatar’s capital Doha.
‘Inalienable proper’
Regardless of calling the talks “superb” on Friday, Trump signed an govt order efficient from Saturday that known as for the “imposition of tariffs” on international locations nonetheless doing enterprise with Iran.
The US additionally introduced new sanctions towards quite a few transport entities and vessels geared toward curbing Iran’s oil exports.
Multiple-quarter of Iran’s commerce is with China, together with $18bn in imports and $14.5bn in exports in 2024, in keeping with World Commerce Group information.
Nuclear enrichment is Iran’s “inalienable proper and should proceed”, Araghchi stated, including, “We’re prepared to achieve a reassuring settlement on enrichment. The Iranian nuclear case will solely be resolved by means of negotiations.”
Iran’s missile programme is non-negotiable as a result of it pertains to a “defence concern”, he stated.
Washington has sought to handle Iran’s ballistic missile programme and its assist for armed teams within the area – points that Israel has pushed to incorporate within the talks, in keeping with media stories.
Tehran has repeatedly rejected increasing the scope of the negotiations past the nuclear concern.
“The Iranians are vehemently against any concessions,” stated al-Shayji, as is the US, which makes it extraordinarily exhausting for international locations main mediation efforts to “get them nearer collectively”.
Friday’s negotiations have been the primary since nuclear talks between Iran and the US collapsed final yr following Israel’s unprecedented bombing marketing campaign towards Iran, which triggered a 12-day conflict.
Following widespread antigovernment protests in Iran final month, Trump ramped up threats towards the nation, deploying the USS Abraham Lincoln to the Center East.
‘Peace by means of energy’
Trump’s lead negotiators in Oman, particular envoy Steve Witkoff and presidential adviser Jared Kushner, visited the plane provider stationed within the Arabian Sea on Saturday.
In a social media put up, Witkoff stated the plane provider and its strike group are “preserving us protected and upholding President Trump’s message of peace by means of energy.”
Witkoff stated he spoke with the pilot who downed an Iranian drone that approached the provider “with out clear intent” on Tuesday.
“Proud to face with the women and men who defend our pursuits, deter our adversaries, and present the world what American readiness and resolve appear to be, on watch daily,” stated Witkoff.
Whereas Trump has sought to make use of the plane provider’s deployment as a method to exert stress on Iran, al-Shayji stated this can’t be a long-term technique.
“He [Trump] can’t hold his forces at alert stage for too lengthy. This may actually discredit Trump’s administration relating to being very harsh and hard-liners on Iran,” he stated.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is ready to satisfy Trump on Wednesday to debate the Iran talks, his workplace stated in a press release.
Netanyahu “believes any negotiations should embody limitations on ballistic missiles and a halting of the assist for the Iranian axis”, it stated, referring to Iran’s allies within the area.
In the course of the 12-day conflict, US warplanes bombed Iranian nuclear websites.
Araghchi expressed hope that Washington would chorus from “threats and stress” so “the talks can proceed”.