Particle.news

Download on the App Store

Dispute Over U.S.-Iran Nuclear Talks Format Intensifies Ahead of Oman Meeting

As high-level negotiations approach, the U.S. insists on direct talks while Iran maintains they will be mediated, highlighting a deep impasse over trust and sanctions relief.

Image
Image
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (L) speaks alongside US President Donald Trump, with a model of Air Force One on the table, during a meeting in the Oval Office of the White House, in Washington DC on Monday.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov attends a meeting of Russian President Vladimir Putin with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon in Moscow, Russia, March 17, 2025. Yuri Kochetkov/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo

Overview

  • President Trump announced direct talks with Iran, but Iranian officials countered that the upcoming negotiations in Oman will be conducted indirectly through mediators.
  • The talks, scheduled for April 12, aim to address Iran's rapidly advancing nuclear program, which has reached uranium enrichment levels near weapons-grade purity.
  • Iran has emphasized that sanctions relief is a precondition for meaningful progress, while the U.S. has warned of potential military action if no deal is reached.
  • Russia has expressed support for the discussions, whether direct or indirect, seeing them as an opportunity to reduce regional tensions.
  • Both sides view the negotiations as a pivotal test, with Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stating, 'The ball is in America's court,' underscoring the stakes of the meeting.