Araghchi from Oman supports fair agreement with US from equal standing
6 Min Read
The Iranian FM says if the US side comes with the same intentions, there will be an opportunity to reach an initial understanding that paves the way for a serious negotiation process.
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This handout picture provided by the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs shows Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi (L) meeting with Oman's Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr al-Busaidi, in Muscat, on April 12, 2025 (Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs / AFP)
Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi received on Saturday his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi ahead of much-awaited indirect talks between the US and Iran regarding the latter's nuclear program.
The Iranian foreign minister arrived earlier in Muscat with his accompanying delegation.
Ahead of the high-stakes nuclear negotiations with the United States, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei announced that a senior delegation is en route to Muscat, Oman, led by the country’s Foreign Minister and backed by a team of seasoned diplomats.
فَإِذَا عَزَمْتَ فَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللَّهِ
— Esmaeil Baqaei (@IRIMFA_SPOX) April 12, 2025
به اتفاق جمعی از مجربترین همکارانمان در معیت وزیر محترم امور خارجه عازم مسقط هستیم.
مصمم به استفاده از همه ظرفیتها برای صیانت از اقتدار و منافع ملی #ایران هستیم.#مذاکرات_عمان
“So I decided to trust in Allah,” Baqaei wrote on social media, invoking religious resolve. “Together with a group of our most experienced colleagues, we are heading to Muscat, accompanied by the esteemed Minister of Foreign Affairs. We are determined to use all capacities to protect national authority and interests.”
Meanwhile, the Iranian Foreign Ministry confirmed that Araghchi handed his Omani counterpart the key points and positions to be conveyed to the US side.
During the meeting, the top Iranian diplomat said Muscat's hosting of indirect talks between Iran and the United States is a testament to the Gulf country's responsible role, expressing appreciation for the role Oman plays concerning regional issues and developments.
On his part, al-Busaidi highlighted that bilateral relations between Oman and Iran are distinguished, thanking Tehran for choosing Muscat to host such important discussions.
Araghchi says negotiations are indirect, limited to nuclear issue
Araghchi emphasized that Iran's intention is to reach a fair and honorable agreement from an equal standing, pointing out that if the US side has come with the same intentions, there will be an opportunity to reach an initial understanding that paves the way for a serious negotiation process.
"If both sides have the necessary will, we will later decide on the timeline for negotiations, but it is too early to discuss this matter," he noted.
"What is certain right now is that the negotiations are indirect and, from our perspective, are limited to the nuclear issue only."
The Iranian foreign minister said his accompanying team consists of highly specialized and knowledgeable individuals in this specific field empowered with negotiation experience on the same issue.
"We hope that these negotiations will be conducted with the necessary will to reach a fair agreement, based on the principle of equality, and will lead to achieving the interests of the Iranian people," Araghchi said.
How the talks unfolded
The US and Iran are set to engage in crucial talks on Tehran's nuclear program, with US President Donald Trump warning of military action if the negotiations fail to yield a new agreement.
On March 12, US President Trump sent a letter to the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Sayyed Ali Khamenei, requesting negotiations to reach a new deal and warning of military action if Tehran refused.
While Iran rejected direct negotiations with the US under pressure and threats, it left the door open for indirect talks.
These discussions will mark the highest-level talks between the two nations since the 2018 collapse of the international nuclear deal, which Trump abandoned during his first term.
Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi will lead the talks behind closed doors in Muscat, the capital of Oman, which has long facilitated dialogue between Iran and Western countries.
Earlier on Saturday, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei underscored on X that the Iranian negotiating team is committed to utilizing all available resources to safeguard Iran's authority and national interests.
فَإِذَا عَزَمْتَ فَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللَّهِ
— Esmaeil Baqaei (@IRIMFA_SPOX) April 12, 2025
به اتفاق جمعی از مجربترین همکارانمان در معیت وزیر محترم امور خارجه عازم مسقط هستیم.
مصمم به استفاده از همه ظرفیتها برای صیانت از اقتدار و منافع ملی #ایران هستیم.#مذاکرات_عمان
Hours before the talks were set to begin, Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One, "I want Iran to be a wonderful, great, happy country. But they can't have a nuclear weapon."
Trump had unexpectedly announced the talks last Monday.
Ali Shamkhani, an advisor to the Iranian Leader Sayyed Ali Khamenei, stated earlier that Tehran is "seeking a real and fair agreement," adding that "important and implementable proposals are ready." He indicated that if Washington shows goodwill, the path forward would be "smooth".
Format unclear yet
The format of the talks has not been definitively settled, with the US calling them direct talks, while Iran insists on an intermediary.
According to Iranian news agency Tasnim, the talks are expected to start in the afternoon with al-Busaidi acting as the intermediary.
Trump's announcement of the talks came during a White House press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
This engagement follows years of strained relations between the two countries, which have not had diplomatic ties for decades. Both the US and "Israel" have repeatedly threatened military action against Iran.
"If it requires military, we're going to have military," Trump said on Wednesday when asked what would happen if the talks failed to produce an agreement.
In response to Trump's threat, Tehran warned it could expel UN nuclear inspectors, a move Washington has described as an "escalation".
The United States claims it aims to prevent Iran from ever acquiring nuclear weapons.
The 2015 nuclear deal, from which Trump withdrew, sought to ensure that Iran could not develop an atomic bomb while allowing it to pursue a civilian nuclear program. Other parties to the deal included Britain, China, France, Russia, and Germany.
Witkoff told The Wall Street Journal that the US position starts with demanding that Iran fully dismantle its nuclear program, a stance supported by hardliners within Trump’s circle that few expect Iran will accept.
However, he noted "that doesn't mean, by the way, that at the margin we're not going to find other ways to find compromise between the two countries."
"Where our red line will be, there can't be weaponisation of your nuclear capability."
Read more: Trump ready to compromise for deal: US official to Axios
