• This combo shows Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, left, pictured in Tehran, Iran, Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025, and Steve Witkoff, right, White House special envoy, pictured in Washington, Wednesday, March 19, 2025 (AP)

As high-level nuclear talks between Washington and Tehran prepare to unfold in Oman on Saturday, both sides are publicly adopting a posture of cautious scrutiny — questioning whether the other is negotiating in good faith or merely buying time.

US President Donald Trump has signaled that Iran must move quickly toward a deal or face military consequences. But Iranian officials remain deeply distrustful, still stung by Trump’s unilateral withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear accord. Two US officials speaking to Axios claimed that, even now, they are unsure whether Tehran is coming to the table with genuine intent.

“The main question we want answered from the Iranians is whether they have the political will to have a serious discussion so that we won't have to resort to the other alternative,” said one US official. The same source added that Trump is willing to make compromises to strike an agreement.

Tehran’s tone, while firm, mirrored the message. “We do not prejudge. We do not predict,” said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei. “We intend to assess the other side's intent and resolve this Saturday. We shall reflect and respond accordingly.”

In a pointed remark aimed at Washington’s rhetoric, Baqaei urged the US to “value” Iran’s decision to “give diplomacy a genuine chance” in the face of Trump’s “confrontational hoopla".

Witkoff at the helm of US delegation

Leading the US delegation is Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff, who is arriving in Oman from Russia following talks with President Vladimir Putin — a meeting that included a discussion of Iran’s nuclear program. Witkoff, described as a key internal advocate for diplomacy, will be supported by State Department nuclear experts.

But his measured stance contrasts sharply with that of senior administration figures like National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, both of whom are more hawkish and reportedly open to the use of force.

Experienced hands on Iran's side

Iran’s delegation will be led by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, a veteran of the 2015 nuclear deal negotiations. He will be joined by two senior deputies, also well-versed in past rounds of talks.

Sources say Iran is contemplating a proposal for an interim agreement that would delay confrontation and allow space for a more comprehensive deal to be forged.

The US insists the talks will be direct, but Tehran has maintained that Saturday’s discussions will begin indirectly, with both parties in separate rooms exchanging messages via mediators. According to a source with knowledge of the talks, the initial indirect format may shift to face-to-face negotiations later in the day, depending on the progress.

Officials say Witkoff is expected to reaffirm the contents of Trump’s recent letter to Iranian Leader Sayyed Ali Khamenei: that Trump prefers peace and supports diplomacy but will not tolerate nuclear ambitions or regional destabilization by Iran’s proxies.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt issued a starker warning, “Iran has a choice to make — you can agree to President Trump’s demands, or there will be all hell to pay.”

Iranian delegation heads to Oman for nuclear talks, citing national resolve

Ahead of 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.

“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.”

فَإِذَا عَزَمْتَ فَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللَّهِ

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

— Esmaeil Baqaei (@IRIMFA_SPOX) April 12, 2025

The talks in Muscat mark a critical juncture for US-Iran relations, as Iran seeks to determine whether genuine diplomatic progress is possible. Iranian officials have framed their participation as a show of strength and commitment to national sovereignty.

Read more: Iran says giving diplomacy 'genuine chance' ahead of talks with US