Report reveals indirect talks between US, Iran in Oman
ERBIL, KRI, Iraq (North Press) – US and Iranian officials held indirect talks in Oman in May over growing concerns in the White House about Iran’s nuclear advances, Axios reported citing informed sources.
The Axios quoted three informed sources as saying that the “indirect talks between the two parties were mediated by Oman, after a stalemate in the negotiations over the Iranian nuclear program, which was mediated by the European Commission.”
White House Middle East coordinator Brett McGurk traveled to Oman secretly on May 8 for talks with Omani officials on possible diplomatic outreach to Iran regarding its nuclear program, according to Axios.
At the same time, an Iranian delegation also arrived in Oman, Iran’s top nuclear negotiator Ali Bagheri Kan was part of the delegation, one of the sources said.
The two parties were in separate locations, while Omani officials were passing messages between the two.
According to the source, US made it clear that Iran will pay a heavy price if it moves forward with 90 percent uranium enrichment — the level needed to produce a nuclear weapon.
Washington has not yet commented on the report, one day after it denied the accuracy of reports about the United States and Iran nearing a temporary agreement.
Reports revealed about talks on US soil included a delegation from the Iranian side led by Amir Saeid Iravani, Iran’s recently appointed ambassador to the United Nations, and from the US side, Robert Malley, the US special envoy to Iran.
However, Iran announced that there is progress in the nuclear file, but there is no imminent agreement.
In 2018, former US President Donald Trump withdrew from a nuclear agreement between Iran and the United States that was concluded in 2015.