 "Iranian FM Araghchi seeks 'fair deal' ahead of high-stakes nuclear meeting with US")
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who arrived in Oman on Saturday to hold nuclear talks with the US, met Omani officials ahead of the high-stake meeting, Iranian state media has reported.
Iran and the US, whose delegation will be led by US President Donald Trump’s Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff, will hold rare talks on Tehran’s nuclear programme as the president pushes for a new deal, threatening that failure to secure one would lead to military action.
Araghchi said on Saturday that his country seeks a “fair and honourable” deal with the United States.
“Our intention is to reach a fair and honourable agreement from an equal position, and if the other side also comes from the same position, then hopefully there will be a chance for an initial understanding that will lead to a path of negotiations,” he said.
They will be the highest-level discussions between the foes since an international agreement on Iran’s nuclear programme crumbled after Trump pulled out in 2018 during his first term in office.
Witkoff and Araghchi will lead the talks behind closed doors in Muscat, which has long been playing a key role in mediating between Iran and Western countries.
Hours before the talks were due 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.”
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View AllMeanwhile, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei’s adviser Ali Shamkhani said that the country is “seeking a real and fair agreement”, adding that “important and implementable proposals are ready”.
If Washington showed goodwill, the path forward would be “smooth”, he said on social media platform X.
According to Iranian news agency Tasnim, the delegations will start indirect negotiations after a meeting with Omani Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi.
The talks are expected to begin in the afternoon with Busaidi as intermediary, Tasnim added.
While Trump threatens “military action” against Iran in case a deal is not reached, Tehran has said it could expel United Nations nuclear inspectors, a move that Washington warned would be an “escalation”.
The 2015 deal, which Trump withdrew from, aimed to render it practically impossible for Iran to build an atomic bomb, while at the same time allowing it to pursue a civil nuclear programme.
With inputs from AFP
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