Iran and the United States begin high-stakes talks to reach a new nuclear deal today.
This comes in the wake of President Donald Trump’s threat of military strikes if Iran fails to agree to a pact — and Tehran’s warning that any attack would drag the US into a broader Middle Eastern conflict.
The meeting, being held in the Gulf Arab nation of Oman, could be the first direct talks between Iranian and American officials in a decade, though Iran insists they will be indirect, with mediators acting as go-betweens for the two nations.
Trump has given Tehran a two-month deadline to accept a deal that would lead to Iran shrinking its nuclear footprint or eliminating its program altogether.
“I want them not to have a nuclear weapon. I want Iran to be a wonderful, great, happy country, but they can’t have a nuclear weapon,” Trump said aboard Air Force One on his way to Florida last night.
What we’ve heard so far today: Iran is seeking an “initial understanding” with the US that could lead to a negotiations process, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who is leading the Iranian delegation to the talks, said upon arriving in the Omani capital Muscat.
It’s “too early” to speak about a timetable for the discussions, which depends on “sufficient will on both sides,” he said.
An Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson said indirect talks are underway, with plans for the parties to be seated in separate rooms and convey their views to each other through the Omani foreign minister.
The atmosphere in the talks is positive, Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency reported, citing a member of the negotiating team. It added that negotiations are unlikely to be extended into Sunday.
CNN has reached out to the US State Department for comment.
This post has been updated with additional comments from Iran.