The United States and Iran are set to engage in tentative diplomatic talks on Saturday in Oman — the first direct outreach between the two nations since President Donald Trump withdrew from the 2015 nuclear accord seven years ago. While expectations are low, a brief handshake or symbolic gesture may be enough to pave the way for deeper negotiations aimed at curbing Iran’s nuclear program and preventing regional conflict, the New York Times reported.
A cautious opening with modest aims
Saturday’s meeting is expected to be informal and exploratory, with both sides gauging whether full-scale negotiations are viable. While Trump has expressed an interest in striking a new deal to ease tensions in the Middle East and demonstrate his diplomatic prowess, Iranian officials remain wary following years of harsh US sanctions. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said this week that Tehran is “ready to engage in earnest and with a view to seal a deal,” though its willingness to dismantle its nuclear program remains off the table.
The key objectives of the Oman meeting are to agree on a negotiation framework and timeline. It is still unclear whether talks will be conducted face-to-face or via Omani intermediaries. According to Iranian officials, Tehran is willing to discuss enrichment reductions and outside monitoring — but not the full dismantlement of its nuclear infrastructure, a sticking point for Washington.
Trump seeks diplomatic win, while Iran eyes sanctions relief
Trump’s motivation is twofold: to reduce the risk of Israeli-Iranian conflict escalating into a regional war and to craft a deal that surpasses what he calls the “weak” 2015 agreement brokered by the Obama administration. Iran, on the other hand, is under growing pressure. Its economy has buckled under renewed US sanctions, and the nuclear deal’s remaining restrictions are set to expire in October, weakening its effectiveness further.
The 2015 agreement — known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) — limited Iran’s nuclear activities in exchange for lifting international sanctions. Since Trump’s withdrawal, Iran has steadily increased uranium enrichment beyond civilian use thresholds, prompting fears it could soon develop a nuclear weapon.
Regional actors brace for impact
Israel remains vocally opposed to any deal that does not include complete destruction of Iran’s nuclear sites. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned this week that “military option is the only choice” if nuclear dismantlement is not guaranteed.
Amid this pressure, Trump’s lead envoy to the Oman talks, real estate developer-turned-diplomat Steve Witkoff, brings little technical experience to the table. His prior stop in St. Petersburg for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin about a Ukraine cease-fire underscores the broader geopolitical stakes of this moment.
Experts warn that Iran could use negotiations to delay military action, including from Israel, while inching closer to nuclear capability. Former Trump envoy Elliott Abrams said Tehran could
“dupe” the US into protracted talks with minimal concessions, thus avoiding confrontation while achieving strategic goals.
Military buildup vs. diplomatic restraint
Though Trump has overseen a significant US military buildup in the region — including two aircraft carriers, B-2 bombers, fighter jets, and missile defense systems — he has signaled a strong preference to avoid new wars. Advisers have reportedly warned that a military strike on Iran could stretch US resources thin and detract from focus on strategic rivals like China.
“The president really doesn’t want to use the military here,” said Dana Stroul, a former Pentagon official under the Biden administration. She noted that Trump’s planned visits to Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE next month suggest a coordinated diplomatic push, echoing Arab leaders’ calls to avoid further regional conflict.
Still, Trump said this week that military force remains an option if diplomacy fails. “If it requires military, we’re going to have military,” he said, adding that Israel would “obviously be the leader of that.”
Iran signals resolve but seeks diplomacy
In a Washington Post op-ed, Araghchi reiterated that Iran prefers diplomacy but will not be pressured into concessions. “We seek peace, but will never accept submission,” he wrote, insisting that Iran’s nuclear activities are legal and for civilian use.
Saturday’s talks may not yield immediate breakthroughs, but they could mark a significant first step toward easing tensions and avoiding war — or, if they collapse, signal the start of a more dangerous chapter in the US-Iran standoff.
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