The US and Iran will hold their first direct nuclear talks over the years to help Trump promote diplomacy

With America Iranian official According to a statement released by the White House, he sat in Saturday’s in-person meeting in Oman, a major step after years of tensions and stagnant diplomacy.

The meeting between US envoy Stephen Witkov and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi was the first in-person exchange since. President Donald Trump He took office as Iran continues to expand its nuclear program.

The White House described the discussion as “very positive and constructive,” adding that “the US is deeply grateful to the Sultan of Omani for supporting this initiative.”

Witkov, who joined the US ambassador for Omani Ana Escrogima, told Aragchi Trump personally had it He instructed him to try and resolve the differences through diplomacy, if possible.

Representative from Iran, US will hold consultations in Oman amid ongoing tensions: what should you know

The lecture took place in the outskirts of Muscat, the capital of Oman, and lasted for more than two hours. Oman’s foreign minister said Badr had hosted the meeting.

Television in the Iranian state later confirmed that the side had exchanged several messages, and there was a brief, direct conversation between the US and Iranian diplomats.

Military pressure seems to be a major reason why Iran came to the table. Rebecca Grant, a senior fellow at the Lexington Institute, told the Fox Report on Saturday. Strong military assets To the area.

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“All options aren’t just on the table, they’re all deployed in the Middle East,” Grant said. “Airline between 4-6-6 B-2 stealth bombers (Are) of Diego Garcia. It’s really attracting Iran’s attention.”

Grant said Iran is currently facing a choice.

“Iran has to bomb or bomb nuclear facilities,” she said.

Tensions between the two countries have been high since 2018, when Trump pulled the US out of the 2015 nuclear deal.

The agreement put strict restrictions on Iran’s nuclear program. Since then, Iran has been enriching uranium at much higher levels. The latest report from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) says Iran has concentrated uranium to 60% purity just below the arms grade, with a stockpiling of over 18,000 pounds. In the original trade, Iran was limited to a much lower stockpile with 3.67% purity.

meanwhile US intelligence agency Don’t think Iran has begun construction of nuclear weapons. They warn that they are approaching that they can do so if the country decides.

Fox News Military analyst General Jack Keane said Iranian leaders consider Trump serious about using military force if they do not agree to limit Iran’s nuclear program.

“They have concluded that the president is seriously committed to bringing down nuclear companies in Israel-led, US-backed Iran,” Keene said.

Grant explained that if consultations fail, the US and its allies are ready for such a strike.

“Israel took out a lot of Iranian air defenses last year,” she said. “Then there are two (US) carriers, in the area there are land fighters, B-2 bombers with bombs that destroy bunkers. That’s the indication of the threat.”

She added that Iran does not need to enrich uranium as it can purchase nuclear fuel in the open market.

“It’s time for them to start trading,” she said. “And I think they’re starting to make it happen, perhaps because of our military pressure and Trump’s resolve.”

Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian says he has not opened direct negotiations Nuclear Program However, he accused the United States of breaking past promises.

“They have to prove they can build trust,” Pezeschkian said at a recent cabinet meeting.

Esmail Baghaei, a spokesman for the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, warned of the consequences if the threat continues.

“Violence breeds violence, and peace creates peace,” he wrote on social media. “The US can choose this course… and we’ll acknowledge the results.”

Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said there will be no contracts for Fox News unless Iran abandons its nuclear weapons program.

“We must completely eliminate their nuclear weapons programme because there is an agreement,” he said. “What we ask is that they behave like a normal country.”

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Grant said future transactions will require strict conditions.

“We need to include actual tests,” she said. “Frankly, we’ll have to give up some of that rich uranium. There must be some limitations on the development of their ballistic missiles.”

The two countries are scheduled to meet again in Oman on April 19th, according to a White House statement.

Bradford Betz and the Associated Press of Fox News Digital contributed to this report.