High-level discussions between representatives from and the resumed on Sunday to address disputes over Tehran’s nuclear program.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and US President ‘s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff lead the talks held in Oman.
Ahead of the talks, Araqchi said he hoped the fourth round might “reach a decisive point.”
But Araqchi and Witkoff both said they have red lines that need to be addressed to reach .
Nuclear enrichment a red line for US and Iran
Witkoff, sathe country’s red line would be any enrichment of uranium whatsoever.
“An enrichment program can never exist in the state of Iran ever again,” he told the right-wing outlet Breitbart. “That’s our red line.”
Witkoff added that this means Iran’s enrichment facilities in Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan “have to be dismantled.”
Witkoff had previously struck different tones, initially suggesting some flexibility on Iran maintaining low-level enrichment for civilian purposes.
Iran itself stated that its right to enrich uranium for civilian purposes is “non-negotiable.”
“Enrichment capability is one of the honours and achievements of the Iranian nation,” said Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in a video before departing to Muscat.
Another suggestion for a possible solution came from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who raised the possibility of Iran importing enriched uranium for civilian energy.
Negotiations ‘moving ahead’
Trump, who has threatened military action against Iran if diplomacy fails, will travel to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates on May 13-16.
In his first term as president, he pulled out the US out of the nuclear agreement with Iran that allowed the country to enrich uranium at levels well below what is needed for weapons.
Speaking about the negotiations, Trump said he’d rather reach a deal that would see the issue solved through diplomacy.
“There are only two alternatives: Blow ’em up nicely or blow ’em up viciously,” Trump said in an interview on Thursday.
Edited by: Louis Oelofse
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