For the first time in years, American and Iranian officials held direct talks on Saturday in Oman, signaling a major shift after prolonged hostility and stalled negotiations. The White House called the discussions “very positive and constructive,” with additional meetings scheduled for April 19.
The talks, hosted by Omani Foreign Minister Said Badr on the outskirts of Muscat, marked the first face-to-face exchange between the nations since President Donald Trump returned to office. U.S. Special Envoy Steven Witkoff met with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, alongside U.S. Ambassador to Oman Ana Escrogima. According to officials, President Trump personally tasked Witkoff with pursuing a diplomatic resolution, if possible.
Iranian state television later confirmed the two sides exchanged several rounds of messages, culminating in a short, direct conversation between the diplomats.
Military tensions are widely seen as a driving factor behind Iran’s decision to reengage diplomatically. According to Rebecca Grant of the Lexington Institute, the U.S. has made a bold show of force in the region, deploying two aircraft carriers, multiple land-based fighter jets, and several B-2 stealth bombers to Diego Garcia.
“All the options are not only on the table — they’re already deployed,” Grant said during an appearance on Fox News. “That has really gotten Iran’s attention.”
Grant and other experts say Iran is now at a crossroads: resume serious negotiations or risk military strikes on its nuclear facilities.
Since the U.S. withdrew from the 2015 nuclear agreement in 2018, Iran has steadily ramped up its nuclear activities. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reports that Iran is now enriching uranium to 60% purity — far beyond the original deal’s 3.67% limit and just short of weapons-grade. Iran also possesses over 18,000 pounds of enriched uranium, according to the agency.
Although U.S. intelligence agencies maintain that Iran hasn’t begun constructing a nuclear weapon, they warn the country is rapidly approaching the capability to do so.
Fox News military analyst Gen. Jack Keane said that Iran now believes President Trump is prepared to support a joint U.S.-Israeli strike if talks fail.
“They’ve come to the conclusion that the president is dead serious about dismantling their nuclear program,” Keane said.
Grant added that U.S. forces and allies are prepared for such a strike, highlighting that Israel has already weakened much of Iran’s air defense infrastructure. “With the carriers, land-based fighters, and bunker-busting B-2 bombers in place, the threat is real,” she noted.
She also challenged Iran’s rationale for uranium enrichment, saying, “They don’t need to enrich uranium — they can purchase fuel on the open market. It’s time for them to make a deal.”
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has expressed skepticism toward direct nuclear talks, accusing the U.S. of betraying previous agreements. “They must prove that they can build trust,” he said during a recent Cabinet meeting.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei warned that ongoing threats from Washington could escalate the conflict. “Violence breeds violence, peace begets peace,” he posted on social media, suggesting the U.S. must choose its course and be prepared for consequences.
Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told Fox News that no agreement is possible unless Iran completely dismantles its nuclear weapons ambitions. “Any deal must fully and verifiably eliminate their program,” he said. “We just want them to act like a normal country.”
Grant emphasized that any future agreement would require tough conditions, including intrusive inspections, a reduction in Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile, and limits on its ballistic missile development.
The upcoming meeting on April 19 in Oman is expected to be a critical next step in determining whether diplomacy can succeed — or if a more forceful path lies ahead.
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