Arabic version: عمان تستضيف المحادثات النووية الأمريكية الإيرانية المقررة يوم الخميس

Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr Al Busaidi has confirmed that further negotiations between the United States and Iran will take place in Geneva on Thursday. The announcement signals a continued effort to advance discussions regarding Iran’s nuclear program.

According to Al Jazeera, Al Busaidi expressed optimism about the talks, stating there is a “positive push to go the extra mile towards finalizing the deal.” This comes in the wake of heightened military presence by the US in the Middle East, which has raised fears of potential conflict with Iran.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi indicated that Tehran is prepared to implement a full monitoring mechanism to ensure the peaceful nature of its nuclear activities. He emphasized that Iran’s pursuit of enrichment technology is a matter of national pride, referencing the significant costs incurred over two decades due to US sanctions and other pressures.

While US officials have previously indicated a preference for zero enrichment by Iran, Araghchi clarified that the current negotiations are focused solely on nuclear issues. He expressed hope that an agreement could be reached that would be more favorable than the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action established in 2015.

Despite the optimism from both sides, some analysts remain skeptical about the likelihood of a successful agreement. Trita Parsi from the Quincy Institute warned that the US’s current stance may hinder progress, suggesting that even a strong proposal from Iran could be rejected if it does not align with US expectations.