Iran is optimistic after indirect talks in Oman with the US, as Iranian state media included several articles on Sunday praising the negotiations.
However, Tehran is also warning that it wants the talks to proceed to more concrete steps and not end up being empty. This is an interesting move for the Islamic Republic, which had been against direct talks and had cautioned against trusting the US. Now, Iran appears to trust that things could turn out well.
Iran's nuclear aspirations
It is not always clear what Tehran’s preferences for an ideal deal are. Clearly, It wants to keep most of its nuclear program intact and, pretending that most of it is peaceful and scientific, wants to keep the civilian nuclear aspects of the program.
Iran would also likely proceed with aspects of weaponization under the guise that the weapons involved are meant for other purposes. For instance, long-range ballistic missiles can carry conventional warheads. Missile and rocket technology can also be used in its space program to launch vehicles into orbit. Therefore, Tehran would pretend that most of what is considered “weaponization” is, in fact, just other banal rocketry projects.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei noted on Saturday that Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who led the Iranian negotiating team, “was concluding his visit to Oman where he held indirect talks with top US negotiator Steve Witkoff,” Iranian state media reported.
Iran thanked Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad al-Busaidi for mediating the talks, saying that it believes they were “constructive and promising.” It’s not clear if this view is shared by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps or the supreme leader, but it appears to be a talking point of the current Iranian presidency.
“Iran’s preferred approach to negotiations with the United States is dialogue that is precise and free from fanfare,” Iran’s administration spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani said, according to IRNA. She also stressed on social media “the importance of clarity in communication without theatrics or distractions,” the news agency said, which “would help prevent the opponents of the talks from disseminating unsubstantiated narratives.”
Iranian Vice President for Executive Affairs Mohammad-Jafar Ghaempanah also praised the talks, characterizing them as having progressed with “dignity and produce.” This was in line with Tehran’s expectations, Iranian state media noted.
Witkoff arrived at the talks after a visit to Moscow where he is also involved in talks with Russia. America’s special envoy to the Middle East has a lot on his plate, as he is also juggling discussions about a potential new ceasefire and hostage deal in Gaza and is involved in discussions in Azerbaijan.
“Today’s indirect negotiations with the United States, led by my esteemed brother Mr. Araghchi, were conducted well with dignity, prudence, expediency, and in line with the interests of the Iranian people,” Ghaempanah said. Iran’s language is positive, characterizing the talks as taking place in “a constructive atmosphere and based on mutual respect.”