In the video: Netanyahu: "My most important task is to stop Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons" (Photo: Roni Knafo)
President Biden's senior adviser on the Middle East, Brett McGurk, secretly visited the Sultanate of Oman three weeks ago and discussed with senior Omani officials whether to allow a diplomatic move with Iran over its nuclear program, sources told Walla! Five senior American, Israeli and European officials familiar with the matter.
Biden Middle East adviser Brett McGurk (Photo: official website, Getimages)
Why it's important
- The Biden administration is deeply concerned about progress in Iran's nuclear program and the danger that these developments will lead to military escalation in the Middle East.
- In April, Walla! The Biden administration is discussing the possibility of trying to advance an interim agreement with Iran that would include sanctions relief in exchange for freezing parts of Iran's nuclear program.
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Backstage
- McGurk flew to Muscat, the capital of Oman, on May 8, after joining President Biden's national security adviser Jake Sullivan visiting Saudi Arabia and visiting Israel to update Prime Minister Netanyahu on the results of the visit to Saudi Arabia.
- The White House and Omani government kept McGurk's trip to Muscat low-profile and, unusually, made no announcement before or after the visit.
- U.S., Israeli and European officials said the purpose of McGurk's visit was to discuss the possibility of a renewed diplomatic effort, mediated by Oman, on Iran's nuclear program.
- "The Omanis are holding proximity talks between the U.S. and Iran," said a senior Israeli official, using the diplomatic term to describe indirect negotiations through intermediaries.
The Biden administration is very concerned about the progress of Iran's nuclear program (Photo: Image processing, Shutterstock)
What they say
- Three senior Israeli officials claimed that the White House was examining, through the Omani government, whether the Iranians would be willing to take steps that would limit their nuclear program and halt an escalation of the situation in the region, and what they would want in return.
- "The Americans want to get into a poss state when it comes to Iran's nuclear program," said one senior Israeli official.
- A spokesman for the White House National Security Council rejected the Israeli officials' claims. "The United States has not discussed an interim agreement with Iran or sanctions relief or closing International Atomic Energy Agency investigations," he said.
- A senior European diplomat said that "the United States is working with the Omanis on the Iranian issue."
- The spokesman for the White House National Security Council added that he did not want to comment on diplomatic efforts in the region "of which Iran is one component."
- Oman's foreign ministry and Iran's foreign ministry did not respond to Walla's request for comment.
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What's next
- The Israeli government is deeply concerned about the possibility that the Biden administration will try to advance an interim agreement with Iran on a "freeze-for-freeze" basis, three senior Israeli officials said.
- Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer and National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi are expected to meet at the White House on Thursday with President Biden's national security adviser Jake Sullivan to discuss Israeli concerns.
- news
- Political-Political
- Foreign relations
Tags
- Amman
- Joe Biden
- Iran
- United States