Galant on Iran: "We may be required to fulfill our duty to defend the integrity of our country" (Nicole Laxby, Defense Ministry Spokesperson)
U.S. and Iranian officials held indirect talks in the Sultanate of Oman last month, with Omani officials hopping between the separate rooms where they were named and delivering messages, according to three sources familiar with the details.
Why it's important:
- The existence of the "proximity talks" meeting in Oman was previously unknown. It was the first time the United States and Iran had such contacts in many months.
- The indirect talks in Oman took place against the backdrop of growing concern in the White House about the progress Iran has made in its nuclear program and the American desire to find a way to halt an escalation in the situation in the region.
Iranian progress in the nuclear program. Satellite image of the Natanz nuclear facility (Photo: Reuters)
Backstage:
- Walla reported last week that President Biden's senior Middle East adviser, Brett McGurk, secretly traveled to Oman on May 8 for talks with Omani officials about a diplomatic effort with Iran on the nuclear program.
- But now new details are emerging that make that trip even more meaningful. As it turns out, McGurk wasn't alone in Oman. A delegation of senior Iranian officials also arrived in the sultanate on the same day, according to sources familiar with the matter.
- According to one of the sources, Ali Bagheri-Kani, who headed Iran's negotiating team at the nuclear talks in Vienna last year, was part of the Iranian delegation.
- According to the three sources, the purpose of the American and Iranian officials was to hold an indirect talks meeting with Omani mediators.
- Biden's senior adviser and senior Iranian officials did not meet face-to-face. They sat in two separate sources, and Omani officials "skipped over" each other and conveyed messages.
- One of the main messages that Merrak conveyed to the Iranians through the Omanis at that meeting in Muscat concerned deterrence. The sources noted that the United States had made it clear to Iran that it would pay a heavy price if it progressed to enriching uranium to 90 percent from which nuclear weapons could be produced.
Secretly traveled to Oman on May 8. Brett McGurk, Biden's Middle East adviser (Photo: official website, Getimages)
Why you need to pay attention:
- The goal of the indirect talks and messaging between the United States and Iran is to reach "understandings" on ways to halt an escalation of Iran's nuclear program, change Iran's behavior in the region, and prevent an escalation of Iranian aid to Russia in the war in Ukraine.
- If such "understandings" are reached and if tensions in the region are reduced, this could be used as a basis for talks between the United States and Iran on a new nuclear agreement between the sides. It is still unclear whether the sides are close to reaching such 'understandings.'"
Reminder:
- Walla reported in April that the Biden administration was discussing with Israel and European powers a proposal for a partial agreement with Iran based on a "freeze-for-freeze" principle – Iran would halt parts of its nuclear program in exchange for some relief from U.S. sanctions.
What they say:
- A spokesman for the White House National Security Council told Walla that the Biden administration's policy on Iran has not changed. "We remain focused on curbing Iranian activity that is destabilizing the Middle East, in coordination with our partners and with the aim of halting escalation in the region. This includes ensuring that Iran can never acquire nuclear weapons. We are closely monitoring Iran's uranium enrichment activity," the spokesman said.
- According to the White House spokesman, the U.S. prefers diplomacy but is willing to "take action in full coordination with its partners and allies to ensure that Iran does not acquire nuclear weapons."
- The foreign ministries of Oman and Iran did not respond to a request for comment.
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