Priyanka Tiwari
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Suspense crime, Digital Desk : Muscat, Oman – In a critical diplomatic effort to ease soaring Middle East tensions, senior officials from the United States and Iran have convened in Oman this week for a new round of indirect talks focused on Tehran's controversial nuclear program.
The discussions, facilitated by Omani mediators, mark a resumption of a diplomatic channel aimed at preventing Iran from developing a nuclear weapon and de-escalating a potential wider conflict, a concern heightened by the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.
Representing the U.S. is the White House's Middle East envoy, Brett McGurk, while Iran's delegation is led by its chief nuclear negotiator, Ali Bagheri Kani. The talks are being conducted indirectly, with Omani officials shuttling between the two parties to convey messages and proposals.
These negotiations are not aimed at reviving the landmark 2015 nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which unraveled after the U.S. withdrew in 2018. Instead, the focus is on achieving a more limited, informal "understanding." Under such an arrangement, Iran might agree to cap its uranium enrichment—which is currently at 60%, close to weapons-grade—and increase cooperation with international inspectors. In return, the United States could ease some economic sanctions or facilitate the release of billions of dollars in frozen Iranian assets held abroad.
The talks underscore the urgency felt in Washington and other world capitals to contain regional flashpoints. There is significant concern that Iran or its proxies, such as Hezbollah in Lebanon, could escalate the Israel-Hamas conflict into a broader, more devastating war. These Omani-hosted discussions represent a key avenue for managing the delicate geopolitical situation through diplomacy rather than military confrontation.
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