Iran's Araghchi says agreement possible if US shows 'sufficient will'

IANS April 8, 2025 285 views

Iran's top diplomat Abbas Araghchi has signaled potential progress in nuclear negotiations with the United States through indirect talks planned in Oman. The discussions represent a delicate diplomatic dance following the US withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal in 2018. Araghchi stressed Iran's nuclear program is peaceful and legitimate, while placing the negotiation burden on Washington's political commitment. Despite historical tensions, both sides appear cautiously open to exploring diplomatic pathways to resolve ongoing nuclear program disputes.

"At present, our preference is to hold the negotiations indirectly" - Seyed Abbas Araghchi
Tehran, April 8: Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said on Tuesday the upcoming indirect negotiations with the United States on Iran's nuclear programme can lead to an agreement, provided that Washington demonstrates the "necessary and sufficient" political will, according to Iran's IRIB news agency.

Key Points

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Iran and US set for indirect high-level talks in Oman

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Araghchi emphasizes peaceful nuclear program

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Negotiations hinge on US political will

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Ongoing tensions since 2018 nuclear deal withdrawal

He made the remarks a few hours after confirming in a post on social media platform X that Iran and the United States would meet in Oman on Saturday for "indirect high-level talks".

Araghchi said, "At present, our preference is to hold the negotiations indirectly and we have no intention of turning them into direct ones," adding that if the other side has the "necessary and sufficient will," an agreement can be reached, whether direct or indirect.

He added that the ball is now in the US court.

Araghchi emphasised that Iran's nuclear programme was completely "peaceful and legitimate," adding Iran was ready to resolve any existing ambiguity about its nuclear activities.

He said he would represent Iran in the negotiations and US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff would be the US representative.

On Monday, US President Donald Trump, during a meeting with visiting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House, claimed that "direct talks" with Iran were set to take place.

The discrepancy over whether the talks are direct or indirect has persisted since early March, when Trump stated he had sent a letter to Iranian leaders -- via the United Arab Emirates -- proposing direct negotiations on Iran's nuclear programme, Xinhua news agency reported.

While Iran later confirmed receiving the letter, it rejected face-to-face talks, though it left the door open for indirect engagement.

Trump, in an interview with NBC News in late March, threatened to launch "unprecedented military strikes" on Iran if it refused to negotiate over its nuclear programme.

Iran signed a nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, with six major countries -- Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia, and the United States -- in July 2015, accepting restrictions on its nuclear program in return for sanctions relief.

However, the United States withdrew from the deal in May 2018 and reinstated sanctions, prompting Iran to scale back some of its nuclear commitments. Efforts to revive the nuclear deal have not achieved substantial progress.

Reader Comments

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James K.
Interesting to see both sides still willing to negotiate despite all the tensions. Hope this leads to some progress 🤞
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Sarah M.
The back-and-forth about direct vs indirect talks seems like political posturing. Just get to the table and work something out!
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Robert T.
While I support diplomacy, I'm concerned Iran keeps moving the goalposts. Their "peaceful" nuclear program needs more transparency.
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Aisha B.
After the US unilaterally withdrew from JCPOA, why should Iran trust American promises now? The ball is indeed in Washington's court.
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Miguel P.
The article could have explained more about what "sufficient will" actually means in practical terms. What specific actions is Iran looking for from the US?
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Lisa W.
Indirect talks might actually be better - less pressure for grandstanding. Sometimes working through intermediaries leads to more practical solutions.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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Tags:
Iran Nuclear Talks Seyed Abbas Araghchi US Diplomacy Middle East Negotiations Nuclear Deal
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