ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - US Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed hope on Thursday that “direct talks” between the United States and Iran, set to take place in Oman on Saturday, will lead to peace. He further noted that the US delegation is set to meet a “top level leader” from Iran.
“An important meeting thanks to you [referring to US President Donald Trump] is going to happen on Saturday [April 12] for the first time in a long time, it will be direct talks between [US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve] Witkoff and a top level leader in Iran,” Rubio said during a cabinet meeting with Trump.
While Witkoff is expected to be leading the American delegation in the Oman talks, Tehran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi will be leading the Iranian delegation.
Quoting Trump’s previous statements, Rubio reiterated that “Iran is never going to have nuclear weapons” and “that’s what led to this meeting [in Oman].”
Although officials in both Washington and Tehran have recently described the upcoming talks in Oman as “high-level,” US officials have emphasized that they will be “direct” talks, while Iranian officials have maintained they will be “indirect.”
Hours before Rubio’s remarks, the head of Iran’s National Security Committee, Ebrahim Azizi, was quoted by Iran’s state-run news agency (IRNA) on Thursday as stressing that Iran’s negotiating team is focused on securing the nation’s legitimate rights through “indirect talks.”
Azizi further underscored that Iran “would never accept threats and pressure alongside negotiations” and that its negotiating team is guided by national interests.
In a similar vein, Iran’s First Vice President, Mohammadreza Aref, on Thursday also underscored Iran’s commitment to move towards negotiations, adding that “the other party [the US] must also abandon the misguided policy of sanctions and threats.”
Meanwhile, the US Treasury on Thursday announced the sanctioning of a UAE-based Indian national, Jugwinder Singh Brar, for reportedly running a shipping network that facilitates the export of Iranian oil in violation of sanctions, with many of his nearly 30 vessels part of Iran’s "shadow fleet."
The Treasury added that its Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) “is also designating two [United Arab Emirates] UAE and two India-based entities that own and operate Brar’s vessels which have transported Iranian oil on behalf of the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) and the Iranian military.”
Under a 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, Iran agreed to curb its nuclear enrichment program in exchange for much-needed relief from crippling sanctions. The deal began unraveling in 2018 when Trump, during his first term, unilaterally withdrew the US from the accord and reimposed biting sanctions on Iran.
Tehran waited a year and then gradually ramped up its nuclear activities.
Upon returning to office, Trump in early February restored his “maximum pressure” policy against Tehran, arguing that it is “too close” to a nuclear weapon.
Despite the pressure, the US president has repeatedly expressed willingness to strike a new deal with Iran.
On Monday, Trump said that “direct talks with Iran” have already begun and that “maybe a deal [with Iran] is going to be made.”
Stressing that the US and Israel prefer a diplomatic solution over military confrontation with Iran, Trump additionally did not rule out military action against Tehran, stating that "if the talks aren't successful… I think Iran is going to be in great danger.”
In a rare op-ed on Tuesday, Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi stated that “under no circumstances will Iran ever seek, develop or acquire any nuclear weapons.”
He stressed that while his country views the recent exchanges with the US as “a genuine attempt” to “open a window toward diplomacy” and Iran “knows how to defend itself.”
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