U.S. and Iranian representatives engaged in direct discussions in Oman on Saturday, marking a significant step after years of heightened tensions and stalled diplomatic efforts. According to a White House statement, further talks are scheduled for next weekend.
The meeting in Oman was the first face-to-face exchange between U.S. Special Envoy Steven Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi since Trump’s return to office, as Iran continues to advance its nuclear program.
The White House characterized the discussions as “very positive and constructive,” and expressed gratitude to Oman for its support of the initiative.
Witkoff, accompanied by U.S. Ambassador to Oman Ana Escrogima, conveyed to Araghchi that Trump had directed him to seek diplomatic solutions to resolve differences.
The talks, hosted by Omani Foreign Minister Said Badr, took place just outside Muscat, the Omani capital, and lasted for slightly over two hours.
Iranian state media confirmed that messages were exchanged between the parties, including a brief, direct conversation between the American and Iranian diplomats.
Military pressure appears to have influenced Iran’s decision to engage in talks. Rebecca Grant, a senior fellow at the Lexington Institute, stated on “Fox Report” that the U.S. has demonstrated its resolve by deploying military assets to the region.
“All the options are not only on the table. They’re all deployed to the Middle East,” Grant said. “Somewhere between four and six B-2 stealth bombers [are] forward in Diego Garcia, [along with] two aircraft carriers. That has really gotten Iran’s attention.”
Grant highlighted the choice now facing Iran.
“Iran either has to talk or get their nuclear facilities bombed,” she said.
Tensions between the U.S. and Iran have been elevated since 2018, when Trump withdrew the U.S. from the 2015 nuclear agreement.
That agreement imposed significant restrictions on Iran’s nuclear activities. Since then, Iran has been enriching uranium at considerably higher levels. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported that Iran is enriching uranium to 60% purity, nearing weapons-grade, and has amassed over 18,000 pounds of it. The original agreement limited Iran to 3.67% purity and a much smaller stockpile.
While U.S. officials do not believe Iran has begun constructing a nuclear weapon, they caution that the country is moving closer to having the capability to do so if it chooses.
Gen. Jack Keane, a U.S. military analyst, suggested that Iranian leaders now believe Trump is serious about using military force if they don’t agree to limit Iran’s nuclear program.
“They’ve come to the conclusion that the president is dead serious about supporting an Israeli-led, U.S.-supported strike on Iran to take down their nuclear enterprise,” Keane said.
Grant indicated that the U.S. and its allies are prepared for military action if talks fail.
“Israel took out a lot of Iran’s air defenses last year,” she said. “Then you have two [U.S.] carriers, land-based fighters in the region and B-2 bombers with bunker-busting bombs. That’s the threat display.”
She further noted that Iran does not need to enrich uranium, as it can purchase nuclear fuel on the open market.
“It is time for them to start to make a deal,” she said. “And I think, maybe, due to our military pressure and Trump’s resolve, they’re beginning to realize it.”
Iran’s president, Masoud Pezeshkian, has stated he’s not open to direct negotiations on nuclear issues but has also blamed the United States for breaking past promises.
“They must prove that they can build trust,” Pezeshkian said in a recent Cabinet meeting.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei warned of consequences if threats continue.
“Violence breeds violence, peace begets peace,” he wrote on social media. “The US can choose the course… and concede to consequences.”
Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told Fox News no deal can happen unless Iran gives up its nuclear weapons plans.
“We have to fully, verifiably eliminate their nuclear weapons program for there to be any agreement,” he said. “All we ask is that they behave like a normal nation.”
Grant emphasized that any future agreement must include stringent terms.
“It’s going to have to include real inspections,” she said. “It’s going to have to include them giving up, frankly, some of that enriched uranium. There will have to be some limits on their ballistic missile development.”
According to the White House statement, the two countries are scheduled to meet again on April 19 in Oman.
Fox Digital’s Bradford Betz and Fox News’ contributed to this report.