Iranian officials voiced skepticism on Tuesday about upcoming nuclear talks with the United States, citing continued mistrust and warning that Washington’s approach leaves little room for progress.
U.S. President Donald Trump, who announced the talks on Monday, said the meeting would take place on Saturday in Oman. Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has issued repeated threats of military action against Iran should it reject a new deal.
Despite Trump’s call for direct negotiations, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi reiterated that Tehran will only engage in indirect talks, citing U.S. hostility and pressure.
“Indirect negotiations can guarantee a genuine and effective dialogue,” Araqchi told Iran’s state news agency IRNA.
He added that the talks would be mediated by Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi, with Araqchi leading the Iranian delegation and Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, representing the United States.
A source familiar with U.S. planning confirmed Witkoff’s participation, noting the discussions would be broad in scope rather than focused on technical aspects of the nuclear programme. “This is still coming together,” the source told Reuters.
Conditions and Demands
According to Iranian and regional officials, Tehran is seeking concrete signs of goodwill from Washington before agreeing to any direct engagement. Such gestures could include lifting sanctions or unfreezing Iranian assets.
“The Iranians told us that direct talks are possible, but there has to be a goodwill gesture,” one regional diplomat said. “Lift some sanctions or unfreeze some money.”
Russia has welcomed the potential for dialogue, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stating that both direct and indirect talks in Oman could help reduce tensions. On Tuesday, Russia’s lower house of parliament also ratified a 20-year strategic partnership agreement with Iran, underscoring growing military cooperation between the two nations.
Efforts to resolve the standoff over Iran’s nuclear programme — which Tehran insists is for civilian use, though Western powers suspect otherwise — have faltered for more than two decades. Trump pulled out of the landmark 2015 agreement with six world powers during his first term in 2017, and negotiations have since stalled.
Rising Regional Tensions
The talks come amid heightened instability across the Middle East. Conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon, missile strikes in Yemen, direct confrontations between Iran and Israel, and regime change in Syria have inflamed the region since 2023.
Three Iranian officials told Reuters that Trump’s military threats are perceived in Tehran as an attempt to coerce concessions — particularly over issues that Iran views as non-negotiable.
“Trump wants a new deal: end Iran’s regional influence, dismantle its nuclear programme, and halt its missile work. These are unacceptable to Tehran. Our nuclear programme cannot be dismantled,” said a senior Iranian official.
“Our defence is non-negotiable,” another added. “How can Tehran disarm when Israel has nuclear warheads? Who protects us if Israel or others strike?”
Israel, long wary of Iran’s regional influence, defeated Tehran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon last year. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stood beside Trump on Monday during the U.S. announcement of the Oman talks. Netanyahu said diplomacy would be welcome — if it results in a complete dismantling of Iran’s nuclear programme, as was done in Libya.
Tehran, for its part, has responded defiantly to Trump’s warnings, vowing it will not be intimidated. Iranian leaders have weathered decades of sanctions and previously threatened to disrupt oil exports from the region — a vital artery for global energy supplies.
