Muscat: CEO of the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) Hossein Jaberi-Ansari says the ongoing negotiations between Iran and the United States, mediated by Oman, represent a 'litmus test' for diplomacy and an opportunity for both sides to gauge each other's positions beyond media narratives and rhetoric.
According to Islamic Republic News Agency, Jaberi-Ansari, who is a former spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry and a former chief negotiator in the Astana talks on Syria, stated that the negotiations with the U.S. were 'difficult and complicated' given the long history of tensions and distrust between Tehran and Washington. He noted the speculation surrounding the talks' outcome but emphasized that if a slight opening for diplomacy has been created, the process could be seen as successful.
Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and Steve Witkoff, the U.S. president's special envoy to the Middle East, led two rounds of indirect negotiations on Iran's nuclear program and the removal of U.S. sanctions. The meetings were held in Muscat, Oman, on April 12, and in Rome, Italy, on April 19. Both parties have expressed satisfaction with the progress achieved, and a third round of talks is anticipated in Oman on Wednesday, focusing on technical issues.
Jaberi-Ansari mentioned that the negotiations' success in Muscat and Rome, with Oman's mediation, signifies that initial doors have been opened for continued collaboration. However, he cautioned that negotiations become increasingly complicated when the parties involved have vastly different political perspectives and conflicting interests.
The diplomatic efforts aim to bridge these gaps and reconcile divergent goals and interests. The current talks between Iran and the U.S. exemplify this challenge. Jaberi-Ansari suggested that if Washington is serious about the negotiations, the two sides can narrow their differences and reach an agreement on Iran's nuclear program within a realistic and reasonable timeline.
Regarding the regional response, particularly from the Persian Gulf Arab states, to the renewed negotiations, Jaberi-Ansari indicated that the region appears more willing to progress compared to 2015, when Iran and world powers, including the U.S., signed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
In his first term, President Donald Trump withdrew the U.S. from the JCPOA and re-imposed economic sanctions as part of a 'maximum pressure' campaign against Iran. Upon returning to office for a second term, Trump expressed a desire for new negotiations with Iran but reinstated his 'maximum pressure' policy, hindering direct engagement.
Jaberi-Ansari noted that Iran is engaging more seriously with its neighbors in this round of negotiations, communicating its policies and clarifying realities. Foreign Minister Araqchi, his deputies, and Iranian ambassadors in the region are actively working to maintain contact with Arab leaders and officials to prevent a 'distorted image' of a potential deal between Iran and the U.S. He highlighted that the Arab countries of the Persian Gulf have realized that escalating tensions would harm the entire region.