Neville Teller
In a nutshell, the Iranian regime wants an end to the sanctions that have crippled its economy while keeping an eventual nuclear arsenal very much in view, while US President Donald Trump is seeking an agreement that would prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
To this end Iran and the US held talks in Oman on April 12. Afterwards Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, told state television they had taken place in a “productive, calm and positive atmosphere.” Both parties agreed that a second round would take place one week later, which indeed they did on April 19, in the Omani embassy in Rome. Araghchi told Iranian TV that the talks had been “constructive” – which probably means that Iran is getting its way on developing a civil nuclear power program while it waits for Trump to complete his term in the White House. Meanwhile the parties agreed to meet again in the coming week.
Trump would no doubt assert that the talks are going well because he has warned Iran that the US would use military force if a deal was not reached. Moreover, despite Iran repeatedly saying it would not negotiate under pressure, even as preparations for the first meeting were in hand the US moved more warships and stealth bombers to the region and imposed more sanctions on individuals and companies supplying Iran with weaponry.
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