Iran and US resume nuclear talks amid red line disagreements

On May 11, top Iranian and U.S. negotiators resumed nuclear discussions, aiming to address disagreements over Iran’s nuclear program. The talks are part of efforts to make progress as Washington toughens its approach ahead of President Donald Trump's upcoming visit to the Middle East. Despite both nations expressing a preference for diplomacy to resolve their long-standing dispute, major differences remain on key issues that negotiators must navigate to reach a new deal and avoid military conflict.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff are holding the fourth round of talks in Muscat with the assistance of Omani mediators. However, Washington’s public stance has been criticized by Iranian officials for hindering progress. Araqchi, before departing for Muscat, emphasized that Iran’s positions are based on well-established principles and expressed hopes of a decisive outcome in the upcoming meeting. He also mentioned that Iran's experts would be available for consultation if needed.

Witkoff outlined Washington’s key demand: the dismantling of Iran's nuclear facilities and a halt to uranium enrichment, which includes stopping weaponization. He warned that if Sunday’s talks did not yield positive results, alternative measures would be considered. President Trump has previously threatened military action if diplomacy fails and is scheduled to visit Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE from May 13 to 16.

In response to Witkoff’s comments, Araqchi reiterated that Iran would not compromise on its nuclear rights, particularly uranium enrichment. Iranian officials are open to negotiating certain limitations on their nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief, but they have made it clear that halting enrichment or surrendering their uranium stockpile is non-negotiable.

An anonymous senior Iranian official close to the talks stated that U.S. demands for zero enrichment and the dismantling of nuclear sites would hinder progress. He noted that Washington's public statements often differ from the positions discussed in private negotiations. The official suggested that more clarity would emerge during the May 11 talks, which had initially been scheduled for May 3 in Rome but were delayed due to logistical issues in Oman.

Additionally, Iran has firmly rejected discussing its ballistic missile program and insists on guarantees that the U.S. will not exit a nuclear agreement again. Since leaving the 2015 nuclear deal, President Trump has reimposed severe sanctions on Iran, severely impacting the country’s economy. Iran has since breached several key terms of the agreement, including rapidly increasing its uranium enrichment to near weapons-grade levels.