US-Iran talks: Key negotiations begin in Oman in push to prevent war
Indirect talks between US and Iranian officials have begun in Oman amid weeks of escalating tensions and fears of a military confrontation between the two countries.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has travelled to the Omani capital Muscat for the discussions, while United States President Donald Trump’s advisers Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner
are also set to take part.
It’s time for the world to boycott the US
Under Donald Trump’s leadership, the US has, over the past year, consistently violated international norms and laws.
The rollercoaster of tariff barriers, the sham negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, and the declaration of a false “ceasefire” with Israel, all while openly musing about turning Gaza into “oceanfront property”, would have been bad enough on their own.
But in just the past couple of months, the US has bombed Nigeria to “defend” Christians, invaded Venezuela and arrested President Maduro , and openly threatened Iran, Greenland, and Mexico with military intervention.
What is the mood in Iran ahead of the talks?
People as well as the media in Iran are closely following the talks but there is little sign of the cautious optimism seen during previous rounds of negotiations last year.
Some are hoping another devastating war can be avoided, while others believe their living conditions are already horrible due to widespread corruption and mismanagement, rampant inflation and multiple other ongoing crises.
“Whatever happens in these talks, it will not be to the benefit of the people of Iran since they have no representation and their interests are never prioritised,” said internationally acclaimed dissident filmmaker Jafar Panahi, pointing out that thousands were killed by the state during protests last month.
On Saturday, the reformist Etemad newspaper led its front page with “Diplomacy breathes”, while most other morning dailies covered officials’ lines ahead of the talks, including on preparedness to attack US and Israeli interests across the region.
The ultraconservative Keyhan, which has in recent days renewed its longstanding call for the IRGC to shut down the strategic Strait of Hormuz in Iran’s southern shores, dedicated its headline to once again refuting any talks with Washington.
“The answer to the enemy’s threat is threats, not negotiations,” said the headline of the newspaper, whose editor-in-chief is directly appointed by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
