Seyed Abbas Araghchi, Iran’s foreign minister, stated that his country is entering the diplomatic track with open eyes, without forgetting the events of the past year. He added that Iran will participate in interactions in good faith while firmly adhering to its rights and standing firmly to defend them. Araghchi emphasized that respect for commitments is essential, noting that equality, mutual respect, and common interest are necessities rather than slogans, serving as the pillars of any sustainable agreement.
These remarks come ahead of talks scheduled to begin on Friday in Oman between Iran and the United States, which are considered crucial regarding Iran’s nuclear program. However, the ongoing disagreement over the agenda suggests that achieving progress will be difficult, despite increasing concerns about a potential regional war in the Middle East. While both sides have indicated their readiness to give diplomacy a new chance to defuse the long-standing nuclear dispute between Tehran and the West, there are differences in the scope of discussions.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated on Wednesday that Washington intends to discuss Iran’s nuclear program, its ballistic missiles, support for armed groups in the region, and its “treatment of its people” during the talks. Iran, however, asserts that it wants Araghchi and the U.S. Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, to discuss only nuclear issues in Muscat. Tehran confirmed that it will participate from a position of strength, aiming to reach a fair and acceptable understanding that preserves its dignity regarding the nuclear issue.
