US and Iranian officials held indirect talks in Oman last month with Omani officials shuttling between their separate rooms to deliver messages, three sources briefed on the issue told Axios” Barak Ravid on Friday.
The “proximity talks,” which haven’t been previously reported, represent the first known indirect engagement between the US and Iran in this way in several months. They took place amid growing concerns in the White House about Iran”s nuclear advances.
Axios reported last week that White House Middle East coordinator Brett McGurk traveled to Oman secretly on May 8 for talks with Omani officials on possible diplomatic outreach to Iran regarding its nuclear program.
According to the three sources briefed on the issue, an Iranian delegation also arrived in Oman at the same time. Iran’s top nuclear negotiator Ali Bagheri Kan was part of the delegation, one of the sources said.
McGurk and the Iranian officials didn’t meet, according to the sources. The two sides were in separate locations with Omani officials going between them and passing messages.
According to the sources, one of the main messages from the US focused on deterrence.
The sources said the US made it clear that Iran will pay a heavy price if it moves forward with 90% uranium enrichment &mdash the level needed to produce a nuclear weapon.
According to the Axios report, the aim of the indirect exchange of messages between the Biden administration and Iran was to reach an “understanding” about ways to de-escalate the Iranian nuclear program, Iran”s behavior in the region and its involvement in the war in Ukraine.
Such an understanding and de-escalation in the region could be used later as a basis for future talks on a new nuclear agreement between the parties.
A White House National Security Council spokesperson said the Biden administration”s policy on Iran has not changed.
“We remain focused on constraining Iran”s destabilizing behavior through pressure, close coordination with our allies, and de-escalation in the region. That includes ensuring Iran never acquires a nuclear weapon so of course, we are watching closely Iran”s enrichment activities,” the spokesperson said.
The spokesperson added that the US prefers diplomacy, but is prepared “to take action in full coordination with our partners and allies to ensure Iran never acquires a nuclear weapon.”
The report comes amid indications that Washington and Tehran are headed towards a new agreement.
The 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers hit a snag in 2018, when then-US President Donald Trump pulled out of the deal and reimposed sanctions on Iran. Iran, in turn, began to scale back its compliance with the deal.
Attempts by the Biden administration to negotiate a return to the deal with Iran have failed, as US officials blamed Iran’s insistence on the closure of the UN nuclear watchdog’s investigations against it.
Axios reported last month that the Biden administration discussed with its European and Israeli partners a possible proposal for an interim agreement with Iran that would include some sanctions relief in exchange for Tehran freezing parts of its nuclear program.
On Thursday, the United States and Iran both denied reports that they were nearing an interim deal under which Tehran would curb its nuclear program in return for sanctions relief.
(Israel National News’ North American desk is keeping you updated until the start of Shabbat in New York. The time posted automatically on all Israel National News articles, however, is Israeli time.)
