Iran sees 'chance for diplomacy' in US nuclear talks

An advisor to Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Friday that Tehran wants a "real and fair" agreement in talks with the US on its nuclear program this weekend in Oman. 

Since 2018, when the US during Trump's first administration pulled out of a deal allowing Iran sanctions relief in return for scaling down uranium enrichment, the UN's nuclear watchdog has warned Tehran is getting close to producing nuclear fuel to produce a weapon. Iran insists its uranium enrichment is for civilian purposes. 

Since taking office again in January, Trump has slapped new sanctions on the Islamic Republic, while calling for new talks on its curbing nuclear program. 

Last month, Trump sent a letter to Khamenei warning of possible military action if Iran refused to negotiate. 

On Friday, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei posted on X that Iran was "giving diplomacy a genuine chance in good faith and full vigilance," despite "hostile rhetoric" from the US. 

"We intend to assess the other side's intent and resolve," he added.

Tough talk from Trump 

Iran initially rejected direct negotiations with Washington before Trump announced on March 30:

"If they don't make a deal, there will be bombing, and it will be bombing the likes of which they have never seen before."

Responding to Trump's threat, an aide to supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Iran could expel UN nuclear inspectors, prompting in turn a US warning that such action would be an "escalation."

All of this is set to the backdrop of ongoing tension in the Middle East between Iranian proxies and Israel. 

What else do we know about the nuclear talks?

Earlier this week, Trump said that a delegation from Washington would be meeting with Iranian diplomats on Saturday.

"We have a very big meeting on Saturday and we're dealing with them directly," Trump said, adding that the talks would be "almost the highest level." 

Iran's foreign minister confirmed the discussions would take place, but referred to them as "indirect high-level" talks. 

Tehran's state media said the talks would be led by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and US special envoy Steve Witkoff, with the Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi mediating. 

Iran says its nuclear program is purely for legitimate, peaceful purposes but this has been met with skepticism in the West.

The UN's nuclear watchdog, the IAEA, said in a February report that Iran had an estimated 274.8 kilograms (605 pounds) of uranium enriched to up to 60%. Weapons grade is around 90%. 

Edited by: Wesley Rahn