By Smartencyclopedia Newsroom*

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani has confirmed the recent reports by Axios that Iran and the United States held indirect talks in Oman last month. This development holds significance as it marks the first known indirect engagement between the two countries in several months and comes at a time when the White House is growing increasingly concerned about Iran’s nuclear advancements.

Kanaani’s statements on Monday mark the first official confirmation from the Iranian government regarding the existence of these indirect talks, while the Biden administration has not publicly acknowledged them yet.

During a briefing with reporters, Kanaani revealed that the Iranian government had exchanged messages with the United States concerning the lifting of sanctions. However, he emphasized that Iran is not discussing any interim agreements or arrangements that deviate from the framework of the 2015 nuclear deal.

Behind the scenes, Brett McGurk, the White House Middle East coordinator, secretly traveled to Oman on May 8 to engage in talks with Omani officials regarding potential diplomatic outreach to Iran regarding its nuclear program, as previously reported by Axios. Simultaneously, an Iranian delegation, including Iran’s top nuclear negotiator Ali Bagheri Kan, also arrived in Oman during the same period, according to sources familiar with the matter.

However, the sources indicate that McGurk and the Iranian officials did not have a direct meeting. Instead, they were located in separate venues, with Omani officials serving as intermediaries, shuttling between the two sides and relaying messages.

One of the key messages conveyed by the United States, according to the sources, focused on deterrence. The U.S. made it clear that Iran would face severe consequences if it proceeded with 90% uranium enrichment, a level necessary for the production of a nuclear weapon.

The broader objective of these indirect exchanges between the Biden administration and Iran was to reach an “understanding” on ways to de-escalate Iran’s nuclear program, address its regional behavior, and its involvement in the conflict in Ukraine.

Source: With Agencies