Iran-US nuclear talks in Oman begin: What each side wants and what’s at stake

Dubai: Iran and the United States are set to hold high-stakes talks in Oman starting Friday, their first formal negotiations since last year’s war between Iran and Israel and US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.

The meeting comes amid soaring tensions following Tehran’s deadly crackdown on nationwide protests and fresh warnings from Donald Trump, who has not ruled out renewed military action if diplomacy fails.

While both sides say they are open to talks, they remain sharply divided on what should be discussed — and how far any deal should go.

Iran will be represented by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, a veteran diplomat known for his role in earlier nuclear negotiations.

The US side will be led by Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff.

The talks are being hosted by Oman, which has long played the role of mediator between Tehran and Washington.

Tehran is insisting that negotiations focus only on its nuclear programme and the lifting of US-led sanctions.

Iran argues it has the right to pursue civilian nuclear energy under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and says it has no intention of building a bomb.

Before last year’s war, Iran was enriching uranium to 60 per cent purity — far above limits set under the 2015 nuclear deal but still short of the 90 percent needed for a nuclear weapon.

Iran says it is willing to scale back enrichment in exchange for sanctions relief.

It has firmly rejected:

Discussing its ballistic missile programme

Its regional influence and support for militant groups

Calling these issues matters of national defence.

Washington wants a much broader deal.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said talks must include:

Iran’s nuclear programme

Its ballistic missiles

Its support for militant groups across the Middle East

Its treatment of protesters at home

The US argues the 2015 nuclear deal failed because it ignored missiles and regional security.

Trump has repeatedly called for a complete halt to uranium enrichment, a tougher demand than previous agreements.

After US strikes last year on key nuclear sites at Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan, the whereabouts of Iran’s highly enriched uranium remain unclear.

Iranian officials say much of the material is buried under rubble and too dangerous to retrieve for now.

Some countries have offered to store Iran’s uranium abroad as a safeguard, but Tehran has refused — insisting it can manage the stockpile itself if sanctions are lifted.

Relations worsened dramatically after:

Israel launched a 12-day war on Iran last June

The US bombed Iranian nuclear facilities

Iran later halted enrichment temporarily

Nationwide protests erupted in Iran, followed by a violent crackdown

Trump has warned Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei should be “very worried” as talks begin.

The US has also deployed a major naval force, including the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, to the region.

Iran has threatened retaliation against US bases if attacked.

Iran insists its programme is peaceful.

But Western powers fear its advanced enrichment levels could allow it to quickly build a bomb if it chooses.

Under the 2015 nuclear deal (which Trump withdrew from in 2018):

Enrichment was capped at 3.67%

Uranium stockpiles were tightly limited

Since then, Iran has steadily expanded its programme.

Best case: A limited deal where Iran scales back enrichment in exchange for sanctions relief.

Middle ground: Talks drag on with no breakthrough but no immediate conflict.

Worst case: Talks collapse — followed by fresh US or Israeli military strikes and Iranian retaliation.

Iran wants sanctions relief and nuclear-only talks.

The US wants a broader agreement covering missiles, militias and nuclear limits.

With both sides sticking to red lines and military pressure building, the Oman talks could either open a path back to diplomacy — or push the region closer to another conflict.