RIYADH: Saudi Arabia welcomes Oman’s hosting of Iran-US talks on Tehran’s nuclear program, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said.
In a statement, the ministry said the Kingdom hoped the talks would “lead to supporting joint action to enhance security, stability and peace in the region and the world,” and added it preferred dialogue as a way to end all regional and international disputes.
American and Iranian negotiators met Muscat, the Omani capital, on April 12 as the long-time adversaries try to come up with a new nuclear deal in place.
The failed 2015 accord, or Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, was a long-term deal agreed between Iran and world powers known as the P5+1, which comprised the US, UK, France, China, Russia and Germany.
Under that agreement, Iran was to limit nuclear activities and allow international inspectors to visit its sites. In return, economic sanctions would be lifted by the world powers, notably the US.
Donald Trump, however, pulled the US out of the agreement in 2018 during his first term of office amid objections by other regional powers that the accord lacked the teeth to curtail Iran’s nuclear activities. This empowered Tehran to continue interfering in the affairs of its neighbors.
In his second term, Trump invited Iran to the negotiating table to avoid military action.
In Saturday’s initial meeting, Omani Foreign Minister Badr Al-Busaidi acted as intermediary, shuttling from one room between the American and Iranian delegations as they tried to lay the groundwork for the high-stakes nuclear talks.
Al-Busaidi later told reporters that the talks took place in a “friendly atmosphere,” adding: “We will continue to work together.”
According to the Iranian foreign ministry, the negotiators also spoke directly for “a few minutes” and the talks were held “in a constructive and mutually respectful atmosphere.”
The US team was headed by real estate magnate Steve Witkoff, while Iran’s team was led by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, a seasoned diplomat and key architect of the 2015 accord.
Just before the first meeting, President Trump told reporters: “I want Iran to be a wonderful, great, happy country. But they can’t have a nuclear weapon.”
Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s adviser Ali Shamkhani said Iran was “seeking a real and fair agreement.”
The two sides have agreed to meet again.
