Trump recognizes that his aggressive demands in the Iran nuclear issue lead to little tangible outcomes
In the heart of Muscat, Oman's capital, the cat-and-mouse game between the U.S. and Iran is set for a thrilling turn on April 26. The two foes are diving headfirst into the thick of things, ready to spill the tea about Iran's nuclear program.
According to Ali Vaez, the Iran guru at the International Crisis Group, both parties are keen on finding common ground pronto. It's possible they'll rewind the clock to the 2015 deal, signed under Barack Obama, which Donald Trump axed three years ago. But they'll need to tailor this arrangement to the modern strategic landscape and might even rope in other Middle Eastern players to sketch a new blueprint for regional security.
Hinted by U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, it seems the U.S. might bend a bit and accept Iran's uranium enrichment program for civilian purposes. But before long, they'll demand its elimination. Does this hint at a U.S. policy shift?
The gist of the talks remains hidden behind a paywall, but here are some insider tidbits:
- Technical progress: Both sides have gone beyond general chit-chat and are now addressing specific disagreements, albeit with some differences yet to be resolved.
- Enrichment limitation: The U.S. likely stuck to its guns on restricting Iran's uranium enrichment activities, given their rapidly advancing nuclear program.
- Meeting of the minds: Both nations have agreed to pull up chairs once again, this time in Europe, showing their commitment to continuing the diplomatic dance around enrichment and related issues.
While the U.S. administration calls the talks "positive" and "productive," there's no footage of a policy flip flop yet, explicitly allowing civilian uranium enrichment. The conversations seem focused on creating a give-and-take situation: limiting Iran's nuclear advances in exchange for economic perks.
- The Iran nuclear program trends dominate the policy-and-legislation and general news sections, as the U.S. and Iran prepare for a significant turn in their cat-and-mouse game on April 26.
- The International Crisis Group's Ali Vaez suggests that both parties are eager to find common ground quickly, possibly revisiting the 2015 nuclear deal, initially signed under Barack Obama.
- The outlines of the current talks indicate that the U.S. may accept Iran's uranium enrichment program for civilian purposes, but could demand its elimination in the future, hinting at a potential policy shift.
- Despite the U.S. administration characterizing the talks as positive and productive, there is no clear evidence yet of a policy-reverting decision explicitly allowing civilian uranium enrichment in Iran. Instead, the discussions appear centered on reaching a give-and-take agreement, limiting Iran's nuclear advances in exchange for economic benefits.
