The US and Iran are set to hold another round of negotiations on Saturday, April 19, after indirect talks held over the weekend appeared to go well.
Following the negotiations in Oman, both the US and Iran described the engagement as “constructive.” The US side was led by President Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, and the Iranian delegation was headed by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
The negotiations lasted about two and a half hours and were mostly held indirectly, with Omani mediators passing messages between each delegation. However, at the end of the talks, Witkoff and Araghchi spoke directly for just a few minutes.
“The discussions were very positive and constructive, and the United States deeply thanks the Sultanate of Oman for its support of this initiative,” the White House said in a statement after the negotiations.
The White House said that Witkoff’s “direct communication today was a step forward in achieving a mutually beneficial outcome.”
According to Axios, the next round of talks will be held in Rome, and the US and Iranian delegations could hold negotiations in the same room with Omani mediators present.
Aragchi said in a post on X that the talks were “constructive and promising” and conducted “in an atmosphere of mutual respect.” He added that “both sides decided to continue the process in a matter of days.”
The fact that there appears to be progress signals that the US is focusing on seeking a commitment from Iran not to weaponize its nuclear program, a pledge Tehran has said it has stuck to and is willing to reaffirm.
Just a few weeks before the negotiations, US intelligence agencies said in their annual threat assessment that there’s no evidence Iran is building a nuclear weapon. Despite that conclusion, President Trump has been threatening to bomb Iran if a deal isn’t reached.
Iran hawks in the US and Israel have been demanding a deal that would involve the complete dismantlement of Iran’s civilian nuclear program, which is a non-starter for negotiations with Tehran. Iran has also rejected the idea of a deal that would place limits on Iran’s ballistic missiles and support for its allies in the region.
Trita Parsi, an Iran expert and Executive Vice President of the Quincy Institute, has said a narrow deal focused on Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief from the US has a real chance of success.
“If it’s narrow, if it’s focused on the nuclear program, if the goal of the US is to prevent a nuclear weapon, then there is a likelihood for success,” Parsi told The Associated Press. “And it’s under those circumstances that I suspect that you will see talks, perhaps in rather short order, be elevated.”
A deal that limits Iran’s nuclear enrichment in exchange for sanctions relief would be very similar to the 2015 nuclear deal, known as the JCPOA, which President Trump unilaterally withdrew from in 2018.
"Trita Parsi, an Iran expert and Executive Vice President of the Quincy Institute, has said a narrow deal focused on Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief from the US has a real chance of success."
Sorry, that won't pass muster with Netanyahu or Trump's so-called Christian Zionist supporters. Nothing short of Armageddon will suffice.
MY FEAR TOO!!!!!!!! My hope that dump will try avoid seeing his TOWER VAPORIZED!!!!
200 million tons of TNT of the Russian TZAR BOMB will help them see a safe way through this mess…!!!!!!!'
Let's give Trump the last chance on a first true equal diplomacy before doing that…!
It's not plane proof either…!
Trump has to choose between the criminal minister and Iran's nuke issue…! Who can damage the world economy…? Who can block the Strait of Hormuz…? Who can target the US bases in middle east…? Who can cause more damage to him of being a war president…? Who can block him of winning the Noble Peace prize…?
What are Trump & Zelinski thinking, that the Decade plus behind U.S. and its NATO gnomes will be able to ROLL Russia & China with the help of Israel & or G-d!!?? That train left the station as the empire slithered out of Afghanistan and got distracted from actual peer to peer missile & nuclear fighting prowess to chase terrorist.
Dump is out on a limb and Bibi's telling him to jump.
What is going with comments policy here at Antiwer.com? I commented when there were two comments and all I did remark that Israel trying to pressure China by anexxing Iran's oil could turn out very badly for them & us. When I went back to see if that comment was still up, it said there was 1 or two, I don't remember!!!! What is going on here @ antiwar.c-m Where is Eric Garris ??? Have you guys been shut down by Trump & his Zionist crew ????? What would JUSTIN SAY ABOUT FOLDING AS A GENOCIDE GOES DOWN?????
Screening may take around 24 hours depending on Thomas whereabouts especially on weekends…!
I don’t keep track of where Eric is at from minute to minute, but I’m unaware that he’s disappeared.
The only recent change in the comment policy has been mention of flooding the forum with AI-generated fake content as a violation of the guidelines.
I don’t know what the “it” was that “said there was 1 or two,” and don’t know what that means, but your comment that:
“Israel betta be careful trying to extort CHINA like a cheeky cat messing with a Rottweiller!!!!!! China & Russia could burn them out with Hypersonic Tacts & where would they GO? Is it Netanyaho comitting Suicide & taking Israel down to?”
Is still right where it was published, which was on a different section of the site than the one you’re commenting on now.
The 2015 JCPOA can be used as a blueprint to save years of talking…!
The fact that there appears to be progress signals that the US is focusing on seeking a commitment from Iran not to weaponize its nuclear program, a pledge Tehran has said it has stuck to and is willing to reaffirm.
That would be like 9 years running. How many times do they have to say it or the US intelligence agencies have to say it? There really should be no need for negotiating anything.
Exactly…!
Sometimes you have to walk backwards through a door marked “push” … let’s hope for something good, unlikely as it seems.
Listening to what was bandied about before these talks started, the US would have to do a complete 180 on what their rhetoric was, or Iran would have to capitulate to every US/Israel demand. I hope I'm dead wrong, but I just don't see either happening. And unless it's the US doing a 180, it still wouldn't be something "good".
Based on pre-talk rhetoric, "the US would have to do a…180 on…their rhetoric…or Iran would have to capitulate to every US/Israel demand. I hope I'm…wrong, but…don't see either happening."
Optimism would be foolish – and major hitters take yr view (see recent moonofalabama Iran post referencing such views).
But it has been suggested that the too-erratic-to-predict Trump might see a major neocon-Israel-driven war w/Iran NOW as NOT in his interests – that it might run counter to his greater domestic slash-and-burn-and-reward-the-rich agenda… whereas a 'new deal' could – from a pure self-interest-pov – allow greater domestic destruction.
Please see the Trita Parsi Iran piece I cited on another thread.
What if Iran isn't willing to agree to a "new" deal? Will Trump back down? Will his runaway narcissism allow that? Personally, I don't think so.
"What if…Will…"
Fair enough…though that's conjectural, hard not to feel 'the worst is yet to come'…we will see…
I sure hope I'm wrong.
I enjoy seeing disarray within the ranks (meaning their disarray within their ranks) and I assume that's what all this is. Witkoff et al discussed one third of the concerns that were recently subject to all the shouting and threat-making, and now they sound like sweet little pussies. I believe Mark Twain was onto something when he pointed out that laughter (at/over) is an underused and undervalued potential of the human (whom he also called “the lowest animal”). The Trump Manufacturing Company continues to look ridiculous.
That's called Rules Based Order hypocrisy …!
Surprised statement by the White House…! Shall we cross fingers…?!
None of the above was part the talks…! And I am sure non-nuclear Iran's issues were not discussed either… such as US of support of Israel on a potential joint attack… stopping Gaza genocide, bombing Syria, and striking southern Lebanon, etc., etc….!
If there is a joint attack US would not be able to hide its roll in it after a potential deal with Iran…!
Three (3) Big IFs…!
Trita Parsi is very good on this – see his sober analysis below…if you can stand the occasional asininities from Hill co-host 'Robby':
"Trump Says Iran NUCLEAR Discussions Are Inbound: Trita Parsi Previews Talks With Tehran" ('The Hill' on Youtube)
More talks?
Remember when to be elected Trump said that he would stop the Ukraine war in 24 hours. Now he is pissed at Putin not listening to him.
Then he said he would have the most beautiful Middle East policy. Sure looks like it, he wants to build great tourist attractions adn other real estate with his name on it. On top of all the corpses.
Coming soon:
Talk is cheap: The musical.
But for the sake of theatrics, let’s put on a show.
All I can say is I’m old enough to remember all the progress stopping the slaughter in Gaza. All hail the mighty dealmakers who then abandoned every step and encouraged genocide with more vigor after changing the rules of the game.
On 3 January 2020, Iranian major general Qasem Soleimani was murdered by whom?
On 3 January 2020, who was President of the United States?
Who ordered the murder of Qasem Soleimani?
Who benefited from the murder of
Iranian major general Qasem Soleimani?
Who suffered a detriment from the murder of Iranian major general Qasem Soleimani?
dennis hanna
“It is the question that informs.”
Socrates, 470 B.C.E. – 399 B.C.E.
As just said to another poster, though optimism would be foolhardy, imo there exist countervailing forces – right wing forces – that work in opposition to a US-OK'd attack on Iran.
Without trying to make predictions, these countervailing forces give progressives a reason to actively fight against another huge decade-spanning Middle East US-driven war.
The below image is from Breaking Points, "Israel Lobby LOSES IT Over US-Iran Direct Talks" – It is on Youtube. I recommend it. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/435ad464ad3ab25f04061a2e5b24c84177745bdb39486cc9c31184b27c67585d.png