US and Iran Engage in High-Stakes Nuclear Talks in Oman

US-Iran Nuclear Talks: High-Stakes Diplomacy Amid Heightened Tensions

The United States and Iran are engaging in high-stakes nuclear talks in Oman, aiming to reach a deal on Tehran's nuclear program amid a backdrop of heightened tensions and fresh US sanctions. The negotiations, led by US envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, are seen as a crucial step towards potentially averting a catastrophic outcome, including a potential war.

Key points from the cluster of articles include:

• The talks aim to replace the 2015 nuclear deal, from which the US withdrew in 2018, and are taking place against a backdrop of increased distrust and hostility between the two nations.
• Iran has made significant gains in its nuclear program, enriching uranium to near-weapons-grade quality, and has closer ties with US adversarial superpowers like Russia and China.
• The US is seeking to avoid a new war in the region, while Israel is pushing for the destruction of Iran's nuclear sites, and experts warn that time is running out to stop Iran from developing a nuclear bomb.
• Both sides are under pressure to reach an agreement, with US President Donald Trump threatening military action if talks fail, and Iran warning of retaliation if attacked.
• The talks are expected to focus on agreeing on a framework for negotiations and a timeline, with Iran open to discussing reductions to its enrichment and allowing outside monitoring, but unwilling to dismantle its nuclear program.
• A report from the Institute for Science and International Security has warned that Iran's nuclear threat has reached an "extreme danger" level, with a shorter timeframe to build nuclear weapons and growing internal discussions favoring nuclear weapons development.