US and Iranian officials held bilateral talks on Iran’s nuclear program in Oman Saturday, the first such meeting between the two nations since 2018. The officially indirect discussions ended with a direct exchange between US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, a move observers described as a compromise since the US had requested direct talks.
The meeting comes seven years after President Donald Trump pulled the US out of the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (see timeline). The Obama-brokered agreement traded sanctions relief to Iran in exchange for 15 years of uranium enrichment limits and regular inspections of its nuclear sites. Since the deal collapsed, Iran has accelerated enrichment of its uranium stockpile to nearly 60% purity (read breakdown). Weapons-grade uranium requires purity of 90% or higher, while civilian programs (for power, medicine, or research) need 3.67%.
The US wants Iran to end its weapons-grade program and its support for regional proxies like Hamas, while Iran seeks relief from broad sanctions. Hard-liners in both countries—as well as Israel, a regional foe—are likely to oppose a new deal. Talks will continue later this week.