Oman: Nuclear Talks Between USA and Iran Canceled Due to Rising Tensions
The scheduled nuclear talks between the USA and Iran in Muscat will not occur this Sunday due to ongoing military tensions. Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Bussaidi emphasized the need for diplomacy amidst escalating conflict following Israeli airstrikes on Iranian sites.
Omani officials have announced that the scheduled nuclear talks between the United States and Iran, originally set for this Sunday in Muscat, will not proceed. This decision comes amid rising military tensions following a significant Israeli assault on Iranian nuclear sites. “The talks between Iran and the US planned for this Sunday in Muscat will not take place. But diplomacy and dialogue remain the only way to achieve lasting peace,” stated Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Bussaidi on Platform X. Oman has been acting as a mediator in these discussions.
The military situation has intensified dramatically over the past few days. Since Friday morning, Israel launched a series of strikes aimed at Iranian nuclear facilities, directly targeting military personnel, nuclear scientists, and defense positions. Iran has condemned these airstrikes as acts of war. In retaliation, late Saturday, Iran launched hundreds of missiles and drones towards Israel, impacting the heavily populated Tel Aviv area and raising fears of further escalation.
These nuclear discussions were initially initiated by Iran and the USA in mid-April, as diplomats sought to reach a new agreement. However, the backdrop of military conflict complicates the negotiations. Concerns among Israel, the USA, and other Western nations revolve around the belief that Iran might be covertly pursuing nuclear weapons development. Tehran, conversely, maintains that its nuclear endeavors are strictly civilian in nature.
Back in 2015, Iran had initially struck a deal to limit its nuclear activities through the Vienna nuclear agreement, which included negotiations with several world powers such as China and Russia, along with the US, France, Germany, and the UK. However, this agreement unraveled when former President Trump chose to withdraw the US from the pact in 2018, subsequently imposing additional sanctions that strained relations even further.
The animosity between the US and Iran has deep historical roots, particularly since the 1979 Iranian revolution. That year, a group of Iranian students stormed the US embassy in Tehran, taking hostages and effectively severing diplomatic ties that have not been restored since. This backdrop of mutual distrust continues to color current negotiations and regional dynamics.
In summary, the planned nuclear talks between the USA and Iran have been canceled against a backdrop of escalating military clashes. Omani officials have emphasized the importance of dialogue for peace, amid heightened tensions following Israeli airstrikes on Iranian targets. The historical context of US-Iran relations and the collapse of the Vienna agreement continue to influence the narrative, complicating efforts to reach a resolution.
Original Source: www.bluewin.ch
