Description: US Special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff met with his Iranian counterpart, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi at a compound near Oman’s capital, Muskat on 12 Apr. Representatives from both sides in the presence of the Omani Foreign Minister started the long-awaited negotiations which would put both countries on the de-escalation path. According to reports which emerged after the 5-hour long discussions, the initial contact underwent constructively as both sides laid out their red lines. Iran has objected to disarming completely and highlighted the importance of the sanctions relief while the US statements confirmed their position of not allowing Iran to have a nuclear weapon. Military assets in the region by both sides were put on the highest alert for the duration of the talks between government officials, which according to officials from both sides would have their second meeting on 19 Apr.
Impact: The historic meet in Oman saw neither Iran nor the US forwarding their national agendas, as the initial measure of temperature between the adversaries was conducted. The meeting deemed constructive, and promising, is set to be repeated in a week where more concrete proposals and measures are expected to be discussed. Several encounters between Irani and US officials would be conducted before the two countries could even remotely approach the challenges and obstacles between them. The US maximum pressure rhetoric could result in constructive reproachment from Iran as the country’s economy is currently depleting. Iran on the other hand could adopt a more radical stance towards the issue if the US doesn’t agree to concede to their demands initially. The already scheduled second meeting and the positive signals from the initial encounter indicate on fast forwarded diplomacy which could surprisingly bring the colliding sides to some sort of an agreement.