Netanyahu to Meet Trump Amid Stalled Iran Nuclear Discussions
Washington: Indirect talks between the United States and Iran in Oman on Friday appeared to make little progress, with both sides reaffirming long-standing positions over Tehran’s nuclear programme and regional activities.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to meet US President Donald Trump in Washington on Wednesday to discuss the recent Iran talks. Netanyahu’s office said he believes any negotiation must include limitations on Iran’s ballistic missile programme and an end to its support for regional militant groups, often referred to as the “Iranian axis.”
Friday’s US-Iran talks in Oman, attended by US Middle East Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, were described by President Trump as “very good,” with further meetings planned for early next week. Trump has repeatedly threatened military action to compel Iran to reach an agreement on its nuclear programme, sending the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and other naval assets to the region amid Tehran’s crackdown on nationwide protests.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, speaking at a summit in Tehran, dismissed US military deployments, stating that Tehran’s strength lies in its ability to “say no to the great powers.” He insisted that Iran’s “atomic bomb” is its ability to resist external pressures, not a literal nuclear weapon. Araghchi reaffirmed that Iran’s uranium enrichment and missile programme are “non-negotiable,” even under the threat of war, and warned that any US attack on Iranian territory would provoke retaliatory strikes on American bases in the region.
Araghchi described the talks as “a good start” but emphasized the deep distrust between the two sides, citing the US bombing of Iranian nuclear sites during last year’s Israel-Iran conflict. He criticized what he called a “doctrine of domination,” highlighting Israel’s expanding military capabilities while regional states face pressure to disarm.
While the discussions mark a resumption of dialogue, Iranian officials signaled that substantive progress will require building trust, a process they say will take time before any concrete agreements can be reached.
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