Recently, Trump sent a letter to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of Iran, stating that he would prefer to find a way to reach a deal rather than escalate a military campaign. Trump warned that Iran could face a military campaign targeting its facilities if they fail to reach a deal in the coming weeks. Trump received a response stating that the time for negotiations had come.
On April 12, 2025, Iran and the U.S. successfully concluded the first round of indirect talks in Oman, aimed at preventing Iran’s nuclear program from being used as a weapon. As a sign of success on a shared agenda, they agreed to meet again on April 19.
A breakdown would have occurred if Trump demanded a complete dismantling of Iran’s civilian nuclear program—something Iran is not willing to consider. Iran insists it only maintains a civilian nuclear program, but Trump withdrew the U.S. from the previous nuclear deal, claiming Tehran’s regime seeks to obtain nuclear weapons.
This time he appears determined to conclude an updated version of the deal.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the talks were “constructive” and conducted in a “calm and respectful atmosphere” without “any exchange of harsh words.”
The Omani Foreign Minister mediated the talks in Muscat, shuttling between Araghchi and Trump’s diplomatic representative, Steve Witkoff.
Witkoff admitted he had no technical knowledge of civilian nuclear disarmament programs, but Trump fully trusts his judgment.
Witkoff also said the discussions took place in a positive and constructive atmosphere. The next round of negotiations is unlikely to take place in Muscat, but Oman will continue acting as a shuttle between the two delegations in separate rooms.
Iran’s condition for the talks was that it would not engage in direct negotiations with the U.S. while it remains under American economic sanctions.
From the Iranian side, the key concern was whether Witkoff would demand that Iran halt all uranium enrichment and end its civilian nuclear program. There were also fears Trump might demand Iran stop supporting groups like Hezbollah and Hamas.
Witkoff outlined an agenda seemingly aligned with the 2015 nuclear deal’s framework but also accounting for the fact that since 2018, Iran has amassed a large stockpile of uranium enriched to 60% purity—beyond what’s necessary for a civilian program.
The next round of talks must address how to eliminate this stockpile and how Iran will allow the reinstatement of an independent inspection regime. The UN nuclear watchdog, IAEA, has repeatedly witnessed cameras being turned off at key Iranian nuclear facilities, making it nearly impossible to determine what Iran is producing.
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi is expected in Iran next week, but it’s unclear whether he is working in coordination with the small and relatively inexperienced U.S. negotiating team.
President Masoud Pezeshkian has consistently advocated for talks with the U.S. to break free from the “sanctions cage,” despite opposition from hardliners in parliament and some members of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei’s inner circle. On February 7, Khamenei stated that past experience shows negotiating with Trump is “irrational, unreasonable, and dishonest,” and Pezeshkian said he had no choice but to accept this.
However, the Iranian Foreign Ministry, which supported the talks, convinced Khamenei that his regime—already weakened by setbacks in Syria, Lebanon, and Gaza—could collapse if it didn’t proceed. Trump also threatened to allow Israel unrestricted access to bomb Iran’s nuclear facilities.
To preserve Iran’s dignity, Khamenei insisted the initial talks be at least indirect, though the U.S. will push for direct talks. The two countries severed official diplomatic relations after the 1979 Iranian Revolution.
Pezeshkian, attempting to speak Trump’s business language, said this week, “His Excellency Khamenei does not oppose American investors investing in Iran. American investors: come and invest.”
Trump has also softened both his rhetoric and possibly his demands, stating on April 11 that he is not asking much, adding that Iran cannot have nuclear weapons. Trump said he wants Iran to prosper. Both Trump and Witkoff urgently need a diplomatic breakthrough. Further war in the Middle East is fiercely opposed by Gulf states, including Saudi Arabia.
Netanyahu said this week that the deal would only work if Iran’s nuclear sites are bombed “under American control and execution.” He also called for a “Libya-style agreement,” referring to Muammar Gaddafi’s voluntary dismantling of Libya’s nuclear program under international supervision.
Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs, Majid Takht-Ravanchi, who is leading parallel talks with European leaders, stated that there is a good chance of reaching an agreement if the American side refrains from raising irrelevant issues and demands and abandons threats and intimidation. He said the Islamic Republic of Iran believes in dialogue and interaction based on mutual respect, and any intimidation or coercion is unacceptable.
Iran, known for its grueling and exhausting negotiating tactics, is reportedly working under a two-month deadline, according to European officials. The UK, Germany, and France must signal by the end of July whether they will reimpose UN punitive sanctions on Tehran. The ability to do so, suspended under the 2015 nuclear deal, expires on October 18.