Oman summit: Iran and the US will meet to initiate nuclear negotiations.

In an environment where regional tensions are escalating, the high-level U.S.-Iran negotiations to be held in Oman will begin with different intentions from both sides: Tehran's conditional diplomacy combined with Washington's dual messages of threats and incentives.

Iranian and U.S. officials will meet in Oman on Saturday for a high-level diplomatic meeting to discuss Tehran's rapidly advancing nuclear program. The likelihood of an agreement is low, and the risks are high for the two countries, which are approaching nearly half a century of hostility. Tensions between Washington and Tehran have escalated in recent months. U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened to conduct airstrikes targeting Iran's nuclear program if no agreement is reached. Iranian officials are increasingly warning that they could pursue nuclear weapons by enriching uranium stocks to levels close to weapons-grade. The negotiations are particularly significant in the context of ongoing conflicts in the Middle East. Senior Iranian officials emphasized that Tehran is conducting these negotiations with serious intentions. Iranian officials stated that Tehran would "not agree to abandon its nuclear program for peaceful purposes" as part of any potential agreement. Ali Shamkhani, a political advisor to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, indicated that the issue could be resolved if the U.S. shows sincerity and political will. U.S. officials invited Tehran to reach an agreement that provides stability based on the principle of "peaceful power." Oman has been engaged in quiet diplomacy for years, allowing it the opportunity to take on a mediating role.